# What are you reading today?

**URL:** <https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/what-are-you-reading-today/38>\
**Category:** Reading\
**Created:** [June 12, 2022, 1:31pm UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/what-are-you-reading-today/38 "2022-06-12T13:31:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 205

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**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:** [January 17, 2025, 2:04am UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/what-are-you-reading-today/38/4093 "2025-01-17T02:04:57Z")

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My phone seems to have messed something up when I copied it… will fix. Here’s what the part should be: と母は亡くなる少し前からはなしたの

I updated the whole quote in my previous comment now

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**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:** [January 17, 2025, 2:07am UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/what-are-you-reading-today/38/4094 "2025-01-17T02:07:18Z")

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AAAAAAAAH, okay, it makes sense now.

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**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:** [January 17, 2025, 9:34am UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/what-are-you-reading-today/38/4095 "2025-01-17T09:34:26Z")

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> [@Naphthalene](#):
>
> Alright, I will speed run volume 2 then and check those spoilers 🤪

Well, it took me nearly 3 days, so it’s hardly a speedrun, but I enjoyed it a lot!

> [@mic](#):
>
> You might have other hopes and dreams, so no problem.

Aaaah, now that I see your spoilers, I get what you meant. Yes, I guess we do have different hopes and dreams 😅

> [@eefara](#):
>
> I’d love to hear if down the line she never gets together with him or anyone else, though I know it’s unlikely.

It seems extremely unlikely at this point. From the scenes following the view point of the guy, he is clearly falling in love with her and is just not realizing it because of his past trauma. On her end, she has intrusive thoughts, but that doesn’t mean she is interested… yet. But again, there’s pressure from the environment, so I feel like it would eventually happen (once enough time has passed after the previous breakup)  
I mean, he is incredibly cute, so I don’t mind 🙃  
Edit: I think that the thing I enjoy about them is that they are genuinely interacting as friends. Sure, there may be attraction, but those two things aren’t mutually exclusive. It’s pretty rare to have that kind of depiction in a light novel, especially a 男性向け one.

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**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:** [January 17, 2025, 12:42pm UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/what-are-you-reading-today/38/4096 "2025-01-17T12:42:48Z")

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> [@Naphthalene](#):
>
> Edit: I think that the thing I enjoy about them is that they are genuinely interacting as friends. Sure, there may be attraction, but those two things aren’t mutually exclusive. It’s pretty rare to have that kind of depiction in a light novel, especially a 男性向け one.

If you’re up for manga, [赤髪の白雪姫 | L27](https://learnnatively.com/series/6e89a912eb/) (a shoujo series) also has this.

That sounds like I should bump this up on my list then

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**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:** [January 17, 2025, 1:20pm UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/what-are-you-reading-today/38/4097 "2025-01-17T13:20:04Z")

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> [@暁のルナ](#):
>
> If you’re up for manga, [赤髪の白雪姫 | L27](https://learnnatively.com/series/6e89a912eb/) (a shoujo series) also has this

It’s already on my TBR. I don’t remember _why_ it is there, but it is  
I also own the first volume, apparently. So, money well spent I guess 🤪

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**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:** [January 17, 2025, 2:51pm UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/what-are-you-reading-today/38/4098 "2025-01-17T14:51:28Z")

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Surely you bought it for the prince. 😜

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**Author:** ![eefara](https://deyr2qldo994j.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.learnnatively.com/eefara/32/85_2.png) [@eefara](https://forums.learnnatively.com/u/eefara)\
**Post date:** [January 17, 2025, 4:27pm UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/what-are-you-reading-today/38/4099 "2025-01-17T16:27:05Z")

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> [@Naphthalene](#):
>
> It seems extremely unlikely at this point.

Excellent, thank you for the update! I’ll have to give this one a closer look, then.

Question for those who might know: I believe ダリア is in the same universe as [服飾師ルチアはあきらめない ~今日から始める幸服計画~ | L30??](https://learnnatively.com/book/da405384da/), no? There’s no requirement to read it before ダリア, right?

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**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:** [January 17, 2025, 4:47pm UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/what-are-you-reading-today/38/4100 "2025-01-17T16:47:50Z")

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If the Amazon sale dates are any indication, the series you linked is newer than ダリア (2018 vs 2021), so doesn’t seem like it

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**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:** [January 17, 2025, 6:23pm UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/what-are-you-reading-today/38/4101 "2025-01-17T18:23:24Z")

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> [@eefara](#):
>
> I believe ダリア is in the same universe as [服飾師ルチアはあきらめない](https://learnnatively.com/book/da405384da/)

Yes, that‘s written in the blurb of the latter. And Darya appears in that series, too, though not as MC. It‘s a Darya spin off series.

