# The Seeking Recommendations Thread 📚 **URL:** \ **Category:** Reading\ **Created:** [August 2, 2023, 11:30am UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/the-seeking-recommendations-thread/4513 "2023-08-02T11:30:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 37
**Author:** ![Snappie](https://deyr2qldo994j.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.learnnatively.com/snappie/32/18367_2.png) [@Snappie](https://forums.learnnatively.com/u/Snappie)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2025, 8:18pm UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/the-seeking-recommendations-thread/4513/723 "2025-10-08T20:18:20Z")
Oeh I’m adding a few of those to my list to try. [むらさきのスカートの女 | L27](https://learnnatively.com/book/c755914d6d/) seems creepy in a way. [土の中の子供 | L31](https://learnnatively.com/book/296331cc66/) seems very dark. Both books are new territory for me. I’m also participating in the bingo challenge btw :). I made a few posts but I didn’t add myself to the list at the top. Thanks for the recommendations. These books are vastly different from what I’ve read sofar. ---
**Author:** ![seanblue](https://deyr2qldo994j.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.learnnatively.com/seanblue/32/3251_2.png) [@seanblue](https://forums.learnnatively.com/u/seanblue)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2025, 8:19pm UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/the-seeking-recommendations-thread/4513/724 "2025-10-08T20:19:06Z")
> [@Snappie](#): > > Already got it in my bookcase (though I’ll probably read it digitally anyway). But the physical book is stunning. I own the ebook, the full cast audiobook, and the beautiful hardcover. You could say I’m a fan. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Legato](https://deyr2qldo994j.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.learnnatively.com/legato/32/17821_2.png) [@Legato](https://forums.learnnatively.com/u/Legato)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2025, 10:49pm UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/the-seeking-recommendations-thread/4513/725 "2025-10-08T22:49:48Z")
> [@Snappie](#): > > > [@seanblue](#): > > > > サイレント・ウィッチ | L30 > > This is series I’m already looking forward to a lot. I just think it’s a tad too difficult for me to enjoy thoroughly for now. I’d recommend trying it. It’s the hardest thing I ever read and I’m surprised how much I was able to enjoy it. If you’re not above children’s books: - [また、同じ夢を見ていた | L25](https://learnnatively.com/book/2c1e37ec2e) has a good writing style and a fantastic audio book (you know, for simultaneous reading/listening). - [人狼サバイバル 1 絶体絶命! 伯爵の人狼ゲーム | L25](https://learnnatively.com/book/7eea99b629) was pretty enjoyable (although I guess it’s mystery-ish, so maybe not for you). - [もしもの世界ルーレット あったら便利? “スペアの体”の使い方 他 | L23](https://learnnatively.com/book/33f2314ead) is also in the “pretty enjoyable” category. Three of the four books mentioned also have book clubs either on WK or here too, and I recommend reading the threads and posting your impressions if that’s your thing 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Aik](https://deyr2qldo994j.cloudfront.net/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Aik](https://forums.learnnatively.com/u/Aik)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2025, 11:14pm UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/the-seeking-recommendations-thread/4513/726 "2025-10-08T23:14:55Z")
I think these two are what I’d go for as a generic “introduction to reading” - they’re children’s novels that (I think, anyway) have broad appeal and are well written. > **[アサギをよぶ声 | L26](https://learnnatively.com/book/7884d30d0c/)** > > Book, Difficulty: Level 26 (Intermediate, ~JLPT N3) > **[選ばなかった冒険―光の石の伝説 (偕成社ワンダーランド 17) | L26](https://learnnatively.com/book/323f5a0c9a/)** > > Book, Difficulty: Level 26 (Intermediate, ~JLPT N3) And I’ll probably go these for entry-level, high quality light novels: > **[雨の日のアイリス | L31](https://learnnatively.com/book/cea662a9f3/)** > > Book, Difficulty: Level 31 (Upper Intermediate, ~JLPT N2) > **[誰が勇者を殺したか | L30](https://learnnatively.com/book/17539c4127/)** > > Book, Difficulty: Level 30 (Upper Intermediate, ~JLPT N2) ---
