Shalee lhaih 2015: shiaghtin 52

Go here for English version. Note, this is rewritten from scratch, not a direct translation.

21d - 27oo Mee ny Nollick

Jerrey nah shiaghtin jeig as daeed ny Shalee Lhaih. Shoh ny lhiah mee yn çhiaghtin shoh chaie:

Wizard's Holiday (Diane Duane)

Shoh ym-lioar elley 'sy 'traih fansee baljagh da'n aeglee. Atreih, hooar mee fy-yerrey nagh row eh er y rolley ry-lhiah aym... She skeeal anaasoil t'ayn as ghow mee soylley jeh. As y straih shoh bentyn rish ymmodee seihill rere sheiltynys, by vie lhiam fakin skeeal ta dy jarroo bentyn rish seihll elley as joarreeyn myrgeddin. V'adsyn anaasoil dy liooar. Er y laue elley, cha nee lane skeeal t'ayn; shimmey cooish nagh vel feayslit ec y jerrey, as t'eh kianglt dy baghtal rish y nah skeeal. Myr shen va blass neuchooilleenit er as cha mie lhiam shen. My she straih t'ayn, as cha nee yl-lioar, share lhiam dy vel dagh ym-lioar lane 'sy hene. Ta shen cur feaysley ennaghtagh dou, as chammah's shen, ta mee cliaghtey lheimmeyragh jeh lioar gys lioar elley gyn tort, myr shen t'eh ny sassey dou cooinaghtyn y skeeal t'ayn...

Fockle s'jerree

Lhaih mee 1 lioar agh cha nel eh er y rolley, va 64 aym yn çhiaghtin shoh chaie, myr shen ta 64 faagit dou nish. Shegin dou lhaih 14 lioaryn ayns 0.5 shiaghteeyn. Boghtynid.

Screeuym art s'jerree ta cur goontey giare jeh'n lane shalee, as myr shen.

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English version

21st - 27th December

The end of week fifty-two of the Reading Project. Here's what I've read this week:

Wizard's Holiday (Diane Duane)

Another volume of the urban fantasy series. Alas, after reading it I found that (inexplicably) this volume alone is not on my to-read list! It's a good story and I found it interesting, particularly because it explores the "other worlds and aliens" aspect of the series, which is relatively unexploited given that's a major part of the premise. See also: Who, Doctor... The aliens and the other world presented were interesting to deal with, and I liked seeing the other family members get more spotlight too. On the downside, this volume explicitly leads into the next; as well as the overt not-exactly-cliffhanger at the end, there are unanswered questions raised by the story. I personally sighed about that, since I feel in a series like this (not a quadrilogy or whatever) each volume should be self-contained in terms of plot. That's not a theoretical point, it's just how I like things to work; partly because it's more convenient given my butterfly reading habits, and partly because I want closure.

Afterword

I read 1 book that wasn't listed this week, I had 64 last week, so 64 are still left over. I have 14 books to read in three days, which is clearly not happening.

I'll be writing a wrap-up post to give an overview of this reading project.

Shalee lhaih 2015: shiaghteeyn 50 as 51

Go here for English version. Note, this is rewritten from scratch, not a direct translation.

7oo - 20oo Mee ny Nollick

Jerrey kied shiaghtin jeig as daeed ny Shalee Lhaih. Shoh ny lhiah mee yn çhiaghtin shoh chaie:

Veg. Wahll, lhiam mee manga noa, ram bloggaghyn as y lheid, agh ghow mee aash jeh'çhalee shoh - as failt!

Fockle s'jerree

Lhaih mee 0 lioar, va 64 aym yn çhiaghtin shoh chaie, myr shen ta 64 faagit dou nish. Shegin dou lhaih 14 lioaryn ayns 1(.5) shiaghtin.

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English version

7th - 20th December

The end of week fifty-one of the Reading Project. Here's what I've read this week:

Nothing! Well, lots of blogs and things, and a bit more manga, but primarily I was taking a blissful rest from the project.

Afterword

I read 0 books this week, I had 64 last week, so 64 are left over. I have 14 books to read in 1.5 weeks.

Shalee Lhaih 2015: shiaghtin 49

Go here for English version. Note, this is rewritten from scratch, not a direct translation.

30oo Vee Houney - 6 Mee ny Nollick

Jerrey nuyoo shiaghtin as daeed ny Shalee Lhaih. Shoh ny lhiah mee yn çhiaghtin shoh chaie:

Veg. Wahll, lhaih mee meeryn ass ymmodee lioaryn, agh cha lhaih mee lane lioar erbee. Hoig mee dy dod cooilleeney'n çhalee, agh... begin dou scuirr jeh dagh ooilley red elley, as lhaih dy tappee gyn cur monney geill, as verragh eh strooys orrym. As va strooys dy liooar orrym mleeaney, chaarjyn. Myr shen, ta mee jus lhaih dy meein as shen myr t'en. Cha nel bree erbee ec yn çhalee shoh; cha nel eh orryms ish y chooilleeney, she teaym hene v'ayn. Ren mee streppey dy jeean dy cooilleeney gyn scansh da trimshaght as cooishym cramp as boirey. Agh cha daink lhiam ee. As shen myr t'eh chammah.

Fockle s'jerree

Lhaih mee 0 lioar, va 64 aym yn çhiaghtin shoh chaie, myr shen ta 64 faagit dou nish. Shegin dou lhaih 14 lioaryn ayns 3 shiaghteeyn.

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English version

30th November - 6th December

The end of week forty-nine of the Reading Project. Here's what I've read this week:

Lots of bits of books, but no complete books. I realised that, although I probably could complete the Reading Project, I'd have to basically throw out everything else I want to do, and focus exclusively on reading books quickly and without much time to digest. And what's the point? It's been a stressful year already; there's no reason to give myself additional stress for a project that doesn't fundamentally matter. So I've chucked it in and I'm just reading for pleasure.

Afterword

I read 0 books this week, I had 64 last week, so 64 are left over. I have 14 books to read in 3 weeks.

Shalee lhaih 2015: shiaghtin 48

Go here for English version. Note, this is rewritten from scratch, not a direct translation.