Seems to be about a girl who runs a clothes shop, and may be no romance in sight 😉

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**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:** [January 17, 2025, 9:47pm UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/what-are-you-reading-today/38/4102 "2025-01-17T21:47:59Z")

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> [@eefara](#):
>
> Question for those who might know: I believe ダリア is in the same universe as [服飾師ルチアはあきらめない ~今日から始める幸服計画~ | L30??](https://learnnatively.com/book/da405384da/), no? There’s no requirement to read it before ダリア, right?

> [@mic](#):
>
> Seems to be about a girl who runs a clothes shop, and may be no romance in sight 😉

ルチア appeared as a side character in volume 2, but she doesn’t have her own shop at this point. So that series happens later than that.

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**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:** [January 17, 2025, 9:50pm UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/what-are-you-reading-today/38/4103 "2025-01-17T21:50:49Z")

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> [@seanblue](#):
>
> Surely you bought it for the prince. 😜

That would be consistent with my typical behavioral pattern.

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**Author:** ![bungakushoujo](https://deyr2qldo994j.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.learnnatively.com/bungakushoujo/32/24027_2.png) [@bungakushoujo](https://forums.learnnatively.com/u/bungakushoujo)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2025, 3:58am UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/what-are-you-reading-today/38/4104 "2025-01-20T03:58:13Z")

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I finished [海がきこえる | L27](https://learnnatively.com/book/c7c5390b87/) and have to say that it exceeded my expectations! I’ve seen the ghibli movie, so I was expecting a pleasant high school slice of life type story with a bit of romance, but but but! Reading it in book form was just so much better - there was more insight into how the everyone was feeling but minimal drama and angst, just a relaxing mood with a hint of nostalgia. Towards the end there were some scenes where I was totally having a ときめき moment together with the characters. 🥰 This sat unread on my kindle for over a year and I thought I’d read this volume and be done with it, but I’m going to pick up the second volume [海がきこえるII アイがあるから (徳間文庫 トクマの特選!) | L27](https://learnnatively.com/book/a7025450b5/) sometime this week because I need to know what comes next!

I think it would be a nice read for anyone who reads modern SoL or high school type romance books in the level 20’s who wants to mix things up and read something from a different time period. The only mild challenge would be the dialect - most of the characters are from 高知 and speak 土佐弁.

Alongside that I’ve also been reading [死者の奢り・飼育 | L30??](https://learnnatively.com/book/60ba511a01/) by 大江健三郎 for my “character with a disability” because it was listed on the wikipedia page for [障害を扱った作品](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%9A%9C%E5%AE%B3%E3%82%92%E6%89%B1%E3%81%A3%E3%81%9F%E4%BD%9C%E5%93%81%E3%81%AE%E4%B8%80%E8%A6%A7) and I’ve never read one of his books before. He has come up before in other books I’ve read about Japanese literature and is also one of the only two Nobel winners from Japan, so I expected it would be “good”, but oh my! Every sentence has my full attention. That’s partially because he writes extremely long and meandering sentences, so I get lost if I’m not paying attention, but also partially because the writing is so beautiful. I’ve been amazed by some of his word choice so far.

I’ve finished the first two stories 死者の奢り and 他人の足 and am on the titular story 飼育 now. They’re all dark and uncomfortable, but compelling - I thought a lot about what the stories mean during my freetime the past week. Can’t wait to finish 飼育!

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**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:** [January 20, 2025, 5:42am UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/what-are-you-reading-today/38/4105 "2025-01-20T05:42:46Z")

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> [@bungakushoujo](#):
>
> I think it would be a nice read for anyone who reads modern SoL or high school type romance books in the level 20’s who wants to mix things up and read something from a different time period. The only mild challenge would be the dialect - most of the characters are from 高知 and speak 土佐弁.

