# 2025 Bingo Reading Challenge ✅ **URL:** \ **Category:** All Languages\ **Created:** [October 22, 2024, 3:42am UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/2025-bingo-reading-challenge/12116 "2024-10-22T03:42:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 29
**Author:** ![suadang](https://deyr2qldo994j.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.learnnatively.com/suadang/32/14947_2.png) [@suadang](https://forums.learnnatively.com/u/suadang)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2025, 10:48pm UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/2025-bingo-reading-challenge/12116/563 "2025-07-19T22:48:44Z")
So I have a high bar for Higashino books. I wouldn’t call it garbage, but it’s one of two books of his that I would call “mid.” The current tier list, in English, is: 1. Journey Under the Midnight Sun 2. The Devotion of Suspect X 3. A Midsummer’s Equation 4. Letter 5. Mask Manor Murder Mystery (idk) 6. Malice 7. The Miracle of Namiya General Store 8. Salvation of a Saint 9. Masquerade Hotel 10. that book (Classmate) 11. The Forbidden Magic With 10 and 11 being mid, 7-9 being very enjoyable with minor flaws, and 1-6 being excellent. Classmate just has a cringe main character (likely on purpose) and a very convoluted resolution that is impossible for the reader to predict. You can guess that something is going on with X, Y, and Z, but the actual truth is unguessable. This is the only Higashino book that made me feel rug-pulled. Also, it was kind of anticlimactic and far-fetched. Far-fetched as in I wasn’t buying the resolution based on the story leading up to it, and the character motivations and actions didn’t feel realistic. I don’t really care about other kinds of realism. ---
**Author:** ![Mara](https://deyr2qldo994j.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.learnnatively.com/mara/32/3002_2.png) [@Mara](https://forums.learnnatively.com/u/Mara)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2025, 1:04am UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/2025-bingo-reading-challenge/12116/564 "2025-07-20T01:04:13Z")
### My first bingo!! ![](https://do4ryrayvtpwi.cloudfront.net/original/3X/e/6/e66e6ae348f3566951f21fa636acf7d7f18ce87a.jpeg) #14 Set in a country that is not where the book’s language is spoken: [木曜日にはココアを | L28](https://learnnatively.com/book/286f81d644/) I thought this book would fit the prompt when I found myself pondering whether or not (English-speaking) Australians have the concept of aizuchi. Other English-speaking parts of the world that I’m familiar with don’t, but maybe they do in Australia because they are closer to Japan and thus have more cultural exchange with Japan? > **previous squares** > > Free square: [とんがり帽子のアトリエ 5 | L27](https://learnnatively.com/book/ec2670e452/) > #1 Read a book and watch the adaptation/Join a book club: [ひとりぼっちの○○生活 1 | L21](https://learnnatively.com/book/bb278b5a56/) > #2 Cover is primarily composed of your favorite color / From someone else’s board: [とんがり帽子のアトリエ 6 | L27](https://learnnatively.com/book/2792b72a29/) > #3 Workplace setting / Character speaks a dialect: [舞妓さんちのまかないさん 12 | L25](https://learnnatively.com/book/8e0ac3c1c3/) > #4 Reread: [気になってる人が男じゃなかった | L25](https://learnnatively.com/series/29ce1d2266/) > #5 Non-human protagonist: [しろくまカフェbis 2 | L19](https://learnnatively.com/book/3addbac7b6/) > #6 Second in a series: [気になってる人が男じゃなかった VOL.2 | L24](https://learnnatively.com/book/cb7455a151/) > #7 Shiritori title (Hitoribochinomarumaruseikatsu → Tsuredzurebiyori) / Went in without knowing the premise: [徒然日和 1 | L20](https://learnnatively.com/book/6552c130e4/) > #8 Main character with a disability: [ゆびさきと恋々 4 | L20](https://learnnatively.com/book/de1b9508f2/) > #9 Has a cat character: [サイレント・ウィッチ 沈黙の魔女の隠しごと | L30](https://learnnatively.com/book/7ca632e88c/) > #10 Curious title: [時間割男子 1 わたしのテストは命がけ! | L23](https://learnnatively.com/book/b6f30bb97f/) > #11 Bad Cover: [ゆびさきと恋々 5 | L21](https://learnnatively.com/book/568b002ce7/) > #12 Finished\* in one day: [齋藤孝のイッキによめる! 名作選小学1年生 新装版 | L24](https://learnnatively.com/book/f13736b4f6/) > #13 Has Vampires / No ratings, no reviews: [霧島くんは普通じゃない ~転校生はヴァンパイア!?~ | L22](https://learnnatively.com/book/3c28b8a5f4/) Books 15, 16, and 17 won’t get me any bingos, but after that every book will get me a new bingo! Wow, I’m more than halfway to getting full blackout! ---
**Author:** ![読み蛙](https://deyr2qldo994j.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.learnnatively.com/%E8%AA%AD%E3%81%BF%E8%9B%99/32/9157_2.png) [@読み蛙](https://forums.learnnatively.com/u/%E8%AA%AD%E3%81%BF%E8%9B%99)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2025, 9:13pm UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/2025-bingo-reading-challenge/12116/565 "2025-07-22T21:13:29Z")
Okeee three more added in (after a loooong period without an update) ![image](https://do4ryrayvtpwi.cloudfront.net/original/3X/b/f/bfd2e785e2c77ce9d99f4afd911d75e42ddd8070.png) First time switching stuff around, putting 富江 in Science Fiction [工場 | L33](https://learnnatively.com/book/8890383d6f/) - **One Word Title** - slightly dystopian factory which is as big as a city and everyone has a weird time. [黒い森の記憶 | L30](https://learnnatively.com/book/3b192e44f1/) - **Free** - Couldn’t find an easy slot for this, so chucking it in the middle. [不倫と南米 | L28](https://learnnatively.com/book/9329a2b4e0) - **Seeking Rec’s** - thank you @bungakushoujo for this rec (many many months ago - long TBR lol) I do feel like I’m playing a game of how many books can I read while avoiding bingos 🥺 but I’m sure some will come along soon. ---