23oo - 29oo Vee Houney

Jerrey sheyoo shiaghtin as daeed ny Shalee Lhaih. Shoh ny lhiah mee yn çhiaghtin shoh chaie:

バクマン y.l. 5 (大場 つぐみ, 小畑 健)

Ny smoo 'syn aght cheddin, dy firrinagh. Y red smoo douys 'sy lioar shoh, shen cowraghey Nakai. Ta'n lioar son jannoo feniagh jeh: fer ta lane soit er aaghoostey y coorse keirdey echey, as ta lane vaiht ayns cooish ghraih lieh-chioneagh marish Aoki. As dy jarroo, t'eh streppey dy chosney caa elley myr ellyneyr. Agh dy jarroo, t'an aghtey echey boirey orrym er dy fa dy vel blass stalker 'sy chooish: t'eh graih echey er Aoki as cha nel eh goaill rish yn aigney eck. Cha noddym jannoo briwnys dy nee drogh-aghtey t'ayn, agh ec y traa cheddin, er lhiam dy vel feysht ayn tra ta'n skeeal shoh dy voyllaghey myr shoh. Dy jarroo, ta skeealyn gilley dy cadjin cur trimmid er surranse as daanys myr Firrynys, as foast shoh y caa ynrican echey son raa ellynagh. As ta fys aym myrgeddin dy bee Bakuman cur briwnys elley er aghtey Nakai rish jerrey y skeeal. Agh ayns shoh, cha nel eh baghtal, as shen kyndagh rish freggyrtyn ny karracteyryn elley son y chooid smoo. T'adsyn ooilley gra "agh, she Red Deiney t'ayn as shegin da jannoo eh"; cha nel fer erbee smooinaghtyn "chaarjyn, ta Nakai ny hoie çheumooie jeh thie ben scarr jeh as graih echey urree, gaghinaghey son caa elley as treishteil dy jean eh meeinaghey e cree liorish surranse. Shen neuchooie."

Fockle s'jerree

Lhaih mee 1 lioar, va 65 aym yn çhiaghtin shoh chaie, myr shen ta 64 faagit dou nish. Shegin dou lhaih 14 lioaryn ayns 4 shiaghteeyn.

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English version

23rd - 29th November

The end of week forty-eight of the Reading Project. Here's what I've read this week:

バクマン v. 4 (大場 つぐみ, 小畑 健)

More of the same. The main event in this volume is Nakai's effort to reignite his manga career after a major setback. I was actually a bit concerned by the portrayal of Nakai in this book. The story essentially treats him as making a heroic effort to convince Aoki to give him a second chance as her co-creator. And to an extent that's true, but he's also locked in a completely one-sided crush on Aoki, and that adds worrying elements to this. The thing is, he's obsessively pressuring Aoki to accept him, motivated by a messy mixture of romantic feelings and desire for success as a manga team, and refuses to accept her decision to part. It's not easy to distinguish his actions (essentially guilt-tripping her, while making a big show of his manly humility and endurance) from just plain old being a stalker. He won't accept her decision, he's certain they could work out if she'd give him another chance, and he's sure that if he just proves to her how much he loves her cares about their work, she'll take him back. And she does. I know that it's a story, and a boys' story at that where this kind of macho stuff is lauded. And I know that the line isn't quite as clear-cut in this case, because she's also his only real chance at artistic success. And I also know (having read the story before) that Bakuman will take a much firmer line with Nakai and his behaviour later in the series. Nevertheless, I felt like here it was a little dubious, and perhaps most because the reactions of the other characters were generally "he has to do this Man Thing" rather than anyone going "dude, you're sitting outside the house of a woman you fancy begging for another chance and hoping to soften her heart through suffering, that is not okay."

Afterword

I read 1 book this week, I had 65 last week, so 64 are left over. I have 14 books to read in 4 weeks.

Shalee Lhaih 2015: shiaghtin 47

Go here for English version. Note, this is rewritten from scratch, not a direct translation.

16oo - 22h Vee Houney

Jerrey shiaghtoo shiaghtin as daeed ny Shalee Lhaih. Shoh ny lhiah mee yn çhiaghtin shoh chaie:

バクマン y.l. 4 (大場 つぐみ, 小畑 健)

Ta'n skimmee gaase ny smoo 'syn ym-lioar shoh, as myr shen ta possan dy ellyneyr ny s'lhea 'sy chooish. S'cosoylagh ve nee possan smoo saympleyragh t'ayn myrgeddin, smooinaghtyn dy ghow shin toshiaght marish tree gillyn scoill ard-cheeayllagh. T'eh cur ram geill da mynphoyntyn y çhynskyl manga, agh by vie lhiam shen dy firrinagh. Ta'n skeeal croghey er oirr credjaltys gyn tuittym foast. Ta beggan bree bea çheet my vlaa ayns ny reagheyderyn myrgeddin. Er y laue elley, ta bree Kaya er skellal roish çhelleeragh, as cha nel wheesh persoonid ayn nish. S'kenjal eh dy vel ee baighey bree ayns obbyr ny gillyn, agh cha by vie lhiam dy ren ee treigeil dean e hene erbee dys cooney lhieuish. Ta leshtal 'sy skeeal, agh er lhiam dy row blass lajer reih reagheyderagh ayn; cha nee eiytys dooghyssagh aigney Kaya hene t'ayn.

As mish my ynseydagh Shapaanish, s'doillee eh toiggal y skeeal shoh dy cruinn; cha nee focklaght ta bun y chooish, agh ennaghtyn. Shimmey anchaslys beg bentyn rish ennaghtyn, ymmmyrkey as cosoylaght ta goll er cowraghey liorish grammeydys cramp. Cha nel eh my lhiettal jeh toiggal bun y skeeal, agh y blass t'er ny keayrtyn.

The Wirral Home Guard (Harold Jager)

She lioar veg neuchramp t'ayn - ny lioaran, bunnys. Ta blass formoil meeammyssagh urree, as ga dy vel blass scoillaragh ayn myrgeddin, rish lhaih eh chreid mee dy row yn ughtar aaloayrt ny cooishyn shoh dou 'sy thie lhionney, bunnys. Va bree gleashagh ayn, soilshaghey magh bea ayns 1944, chammah's feniaght chadjin as fuilliaght hene-scryssagh y theay. T'ee screeuit lane vie; va Jager dooishtey bree ny buill dy lajer, son mac yn ard erskyn ooilley, as va firrinys ny skeealyn lane loaghtagh. Ta trimshaght neuimraait ny hrooid y liooar, agh foast ta maynrys ry-akin ayns sheshaght chaarjyn rish traaghyn doillee, as ayns currym jeant dy biallagh. Dy jarroo, va beggan troo orrym nagh ghow mee ayrn 'sy çheshaght shen, ga dy nee boghtynid eh shen - ta mee booisagh nagh row y feme orrym! V'eh foym cur y lioar shoh gys Oxfam erreish dou lhaih eh, as rouyr lioaryn aym, agh dennee mee dy row eh orrym freayll ee as cur ee dy ammyssagh 'sy skelloo reesht. Va aigney orrym dy yannoo curteish, bunnys. She lioar imlagh as neuheiyagh t'ayn, as y lioar smoo gleashagh lhaih mee rish foddey.

