You've reminded me to actually make the time to read some of Nagata Kabi's work at some point as sad to say I still haven't.
Yes, I have read Convenience Store Woman actually! It's one of the few regular novels I've read in recent times. It's really good and also touched on some things I could relate to (I never understood why some class it as a weird comedy when for me it seemed straightforwardly reasonable haha) but in a different way. I definitely recommend reading it!I was wondering if you have heard of a novel called Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata? I haven't read it but I heard about it on a youtube book/reading themed channel called A Clockwork Reader and it sounds like maybe you would like it if you like books about people who find their own, idiosyncratic happiness, it's also apparently quite short (was on a ten short books to get you out of a reading slump kind of list). Sorry if it's a bit weird to recommend stuff like that on an anime/manga and LN focused site and IIRC you tend to prefer manga to LNs anyway, but I just thought it might be of interest, made me think of what the youtuber had to say about it when I read what you wrote, even though the central theme is more about resisting the pressure to be intensely ambitious by default, rather than the pressure to be in a romantic relationship and stuff like that by default
As for what I'm reading at the moment, I finished Volume 8 of Lovely Complex and I've been working my way through a lush big hardcover book called An Illustrated Treasury of Swedish Folk and Fairy Tales, the illustrator is John Bauer, I've attached a pic of the cover as well. It's a delightful read if you enjoy fairy/folk tales, and I also have East of the Sun and West of the Moon with illustrations by Kay Nielsen which I am planning to read next after I finish this
I'm looking to read for pleasure rather than for work or education
I used to be a kid who went through books like crazy and then just stopped reading so I understand! I don't read novels much (mostly just read manga), but sometimes I squeeze them into what I call my "reading time" which is where I get comfy at night and read. It's a nice self care comfy vibe to take that time for yourself to wind downI'm even more likely to read it myself now since you rate it highly and for those reasons
This is more of a general question for everyone here not you specifically but does anyone have any advice on how to read more/get back into reading? I am reading a bit more recently but wish I could read as voraciously as I did as a child again. The main thing that probably wouldn't be helpful is things like taking notes cuz that will just detract from my immersion and make it feel more like work (plus I don't struggle to keep track of the plots and characters etc, even after hiatuses of years away from something that I previously started but didn't finish), but apart from that, I'm generally open to any reasonable suggestions/advice to at least consider them
Maybe I could try a different time of day like you suggested like a half hour in the mornings might work or maybe sometime between 5pm and 7pm as that's between when a lot of other things I might do are no longer options because shops/services start to close, deliveries less likely, etc, and when I phone my mum in the evenings
I don't think I've said it before so don't worry! Maybe someone else told you a similar thing or I'm forgetting though but either way no worries. I hope you can find something that works for you!I'm so sorry I think I asked before and this is what you said that time (as in sorry if I'm wasting your/people here's time a bit by asking the same thing twice)? But that is actually a suggestion that I will think about anyway thankyou, I've not been much of a winding-down before bed sort of person in the last few years, I don't find it too hard to sleep these days (and don't have a regular bedtime for that reason cuz I can kinda just conk out whenever) but maybe it would be good to try something like that for a while and see if it works for me
Despite that, I did enjoy seeing how the lives of the characters connected and their stories were interesting.
I really enjoyed Links too but I'm glad I'm not alone in finding it difficult working which character is which (being able in the physical edition to flip to the character pages at the end and back makes it a lot easier than in the digital version).Links (complete) - This one was also a good read, even if I did struggle initially because a lot of the cast look like the characters in Given. Furthur was not helped by there being two older looking versions of Ritsuka, who I could only tell the difference between by one wearing glasses and one not.
Well, I do like a good story about a plucky country bumpkin finding her place in the wider world! (Especially should she end up in some unexpected and ridiculous situation like in Heroines Run the Show) Skip and Loafer has been a real delight for Mitsumi finding her place in the place while not losing who she is, too.@Demelza: The latest Skip and Loafer reminds me that this title has several similarities with one of your anime choices for Spring: Heroines run the Show! (Enterprising but unconventional girl from out of town goes to high school in the big city - gets one fashionable, flashy girlfriend and one quiet, dark girlfriend with glasses...)
I'm relieved I wasn't the only one too honestly! I always feel a little bad when I like a creator but have to confess to not being able to tell some of the characters apart, the character profiles really were a huge help...I really enjoyed Links too but I'm glad I'm not alone in finding it difficult working which character is which (being able in the physical edition to flip to the character pages at the end and back makes it a lot easier than in the digital version).
I'd certainly recommend it as I think the mangaka makes the stories connect in a really clever way - yet without losing the real emotional punch that they deliver. And the drawings are very beautifully done. And there's a kitty...