**Author:** ![shitsurei](https://deyr2qldo994j.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.learnnatively.com/shitsurei/32/3578_2.png) [@shitsurei](https://forums.learnnatively.com/u/shitsurei)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2025, 9:42pm UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/2025-bingo-reading-challenge/12116/566 "2025-07-22T21:42:36Z")
> [@読み蛙](#): > > I do feel like I’m playing a game of how many books can I read while avoiding bingos 🥺 🤝         ---
**Author:** ![monace](https://deyr2qldo994j.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.learnnatively.com/monace/32/13376_2.png) [@monace](https://forums.learnnatively.com/u/monace)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2025, 5:50pm UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/2025-bingo-reading-challenge/12116/567 "2025-07-26T17:50:38Z")
In an unbelievable turn of events, I finished my book! And they did explain the title! So here goes “Title that sounds curious:” [https://learnnatively.com/book/db47de8b2a/](https://learnnatively.com/book/db47de8b2a/) ![BINGO](https://do4ryrayvtpwi.cloudfront.net/original/3X/f/4/f4622d281d3781910546cdc39ecc26739d29e41a.jpeg) I think I need a break from difficult reading / novels, so I’ll go back to the [Dam in the Forest](https://learnnatively.com/series/000c143b53/) series, and keep on slowly reading [https://learnnatively.com/book/ed230b779f/](https://learnnatively.com/book/ed230b779f/) whenever the mood hits. > **Previous reads** > > [우리우리 복댕이 | L15](https://learnnatively.com/book/67133994a4/) Non-human protagonist > [호랑이 들어와요 | L17](https://learnnatively.com/series/c816d90dc9/) Book you keep hearing about > [https://learnnatively.com/book/84548a5854/](https://learnnatively.com/book/84548a5854/) Genre you don’t usually read > [https://learnnatively.com/book/6730d5664f/](https://learnnatively.com/book/6730d5664f/) Didn’t know the premise going in > [https://learnnatively.com/book/78a9dd7b6f/](https://learnnatively.com/book/78a9dd7b6f/) A book about a book > [https://learnnatively.com/book/e2a51441bd/](https://learnnatively.com/book/e2a51441bd/) 2nd volume of a series > [https://learnnatively.com/book/7f95822d8f/](https://learnnatively.com/book/7f95822d8f/) Main character is retirement age or older > [https://learnnatively.com/book/00f42f1f24/](https://learnnatively.com/book/00f42f1f24/) FREE SPACE > [https://learnnatively.com/book/da3c499476/](https://learnnatively.com/book/da3c499476/) Recommended to you > [https://learnnatively.com/book/b96023c8f7/](https://learnnatively.com/book/b96023c8f7/) Favourite colour > [https://learnnatively.com/book/95c7d16c21/](https://learnnatively.com/book/95c7d16c21/) Title includes a number > [https://learnnatively.com/book/273933d3cb/](https://learnnatively.com/book/273933d3cb/) One-word title > [https://learnnatively.com/book/db47de8b2a/](https://learnnatively.com/book/db47de8b2a/) Title that sounds curious ---
**Author:** ![xnd521](https://deyr2qldo994j.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.learnnatively.com/xnd521/32/13923_2.png) [@xnd521](https://forums.learnnatively.com/u/xnd521)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2025, 2:35am UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/2025-bingo-reading-challenge/12116/568 "2025-07-27T02:35:46Z")
![IMG_8067](https://do4ryrayvtpwi.cloudfront.net/original/3X/0/e/0eeefa91a14359be741daaeda1464b293fea0cca.jpeg) Added two books and two bingo lines for July. **2nd vol. of series** > **[三毛猫ホームズの怪談 | L30](https://learnnatively.com/book/efe1700204/)** > > Book, Difficulty: Level 30 (Upper Intermediate, ~JLPT N2) **Features cats** > **[猫を処方いたします。 | L31](https://learnnatively.com/book/0a0f959426/)** > > Book, Difficulty: Level 31 (Upper Intermediate, ~JLPT N2) Although I love cats and both books featured cats, I like the first book but not the second because I prefer mysteries and detective investigations. The second book lost my interest after the second chapter. ---
**Author:** ![gillianfaith](https://deyr2qldo994j.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.learnnatively.com/gillianfaith/32/7513_2.png) [@gillianfaith](https://forums.learnnatively.com/u/gillianfaith)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2025, 8:03pm UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/2025-bingo-reading-challenge/12116/569 "2025-07-27T20:03:37Z")
![image](https://do4ryrayvtpwi.cloudfront.net/original/3X/7/4/7443f2b636d8cf04e3c178d573a28bf890fe4e95.jpeg) **Protagonist is retirement age or older:** [定年諸君!(1) | L24??](https://learnnatively.com/book/f3798ee544/), ‘_You, Retirees!_’. B2 square, 3 bonus ⭐ stars for being the first to rate, grade, & review on Natively. > This manga kicks off with a former bank manager reaching retirement, and explores how he adjusts to his life of freedom, how he makes it meaningful, and how his relationships unfold with other retirees. It’s a pretty relaxing, grounded read that I quite enjoyed sitting down with, even if it doesn’t really go anywhere deep or have much of a plot. Tohru Shinohara’s artwork is also a treat, with plenty of varied and realistic designs for the old guys. I picked this knowing nothing about it but what was in the blurb, specifically because it was a perfect fit for the bingo prompt. It was a pretty enjoyable read! Likely a higher level than what I’m at, sadly, but I still had fun with what I did understand of it. Apparently Tohru Shinohara is most known for drawing badass sexy lady mangas, which this old man photography manga could not be farther from, but I really want to see more of his work now. The poses and expressions are all pretty stiff and restrained even when they’re pushed, but the way he draws people is just so satisfying to look at. ![image](https://do4ryrayvtpwi.cloudfront.net/original/3X/6/2/6257699185ae398bec6ba4e25bb9854f8e671f8c.png) ---