Fockle s'jerree

Lhaih mee 2 lioar, va 67 aym yn çhiaghtin shoh chaie, myr shen ta 65 faagit dou nish. Shegin dou lhaih 15 lioaryn ayns 5 shiaghteeyn.

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English version

16th - 22nd November

The end of week forty-seven of the Reading Project. Here's what I've read this week:

バクマン v. 4 (大場 つぐみ, 小畑 健)

This volume brings a welcome broadening of the cast, giving a broader (and perhaps more typical) range of manga artists to follow. It's a little heavy on the details of the industry, but to be honest I quite like that. The story hovers on the fringes of credibility, and I liked the way Yuujiro is humanised more in this story. From a learner's perspective, this is a bit hard to follow, not because of the vocab but because a lot of nuance regarding emotions, attitudes and probabilities is imparted through complex syntax. It's not necessarily a problem for following the story, but working out exactly how people feel about things is tricky. Kaya had lost a fair bit of her oomph this time, and turned into a bit of a tagalong. It's nice that she's invested in their struggles, but having her drop her own ambitions to be supportive didn't sit too well with me, despite the excuses. It feels like an editorial decision rather than a natural outcome of her character.

The Wirral Home Guard (Harold Jager)

This is a short, simple book - almost a pamphlet really. It is written with irreverent formality, and although it takes a somewhat scholarly tone, I can almost hear the author recounting this all. I found it quietly moving, a small reminder of what it was like to be alive in 1944, and the everyday heroism and self-effacing endurance of so many ordinary people. It is surprisingly well-written, really bringing out a sense of place, especially for a local like me, and evoking the reality of the stories he shares. There is a lot of unspoken sadness in here, but also a lot of joy in the hard times shared with good friends, and in the sense of duty done. It even makes me feel a little wistful not to be part of that cameraderie - though I can only be glad I didn't have to. I was planning to send it to Oxfam (too many books), but I felt the need instead to respectfully shelve it. It was a little hard not to salute. This is, humbly and unobtrusively, the most moving thing I've read in a long time.

Afterword

I read 2 books this week, I had 67 last week, so 65 are left over. I have 15 books to read in 5 weeks.

Shalee Lhiah 2015: shiaghtin 46

Go here for English version. Note, this is rewritten from scratch, not a direct translation.

9oo - 15oo Vee Houney

Jerrey sheyoo shiaghtin as daeed ny Shalee Lhaih. Shoh ny lhiah mee yn çhiaghtin shoh chaie:

バクマン y.l. 3 (大場 つぐみ, 小畑 健)

Ta tree cooishyn ec bun yn ym-lioar shoh: scansh aggindys dy ynsaghey jeh sleih elley; y scansh t'ayn eddyr ny by vie lhiat screeu (ny jannoo) as ny ta cooie myr cooid earishlioar er lheh (ny myr obbyr er faill); as cormid beaghee as obbree. As ad ard-jeean dy gheddyn conaant er straih-skeeal 'syn earishlioar, t'ad jannoo eab er ard-chaghlaa dys obbyr yiow lhaihderaght smoo. By vie nagh dooar ad bac shallidagh, agh lhiettrimys mooar - cha lhisagh eh ve aashagh da fer ta screeu skeealyn folliaghtagh inçhynagh goaill toshiaght er skeealyn caggee.

Ta cooishyn graih nyn mun arganeyn 'sy lioar shoh. S'doillee da Saiko toiggal nagh vel manga hene dean ynrican Shuujin, foddee; as cooish ghraih lane whaagh echeysyn, cha nod eh toiggal aght sleih elley. Er lhiam dy vel y skeeal shoh dellal rish ennaghtyn mie dy liooar, as y keayrt shoh t'eh bentyn rish ard-deanyn garraghey dy tappee rish aase, as streppey dy hoiggal ny h-arraghyn shen as goaill rish reddyn myr t'ad nish. By vie lhiam chammah yn aght jeean ta Kaya gobbraghey dy chiangley marish Shuujin, ga dy nee fer aeg corvianagh t'ayn gyn tort, wheesh currit da'n dean echey nagh vel eh cur monney geill da ennaghtyn sleih elley. Agh foast, t'ee ennaghtagh dy liooar, as cha nel aigney eck dy lhiantyn rish gyn failt.

Fockle s'jerree

Lhaih mee 1 lioar, va 68 aym yn çhiaghtin shoh chaie, myr shen ta 67 faagit dou nish. Shegin dou lhaih 17 lioaryn ayns 6 shiaghteeyn.

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English version

9th - 15th November

The end of week forty-six of the Reading Project. Here's what I've read this week:

バクマン v. 3 (大場 つぐみ, 小畑 健)

In this volume, there are three main themes: the difference between what you want to write and what can get published in a specific magazine; the importance of willingness to learn; and work-life balance. The artists run into their first major hurdle when, eager to get into publication with unbecoming haste, they try a radical shift in style to something more populist. I was pleased to see that this was presented as a genuine obstacle, and not something to be shrugged off. Meanwhile, Shuujin's relationship causes tension with Saiko, who struggles to grasp the idea that manga might not be Shuujin's exclusive focus. The interplay between the characters always pleases me; here it brings out the way priorities change rapidly during adolesence, and the struggle to come to terms with those changes. I like Kaya's sensitive, yet determined attitude to getting together with Shuujin, in the face of Shuujin's unthinking self-absorption.

Afterword

I read 1 book this week, I had 68 last week, so 67 are left over. I have 17 books to read in 6 weeks.

Shalee Lhiah 2015: shiaghtin 45

Go here for English version. Note, this is rewritten from scratch, not a direct translation.

2h - 8oo Vee Houney

Jerrey queiggoo shiaghtin as daeed ny Shalee Lhaih. Shoh ny lhiah mee yn çhiaghtin shoh chaie:

バクマン y.l. 2 (大場 つぐみ, 小畑 健)

Yl-lioar fondagh, lane dy haghyrtyn ta seiy y skeeal er oaie. S'mie lhiam y kiangley quaagh t'ayn eddyr Shuujin as Kaya: cleayn, cooidjaghtys as cohirreydys covestit, as ta blass ennagh er y vroish ta tayrn gy scooinaghtyn kianglaghyn caardjyn scoill aym nagh doig mee ad er chor erbee, agh v'ad cummal seose dy mie aght ennagh. Dy jarroo, ta'n kiangley shoh ny smoo anaasoil na coardailys quaagh Mashiro as Miho ta jeant er dreamyn gloyrnvianagh aegid.