**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:** [October 9, 2025, 12:49am UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/the-seeking-recommendations-thread/4513/727 "2025-10-09T00:49:31Z")
> [@Snappie](#): > > Are there any (light) novels you’d say are masterpieces in a genre, stand out within a genre or are just a good introductory book to a genre that’d you recommend Masterpieceはともかく, these are my standouts: - [マリア様がみてる | L30](https://learnnatively.com/series/494308d39c/) are my favorite LNs, period (well SAO as well). The first one or two are a bit rough, but it gets better and better as it goes - enough that I read 34/37 volumes (the last 3 are side stories). They had a major impact on yuri as a genre - to the point where they’re still referenced, almost 30 years later. See [my review](https://learnnatively.com/review/9bac3fb472/) for more details. Has book club & discussion thread in forums - [勇者になりたい少女と、勇者になるべき彼女 | L28](https://learnnatively.com/book/6639a09c89/) - this was a really fun fantasy + romance read for me (see [my review](https://learnnatively.com/review/fff802f242/)) - and it hit my sweet spot of “fun & interesting, but not too hard” - [〆切前には百合が捗る | L28](https://learnnatively.com/series/68a14e95d5/) - this is a really great romance/coming of age story, about a runaway who’s taken in by an artist. Note: there is a 6 year age gap (16 & 22), but it’s very tastefully written. So I think it’s a standout in that genre too - [『人斬り』少女、公爵令嬢の護衛になる | L28](https://learnnatively.com/series/12884184b5/) - another fun fantasy romance that’s not overly hard. Noble woman & her bodyguard - [声優ラジオのウラオモテ | L28](https://learnnatively.com/series/141bd878a2/) - may/may not be yuri (very strong subtext, but 6 volumes in, I’m unsure if it will ever go beyond that). More importantly is really unique in its behind-the-scenes portrayal of the voice acting industry ---
**Author:** ![pm215](https://deyr2qldo994j.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.learnnatively.com/pm215/32/1320_2.png) [@pm215](https://forums.learnnatively.com/u/pm215)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2025, 7:54am UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/the-seeking-recommendations-thread/4513/728 "2025-10-09T07:54:58Z")
> [@Snappie](#): > > Are there any (light) novels you’d say are masterpieces in a genre, stand out within a genre or are just a good introductory book to a genre that’d you recommend me so I can add it to my (already considerably large) TBR pile? It can be of any genre (except BL and mystery). I currently only read things up to like lv 28-30 maximum, but I don’t mind getting recommendations above my level either, it just becomes an option later. A couple of suggestions at this level: [東京バンドワゴン | L29](https://learnnatively.com/book/6c5756942c/) – the author’s homage to Japanese TV drama/soap opera. People fall in love, move in, move out, have vaguely mysterious pasts that get revealed, low-stakes stuff happens, the neighbourhood friends and locals lend a hand, the B plot miraculously ties in to the A plot at the end of each chapter, seasons turn (every book has four chapters, one per season), there are some scenes you can guarantee will turn up in every book. [鼠、江戸を疾る | L30](https://learnnatively.com/book/598b1a4996/) – this is the book I usually recommend as a first step into the historical fiction genre, because it’s got Akagawa’s usual easy to read style, so you don’t have to deal with complex prose at the same time as getting to grips with the genre’s vocabulary (names of historical objects, the “samurai speak” speech patterns historical fiction conventionally uses in dialogue, etc.) The plots in each short story are often a bit mystery-ish, though. The main character is a “steal from the rich and help the poor” robin-hood style thief in Edo. And a few which are “I think this is good and covers a genre, but definitely above L30”: [用心棒日月抄 | L39](https://learnnatively.com/book/bf18221152/) – Probably my favourite historical novel by my favourite historical novel author. This book is about a samurai who runs away from his clan to Edo after being falsely accused of murder, and becomes a swordsman-for-hire/bodyguard to make enough money to eat. The book alternates stories of bodyguard work with a plot arc about identifying who framed him and gathering evidence to clear himself. [新世界より | L38](https://learnnatively.com/series/6c7e67e22f/) – SF novel in three parts (one