I made a list of short stories (some of them very short!) as reading goal for June. It helps me to get out of my current reading slump.
May reads: a slow month
I haven’t read much in May, I mostly finished novels that I had started in April and read some short stories.
Genshin is the reason why I started learning Chinese, and recently, I have switched my game to Chinese only. I also created a Mastodon account to record the progress I make.
Book review: 『ゼロの焦点』by Seicho Matsumoto
An engrossing mystery with a fast pace and an interesting social background. It is mainly based on dialogues and reads quickly but can feel repetitive at times.
Reading update: April reading slump
An overview of the (few!) books I read in April.
Book review:『孤独の罠』
I find that some of Jokichi Hikage’s books feel like a blend of literary fiction and mystery, but 孤独の罠 leans more on the side of literary fiction. The story is mainly focused on our protagonist, Shinobu Oogi, and while it starts with an unsettling mystery, it is not central to the book, and the complex..
Currently reading: Chinese, Korean and Japanese novels
April reading update! I am currently reading in my three target languages at the same time.
Book review: 『点と線』by Seicho Matsumoto
点と線 is a short, easy to read novel that centres the plot around train, timetables and alibis.
Book review:『内部の真実』by Jokichi Hikage
Easily one of the best mystery novels I have read in Japanese.
Book review:『七年目の脅迫状』by Futari Okajima
The three horse racing mysteries by Futari Okajima definitely belong to my favourite mystery novels.
Learning Chinese with EBS
I’m learning Chinese with a Korean podcast simply called 중급 중국어.
Book review: 『応家の人々』by Jokichi Hikage
A mystery novel set in Taiwan under Japanese rule, 応家の人々 belongs to my favourite novels.