Ta'n skeeal shoh jummal stiagh mooarane dy 'ys er y çhynskyl manga, as myr shen t'eh trome nish as reesht. Agh t'eh soilshaghey magh caslys so-chredjal jeh wheesh dooillee ta bea ellyneyr manga. Ta'n sterrym ennaghtagh shen goll er mooadaghey foast ayns aignaghyn jeigeyryn gloyrvianagh as jerkallys neuresoonagh oc.

The Little Worm Book (Janet and Allan Ahlberg)

Lioar veg lane d'aitt mychione feeiud as boggey dhianeyn. She boghtynid t'ayn, dy jarroo, aitt teaymagh hene. Ta duillag ny ghaa ayn hug orrym gearey er ard: Dhiane Mooar ny Seer, myr sampleyr. As ta caslyssyn Yanet Ahlberg er feie ny lioar as ad keshal lesh bree. Ny share gyn lhiggey da paitçhey credjal y chooid - veagh molley agglagh ayn! - agh she bolgum spoyrt t'ayn.

The Colour of Water (Kim Dong Hwa)

Skeeal smooinaghtagh er kynney, appaghey, doostey keintyssagh as caghlaaghyn graih. 'Sy nah lioar shoh, ta beggan fys ec Ehwa er y dooghys keintyssagh eck, as t'ee gappaghey dys ben aeg ayns ynnyd paitçhey. Ta'n skeeal graih 'sy lioar shoh feer tappee, dy jarroo - cha nel eh lane vaghtal wheesh dy hraa ta goll shaghey, agh t'eh corlhiemmey er oaie er lhiam. Ny yei shen, ta coraa meein y skeeal moogey blass joltee erbee. Dy jarroo, she coloayrtyssyn dowin graihagh Ehwa as e voir ta cooid smoo y skeeal, as ad resooney magh keeallyn "graih", "bwoirrinys" as "poosey". Foddee oo gra dy nee e voir hene ta feniagh y skeeal, as Ehwa y fakider ta soilshaghey magh dooin y bea oc.

Fockle s'jerree

Lhaih mee 3 lioar, va 71 aym yn çhiaghtin shoh chaie, myr shen ta 68 faagit dou nish. Shegin dou lhaih 18 lioaryn ayns 7 shiaghteeyn.

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English version

2nd - 8th November

The end of week forty-five of the Reading Project. Here's what I've read this week:

バクマン v. 2 (大場 つぐみ, 小畑 健)

A good solid volume with lots of development. I like Shuujin's rather strange relationship with Kaya, a mixture of attraction, companionship and competitiveness - it has some verisimilitude to it that reminds me of schoolfriends' relationships that often left me puzzled. In truth, it's vastly more interesting than Mashiro and Miho's far weirder relationship built on lofty ideals.

There's lots of insight into the industry in this volume, which can get a bit heavy. It nicely showcases the challenges of even trying to get into manga, and how this emotional rollercoaster grows even more exaggerated in the hands of idealistic teenagers with unrealistic ambitions.

The Little Worm Book (Janet and Allan Ahlberg)

A delightful little book about the joys of worms, with the charming illustrations I expect from an Ahlberg book. Though the whole thing is sheer nonsensical whimsy, there are some particularly bizarre entries that really put a smile on my face. Of course, a child reading this could be in for some serious disappointment if they take it as truth! A little mouthful of fun.

The Colour of Water (Kim Dong Hwa)

A thoughtful exploration of family, growing up, sexual awakening and different kinds of love. In this second book, Ehwa is becoming more aware of her sexuality and becoming less of a child, more of a young woman. The actual romance arc is quite fast, as the book seems to compress time quite a bit, but its gentle tone prevents it feeling rushed. The loving, deep conversations between Ehwa and her mother actually form most of the story as they explore the concepts of romantic love and marriage.

Afterword

I read 3 books this week, I had 71 last week, so 68 are left over. I have 18 books to read in 7 weeks.

Shalee lhaih 2015: shiaghtin 44

Go here for English version. Note, this is rewritten from scratch, not a direct translation.

26oo Jerrey Fouyir - 1d Vee Houney

Jerrey kerroo shiaghtin as daeed ny Shalee Lhaih. Shoh ny lhiah mee yn çhiaghtin shoh chaie:

Star Light, Star Bright: The great short fiction of Alfred Bester, volume 2 (Alfred Bester)

Dhossan mie dy chaghlaaghyn skeeal liorish ughtar fondagh. Shimmey çhaglym "skeealyn share X" ta lhaiht aym, agh dy cadjin ta scansh eddyr oc. By vie lhiam dagh skeeal 'sy lioar shoh. T'ad cur ny smoo geill da sleih na sheanse, as ta fir beggan quaagh ry-akin dy kinjagh. Ta Bester goaill stiagh skeealyn soit er eie sheansagh chammah's fir elley ta fansee hene, bunnys. Ta blass aitt ayn myrgeddin son y chooid smoo, agh she aitt dorraghey t'ayn.

バクマン y.l. 1 (大場 つぐみ, 小畑 健)

Cha lhaih mee eshyn yn çhiaghtin shoh, agh toiggal dy ren mee lhaih eh 'syn Çhapaan hene y vlein shoh chaie.

Fockle s'jerree

Lhaih mee 2 lioar, va 73 aym yn çhiaghtin shoh chaie, myr shen ta 71 faagit dou nish. Shegin dou lhaih 21 lioaryn ayns 8 shiaghteeyn.

Wahll, ta cosney beg ny share na veg.

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English version

26th October - 1st November

The end of week forty-four of the Reading Project. Here's what I've read this week:

Star Light, Star Bright: The great short fiction of Alfred Bester, volume 2 (Alfred Bester)

A very solid collection (as you'd expect from a "best of") from a very good author. The stories range across a wide scope of sci fi, and most have a fantastical quality, as well as a tone that sits somewhere between dark humour and wry stoicism. Quirky individuals are a recurring theme. Though the stories are mostly relatively hard science, all touch on the human element and some focus on that above all. Bester also throws in a couple of stories without any science at all, such as the titular Star Light, Star Bright and a rather cheery post-apocalyptic story.

