This is an older photo from a few weeks ago.
I am going to try to make an active effort to check everyone’s blog posts more. Feel free to link blog posts that you would like me to read. π
I’ve read well over 500 manga books, but I’m getting back into reading novels. I like to buy novels rather than borrow from the library because I don’t like being pressured under time to return them. The books and authors I like, or am interested in are:
– The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (completed in high school)
– Edgar Allan Poe’s short stories (I’ve read “The Black Cat” and “The Cask of Amontillado”)
– Haruki Murakami (I’ve read Pinball, 1973; A Wild Sheep Chase; South of the Border, West of the Sun; Underground: The Tokyo Gas Attack and the Japanese Psyche; The Strange Library)
– 1984 by George Orwell (completed in high school)
– The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux (completed in high school)
– Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson (completed)
– The Hunchback of Notre-Dame by Victor Hugo (want to buy)
– Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (currently reading)
– No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai (planning to buy)
– Walden Two by B.F. Skinner (I own it, but I’ve placed it on hold)
– Japanese Tales of Mystery and Imagination by Edogawa Rampo (planning to buy)
– Monkey by Wu Ch’Eng-En, translation by Arthur Waley (planning to buy)
– Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare (planning to read)
If you’ve read The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, No Longer Human or Monkey, please let me know your thoughts! The Hunchback of Notre-Dame is 940 pages, which seems like a daunting task for me because I’m used to reading comics… Lol…
“It is absurd to divide people into good and bad. People are either charming or tedious.” – Oscar Wilde
Wretched and Divine 
Wow I haven’t yet read any of those though I have copy of the complete collection of Sherlock Holmes. But I’m planning to read Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Maybe you might be interested in the classic romance π And I just recently finished reading Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo which is pretty awesome ^^
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I own Emma by Jane Austen and after reading it, I realized that romance does not interest me at all, unless it is tragic… I’m fascinated by monsters and human psychology.
Ohh, I will have to check out Six of Crows. Thanks~
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Well, I do like my happy endings but to each their own yeah π
Awesome! Happy reading ~
If you have the chance to, do share some of your thoughts on the books you mentioned in your post. π
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That’s great!! I’ve always been a little different in that respect but it’s not too surprising of me because I did love the anime Hell Girl when I was in the fifth grade.
Sure, I’ve never done a book review before but maybe I can start… Thanks for the idea. π
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I’m a quarter of the way through Notre dame. I’m amazed by how witty it is and how much it can make me laugh. I put it down a while ago, in favor of other books, I’ll have to pick it back up soon. You seem very well read.
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Ohh I didn’t know it was witty! Thanks for that info!
AWW thanks… but I really just read a lot of manga and webtoons haha. I’m just hoping to build up my book collection! ><
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Meant to reply here, but it came our as another comment…
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Monkey?
What’s that about senpai?
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It goes by the more popular name, The Journey to the West. This is one of the most famous stories in Asia and it is pretty old (16th century!!). Some of the earliest anime such as Dragonball was inspired by The Journey to the West. It’s about a clever monkey who goes on a journey with a few others on a pilgrimage to retrieve sacred scriptures.
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As someone who has consumed countless graphic novels, I consider such a large number of manga as well read, especially considering how diverse they can be. Your list is also very diverse. I haven’t read most of these books, but I want to.
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Ah yes, manga is extremely diverse. About half of mine are BL hahaha. I do love reading just about every genre of manga.
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I really want to get more into reading books myself this year. Lately I have hardly read any books, something that I really miss. Reading is always relaxing, but the past few weeks have been pretty busy and as such I have hardly had any time to focus on books. Looks like a great list of books. Have fun reading. π
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I struggle to find free time with books as well. I hope you’ll figure out a way to work some free time to read. I’m thinking about reading on the bus and trains. Thanks!
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Yes…I’m interested in practically everything on this list. So hard to find time to read though…I’d love to hear your reflections once you’ve gotten your hands on everything~
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Yeah it is definitely hard to find time… but it also has to do with my poor time management, lol. I’m thinking about reading on public transit since that’s what I’ve done before~ and sure. ^^
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Julius Caesar is beautiful. I suggest you to read Anthony and Cleopatra by Shakespeare after that. Both the stories are connected. By the way, I have been wishing to read one of Murakami. Many have recommended me Kafka on the shore. What’s your suggestion ?
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Thanks for that! I have not read Kafka on the Shore so I can’t talk about that one, but I think a good beginner book for Murakami is definitely A Wild Sheep Chase. That was my first book by him too.
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OK. i will go for A wild sheep chase.
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Let me know what you think about it later! π
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Of course. I will.
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I want to get back into reading novels too! Thank you for some ideas of books to read! Also same with the library thing! I just donβt read them if Iβm on a time limit I need to take my time! π
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No problem, and yeah! I am quite busy so I don’t even think I can finish a book in two weeks, unless I give up some social media time haha.
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Yeah I know what you mean! Itβs hard to find a balance when youβre busy with things. Iβm the same haha Iβd have to give up TV and social media for a while to finish a book in two weeks.
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It makes me happy to see people reading these awesome stories! If you like books like Frankenstein, check out Dracula if you haven’t already. Also, did you know there are manga adaptations of some of these classics? Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice has an adaptation that I’m particularly fond of. π
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Oh yes, I do know about the Pride and Prejudice manga. I’ve never read it before but it will be interesting to see how the manga covers the story.
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I’ve read other manga adaptations of western classics, and this is by far my favorite as far as how well it was done. So it gets my recommendation! π
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I loved Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. It really is the perfect narrative of true romanticism. Everything about it just blew my mind! π You have amazing taste in books, BTW.
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I read some of Frankenstein a couple of years ago but never finished it. It will be interesting to see what happens. π Aw thanks, Neha!!
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The Japanese Tales of Mystery and Imagination by Edogawa Rampo sounds exciting are you into fictional books or non-fiction ?
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I like fictional.
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Ahem … any of those books about time travel?
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Hmm… not yet. Do you have any book recommendations?
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