You have my attention. Bought it on the spot. Hopefully I’ll remember it when March comes around 🙏

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**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:** [January 20, 2025, 9:01am UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/what-are-you-reading-today/38/4106 "2025-01-20T09:01:13Z")

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> [@bungakushoujo](#):
>
> read something from a different time period

You make it sound like historical fiction… I feel old 🙂

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**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:** [January 20, 2025, 9:48am UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/what-are-you-reading-today/38/4107 "2025-01-20T09:48:33Z")

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> [@bungakushoujo](#):
>
> Alongside that I’ve also been reading [死者の奢り・飼育 | L30??](https://learnnatively.com/book/60ba511a01/) by 大江健三郎

Oh nice! I started reading the titular story after he died (kind of as a commemoration) and I love his writing - the pictures he paints are really amazing. Like for example „sticky like the juice from a beetle that you crushed in your hand“ I think? 😻  
I am taking this book very slowly, I think I am about halfway through now? Just sprinkling his stories into my reading here and there. If you want to discuss we could set up a thread for it? I’m curious to hear what you think of the ending of the titular story…

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**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:** [January 20, 2025, 11:48am UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/what-are-you-reading-today/38/4108 "2025-01-20T11:48:34Z")

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> [@Naphthalene](#):
>
> ルチア appeared as a side character in volume 2,

She also appears in volume 4. Of note, there’s a conversation between ルチア and ダリヤ (and a 3rd person) about the kind of guy the former likes and the answer is basically “the girl type” 😂

Literal conversation:

> 「ルチアさん、失礼なことを伺いますけど、今、恋人はいらっしゃいますか？」  
> 「いないわよ。デートはしたいけど」  
> 「どんな人が好みです？」  
> 「やっぱりデートするなら女の子よね。かわいいお洋服をいっぱい着せるの。あ、細めの男の子もいいかな。一人で男装女装できたら最高よね」

The other characters take it as “ah, she is just thinking about making the other person wear cute clothes, there’s no other meaning behind it” BUT the conversation was about 恋人, so hmmmmm. Anyway, I really like the main series so I will probably read the spin off as well, but I really hope the author delivers on that… although, now that I think about it, the guy who could possibly be the love interest in her case fits the second category, so it could end up being just that (that would be mildly disappointing, but I’ll take it).

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**Author:** ![NihongoLearner19](https://deyr2qldo994j.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.learnnatively.com/nihongolearner19/32/457_2.png) [@NihongoLearner19](https://forums.learnnatively.com/u/NihongoLearner19)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2025, 12:51pm UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/what-are-you-reading-today/38/4109 "2025-01-20T12:51:27Z")

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Thanks to the release of the [悪役令嬢転生おじさん](https://learnnatively.com/season/3f3d47606f/) anime, I was inspired to start what will hopefully end up being a standout in the 悪役令嬢 genre: [悪役令嬢は織田信長に憑依される](https://learnnatively.com/book/9979fa290e/). A friend recommended it to me and I am _hyped_. I mean, that title? I will report back later with actual thoughts.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [January 20, 2025, 1:01pm UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/what-are-you-reading-today/38/4110 "2025-01-20T13:01:45Z")

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Is it a single volume and done? 250 ish pages seem super short…

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![NihongoLearner19](https://deyr2qldo994j.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.learnnatively.com/nihongolearner19/32/457_2.png) [@NihongoLearner19](https://forums.learnnatively.com/u/NihongoLearner19)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2025, 1:30pm UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/what-are-you-reading-today/38/4111 "2025-01-20T13:30:20Z")

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Yes, but 1) my physical copy is 300 pages, so it’s a bit longer than that and 2) it looks like there might be a continuation at some point, according to my friend. I’m not sure on the details since I haven’t finished this yet and I don’t want spoilers, haha.

I read the prologue and it seems quite fun so far!

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![bungakushoujo](https://deyr2qldo994j.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.learnnatively.com/bungakushoujo/32/24027_2.png) [@bungakushoujo](https://forums.learnnatively.com/u/bungakushoujo)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2025, 2:25pm UTC](https://forums.learnnatively.com/t/what-are-you-reading-today/38/4112 "2025-01-20T14:25:49Z")

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> [@pm215](#):
>
> You make it sound like historical fiction… I feel old 🙂

I did not know how to word it, but I know right? 🫠 How best to describe the early 90s?!

It is a key concern for the characters that they don’t know the phone number or address of their high school friends after going to uni unless they ask someone else who may have it, This is not typically a plot element in novels nowadays where everyone has smartphones and LINE in their modern life, so it’s good fun!

> [@nikoru](#):
>
> If you want to discuss we could set up a thread for it? I’m curious to hear what you think of the ending of the titular story…

Oh yes I’d certainly like that! 飼育 is brutal so far to be honest, I’m wondering what the ending is going to be.

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