バクマン v. 1 (大場 つぐみ, 小畑 健)

I didn't actually read this this week, but I did come to the conclusion that I actually read it in Japan last autumn, and can take it off the list and move on to volume 2.

Afterword

I read 2 books this week, I had 73 last week, so 71 are left over. I have 21 books to read in 8 weeks.

That's a pleasant change, helped along by a very long train trip down to London and back.

Shalee lhaih 2015: shiaghteeyn 41, 42, 43

Go here for English version. Note, this is rewritten from scratch, not a direct translation.

5oo -25oo Jerrey Fouyir

Jerrey queigoo shiaghtin as daeed ny Shalee Lhaih. Shoh ny lhiah mee yn tree shiaghteeyn shoh chaie:

Hug mee jerrey er lioar fy-yerrey imshee!

るるいえあんてぃーく (内山 靖二郎)

Shoh tree skeealyn jeant er bun gammanyn Call of Cthuhu. T'eh beggan gollrish lhaih script drama: ta coloayrtys ny karracteyryn ry-lhaih, agh nyn mast'oc ta cowag elley ayn eddyr ny cloiederyn hene, mychione obbraghyn y ghamman as taghyrtyn y skeeal. Beggan quaagh, foddee, agh va mee cliaghtit rish dy leah.

Ghow mee taitnys jeh ny skeealyn hene ta bun contoyryssyn ny karracteyryn. She gamman Americaanagh t'ayn, rere skeealyn Americaanagh, as by vie lhiam geddyn reayrtys Shapaanagh er y clane. Ta ny skeealyn soit er bun lane Shapaanagh, kianglt rish shennaghys as cultoor ny çheerey, as va blass er lheh orroo er y fa shen. Share lhiam y chied as treeoo skeeal; va'n nah skeeal rere aght "scoagh fuilltagh" as cha mie lhiam y lheid, ga dy row bun anaasoil echey. By vie lhiam chammah lhaih ayrn s'jerree dagh skeeal; t'ad ceau beggan traa loayrt er taghyrtyn y gamman, as cur coyrle da'n cheilley. S'mie lhiam feddyn magh barel sleih elley er lheid ny cooish.

Cheau mee tree shiaghteeyn er y lioar shoh. Cha noddym lhaih 'sy çhengey gyn cur lane gheill da, as erskyn shen, shimmey fockle quaagh ta ry-akin 'sy lioar shoh! Ry-yerkal, dy jarroo, agh foast... v'eh orrym shirrey cooney carrey Shapaanagh dy hoilshaghey keeal kanji goan nagh row ry-akin 'syn 'ockleyr aym! Ta ennaghtyn cooilleenee aym, agh foast nee'm tashtey y kiare ym-lioaryn elley son laa elley, er lhiam!

Fockle s'jerree

Lhaih mee 1 lioar, va 74 aym yn cheayrt s'jerree, myr shen ta 73 faagit dou nish. Shegin dou lhaih 23 lioaryn ayns 9 shiaghteeyn.

Er lhiam foast nagh chooilleenin y dean! Agh cha verrym seose.

---

English version

5th - 25th October

The end of week forty-three of the Reading Project. Here's what I've read this past three weeks:

Hey, I finally finished a freaking book!

るるいえあんてぃーく (内山 靖二郎)

A fun collection of "replays" of Call of Cthulhu games. These are basically the opposite of dramatised readings, I suppose? It's not a novelisation in the way some fantasy books are transparently based on D&D sessions, but more like reading a playscript, with a mixture of in-character dialogue and out-of-character commentary. It sounds weird, but it really isn't hard to get used to.

The stories are interesting, and I particularly enjoyed getting a Japanese perspective on a setting that I normally only see through American or British eyes. The GM has written three original scenarios with a basis in Japanese culture, and there are a lot of references in both story and commentary to Japanese tropes. The second story is deliberately trying to evoke a "splatter horror" feel, and so I liked it rather less than the other two, but the premise was still interesting. I also liked the little discussions after each game where they talk about what worked, what didn't, and what to work on for next session. I get the impression the scenarios were rather linear, but it's not really fair to conclude that from a writeup like this.

This took me three full weeks to read, partly because to read Japanese I really need to sit down and concentrate, and it's been quite hard work, with an awful lot of unusual vocabulary. Still, worth it! I'll keep the next four volumes for another time, though...

Afterword

I read 1 book in three weeks, I had 74 last time I posted, so 73 are left over. I have 23 books to read in 9 weeks.

Yeah, that's not happening. And yet, onwards we go.

Shalee lhaih 2015: shiaghteeyn 38, 39, as 40

Go here for English version. Note, this is rewritten from scratch, not a direct translation.

14oo Mean Fouyir - 4oo Jerrey Fouyir

Jerrey daeedoo shiaghtin ny Shalee Lhaih. Shoh ny lhiah mee yn tree shiaghteeyn shoh chaie:

A Prisoner in Fairyland (Algernon Blackwood)

Ghow mee toshiaght lhaih y skeeal shoh er y traen, as shegin dou gra, tra rosh mee y stashoon, v'eh foym gyn fosley eh reesht. She skeeal ennaghtagh ymmodee-focklagh t'ayn, soit er meiyghid as mynfalsoonyn - gollrish Hans Christian Anderson - as wandreil gyn dean baghtal.

Agh hrog mee eh reesht dy yannoo shickyr roish my scryss mee eh, as eisht va mee lhaih jeih duillagyn. Chreid mee nagh dod mee cur shilley bieau ny hrooid yn oie shen: she prose ta cree as feeuid y skeeal shoh, my ta feeuid echey, as er lhiam dy lhisin cur ammys da liorish lhaih dy currymagh. Ta red ennagh echey, kied echey focklagh yn aght screeuee; er lhiam dy row eh feeu sooill chairagh rere eh toilçhinyn hene, gyn jiooldey leah.

Lhaih mee ny smoo gyn boirey, as hoig mee dy nee skeeal kiune boggee t'ayn as y aigney kiart orrym. Shoh skeeal dy cheau oie liauyr geuree rish yn aile, as tey çheh ry-laue. Agh fy-yerrey, ta'n kiunid cheddin gastyral bun y chooish: cha row mian lajer aym dy 'eddyn magh feaysley yn skeeal, son cha row drama erbee chamoo folliaght erbee 'sy chooish, as she skeeal liauyr ass towse t'ayn. Myr shen, ny smoo feeynaid na skeeal hene. Ta feaysley ennagh ayn gyn ourys, agh by haittin lhiam goaill rish dy nee bun-cheeal cadjin moralaght thie rere aght Andersen, as scuirr jeh. Hroggym eh reesht laa ennagh, foddee.