**Author:** ![Mara](https://deyr2qldo994j.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.learnnatively.com/mara/32/3002_2.png) [@Mara](https://forums.learnnatively.com/u/Mara)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2025, 5:01pm UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/2025-bingo-reading-challenge/12116/570 "2025-07-29T17:01:38Z")
![Screenshot 2025-07-29 at 12.51.43 PM](https://do4ryrayvtpwi.cloudfront.net/original/3X/7/4/74366dac606b2a4e41f376d1b8c01c9de186cae0.jpeg) #15 A book someone else thought I would like / Flower or plant name in the title: [あさがおと加瀬さん。 | L20](https://learnnatively.com/book/943cc24ce4/) I really liked this book (I liked the characters, the illustration style was a little unusual and very expressive, and the relationship is one I’m really rooting for), so I’m happy to give it a spot on my board! I completely made up the secondary prompt, but I think it could be a fun one, so I included it in case it inspires anyone. 🙂 > **previous squares** > > Free square: [とんがり帽子のアトリエ 5 | L27](https://learnnatively.com/book/ec2670e452/) > #1 Read a book and watch the adaptation/Join a book club: [ひとりぼっちの○○生活 1 | L21](https://learnnatively.com/book/bb278b5a56/) > #2 Cover is primarily composed of your favorite color / From someone else’s board: [とんがり帽子のアトリエ 6 | L27](https://learnnatively.com/book/2792b72a29/) > #3 Workplace setting / Character speaks a dialect: [舞妓さんちのまかないさん 12 | L25](https://learnnatively.com/book/8e0ac3c1c3/) > #4 Reread: [気になってる人が男じゃなかった | L25](https://learnnatively.com/series/29ce1d2266/) > #5 Non-human protagonist: [しろくまカフェbis 2 | L19](https://learnnatively.com/book/3addbac7b6/) > #6 Second in a series: [気になってる人が男じゃなかった VOL.2 | L24](https://learnnatively.com/book/cb7455a151/) > #7 Shiritori title (Hitoribochinomarumaruseikatsu → Tsuredzurebiyori) / Went in without knowing the premise: [徒然日和 1 | L20](https://learnnatively.com/book/6552c130e4/) > #8 Main character with a disability: [ゆびさきと恋々 4 | L20](https://learnnatively.com/book/de1b9508f2/) > #9 Has a cat character: [サイレント・ウィッチ 沈黙の魔女の隠しごと | L30](https://learnnatively.com/book/7ca632e88c/) > #10 Curious title: [時間割男子 1 わたしのテストは命がけ! | L23](https://learnnatively.com/book/b6f30bb97f/) > #11 Bad Cover: [ゆびさきと恋々 5 | L21](https://learnnatively.com/book/568b002ce7/) > #12 Finished\* in one day: [齋藤孝のイッキによめる! 名作選小学1年生 新装版 | L24](https://learnnatively.com/book/f13736b4f6/) > #13 Has Vampires / No ratings, no reviews: [霧島くんは普通じゃない ~転校生はヴァンパイア!?~ | L22](https://learnnatively.com/book/3c28b8a5f4/) > #14 Set in a country that is not where the book’s language is spoken: [木曜日にはココアを | L28](https://learnnatively.com/book/286f81d644/) ---
**Author:** ![qdsl](https://deyr2qldo994j.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.learnnatively.com/qdsl/32/7790_2.png) [@qdsl](https://forums.learnnatively.com/u/qdsl)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2025, 12:22am UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/2025-bingo-reading-challenge/12116/571 "2025-07-31T00:22:37Z")
![image](https://do4ryrayvtpwi.cloudfront.net/original/3X/c/8/c8efe45c57dec29855a07e2cb568f6b701eb8f88.jpeg) Filled the “Disability” slot in my bingo card with 偽りのマリィゴールド > **[偽りのマリィゴールド | L22](https://learnnatively.com/series/9d48e0a62a/)** > > Book Series, Difficulty: Level 22 (Intermediate, ~JLPT N3) While I thought the premise had potential, the actual execution is sadly not that great. The manga doesn’t do a such a good job of showing how life is for Ruri, the blind girl, and Hana, the other main character, takes some really strange decisions that didn’t make sense - to the point where the manga itself kinda ends a little bit after she realizes that what she’s trying to do is pointless. This was my second manga with a main blind character. The other one, [ヤンキー君と白杖ガール | L22](https://learnnatively.com/series/0a4d867752/) does a much better job regarding character development. The manga does a good job of showing what kind of hurdles a blind girl needs to navigate in life, while also showing she’s not a completely helpless person. ---
**Author:** ![暁のルナ](https://deyr2qldo994j.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.learnnatively.com/%E6%9A%81%E3%81%AE%E3%83%AB%E3%83%8A/32/23775_2.png) [@暁のルナ](https://forums.learnnatively.com/u/%E6%9A%81%E3%81%AE%E3%83%AB%E3%83%8A)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2025, 2:41am UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/2025-bingo-reading-challenge/12116/572 "2025-07-31T02:41:02Z")
I got [さよならローズガーデン 1 | L26](https://learnnatively.com/book/6a1bf78646/) but haven’t gotten to reading it yet. Looks great tho!! If you’re looking for something that handles disability well (in this case deafness) [雨夜の月 | L24](https://learnnatively.com/series/684e824519/) (ongoing) is a great choice btw. The author put a lot of care and effort into portraying how it affects the MC _and_ all the characters around them ---
**Author:** ![qdsl](https://deyr2qldo994j.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.learnnatively.com/qdsl/32/7790_2.png) [@qdsl](https://forums.learnnatively.com/u/qdsl)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2025, 4:23am UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/2025-bingo-reading-challenge/12116/573 "2025-07-31T04:23:14Z")
> [@暁のルナ](#): > > I got [さよならローズガーデン 1 | L26](https://learnnatively.com/book/6a1bf78646/) but haven’t gotten to trading it yet. Looks great tho!! =^.^= I hope you enjoy it! > [@暁のルナ](#): > > If you’re looking for something that handles disability well (in this case deafness) [雨夜の月 | L24](https://learnnatively.com/series/684e824519/) (ongoing) is a great choice btw. The author put a lot of care and effort into portraying how it affects the MC _and_ all the characters around them I keep hearing good things about that manga! It’s been in my Plan-To-Read list for a while now. ---
