Book collector rehab (actually reading what you own accountability thread)

Japanese
#883

I made the mistake of buying a billion manga when I lived in Japan last time, ended up costing an arm and a leg to send it all home, and then I didn’t read it there either.

I’m back in Japan now, but this time I’ve made myself a promise to finish a manga before I buy more, and if I do buy more I’m only allowed to buy the first volume. Additionally, I must be able to actually read it right away lol, not buying some complicated novel I won’t be able to read for several years.

On the topic of textbooks, I have three already, it’s been a month… I had a panic when I arrived and realised my speaking (still) sucks and I’ve forgotten a ton of things (also why I’m here…).

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#884

Oh hey, a glimpse into my future!

I’m sure being over here will be good for shaking the rust off and helping your speaking skills, you just gotta keep at it :muscle:

Are you here long term, or just for a trip?

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#885

random book update but I just started reading kokuhaku and its so interesting but soooooooooo hard

It took me 30 mins to read 8 pages…

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#886

I’m here long-term now, just need to improve my Japanese enough that I don’t have to resort to interpretive dance to make myself understood. :stuck_out_tongue:

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#887

i think communicating through interpretive dance is probably cooler tho

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#888

I just started 地獄楽 volume one, foolishly thinking that as a Jump publication it’d be shounen level furigana.

I was incorrect :sob:

Well I’m sure the interpretive dance will come in handy in the meantime, at least!

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#889

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Hm. I see.

I think Atelier may have given me some false confidence last week-

I’m like 1/3 through volume one of Jigokuraku.
My brain is melting.

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#890

I made a similar mistake with ReLIFE and 亜人ちゃんは語りたい, I kinda just anticipated them having furigana because of the school settings, but obviously both are seinen lol.

I’m currently reading ルリドラゴン though, it’s a great series, something about the art style is just really warming, and the way characters speak feels really natural and easy to follow.

So you’re saying the jigoku in the name checks out?

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#891

agfjaskdlfa
Yes. Yes it does.

And I’m stealing your joke to tell my friend

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#892

The good news:

I made a push to read 1 volume of Berserk per day for the past few weeks

The bad news:

I didn’t have volume 43 so obviously in order to maximize shipping price value I had to buy more books with it :sweat_smile:

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#893

Congrats! Have you gotten all the way through 42, then, or is this pre-emptive?
And what are the rest of your criminal acquisitions?

Also speaking of criminal acquisitions I may have hunted down Artemis Fowl books 1-5 and a set of Harry Potter (secondhand, to not give money to JK Rowling’s causes) as an eventual step up from manga. Oops.

I did manage to finish 地獄楽 volume 1 yesterday! Had to take a break for a bit when I got home, because yeah the vocabulary in that one was kicking my butt, but I got through the rest of it eventually. It is interesting and I think I want to keep going with it, just…maybe after a bit more vocab drilling :sweat_smile:

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#894

I’m pretty sure I stole it from someone else too.

I suppose I can let you use it.

I kinda wanna get hold of the Eragon books at some point, I also really need to finish reading the Japanese version of The Little Prince as it’s a favourite of mine, but last time I tried I was on life support after three pages due to all the new words it was introducing to me even with furigana present.

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#895

I’ve been holding on to my Japanese copy of The Little Prince for actual years. . . . I swear I really got to try to get past chapter 2 but the vocabulary is rough

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#896

Yep I finished 42 today and will polish off the 2 new One Punch Man volumes I recently got next. I wish I had realized sooner though so I don’t have to change it up with something completely different till it arrives. The other acquisitions were pretty reserved this time at least besides the price…

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#897

That’s only about 3-4 minutes per page. I remember when I started reading Zoo book 1, I was about 8-10 minutes a page. It’s all progress though. Good luck with Kokuhaku :blush:

#898

I decided to be brave and start reading an actual book! It’s just a kids book with a Natively level of 14 or something, so it doesn’t seem terribly hard.

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#899

Thank you for your benevolence :pray:

Nice choice!

Yeah, I accidentally do this to myself sometimes and it’s always frustrating. But at least it get some variety into the vocab you’re working with, right?

頑張れ！

No Japanese reading yesterday, but about 1/3 of Thousand Autumns vol. 3!
And I got my JLPT N2 pass! :confetti_ball:

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#900

Got through volume 2 of 黄泉のツガイ yesterday!

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#901

I finished the first two chapters of 告白 and even tho its a bit hard for me the book is just so insane I can’t help but keep reading omg

Definitely recommend to anyone around the n2/n1 level! The first few pages are ridonk (explaining a government policy about giving students free milk) and the first chapter is like an imaginary interview that reads very stream of consciousness, but once you get used to it it’s soooo good

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#902

also low key huge shout out to the Japanese language for reminding me that books are the most GOATed form of media

I wish I could get back into reading English language books in the same way (I am an audiobook girlie tho- love u Libby!!) because every time I read something good with my eyes I’m like HOLY HELL I AM TRANSFORMED but then life gets in the way again

I did smash thru the first 4 Wizard of Earthsea books in English tho this year because they were just THAT good

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