Fockle s'jerree

Lhaih mee 1 lioar, va 75 aym yn cheayrt s'jerree, myr shen ta 74 faagit dou nish. Shegin dou lhaih 24 lioaryn ayns 12 shiaghteeyn.

Er lhiam nagh chooilleenin y dean.

---

English version

14th September - 4th October

The end of week forty of the Reading Project. Here's what I've read this past three weeks:

A Prisoner in Fairyland (Algernon Blackwood)

I began reading this on the train, and honestly I was inclined, on reaching the station, not to pick it up again. It's that genre of wordy, ambience-focused story full of sentiment and petty philosophy, like Hans Christian Anderson, and generally not really going anywhere.

However, I picked it up just to confirm that before striking it from my list, and found myself reading another page or ten. Then I felt like I couldn't just quickly skim the rest, as I'd intended, but needed to somehow do justice to it by slow careful reading of the prose, which is the meat and merit of the thing if it has any, and I ought to put it by for the next day. There's something to it at least, however prosy it might be - something that feels to me like it deserves a fair reading on its own lights, not a hasty dismissal.

I did read on without much trouble, and found it a gentle, relaxing read when I was in the right mood. It's something to while away a long winter evening, with a mug of tea to hand and maybe a crackling fire. Eventually though, that long gentleness undermines it. I didn't feel any particular pull to find out what happened, because there was no real sense that anything was happening - it's more like a very long vignette than a story per se. I'm sure there's some kind of resolution, but I felt content to assume it was one of the standard Andersenian morals and leave it at that. Maybe I'll come back to it one day.

Afterword

I read 1 book this week, I had 75 last time I posted, so 74 are left over. I have 24 books to read in 12 weeks.

I'm not very optimistic.

Shalee lhiah 2015: shiaghtin 37

Go here for English version. Note, this is rewritten from scratch, not a direct translation.

7oo - 13oo Mean Fouyir

Jerrey shiaghtoo shiaghtin jeih as feed ny Shalee Lhaih. Shoh ny lhiah mee yn çhiaghtin shoh chaie:

Veg. Wahll, ny smoo manga.

Fockle s'jerree

Lhaih mee 0 lioar, va 75 aym yn çhiaghtin shoh chaie, myr shen ta 75 faagit dou nish. Shegin dou lhaih 25 lioaryn ayns 15 shiaghteeyn.

S'treih lhiam gra dy bee eh doillee coilleeney'n obbyr nish, er lhiam. Agh cha dod mee lhaih, dy jarroo. Eddyr drogh-haghyrtyn 'sy lught-thie, goaill toshiaght er staartey noa, shirrey aaght as ooilley shen, cha row bree aym son lioaryn agh adsyn s'aashagh ad y lhaih.

---

English version

7th - 13th September

The end of week thirty-seven of the Reading Project. Here's what I've read this week:

Nothing but manga.

Afterword

I read 0 books this week, I had 75 last week, so 75 are left over. I have 25 books to read in 15 weeks.

My goal isn't looking very promising, but between family crises, starting a new job, moving to a new city and trying desperately to find somewhere to live - all simultaneous - I haven't had the energy for anything but the easiest reading.

Shalee lhaih 2015: shiaghtin 36

Go here for English version. Note, this is rewritten from scratch, not a direct translation.

31oo Luanistyn - 6oo Mean Fouyir

Jerrey sheyoo shiaghtin jeih as feed ny Shalee Lhaih. Shoh ny lhiah mee yn çhiaghtin shoh chaie:

Ny smoo manga.

Fockle s'jerree

Lhaih mee 0 lioar, va 75 aym yn çhiaghtin shoh chaie, myr shen ta 75 faagit dou nish. Shegin dou lhaih 25 lioaryn ayns 16 shiaghteeyn.

---

English version

31st August - 6th September

The end of week thirty-six of the Reading Project. Here's what I've read this week:

More manga.

Afterword

I read 0 books this week, I had 75 last week, so 75 are left over. I have 25 books to read in 16 weeks.

Shalee lhaih 2015: shiaghtin 35

Go here for English version. Note, this is rewritten from scratch, not a direct translation.

24oo - 30oo Luanistyn

Jerrey queiggoo shiaghtin jeih as feed ny Shalee Lhaih. Shoh ny lhiah mee yn çhiaghtin shoh chaie:

The heads of Cerberus (Francis Stevens)

She skeeal quaagh t'ayn, ga dy ghow mee soylley jeh. Cha nel mian echey dy reih genre erbee: hoshiaght, er lhiam dy nee skeeal cur-er-creau t'ayn, gollrish The Citadel of Fear. Agh dy leah ta shin feddyn fansee oalyssagh, anflaunys skittagh (foddee?), contoyrtys, as FSS sheiltynagh. Er lhiam nagh row eie baghtal ec Stevens er ny by vie lhee foddee? Agh cha dod mee feddyn reayrtys gerjallagh er y skeeal. Chammah's shen, va blass garroo er, myr dy row eieyn mie eck agh cha cheau ee traa dy liooar dyn go-unnanaghey roish cur magh. Ta blass shaghney ennagh er jerrey y skeeal, as soilshaghey magh liauyr er metafishag y skeeal, agh cha dod Stevens jannoo skeeal sheansagh resoonagh jeh cooid chraa-laue oalyssagh. She kynney Alice in Wonderland t'ayn, as cha nod oo jannoo fansee baljagh trome-chooishagh jeh. Ta ny karracteyryn gyn annym, as cha nel eh cur geill dy liooar da'n daa hare (Bertram as y chaillin echey) er lhiam. Ta ard-haghyrt y contoyrtys taghyrt ass shilley y lhaihder - ta shin feddyn magh myechione ayns cooyl-reayrtys, liorish cowag eddyr sleih ta son molley y cheilley, myr shen cha nel eh baghtal cre ta ry-chredjal as cre ta ny breag. Cheau mee traa taitnyssagh er y skeeal, as bioghey turrys traen, agh cha noddym gra dy nee obbyr hare Stevens t'ayn er chor erbee.

Fockle s'jerree

Lhaih mee 1 lioar, va 76 aym yn çhiaghtin shoh chaie, myr shen ta 75 faagit dou nish. Shegin dou lhaih 25 lioaryn ayns 17 shiaghteeyn.

