#japanese light novel

[rena-ragerat]

I'm taking part in the Kusuriya no hitorigoto zine. This is the spoiler of my work. It's actually more illustration to the book rather than anime/manga fanart. If you read it, can you guess which character is it? ☺️

[dokushoclub]

Currently reading: ビブリア古書堂の事件手帳

This light novel series is set in an antique book store and features two main characters solving low-stakes book-related mysteries.

I've now read the first two volumes and started the third. So far I liked the first volume the best - the very first chapter was very strong and the way it also eventually impacted the climax of that volume was really satisfying to read. Compared to that, the second volume felt a lot calmer, but I like how our main characters are getting to know each other now that some conflicts have been resolved.

I feel like I can read this series very comfortably with my current level of Japanese. Every other chapter there are some quotes from older literature that I struggle with, but the general writing is quite clear and straightforward and I rarely have to look up words at all.

I do own the entire series up to volume 7. This is new territory for me, as almost all the other novels I've read in Japanese have been stand-alones so far (exeption: ふしぎ駄菓子屋銭天堂. I read until volume 2 and then didn't continue the series). But I have a feeling that I will probably continue to read this series for a bit longer :)

[noblesvacation]

Chapters: 1/31 Fandom: 穏やか貴族の休暇のすすめ | Odayaka Kizoku no Kyuuka no Susume | A Gentle Noble's Vacation Recommendation (Manga) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Lizel & Gil & Eleven Characters: Lizel, Gil | Gilberto, Eleven | Nerve Additional Tags: Whump Summary:

It's Whumptober in July! I make no promises, and I didn't see the prompt list until today, but I'll post at least a few short, no-pressure fics for these prompts. Ratings and tags subject to change, content subject to be properly edited later.

I saw this *checks watch* 9 hours ago, let’s go. @whumperless-whump-event

[dg3zero]

[a-few-of-my-favorite-mangas]

The Apothecary Diaries ( Kusuriya no Hitorigoto )

Story by Natsu Hyuuga

Illustrations by Touco Shino

Light Novel Volume 6

Story  ★★★★☆  ||  ★★★★☆  Art

Summary

The events in the western capital threaten to shake not only the political order, but Maomao’s personal relationships as well, and she departs the city uncertain what her future holds. A detour on the way home, however, gives her an unexpected insight into her own family. Meanwhile, Consort Lishu finds herself at the center of an ugly scandal. Might the truth of the matter help explain everything that’s happened recently?

Review

[miakeresu]

~ and volume 3 just arrived ~

😍😍😍

[miliyaread]

[book review] My Happy Marriage Vol. 2 by Akumi Akitogi

4⭐️/5

I can't express how many time I want to throw this book to the wall. The amount of stress and pressure are overwhelming.

I don't even know where to began my rant, it is all over the place. But bear in mind that this is basically happened during war and absolutely not in modern world.

I know what trauma can do to people. That is why I though Mio can get away with it (me). She had an excuse to behave like that. But the frustrating part is she realised it when she and Kiyoka had already been separated. Kiyoka had tolerate with her from the beginning and brought her to her mother's family can be a good thing to her. But nope, her cousin snatched her. Being confined in the house also don't bring any good point to her maternal family. Thankfully, she refuse to get married with her cousin. I can see some character growth here, and I wish she will continue to growth.

Looking back, I can't help to think that her mother also brought some misfortune to her. I know she meant well, but she should realised what it can caused to her own daughter. Years of abandon and torture can closed your eyes to other things. And this is exactly what had happened. Which is why I said as above.

Kiyoka's sister was so pitiful. Her smiling face was only a facade of her own miserable. She was suffered from emotional abuse and most likely postpartum. I know this was the time when only small people listen to women. And her ex-husband also do nothing about it. My heart boil can't take it. Thankfully, she still has a good relationship with her son.

And for the emperor, I wish I can shot him.

So, this volume really made me question my sanity. I just wish the next volume could bring some peace to my mind.

Disclaimer: All the opinion about this book is based on my personal view!

[ivyenov]

I’m back

I’m back after a long time. I will continue posting about the stuffs I read. In addition, I got addicted to Chinese and Korean web/novels so I will give recommendations sometimes. With some reviews and rates. It’s all personal, so don’t really take it all seriously.