of those SF books with a rather fantasy feel to them). It’s not a huge world-spanning adventure; it’s an examination of a small and essentially isolated community living in Japan perhaps a thousand years in the future. One of the books I’ve enjoyed most in Japanese. [三四郎 | L40](https://learnnatively.com/book/c9d2755fda/) – if you want to try “classic literature” as a genre you could do worse than starting here. This is basically a coming-of-age story where 三四郎 arrives in Tokyo in the early 1900s to study at university and finds city life a massive culture shock compared to rural Kyuushuu. He finds himself torn between the traditional rural life he’s just left, the modern urban life of a rapidly modernising Tokyo, and the life of the mind of the university scholar. Nominally part of a trilogy, but was published as and works as a standalone novel. In all cases you can find a fuller review from me on the natively pages for the book. ---
**Author:** ![Snappie](https://deyr2qldo994j.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.learnnatively.com/snappie/32/18367_2.png) [@Snappie](https://forums.learnnatively.com/u/Snappie)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2025, 9:15am UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/the-seeking-recommendations-thread/4513/729 "2025-10-09T09:15:44Z")
> [@Legato](#): > > [また、同じ夢を見ていた | L25](https://learnnatively.com/book/2c1e37ec2e) has a good writing style and a fantastic audio book (you know, for simultaneous reading/listening). I heard about this book (and if fact, own a physical copy). You make a good point about the audiobook. Currently I’m only practicing reading and kinda ignoring the other aspects of Japanese. But eventually I want to do audiobooks to. I’ll use this 🙂 > [@Legato](#): > > [もしもの世界ルーレット あったら便利? “スペアの体”の使い方 他 | L23](https://learnnatively.com/book/33f2314ead) is also in the “pretty enjoyable” category. I don’t mind children’s books, they make for good “quick wins” in reading which is always welcome after a tough book. Didn’t know about this one and it seems interesting enough. Added it to my list. Thanks a lot 🙂 ! Edit: Forgot to respond to this. > [@Legato](#): > > I’d recommend trying it. It’s the hardest thing I ever read and I’m surprised how much I was able to enjoy it. I was thinking of reading サイレント・ウィッチ in 2-4 more books. So I won’t wait too long 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Snappie](https://deyr2qldo994j.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.learnnatively.com/snappie/32/18367_2.png) [@Snappie](https://forums.learnnatively.com/u/Snappie)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2025, 9:27am UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/the-seeking-recommendations-thread/4513/730 "2025-10-09T09:27:19Z")
Oeh the first two are books I would probably never found on my own. And around my level too. Added them both to my list > [@Aik](#): > > [雨の日のアイリス | L30](https://learnnatively.com/book/cea662a9f3/) This one also appeals to me a lot. It appears to touch on the “what counts as a person” question which I like. Also added it to my list. ---
**Author:** ![mic](https://deyr2qldo994j.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.learnnatively.com/mic/32/1566_2.png) [@mic](https://forums.learnnatively.com/u/mic)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2025, 9:29am UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/the-seeking-recommendations-thread/4513/731 "2025-10-09T09:29:52Z")
> [@Legato](#): > > また、同じ夢を見ていた | L25 I have my doubts about this being a children’s book, as children cannot read a book with full kanji usage and no furigana. ---
**Author:** ![Snappie](https://deyr2qldo994j.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.learnnatively.com/snappie/32/18367_2.png) [@Snappie](https://forums.learnnatively.com/u/Snappie)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2025, 10:06am UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/the-seeking-recommendations-thread/4513/732 "2025-10-09T10:06:20Z")
> [@暁のルナ](#): > > [勇者になりたい少女と、勇者になるべき彼女 | L28](https://learnnatively.com/book/6639a09c89/) - this was a really fun fantasy + romance read for me (see [my review](https://learnnatively.com/review/fff802f242/)) - and it hit my sweet spot of “fun & interesting, but not too hard” Your review sold me on it (and taught me a new English