---

English version

24th - 30th August

The end of week thirty-five of the Reading Project. Here's what I've read this week:

The heads of Cerberus (Francis Stevens)

This was a distinctly odd story, though not unenjoyable. Primarily, it doesn't want to settle on any particular genre - the opening suggests we're in for a thriller along the lines of The Citadel of Fear, but it rushes through mystical fantasy, maybe-satirical dystopia, adventure and conceptual sci-fi, giving the sense that she just didn't know what she wanted. It also felt a bit rough and ready, as though Stevens had some cool ideas but hadn't spent quite enough time making them fit together before publishing this. The ending is rather a cop-out, accompanied by a big chunk of exposition of the story's metaphysics laboriously tagged on, as though Stevens wants it to be a sci-fi story that makes sense rather than a handwavey mystical journey, but it... isn't. It's like trying to make Alice in Wonderland a serious urban fantasy work. The characters are rather flat, and the best two (Bertram and his friend) are sadly neglected. The most interesting part of the adventure happens offscreen, and we learn about it all retrospectively, in dialogue, in a scene where it's not at all clear whether whether anyone's telling the truth. I had a reasonable time with this story, and it pleasantly whiled away a journey, but I can't call it one of Stevens' strongest works.

Afterword

I read 1 book this week, I had 76 last week, so 75 are left over. I have 25 books to read in 17 weeks.

Shalee lhaih 2015: shiaghtin 34

Go here for English version. Note, this is rewritten from scratch, not a direct translation.

17oo - 23oo Luanistyn

Jerrey kerroo shiaghtin jeih as feed ny Shalee Lhaih. Shoh ny lhiah mee yn çhiaghtin shoh chaie:

Kyndagh rish taghyrtyn bea lane trimshagh reesht, cha nel mee er lhaih agh shenn vanga as manga noa, gyn çheet er y charnane lioaragh er chor erbee.

Fockle s'jerree

Lhaih mee 0 lioar, va 76 aym yn çhiaghtin shoh chaie, myr shen ta 76 faagit dou nish. Shegin dou lhaih 26 lioaryn ayns 18 shiaghteeyn.

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English version

17th - 23rd August

The end of week thirty-four of the Reading Project. Here's what I've read this week:

Nothing. Due to yet another week of horribly sad life events, I have read nothing but old and new manga, and haven't touched my reading pile.

Afterword

I read 0 books this week, I had 76 last week, so 76 are left over. I have 26 books to read in 18 weeks.

Shalee lhaih 2015: shiaghtin 33

Go here for English version. Note, this is rewritten from scratch, not a direct translation.

10oo - 16oo Luanistyn

Jerrey treeoo shiaghtin jeih as feed ny Shalee Lhaih. Shoh ny lhiah mee yn çhiaghtin shoh chaie:

A wizard alone (Diane Duane)

Va lhaih y skeeal shoh ny sassey na lhaih y fer s'jerree, ga dy vel eh er bun trimmid baaish. Va keimaght vie echey, as ram taghyrt, gyn çheet dy ve fud-y-cheilley. By vie lhiam fakin karracteyr scanshoil as autism echey, as va blass anaasoil ry-akin 'sy chooish shen. Aght elley, er lhiam dy vel jannoo noo hene jeh Darryl gientyn crampyssyn elley: cha nel eie erbee ain er cre'n cummey beagh er pishagagh "cadjin" autistagh, as s'treih lhiam shen.

Er lhiam dy vel doilleeid elley ayn, as shen cadjin dy liooar tra ta sleih soilshaghey magh mynchooidyn - ta'n chooish lomarcan jannoo beaynchroo jeh red erbee. Cha nel agh un fer autistagh 'sy skeeal, as she neuloghtynys hene t'ayn (dy lettyragh); myr shen, ta blass ennagh yn Oaldey Ooasle ry-hoaral. Cha nel mee son cremmey, myr ta; jus screeu ny smooinaghtyn haink dou.

魔法使いの嫁 y.l. 1 (ヤマザキコレ)

Skeeal neughooghyssagh quaagh taitnyssagh. Er lhiam dy nee skeeal graih t'ayn, agh cha nel shen baghtal foast. Ta keimaght chiune echey ga dy vel ymmodee taghyrtyn ayn, as cha nel eh ro-voal noadyr. S'mie lhiam y reayrtys shoh er seihll pishagagh, as ny cretooryn t'ayn, goaill stiagh sannish cour Lovecraft! Shimmey red nagh vel mee dy hoiggal foast, agh s'cummey lhiam shen. Ta ny karracteyryn folliaghtagh dy liooar derrey nish, as ta mian aym dy 'eddyn magh ny smoo mynyngione.

Fockle s'jerree

Lhaih mee 2 lioar, va 78 aym yn çhiaghtin shoh chaie, myr shen ta 76 faagit dou nish. Shegin dou lhaih 26 lioaryn ayns 19 shiaghteeyn.

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English version

10th - 16th August

The end of week thirty-three of the Reading Project. Here's what I've read this week:

A wizard alone (Diane Duane)

I found this one a much easier read than the last, despite the focus on grief. It was well-paced and there was plenty going on, but not enough to be confusing. The presence of an important character with autism was nice to see, and some interesting ideas came through. That being said, having Darryl be autistic and an actual saint causes complications - we end up with no idea what an ordinary autistic wizard might be like, which is a shame. I do also feel like it runs into slightly awkward territory (a perpetual dilemma with minority representation) because the only autistic character is innocence incarnate, and that raises shades of the Noble Savage. It's not really a criticism, just something that came to mind as I read.

魔法使いの嫁 v. 1 (ヤマザキコレ)

A pleasantly weird supernatural story; probably a romance, but it's hard to tell so far. The pace is gentle but not dragging, and I like the peculiar world of magic and its creatures that's slowly building up (including a nice Lovecraft shout-out). There's still plenty I don't really understand, but I don't mind. The characters are intriguing and rather guarded so far, and I look forward to finding out more about them.

Afterword

I read 2 books this week, I had 78 last week, so 76 are left over. I have 26 books to read in 19 weeks.

Shalee lhaih 2015: shiaghtin 32

Go here for English version. Note, this is rewritten from scratch, not a direct translation.