**Author:** ![nikoru](https://deyr2qldo994j.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.learnnatively.com/nikoru/32/413_2.png) [@nikoru](https://forums.learnnatively.com/u/nikoru)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2025, 12:19pm UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/2025-bingo-reading-challenge/12116/574 "2025-07-31T12:19:42Z")
I finished 黒蜥蜴 (the latest Mystery Club pick) the other day, and I put it in “Keep hearing about”. In all fairness, it’s more that I keep hearing about the author than about this book in particular 😅 so this is a bit of a stretch, but I’m fine with that. ![Natively Bingo 2025](https://do4ryrayvtpwi.cloudfront.net/original/3X/1/e/1e4dd1de64320f0a1cfe9a2e27ed8db5dcfc111c.png) Coming closer to a bingo but still carefully tiptoeing around it 🤣 The Science Fiction field is of course a hot contender but in August I need to finish 3 books (so that I can review them for the BookMeter challenge 😆) and I’m afraid the SF book I started will not be among them. I have high hopes for September! 🤞 ---
**Author:** ![Akashelia](https://deyr2qldo994j.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.learnnatively.com/akashelia/32/2799_2.png) [@Akashelia](https://forums.learnnatively.com/u/Akashelia)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2025, 4:34pm UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/2025-bingo-reading-challenge/12116/575 "2025-08-03T16:34:25Z")
![72025_BINGO_JP-1 copy_16](https://do4ryrayvtpwi.cloudfront.net/original/3X/5/e/5e342c8e3038cd5655edc7314a4f314efa5d0672.jpeg) **21 - Read a book with a non-human protagonist** → [Fata Morgana](https://community.wanikani.com/t/%E3%83%95%E3%82%A1%E3%82%BF%E3%83%A2%E3%83%AB%E3%82%AC%E3%83%BC%E3%83%8A%E3%81%AE%E9%A4%A8-the-house-in-fata-morgana-visual-novel-club-now-running/69501): a Visual Novel for this one! It counts because there is a witch in the story. Took a long time to read, it was pretty long (674k char) but I really enjoyed it! Only 4 to go now! I know what I will read for “Released the year you were born” and I also saw some comments here that made want to read a certain book for “Something from someone else’s bingo card”. I will go and ask for a recommendation at some point for the “Ask what you read next in the Seeking Recommendations Thread”. I expect “Read the latest book you bought” to be the toughest one to fulfill 😂 > **Previously** > > **1 - Cover is primarily composed of your favorite color** : > → BLUE!! [とんがり帽子のアトリエ 6](https://learnnatively.com/book/2792b72a29/) with the [IMC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/%E3%81%A8%E3%82%93%E3%81%8C%E3%82%8A%E5%B8%BD%E5%AD%90%E3%81%AE%E3%82%A2%E3%83%88%E3%83%AA%E3%82%A8-volume-6/68523) (Jan 4th) > > **2 - 2nd volume of a series** : > → [ダンジョン飯 2巻](https://learnnatively.com/book/045a930572/) with the [IMC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/%E3%83%80%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B8%E3%83%A7%E3%83%B3%E9%A3%AF-volume-2/68401) (Jan 4th) > > **3 - Book you keep hearing about but haven’t read yet** : > → [容疑者Xの献身](https://learnnatively.com/book/5cc882d1e4/), previous [ABC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/%E5%AE%B9%E7%96%91%E8%80%85x%E3%81%AE%E7%8C%AE%E8%BA%AB-the-devotion-of-suspect-x-%F0%9F%8C%B9-advanced-book-club/47665) (Jan 5th) > > **4 - Read the next book in a series you have started** : > → [スーパーの裏でヤニ吸うふたり 4](https://learnnatively.com/book/d79d46033f/), Read volume 1 with the [BBC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/%E3%82%B9%E3%83%BC%E3%83%91%E3%83%BC%E3%81%AE%E8%A3%8F%E3%81%A7%E3%83%A4%E3%83%8B%E5%90%B8%E3%81%86%E3%81%B5%E3%81%9F%E3%82%8A%E3%83%BBbehind-the-supermarket-smoking-with-you-beginner-book-club-reading-volume-3/62044) in March 2023 (almost two years ago!), it was hard. Feels easier now! (though still doesn’t feel easy! manga is hard) (Jan 7th) > > **5 - Has cats** 🙂 > → [おじさまと猫 1](https://learnnatively.com/book/599111c352/), has a [Book Club on WK](https://community.wanikani.com/t/%E3%81%8A%E3%81%98%E3%81%95%E3%81%BE%E3%81%A8%E7%8C%AB-ojisama-to-neko-book-club/45470) (Jan 8th) > > **6 - Read a book that doesn’t have any ratings/gradings/reviews on Natively** : > → [南くんの恋人](https://learnnatively.com/book/1d5bd8283b/) got it as a gift, I am apparently the first one to read it (Jan 8th) > > **7 - Read a book someone else thought you would like** > → [セロ弾きのゴーシュ](https://learnnatively.com/book/dbf2e93d66/), children book, got it as a gift. I found it WAY harder than its grading, some sentences were very long and full of kana and very hard to parse. (Jan 11th) > > **8 - Read something you can read for free** > → 桜の樹の下には Short story, read it for free on Aozora, found it here: > [🎄 2024 Aozora Short Story and Essay Advent ☃](http://forums.learnnatively.com/t/2024-aozora-short-story-and-essay-advent/13035) (Jan 11th) > > **9 - Read a book at a Natively level you haven’t covered yet** : > → Candidates were: below level 14, level 18, level 22, level 24, level 28, level 32, level 34, above level 35. Looked at my backlog and settled for [怪人二十面相](https://learnnatively.com/book/b1b8d443a8/) level 28. How can you not want to read it after reading [this post from javerend](https://community.wanikani.com/t/javerends-study-and-cooking-log/62010/475?u=akashelia)? And it did not disappoint, I really enjoyed reading it 🙂 (Jan 19th) > > **10 - Read something with a one-word title** > → [orange](https://learnnatively.com/book/62244b495a/), previous [BC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/orange-book-club-finished/57388) on WK. Not gonna lie, was pretty happy with myself