[glasseswearingrabbitdetective]

Me just bouncing off walls

I PURCHASED A LIGHT NOVEL!

MY FIRST LIGHT NOVEL

It’s all words!! Only a few pictures!!

I’m so proud of myself! God I hope I can read it aaaaaaa

[azulala17]

hiromi kawakami, "los amores de nishino"

[ashitakaxsan]

Chivalry of a Failed Knight(lit. The Heroic Tales of the Failure Knight)

I would like to know your feelings about it. I share it from my youtube channel.

[ctraceywrites]

Book Review: Sabikui Bisco (volumes 1 & 2) by Shinji Cobkubo

I mentioned in my Currently Reading post about these Japanese light novels that I expected the first few books to be equal to the first season of the anime, and I was wrong about that. Each book is equal to a season of anime, so at least I’m ready for when season 2 of Sabikui Bisco comes out now and I couldn’t be more excited for it (I don’t think there’s a date for it yet, but I’m pretty sure it…

[noblesvacation]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: 穏やか貴族の休暇のすすめ | Odayaka Kizoku no Kyuuka no Susume | A Gentle Noble's Vacation Recommendation (Manga) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Gil/Lizel Characters: Gil (Gentle Noble’s Vacation Recommendation), Lizel (Gentle Noble’s Vacation Recommendation), Other Characters Mentioned Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Transmigration, Role-swap, no beta we die, it’s pronounced jill in my heart, Minor Original Character(s), no beta we die like my will to live Summary:

A role-swap in which Gil is the one who gets displaced dimensionally.

There he meets a nobleman who stands with his feet anchored to the ground— yet would foolishly trip on a rock on the side of the road were he to look away.

[a-few-of-my-favorite-mangas]

LOG Horizon

by Marare Touno, art by Kazuhiro Hara

Shonen, Isekai-Otome, Romance, Adventure, Mystery

Story   ★★★☆☆   ||   ★★★☆☆   Art

Summary

Thirty thousand Japanese gamers awake one day to discover that the fantasy world of Elder Tales, an MMORPG that was formerly their collective hobby, has become their cold hard reality. Severed from their everyday lives, they confront a new horizon filled with ravenous monsters, flavorless food, and the inability to die! Amid the chaos, veteran gamer Shiroe gathers his friends, the guardian Naotsugu and the assassin Akatsuki, and together they embark on an adventure to change the world as they know it!

Volume 01 The Beginning of Another World | Part 1 | Part 2 Volume 02 The Knights of Camelot | Part 1 | Part 2 Volume 03 Game’s End | Part 1 | Part 2 Volume 04 Game’s End | Part 1 | Part 2 Volume 05 A Sunday in Ariba | Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 Volume 06 Lost Child of the Dawn | Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 Volume 07 The Gold of the Kunie | Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 Volume 08 The Larks Take Flight | Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 Volume 09 Go East, Kanami! | Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 Volume 10 Homesteading the Noosphere | Part 1 | Part 2 Volume 11 Krusty, Tycoon Lord | Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

[lynnie-bear]

Today I finished “Convenience Store Woman” by Sayaka Murata. “Murata is a Japanese writer. She has won the Gunzo Prize for New Writers, the Mishima Yukio Prize, the Noma Literary New Face Prize, and the Akutagawa Prize.” - Wikipedia. She is also a Vogue Japan woman of the year. The basic plot of the book is as follows, “The heartwarming and surprising story of thirty-six-year-old Tokyo resident Keiko Furukura. Keiko has never fit in, neither in her family, nor in school, but when at the age of eighteen she begins working at the Hiiromachi branch of “Smile Mart,” she finds peace and purpose in her life. In the store, unlike anywhere else, she understands the rules of social interaction―many are laid out line by line in the store’s manual―and she does her best to copy the dress, mannerisms, and speech of her colleagues, playing the part of a “normal” person excellently, more or less. Managers come and go, but Keiko stays at the store for eighteen years. It’s almost hard to tell where the store ends and she begins. Keiko is very happy, but the people close to her, from her family to her coworkers, increasingly pressure her to find a husband, and to start a proper career, prompting her to take desperate action” -Amazon. You have most likely heard of this book if you are reading my review, whether that be from booktok, where I have seen it listed as a short read or a “Japanese feminist fiction for Murakami lovers that dislike the way he writes woman” - @sisiliareads on TikTok.

