I’m using the spiced up version of trying to fill the board as fast as possible by only counting books that tick at least 3 boxes (boxes may have been ticked before to avoid deadlocks).
Alright, done with the random book from my TBR! Technically, that’s from my TBR restricted to “proper” books (so, no manga nor LNs), but whatever. I was kinda worried about what to do if I got a book that doesn’t match the requirements to be added to the grid, but that was not an issue, as 私小説 – from left to right covers for spots: new to me, read it for free, and non-fiction on top of “random from my TBR”.
In two books, I managed 8 spots (so half the damn thing) and still no bingo
Next up is 痴人の愛, which is the book that I planned for my “gives a bingo on its own” requirement (for free, new author, book club, bad cover). Technically that’s only two new slots though.
Then 吾輩は猫である will cover non-human protagonist, longest TBR, higher natively level.
I am then left with debut work, finish a series and workplace setting. It would be optimal if I found a book that covers all three at once (I don’t mind reading other books first, if they aren’t too many).
I was hoping to finish my first bingo card in January, but considering I am planning to take a break to read some LNs and manga right now (and the length of 吾輩は猫である), maybe not.
Technically, this cannot exist, right? If it finishes a series, there must have been other books before it, so it can’t be the debut work of the author.
You could cheat your way around it by declaring the whole series a “debut work”, or you could regard a standalone book as a “series”, though
For my first bingo square of the year, I’m taking 暗殺の年輪 | L40 for “debut work” (it would also be valid for “award winner” and “no reviews or gradings”, but I’m going to play this as one square per book only).
For my Korean Bingo, I finally finished reading 흥부전 lv13??. I have an inkling that this level is going to get higher very soon, but we’ll see. I decided to put this as oldest TBR since it is one of the first books I bought in Korean (and I’m pretty certain that the other ones I bought at the same time I’ve already read).
Sooo I read トッカン―特別国税徴収官― | L32 as my no reviews/gradings/ratings square! I wasn’t too worried about someone reading this before me, because… who else would like to read about tax collectors?!
Finished my first square with 改良 | L28 ! Might go for “higher level than I’ve read before” next. The good thing about still being a pretty inexperienced reader in japanese is that I only need a book that’s level 32 or higher for that LOL
I’m also planning to join the mystery book club this time for the book club square, so I’m pretty excited for that
I realised that 今日から始める幼なじみ 9 | L17 counted for a no review/grading/rating since it was the latest in a series and I was the one who hit refresh on the series to add it. Not sure if that counted as ‘read a book you added’ either, but I figured there will be time for that later
I got it as an ebook on amazon for ¥418 a while ago on a whim because I love yellow. So it does go on sale from time to time, so keep an eye out for that.
The audible audiobook is also very good!
some more info about the book if you're interested! (no spoilers)
It was surprisingly sad, though. And there was a lot about how corrupt the government is and how shitty it is to be a cog in the machine. But it ends in a happy way and there are 3 more volumes after that one! Sometimes I really couldn’t stop reading because I was so hooked on the characters, the story and the twist and turns. But I really can’t tell if it would be as enjoyable for others as well.
The funniest thing about it is this disappointed review on amazon :
Second book for my Spanish Bingo, a nonfiction: Las 101 cagadas del español lv31??. This was a pretty fun and informative read, as it records many mistakes in Spanish made by native speakers, with the occasional mention of forgotten words and explanations on the origins of expressions. Plus it’s made for native speakers, so it doesn’t have that textbook feel.
I used の 福音館の単行本 | L16 for “read in a single day” (it was the only one I felt confident I could do it) … and I used 舞妓さんちのまかないさん 1 | L25 for “workplace setting”! I was not expecting a book about 16 year olds to fit that square, but oh well! It didn’t really work for any of the other squares.
I’m advancing my Spanish bingo again, with Aura lv31?? by Carlos Fuentes. So far, everything I’ve read this year has been at the same level, but hopefully that will evolve as more gradings are added. I’m also realizing that I’ve only read rather uncommon books, this one being particularly strange. I spent most of the book being confused, which is apparently what was supposed to happen, I even checked to make sure it wasn’t just me misunderstanding things.
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