That whole “get comfortable with L27+ fantasy manga” thing feels less far away now… Tho I should see how 月姫 9 goes, when I get there.
While it’s been a bit stressful, I do feel like the overall content level I’m engaging with is gradually rising. Haven’t been reading manga, since I finished Sailor Moon 4, but I should start on book 6 soon (already read 5). Maybe finish マリみて 34 or 小さき花々 first though.
Recent books & shows
Recent current reads:
- 花物語 | L39 - all over w/ the vocab, but comprehension
- 小さき花々 花物語 | L39 (probly L29-31) - from 1930s-40s. So far much easier than 花物語
- ソードアート・オンライン4 フェアリィ・ダンス | L34 - if I wasn’t doing with audiobook, I’d probly put it off a bit more, but it wouldn’t feel overwhelming either way
- マリア様がみてる 34 リトルホラーズ | L29 - easy/comfortable. Jpdb has been very beneficial, since I only have a few hundred cards left, and most of them have familiar kanji
Recent current views:
- ベルサイユのばら S1 | L43?? (around L35) - definitely need subs for this, but found I don’t necessarily need jpdb (but it really helps)
- 桜蘭高校ホスト部 S1 | L27 - can follow well, but lots of specific vocab - some of which overlaps w/ ベルサイユのばら. Have been doing 3 eps at a time
- 薬屋のひとりごと S2 | L34 - this is still super hard, though the jpdb deck for book 1 was helping a bit
Vocab thoughts
One thing that’s been interesting for me, with doing decks for harder materials, is how many words with unfamiliar (or weakly remembered) kanji I’m running into. I’ve still been writing them out once or twice, when I have energy. Also surprising has been the “I used to know that word/kanji”. There’s also a mix of “I’d know this word hearing it, but not reading it” and “I’d figure this word out if I saw it, but not if I heard it” - and it’s something I take into account when reviewing, depending on which thing the word is associated with. As usual, I do find that encountering the words in the actual thing I’m reading/watching is a million times more effective for remembering them - but jpdb does help me recognize & retain them when I encounter them.
jpdb decks
Current jpdb decks:
- Versailles ep 21-24
- Ouran ep 10-12 (will update to 13-15 soon)
- Next 2 stories from 花物語
- 3-4 miscellaneous small decks
- マリみて 34
Long-term decks (trying not to do new vocab from these rn):
- ApoDiaries - 1,662 Unknown
- I can be more gradual w/ this since I’m only reading it once a week
- SAO 4 - 1,844
- Maybe most beneficial since I’m reading w/ audiobook, and instant recognition helps keep up
- flowers - 2,671
- SeaBed - 3,903
- Fate/Stay Night - 4,639
If I do new vocab, either ApoDiaries or SAO, since they’re the smallest, and more active