when I decided to read this one for the one-word title haha. Had this book in my backlog for a long time, as it was being read here on WK forums at the time where I was actively studying Japanese and kept seeing the threads popping up. Thought I would just read the first volume but I enjoyed it, plus now I’m hooked and need to know what happens next! So I am planning on finishing the series before starting on the next Bingo case (it’s only 7 volumes) (Jan 22nd) > > **11 - Read something that has won an award** > → [世界から猫が消えたなら](https://learnnatively.com/book/1030c11685/), [has a thread on WK](https://community.wanikani.com/t/%E4%B8%96%E7%95%8C%E3%81%8B%E3%82%89%E7%8C%AB%E3%81%8C%E6%B6%88%E3%81%88%E3%81%9F%E3%81%AA%E3%82%89-if-cats-disappeared-from-the-world-book-discussion/36448), keep seeing this one popping up and was wondering what it was about. > What a book. I didn’t know anything about it when I started it, expect that it’s quite popular (or at least that it’s been read a lot, I can see now that not all the comments are positive). “wow this book is pretty funny”, “wow this book is pretty sad”, I don’t know which one fits best but this book gives a lot of food for thought. Especially touching if you are mourning / thinking about your own mortality. (Feb 10th) > > **12 - The title includes a number** > → [3月のライオン](https://learnnatively.com/book/3d1a352b46/): Read the first volume. Not sure how much I like it yet, I think I will read at least two more volumes to see if I want to read the whole series. I found it pretty hard language wise! (Feb 14th) > > **13 - Finish a series** > → [ラブひな](https://learnnatively.com/series/ad33cf94e4/): The square says “Finish a series” but I made it to “Start _and_ finish a series” 😛 > I’ve read all 14 volumes in January and February! > I wanted to finish a series that I hadn’t started yet and that was completed, and this one was already in my backlog due to being one of the few manga I read in my youth. I didn’t want to binge it and read that only (would have probably gotten sick of it very fast), so I just read one chapter between whatever else I was reading. Technically I even started+finished Orange first as it was while reading Love Hina, but still wanted to keep this one for my bingo square. > While ecchi humour is not usually my favourite, this manga is a bit special to me because it’s one of the few that I had read in my youth, basically while I’m reading I completely forget that I’m not 14 anymore haha (懐かしいですね). So I had a lot of fun revisiting it (well, up to a point. didn’t enjoy that much the last 5 volumes or so). The ecchi-part is not as often as I remembered thankfully, there were sweet and funny moments too. And funny how it made me realize that I know a lot more now about the culture in Japan now, so many things must have flown right over my head at the time, to just name a few: the legend of 浦島 太郎, or about ホワイトデー, what’s a 浪人, 七夕, etc etc. Maybe I also enjoyed reading it now because it’s a level of difficulty where I’m really comfortable now, so it felt a lot like actually reading and not deciphering for a change! But finally it’s done now, and happy to be moving on! (Feb 15th) > > **14 - Read something with a title that sounds curious to you** > → [走ることについて語るときに僕の語ること](https://learnnatively.com/book/5855b27269/): I enjoy running myself a lot so was very curious to know Murakami’s take on it. > …Don’t really know what to say now that I’ve finished the book. Don’t want to say something bad about Murakami (how would I dare), but I guess I did find the book pretty boring. It’s basically a guy who enjoys running as a hobby who talks about how he got into it and tells about his (albeit impressive) performances. I mean, if it wasn’t for Murakami, I’m not sure I would have liked to read more than 200 pages about that. But it was Murakami, so I guess it’s nice to get some insights into his life and his personality, and of course any Japanese practice is nice. But for my next pick I might try to find something where I feel more engaged in the story, maybe non-fiction is just not my type 😅 (Mar 9th) > > **15 - A genre you don’t usually read** > → [しまなみ誰そ彼 1](https://learnnatively.com/book/86e8cbcf53/): I have never read a Boy Love manga before, so checked [which one was the most popular on Natively in that category](https://learnnatively.com/search/jpn/books/?ntags=boys-love). It has also been read [on WK](https://community.wanikani.com/t/%E3%81%97%E3%81%BE%E3%81%AA%E3%81%BF%E8%AA%B0%E3%81%9D%E5%BD%BC-lgbtgsrm-book-club/63180) before. > The art was really nice and got engaged in the story, the series is only 4 volumes so I think I will finish it! (Mar 10th) > > **16 - Read the book that has been in your 積読/TBR pile the longest** > → [NANA―ナナ―](https://community.wanikani.com/t/nana%E2%80%95%E3%83%8A%E3%83%8A%E2%80%95-volume-1-ongoing-week-56/69290) ! One of my goal when I started Japanese was to read this manga in its original version, as I loved it as a teenager. So happy it has happened now. I can even sit with the book and read it physically without look ups and follow fine. I do a re-read afterwards with the club though, where I look up everything I didn’t 100% understand at the first read. Loving it and looking forward to continuing the series! (Apr 2nd) > > **17 - Main character is retirement age or older** > → [おらおらでひとりいぐも](https://learnnatively.com/book/1e1bfd0750/): was a very tough read due to Tohoku-ben and to the narrator mostly talking to herself in her head. Maybe if my Japanese level had been better I would have enjoyed it more. Interesting (end of) life reflections. But can’t really recommend it. (Apr 16th) > > **18 - Past book club choice** > → [薬屋のひとりごと 1](https://learnnatively.com/book/58b185c486/): previous [ABC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/x/55384). I didn’t know anything about it previous to reading. It was pretty brutal at the beginning, a lot of new vocab, and not even that, a lot of things are implied and not written. I struggled a lot but thanks to the old threads of the book club I was following along. I feel like as I was reading it was also getting easier. Really liked it, I could see myself continuing the series. Would maybe be better though to wait until my Japanese is a bit better! (May 16th) > > **19 - Read a book about a topic you previously didn’t know about** > → [銀の匙 Silver Spoon 1](https://learnnatively.com/book/ac493cdad6/): read with the [IMC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/%E9%8A%80%E3%81%AE%E5%8C%99-book-club-imc-%E3%83%BB-now-reading/69032). Unlike the main character, not everything was new to me about the agricultural world, but still, quite a lot of new things, in particular I knew nothing about ばんえい競走 and there was a full chapter about it (May 17th) > > **20 - Read a debut (an author’s first book, whether they’ve written more or not)** > → [木曜日にはココアを](https://learnnatively.com/book/286f81d644/): 青山 美智子 seems to be a popular author and I hadn’t read anything by her yet. Then [a club on Natively](http://forums.learnnatively.com/t/book-club/15553) was made just at the time where I decided to read this one! Unfortunately I ended up not liking it so much. I can see why it can be liked though, just not my preferred genre at the moment. Would like to give her a go again though. (May 25th) > > > **To do, not sorted 4/25:** > > > > - _Something from someone else’s bingo card_ > > - _Ask what you read next in the Seeking Recommendations Thread_ > > - _Released the year you were born_ > > - _Read the latest book you bought_ ---
**Author:** ![suadang](https://deyr2qldo994j.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.learnnatively.com/suadang/32/14947_2.png) [@suadang](https://forums.learnnatively.com/u/suadang)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2025, 2:04am UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/2025-bingo-reading-challenge/12116/576 "2025-08-11T02:04:48Z")
Since my last post, I’ve read 3 more books. ![](https://do4ryrayvtpwi.cloudfront.net/original/3X/a/0/a0f22bd2fa8201222b21576e5043ec0e262f9dd9.png) They were all kind of bad. #39 was 녹나무의 파수꾼 by Higashino Keigo, which I expected to be a murder mystery and ended up being a vaguely suspenseful healing story that definitely did not need to be that long. 3rd worst book of his. #40 was 죽음의 로그인, a Taiwanese book added to my e-library that looked very promising. It promised video games and death, and while it had some high notes, I feel like it was anticlimactic and ended with a whimper rather than release after the slow buildup (it was a 500+ page book too). I then got another Higashino book, thinking it would be a short one, since I know the sequel is only 250 pages or so. Nope. It’s another 500+. So I decided to randomly check out a book that’s been on my wishlist for years because of the pretty cover and that I fully expected to be ass: 너와 나의 365일 (#41). It’s in the genre of Japanese terminal illness YA, which I despise. I decided to try speed reading it and managed to finish it at a pace of 2.3 pages per minute / 57k 자 per hour, which is almost double my regular pace. Despite speed reading it, I still managed to easily predict the twist. And yes, it was not a good book. I’m in the process of reading 너의 유토피아 by 정보라 (finished 2/7 stories). Taking my time with it as it’s a short story collection. Also in the process of reading 민트의 세계, a book I own in paperback that I feel like is not going to be a good book. Otherwise, I’ve requested 불편한 편의점 2 from the library and plan to try my hand at a lower comprehension book soon. I’ve been reading high 98-99% for a while, but going lower will help with vocab gains. ---
**Author:** ![monace](https://deyr2qldo994j.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.learnnatively.com/monace/32/13376_2.png) [@monace](https://forums.learnnatively.com/u/monace)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2025, 8:10pm UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/2025-bingo-reading-challenge/12116/577 "2025-08-11T20:10:35Z")
I finished [https://learnnatively.com/book/2c5fa18534/](https://learnnatively.com/book/2c5fa18534/) and I think it fits the “adventure-themed” prompt. The character does go on an adventure, he meets ~~people~~ , ~~animals~~ , _friends_ (who keep dying but still) and they discover a whole new world together. I wanted to cry I think on every single page, and I finally did on the last ones. 10/10 would recommend to lower intermediate readers. ![BINGO](https://do4ryrayvtpwi.cloudfront.net/original/3X/9/e/9ef5faeea8534e29d7f0356ba6f0defb00818382.jpeg) I wanted to read [https://learnnatively.com/book/abc80b66d7/](https://learnnatively.com/book/abc80b66d7/) next because of the reviews and also on the off chance one of the stories would be about cats, but it’s not available on Ridi, and I still don’t know how to buy books on Yes24. So I switched to [https://learnnatively.com/book/fb5f711312/](https://learnnatively.com/book/fb5f711312/), which has been on my TBR list for a while, though I don’t think it will fit any bingo prompt. > **Previous reads** > > [우리우리 복댕이 | L15](https://learnnatively.com/book/67133994a4/) Non-human protagonist > [호랑이 들어와요 | L17](https://learnnatively.com/series/c816d90dc9/) Book you keep hearing about > [https://learnnatively.com/book/84548a5854/](https://learnnatively.com/book/84548a5854/) Genre you don’t usually read > [https://learnnatively.com/book/6730d5664f/](https://learnnatively.com/book/6730d5664f/) Didn’t know the premise going in > [https://learnnatively.com/book/78a9dd7b6f/](https://learnnatively.com/book/78a9dd7b6f/) A book about a book > [https://learnnatively.com/book/e2a51441bd/](https://learnnatively.com/book/e2a51441bd/) 2nd volume of a series > [https://learnnatively.com/book/7f95822d8f/](https://learnnatively.com/book/7f95822d8f/) Main character is retirement age or older > [https://learnnatively.com/book/00f42f1f24/](https://learnnatively.com/book/00f42f1f24/) FREE SPACE > [https://learnnatively.com/book/da3c499476/](https://learnnatively.com/book/da3c499476/) Recommended to you > [https://learnnatively.com/book/b96023c8f7/](https://learnnatively.com/book/b96023c8f7/) Favourite colour > [https://learnnatively.com/book/95c7d16c21/](https://learnnatively.com/book/95c7d16c21/) Title includes a number > [https://learnnatively.com/book/273933d3cb/](https://learnnatively.com/book/273933d3cb/) One-word title > [https://learnnatively.com/book/db47de8b2a/](https://learnnatively.com/book/db47de8b2a/) Title that sounds curious > [https://learnnatively.com/book/2c5fa18534/](https://learnnatively.com/book/2c5fa18534/) Adventure-themed ---
**Author:** ![mitrac](https://deyr2qldo994j.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.learnnatively.com/mitrac/32/6503_2.png) [@mitrac](https://forums.learnnatively.com/u/mitrac)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2025, 5:37pm UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/2025-bingo-reading-challenge/12116/578 "2025-08-13T17:37:13Z")
![image](https://do4ryrayvtpwi.cloudfront.net/original/3X/8/1/81a78fae6928897ebcc9fd7de5b4751eff45a6ce.jpeg) My recent reads haven’t aligned as well with Bingo, but I got another square! I love how pretty these end up looking ☺ - July update - Keep hearing about it: [木曜日にはココアを | L28](https://learnnatively.com/book/286f81d644/) > **Previous squares** > > - January: > - Category: Read a book and its adaptation > - I read [シャドーハウス Vol 1](https://learnnatively.com/book/dcbc2336d7/) (Shadows House) and watched the first 2 anime episodes that perfectly cover Volume 1. It was great - definitely recommend! > > - [昴とスーさん 1巻 | L22](https://learnnatively.com/book/6c6f6fb0bb/) **Category** : unusual genre for me. I’ve never read a slice of life manga, and this also has other elements I don’t want to spoil that I’ve not approached yet. I left the first review if anyone is interested, I definitely recommend. > - [しろくまカフェbis 3 | L19](https://learnnatively.com/book/82e041b0b5/) **Category** : favorite color cover (I love green and blue!). The cute world of panda, polar bear, and penguin can always brighten my day 🌞 > > - February: > - Set outside Japan: [たったひとりのサバイバル・ゲーム! 極寒の雪山を脱出せよ | L21](https://learnnatively.com/book/e299d353ba/) > - Anything / free spot: [SLAM DUNK 3 | L23](https://learnnatively.com/book/b086c5729f/) > - New Natively level: [ドラえもん一年生 学年別ドラえもん名作選 | L16](https://learnnatively.com/book/ca756891eb/) > - One word title: [ハルタ 2020-AUGUST volume 77 | L31](https://learnnatively.com/book/351d948e60/) > > - March update: > - Non-human protagonist: [葬送のフリーレン 4 | L25](https://learnnatively.com/book/6634a79d1f/) > > - April: > - Recommended to me: [ふしぎな声のする町で: ものだま探偵団 | L25](https://learnnatively.com/book/20275dba92/) > - This is a great read if you like cozy mystery. I really enjoy this author and have already ordered the next book in this series. > > - May update - first bingo! > - Features cats: [https://learnnatively.com/book/e7dc4d5924/](https://learnnatively.com/book/e7dc4d5924/) > - Character with a disability: [https://learnnatively.com/book/d5c9a066d8/](https://learnnatively.com/book/d5c9a066d8/) (love this!) > - Science fiction: [https://learnnatively.com/book/22442ef1a6/](https://learnnatively.com/book/22442ef1a6/) (yes, that is the last of the series, no I did not read them all 😂) > - Unknown premise: [https://learnnatively.com/book/be77af2158/](https://learnnatively.com/book/be77af2158/) (another great one) ---
**Author:** ![読み蛙](https://deyr2qldo994j.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.learnnatively.com/%E8%AA%AD%E3%81%BF%E8%9B%99/32/9157_2.png) [@読み蛙](https://forums.learnnatively.com/u/%E8%AA%AD%E3%81%BF%E8%9B%99)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2025, 8:10am UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/2025-bingo-reading-challenge/12116/579 "2025-08-14T08:10:20Z")
Another couple of books from me! ![image](https://do4ryrayvtpwi.cloudfront.net/original/3X/6/7/67a81522b91d412e104f018b09ba5f40d029752c.jpeg) I’m picking **Curious title** - [泳ぐのに、安全でも適切でもありません | L27](https://learnnatively.com/book/e268a578f7/) The author picked the title from a sign she saw while on vacation, and it feels like it somewhat inspired her to write these stories. Which is a fun enough title for me. **Someone else’s card** - [海がきこえる | L27](https://learnnatively.com/book/c7c5390b87/) Picking up from @bungakushoujo 's card! Was very sweet, although parts at the start were a bit too much high school drama. The Ghibli adaptation is on my TBW list now ☺ ---