As a person who has an equal fear of repetition as well as a sense of loss without it I was not able to put this book down. Keiko is a character I am afraid to say I relate to. Keiko is content in her position. Her life is only complicated by the people and society around her. “Will you ever be cured Keiko…?” pg. 131. You can interpret this book in many ways however no matter your interpretation you will be a different person when you finish, I highly recommend getting the version pictured above which contains an essay from the author the adds further depth to the story. It felt like a slice of life as I read it similar to the works of Haruki Murakami as stated above. Keiko is told she is not normal whereas I feel as if I am not, however we both have in common that we shut down and mimic others in situations where the real me would be perceived as strange or out of the ordinary. This book also speaks to me as it portrays what I don’t want, and complicates what I actually want with my life, which can only be described as chaotic repetition. I wish to live as steadily as Keiko however I still wish to live. The book touches of the concept that society and societal expectations have not changed, we have just been taught that they have. In other words “same words, different font”. I rate this book a 9/10 as it has also gotten me out of a reading slump and made me really rethink what I should be doing and wanting to take action.

-lynnie-bear

[asteriass]

The progression of the “Villainess” trope

Y'know, thinking about it, it's very ironic how a trope made to subvert one's expectations & give more depth to 1 dimensional villains in cliche novels by "humanizing" them more & providing their side of the story, eventually became oversaturated with cartoony villains & flat MCs. Thus, completely failing in its goal to "subvert expectations" as it too turned into mind numbing cliche, becoming the exact opposite of what the troupe initially aimed to achieved.

I am talking about "Villainess" series.

I remember seeing a twitter post a while back saying how a lot of the villainess stuff the authors & studios are putting out nowadays lack any sort of nuance when it comes to its characters. And how a lot authors simply switch the roles of the cast (Like: OG MC -> villain | OG villain -> MC) & call it a day. And I 100% agree with that.

This troupe kinda ended up becoming the dictionary definition of the saying, "You either die as a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become a villain” lmao

What could've been an opportunity to write nuanced villains & morally ambiguous main characters, turned EXACTLY into the cliche it was pocking fun at.

In an attempt to reveal how the MCs of your typical cliche novels can also be in the wrong at times, flaws that the story & its (in-canon) fandom may purposefully ignore, the villainess stories ended up doing EXACT SAME thing EXECPT this time it's the "villains" doing it rather than the OG FL or OG ML of the “OG novel”. In an attempt to stop cliche villains from remaining cliche, while we did ended up getting slightly more nuance for the “OG villain” characters, in the process, the OG MCs turned exactly into those flat cliche villains.

Alot of villainess series poke fun at the troupes they themself use, but not in a satirical way.

So many villainess series poke fun at the OG novels for being problematic or stupid & the fandom of said novels basically ignoring its flaws & problems, only gushing over the OG FL. Which yea, is nice & all, but y'know... that's exactly what those villainess series do too. SO MANYY of them borderline have the FLs participating in literal slavery. & More often than not have a borderline colonizer ML. Not to mention the numerous which carry weird undertones of colorism, and many such other things. All the while, the fandom of these villainess series continue to ignore their glaring problems & flaws & instead just gush over the FL and ML.

And I'm not even saying this in a hating sort of way (well, aside from the series with issues of colorism, orientalism, etc). Moreover, this is all not to say that one can not enjoy such stories, because admittedly, there is indeed fun in just reading a simple and familiar story line. But this is all more me being intrigued by this trope’s almost ironic progression as companies rush their staff to produce something which they think will be able to ride the waves of the current trends, only for the vast majority to simply drown in a sea of mediocrity (with many even being canceled due to this)

[Though I mean, something as simple as villainess tropes won’t be the only one to go through this. Like a lot of Shakespearean works, a subversion of the classics & typical troupes back then, got turned into ones of those classics and by many are now considered cliche. And that's just scrapping the bottom of the barrel!]