word(Pedagogy)). This book appeals to me the most out of the books you mentioned 🙂 > [@暁のルナ](#): > > [〆切前には百合が捗る | L28](https://learnnatively.com/series/68a14e95d5/) - this is a really great romance/coming of age story, about a runaway who’s taken in by an artist. Note: there is a 6 year age gap (16 & 22), but it’s very tastefully written. So I think it’s a standout in that genre too In my country that age gap is perfectly legal. Though only barely. If it’s handled well (and you seem to vouch for it that it is), I don’t mind that and the premise looks good. I’ll add it to my list > [@暁のルナ](#): > > [声優ラジオのウラオモテ | L28](https://learnnatively.com/series/141bd878a2/) - may/may not be yuri (very strong subtext, but 6 volumes in, I’m unsure if it will ever go beyond that). More importantly is really unique in its behind-the-scenes portrayal of the voice acting industry That sounds interesting as well! I’m now quite curious about the radio/voice acting world. I’m going to leave the other two books for now. I still need to figure out if yuri is for me and I think the 2 books (not counting 声優ラジオのウラオモテ) plus the one I already have in my TBR will be enough for now. Thank a lot for the suggestions 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Snappie](https://deyr2qldo994j.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.learnnatively.com/snappie/32/18367_2.png) [@Snappie](https://forums.learnnatively.com/u/Snappie)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2025, 10:29am UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/the-seeking-recommendations-thread/4513/733 "2025-10-09T10:29:32Z")
> [@pm215](#): > > [東京バンドワゴン | L29](https://learnnatively.com/book/6c5756942c/) I don’t think this book is for me. But I still appreciate the suggestion 🙂 > [@pm215](#): > > [鼠、江戸を疾る | L30](https://learnnatively.com/book/598b1a4996/) Your pitch sold me on it. I find it very difficult to tell whether I’ll enjoy it but I’ll definitely give it a go. Finding new interests is the point after all! > [@pm215](#): > > [用心棒日月抄 | L39](https://learnnatively.com/book/bf18221152/) Oeh that seems really interesting. I probably won’t touch it for a couple of years due to the difficulty rating but I’ll probably end up reading that some day. > [@pm215](#): > > [新世界より | L38](https://learnnatively.com/series/6c7e67e22f/) Same as the previous book > [@pm215](#): > > [三四郎 | L40](https://learnnatively.com/book/c9d2755fda/) This seems interesting. But I’m worried that I’ll need a lot of historical cultural background information about Japan I simply don’t have. Then again, once I’m ready to read lv 40 books that might very well be different. I’ll probably end up giving it a go once I’m ready for it Also, Amazon just ‘sold’ me the kindle version with a 100% discount. Guess I own it now. Thanks very much for the suggestions! The books I think I’ll like the most are the hard ones. Now I got historical fiction in my pile 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Snappie](https://deyr2qldo994j.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.learnnatively.com/snappie/32/18367_2.png) [@Snappie](https://forums.learnnatively.com/u/Snappie)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2025, 10:33am UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/the-seeking-recommendations-thread/4513/734 "2025-10-09T10:33:41Z")
I’d just like to say thanks again to everyone. I expected to get 2 or 3 replies top, I didn’t expect this many suggestions and I really appreciate it. You all are really nice 🙂 Let’s see how many of these books I can stuff into next year’s bingo card. ---
**Author:** ![seanblue](https://deyr2qldo994j.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.learnnatively.com/seanblue/32/3251_2.png) [@seanblue](https://forums.learnnatively.com/u/seanblue)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2025, 11:43am UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/the-seeking-recommendations-thread/4513/735 "2025-10-09T11:43:29Z")
> [@pm215](#): > > [新世界より | L38](https://learnnatively.com/series/6c7e67e22f/) – SF novel in three parts I love the anime of this so much. I really want to read this someday, but damn is it long. ---
