Summary of Recent Reads
This is an article that simply summarizes the books I've read recently, with brief 3-sentence reviews for each.
Let's get started.
Three-Body
A Chinese SF novel that has been a big topic of discussion.
It's got a grand scale and intricate plot, making it very interesting.
It's the first part of a trilogy, and I'm looking forward to reading the rest (which haven't been translated into Japanese yet).
Tokyo High-End Residential Area Exploration
A book that analyzes the history of high-end residential areas in Tokyo, focusing on the western side of the city since the post-war period.
After reading it, I wanted to observe the actual neighborhoods.
I can easily visit places like Den-en-chōfu, Seijo, and Ōsawa, so I'll do that soon.
A Record of Foretold Murder
A historical suspense novel that won the Nobel Prize in Literature.
I didn't quite understand the cultural nuances, so I didn't find it that interesting.
Also, I had trouble remembering the characters' names...
Cross-Cultural Understanding
A book that categorizes and explains cultural characteristics of various countries, with concrete examples.
I found the categorization convincing and easy to understand.
Machikado Mazoku
A manga series from Manga Time Kirara Carat that I highly recommend.
I can't quite put my finger on what makes it so good, but it's just amazing.
The quality is consistently high, no matter where you cut it.
As of early 2020, five volumes have been published, and the continuation can be found in the August 2019 issue.
The Last and First Idol
It's like a SF novel or something.
The momentum is incredible, and I quite like it.
It's a quick read, but it's a bit of a stomachache.
From Star Strings
A short manga by Akihito Tsukushi, the creator of Made in Abyss.
It's packed with the essence of adventure.
It's not too graphic (in terms of expression)!
By the way, the Made in Abyss movie was amazing.
Congratulations to the team!
Hinabita Official Guidebook
A book that summarizes the story of Hinabita, a music game by KONAMI.
Even if you play the game, you might not notice the massive story behind each song.
Seasons 1-3 are summarized on the official website, so start from here!
Philosophy that Becomes a Weapon
A book that picks up philosophers and famous quotes, and explains how they can be applied to modern life.
Philosophy might seem difficult, but this book selects and presents it in a way that's easy to understand and apply.
It's written in a tips-like style, making it very readable and recommended even if you're not interested in philosophy.
Introduction to Philosophy
This is a more in-depth introduction to philosophy.
The author is Bertrand Russell, who is famous for "Russell's Paradox".
The content is quite complex, but the logic is clear, and the examples are excellent, making it a great literary work.