**Author:** ![Belerith](https://deyr2qldo994j.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.learnnatively.com/belerith/32/60_2.png) [@Belerith](https://forums.learnnatively.com/u/Belerith)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2025, 5:25pm UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/2025-bingo-reading-challenge/12116/580 "2025-08-18T17:25:21Z")
1,5 months since my last update (unless I missed one) my board is looking very full already. 🙂 I was waiting to finish another book I was reading which I have now done. ![Kopie von Natively Bingo 2025 (2)](https://do4ryrayvtpwi.cloudfront.net/original/3X/4/6/462997c92a7b199fdc6b273e5b9332dd04eafe11.jpeg) I have since finished [https://learnnatively.com/book/e9351f2b61/](https://learnnatively.com/book/e9351f2b61/) for sci-fi, [https://learnnatively.com/book/02feed1f41/](https://learnnatively.com/book/02feed1f41/) for the ‘somewhere I’ve lived’ prompt (Fukuoka, if only 6 weeks). I moved 黒蜥蜴 to 'movie & adaptation after watching the movie and put [https://learnnatively.com/book/ec9289b0cb/](https://learnnatively.com/book/ec9289b0cb/) in the free square instead. Today I then finished [https://learnnatively.com/book/dd5c9ef9f9/](https://learnnatively.com/book/dd5c9ef9f9/), which I started after some talk about it on the forums and am hence putting it in the square for ‘book you keep hearing about’. That gives me 2 new bingos for a total of 3! 🥳 > **completed prompts** > > One word title: [火花 | L35](https://learnnatively.com/book/a9731f13a3/) > Birthyear: [魔性の子 十二国記 0 | L33](https://learnnatively.com/book/c370a6e0fa/) > Curious Title: [B級グルメのたのしい温泉―青森から鹿児島まで | L30??](https://learnnatively.com/book/56ccacd7e1/) > Has cats: [サイレント・ウィッチ 沈黙の魔女の隠しごと | L30](https://learnnatively.com/book/7ca632e88c/) > Someone else’s bingo card (cat): [理由 | L35](https://learnnatively.com/book/d806af9e8c/) > Unknown premise: [幻獣調査員 | L33](https://learnnatively.com/book/149d008803/) > No rating etc: [ジブリパーク公式ガイドブック | L30??](https://learnnatively.com/book/09d2fed459/) > Unusual genre: [イラストでまるわかり! 日本の神様ご利益事典 | L26??](https://learnnatively.com/book/ba39c8fb0f/) > Retirement MC: [おらおらでひとりいぐも | L37](https://learnnatively.com/book/1e1bfd0750/) > Non-human protagonist: [黒猫ニャンゴの冒険 レア属性を引き当てたので、気ままな冒険者を目指します | L29](https://learnnatively.com/book/fddbfdf358/) > Favorite color: [神去なあなあ日常 | L33](https://learnnatively.com/book/3d1df92a99/) > Past book club: [神去なあなあ夜話 | L33](https://learnnatively.com/book/1544690988/) > ~~Free~~ Book&Adaptation: [黒蜥蜴 | L35](https://learnnatively.com/book/e26091ccc4/) > Number: [百年文通 | L36](https://learnnatively.com/book/0c3d5ab5c5/) > 2nd Volume: [黒猫ニャンゴの冒険2 レア属性を引き当てたので、気ままな冒険者を目指します | L29](https://learnnatively.com/book/7e932c6888/) > Set outside Japan: [FLESH & BLOOD 2 | L35](https://learnnatively.com/book/4aecc9756d/) > Disability: [1リットルの涙難病と闘い続ける少女亜也の日記 | L28](https://learnnatively.com/book/9e484cc962/) > Science fiction: [https://learnnatively.com/book/e9351f2b61/](https://learnnatively.com/book/e9351f2b61/) > Set somewhere I have lived: [https://learnnatively.com/book/02feed1f41/](https://learnnatively.com/book/02feed1f41/) > Book you keep hearing about: [https://learnnatively.com/book/dd5c9ef9f9/](https://learnnatively.com/book/dd5c9ef9f9/) > Free: [https://learnnatively.com/book/ec9289b0cb/](https://learnnatively.com/book/ec9289b0cb/) ---
**Author:** ![qdsl](https://deyr2qldo994j.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.learnnatively.com/qdsl/32/7790_2.png) [@qdsl](https://forums.learnnatively.com/u/qdsl)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2025, 2:54am UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/2025-bingo-reading-challenge/12116/581 "2025-08-19T02:54:52Z")
Filled the “Fantasy” slot in my bingo! ![image](https://do4ryrayvtpwi.cloudfront.net/original/3X/d/7/d74ace229db319eba9fbb62325e917c2d2562aba.jpeg) The new entry is: > **[狼の皮をかぶった羊姫 | L21](https://learnnatively.com/series/fca910f421/)** > > Book Series, Difficulty: Level 21 (Intermediate, ~JLPT N3) This series is very fluffy, both literally and figuratively! It tells a really sweet (though sometimes a bit cliché-ish) romance Yuri story between a Sheepa 🐑 princess and her Wolfa 🐺 butler. While the story is nothing ground-breaking, it’s very light-hearted and fun. The artwork is very cute: ![image](https://do4ryrayvtpwi.cloudfront.net/original/3X/b/2/b2dca0d5dcde1d4098309546184c0a1ff985007e.jpeg) ![image](https://do4ryrayvtpwi.cloudfront.net/original/3X/5/f/5f589ece78ae8c141b7ddc0271d70e0f7275c6fc.jpeg) ![image](https://do4ryrayvtpwi.cloudfront.net/original/3X/9/d/9dafded883997098d63b5a8f4f792b200dc84900.jpeg) ![image](https://do4ryrayvtpwi.cloudfront.net/original/3X/f/3/f339aa70434c8d340f1ef5c4e607fa2917ea012a.jpeg) It also includes Sheepasso art! ![image](https://do4ryrayvtpwi.cloudfront.net/original/3X/b/0/b05b1affded071f0ed276307b5c845471585d5fd.jpeg) The author put a lot of effort on the clothing for the princess - she’s constantly wearing all kind of different dresses in all chapters. There’s also this funny scene where the Sheepa writes the character 羊 on the palm of her hand to fight off nervousness, just like the usual manga/anime cliché of people drawing 人 on their palm. ![image](https://do4ryrayvtpwi.cloudfront.net/original/3X/1/d/1dd3de7242ce6a7d458a8e599df71bebd09e4e07.jpeg) While there’s some drama, it’s really light and doesn’t drag on. Time to find my next series to read! ---
**Author:** ![nikoru](https://deyr2qldo994j.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.learnnatively.com/nikoru/32/413_2.png) [@nikoru](https://forums.learnnatively.com/u/nikoru)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2025, 12:22pm UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/2025-bingo-reading-challenge/12116/582 "2025-08-19T12:22:21Z")
Finished my next book, 香君2. Unfortunately this is a bit broken in Natively, so I cannot record it, but that doesn’t keep me from putting it in the bingo 😁 ![Natively Bingo 2025](https://do4ryrayvtpwi.cloudfront.net/original/3X/c/e/ce719cb4a3e905a6a6260dd00949f3402215d250.png) Still finding my way around the first bingo 🤣 This month I want to finish two more books, so that I can participate in the BookWalker review challenge. And after that, let’s see 👍 [Previous page](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/2025-bingo-reading-challenge/12116.md?page=28) [Next page](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/2025-bingo-reading-challenge/12116.md?page=30)