**Author:** ![pm215](https://deyr2qldo994j.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.learnnatively.com/pm215/32/1320_2.png) [@pm215](https://forums.learnnatively.com/u/pm215)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2025, 3:07pm UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/the-seeking-recommendations-thread/4513/736 "2025-10-09T15:07:03Z")
Yes; 2011-me was worried about that (or so I wrote in my review at the time) but it was a good enough book that it didn’t feel like a slog despite the length. ---
**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:** [October 9, 2025, 5:11pm UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/the-seeking-recommendations-thread/4513/737 "2025-10-09T17:11:19Z")
> [@mic](#): > > I have my doubts about this being a children’s book, as children cannot read a book with full kanji usage and no furigana. I think the kind of kids who read it are very precocious like the MC is. But I do think it’s got the bones of a kids books, but has more appeal to older readers. ---
**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:** [October 9, 2025, 5:12pm UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/the-seeking-recommendations-thread/4513/738 "2025-10-09T17:12:46Z")
> [@Snappie](#): > > I expected to get 2 or 3 replies top, I didn’t expect this many suggestions and I really appreciate it. Ask book lovers to recommend books and you’ve just turned on the fire hose 😂 I hope you find some great books, and I hope you’ll also share any that you find on your own. ---
**Author:** ![loladae](https://deyr2qldo994j.cloudfront.net/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@loladae](https://forums.learnnatively.com/u/loladae)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2025, 7:25pm UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/the-seeking-recommendations-thread/4513/739 "2025-10-18T19:25:07Z")
I’m looking for a book with good characters or sc-fi themed. Preferably not romance or about high school/middle schoolers or detective. and in the 25-30 level category. I especially loved: [凪のお暇 1](https://learnnatively.com/book/c067df356c/) [人魚が逃げた](https://learnnatively.com/book/494f9a35b0/) [ひらやすみ 1](https://learnnatively.com/book/29b595d282/) [変な家](https://learnnatively.com/book/f98642f008/) and most by [村田 沙耶香](https://learnnatively.com/search/jpn/books/?q=%E6%9D%91%E7%94%B0%20%E6%B2%99%E8%80%B6%E9%A6%99) ---
**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:** [October 18, 2025, 11:17pm UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/the-seeking-recommendations-thread/4513/740 "2025-10-18T23:17:53Z")
> [@Snappie](#): > > Your review sold me on it (and taught me a new English word(Pedagogy)). I love it when that happens 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Naphthalene](https://deyr2qldo994j.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.learnnatively.com/naphthalene/32/146_2.png) [@Naphthalene](https://forums.learnnatively.com/u/Naphthalene)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2025, 11:59pm UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/the-seeking-recommendations-thread/4513/741 "2025-10-18T23:59:25Z")
Level 25-30 category is quite limiting for SF, but for books with focus on the characters, I really liked [52ヘルツのクジラたち | L31](https://learnnatively.com/book/6e1e16b190/) which is in your wishlist. I honestly think it’s easier than 31. On the other hand [クォンタムデビルサーガ アバタールチューナーI | L30](https://learnnatively.com/book/15c1223454/) should probably be harder than that, but hey, it’s level 30, SF, with no romance (that I know of, I only read volume 1) I’m not sure I would call [アリス殺し | L29](https://learnnatively.com/book/be042ec5cb/) SF, but it matches all other conditions. ---
**Author:** ![Aik](https://deyr2qldo994j.cloudfront.net/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Aik](https://forums.learnnatively.com/u/Aik)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2025, 12:32am UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/the-seeking-recommendations-thread/4513/742 "2025-10-19T00:32:06Z")
[星へ行く船シリーズ1星へ行く船 | L30](https://learnnatively.com/book/ce2d228b67/) - About a Mars-based detective agency (focuses more on the detective stuff from the second book, all characters are adults though). [Previous page](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/the-seeking-recommendations-thread/4513.md?page=36) [Next page](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/the-seeking-recommendations-thread/4513.md?page=38)