3oo - 9oo Luanistyn

Jerrey nah hiaghtin jeih as feed ny Shalee Lhaih. Shoh ny lhiah mee yn çhiaghtin shoh chaie:

Unnatural Selection (Jonathan Green)

Skeeal contoyrtyssyn steampunkagh taitnyssagh dy liooar. Va'n prose beggan garroo nish as reesht, as er lhiam dy verragh aavaght elley blass noa er myr skeeal "taitnyssagh as so-lhaih". She ym-lioar nane t'ayn, agh nagh vel ad loayrt er ny traghyn t'er ngoll shaghey! Ny keayrtyn er lhiam dy row mee er goayl skeeal-roish ennagh. Ta Green soilshaghey dy jeean dy nee seihll groamagh t'ayn, as ta shen cur blass elley er yn ard-charracteyr. Cha nod fer berçhagh ooasle ve ny 'eniagh glen as eshyn goaill ayrn 'sy chorys heshoil t'ayn, agh t'eh jannoo reddyn feeu ny yei shen. Red elley, cha nel eh jiooldey insh dooin ny ta goll er, as folliaghey eh derrey jerrey'n skeeal; ta fys mie ain dy leah, as she cummey as jerrey y feaysley ta bun as bree y skeeal. Ghow mee soylley jeh'n skeeal trooid as trooid, as she seihll steampunkagh mie t'ayn. Ta blass garroo er y phrose, agh s'baghtal dy nee aght as daltyn ta cummal seose y lioar, as ta Green screeu adsyn mie dy liooar. Kionneeym y nah lioar, foddee, as yeearree dy bee ny karracteyryn ny smoo, wahll, nyn garracteyryn, rish sheeyney y skeeal.

The Color of Earth (Dong Hwa Kim)

Bea-skeeal caslyssagh mie er bashtal mychione aase 'syn Chorea. Ta caillin feaysley magh beggan er veggan bun as keeayllyn caillinys as bwoirrinys, 'sy chorp as 'sy chultoor mygeayrt eck. Ga dy vel blass bardaght lajer ayns ny coloayrtyssyn dy mennick, ta smooinaghtyn as ennaghtyn aeglee ainjyssagh ry-akin (as ry-chooinaghtyn!) ayns shoh.

Fockle s'jerree

Lhaih mee 2 lioar, va 80 aym yn çhiaghtin shoh chaie, myr shen ta 78 faagit dou nish. Shegin dou lhaih 28 lioaryn ayns 20 shiaghteeyn.

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English version

3rd - 9th August

The end of week thirty-two of the Reading Project. Here's what I've read this week:

Unnatural Selection (Jonathan Green)

An enjoyable, action-packed steampunk adventure story. The prose was somewht clunky, and another editing pass could have boosted this into "action-packed and well-written". This is volume one of the series, but at times the references to past events made it feel like volume two, as though I was missing something. Green is cheerfully frank about how grim the setting is for all but the upper classes, and this paints the protagonist as something less than a real hero. You can't be likeable when you're knowingly part of that system, but his exploits are still unselfish. I also appreciated Green letting the reader know what's going on, rather than trying to hide it all. Overall I enjoyed the story, and I thought the world was a satisfying take on the steampunk theme. The prose is a little rough around the edges, but action and style are clearly the focus here, and Green delivers that well enough. I'll consider getting the next book, and hope that we might see some more depth to the characters as the story continues.

The Color of Earth (Dong Hwa Kim)

An excellent graphical memoir of growing up in Korea, and a young girl's slow unfolding discovery of what it means to be a girl, both biologically and culturally. A lot of familiar, believable childhood emotions and thoughts come across here, despite the rather poetic flavour many of the conversations have.

Afterword

I read 2 books this week, I had 80 last week, so 78 are left over. I 78 books to read in 20 weeks.

Shalee lhiah 2015: shiaghtin 31

Go here for English version. Note, this is rewritten from scratch, not a direct translation.

27oo Jerrey Souree - 2h Luanistyn

Jerrey kied shiaghtin jeih as feed ny Shalee Lhaih. Shoh ny lhiah mee yn çhiaghtin shoh chaie:

ぢごぷり y.l. 1 (木尾 士目)

Skeeal elley lioarish Kio Shimoku, screeudeyr Genshiken. By vie lhiam Genshiken ass towse myr shen va mian niartal aym dy 'akin yn obbyr shoh. Shoh caghlaa dhyt! Ta'n skeeal shoh mychione moir neuphoosht as carrey eck troggal oikan. She skeeal doillee t'ayn, ayns ayrn, as y chooid elley ny obbyr ynsee, foddee? Ta ram fysseree ayn, aghterbee, as ta Shimoku cur soilshey da ymmodee doilleeidyn cadjin bentyn rish oikan noa. T'eh so-lhaih as ta anaase aym er eddyr-obbraghey y jees. Red quaagh, ta'n cabdil s'jerree ny aaçhentyn as ymmodee karracteyryn noa t'ayn, bentyn rish ad 'sy scoill - she caghlaa çhelleeragh t'ayn as va mee fud y cheilley rish tammylt jannoo eab dy hoiggal.

Fockle s'jerree

Lhaih mee 1 lioar, va 81 aym yn çhiaghtin shoh chaie, myr shen ta 80 faagit dou nish. Shegin dou lhaih 30 lioaryn ayns 21 shiaghteeyn.

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English version

27th July - 2nd August

The end of week thirty-one of the Reading Project. Here's what I've read this week:

ぢごぷり v. 1 (木尾 士目)

Another work by Kio Shimoku. I'm a big fan of Genshiken, so I was keen to see anything else Shimoku might have worked on. This is very different! It's a story about a single teenage mother and her friend raising a newborn baby. It's partly educational, partly just a rather tough story about these two and their efforts to look after Yume-chan. Quite readable though. The last chapter suddenly becomes a flashback with a load of new characters, which was somewhat confusing.

Afterword

I read 1 book this week, I had 81 last week, so 80 are left over. I have 30 books to read in 21 weeks.

Shalee lhaih 2015: shiaghtin 30

Go here for English version. Note, this is rewritten from scratch, not a direct translation.

20oo - 26oo Jerrey Souree

Jerrey jeihoo shiaghtin as feed ny Shalee Lhaih. Va shiaghtin treih agglagh ayn, as cha dod mee lhaih ny lioaryn va foym. Chionnee mee carnaneen dy vanga gennal as lhaih shen. Shoh ny lhiah mee yn çhiaghtin shoh chaie:

Sumomomo, Momomo y.l. 1-5 (Shinobu Ohtaka)

Reayrtys noa er y shenn skeeal "ellynyn caggee, poosey reaghit rolaue". Cha nel anaase erbee ec yn ard-charracteyr firrinagh er y lheih; share lesh studeyrys son çheet dy ve ny leigheyder. Ta eiyrtyssyn aitt kyndagh rish shen, as by vie lhiam eddyr-obbraghey ny karracteyryn. Ny s'anmey ta'n eie shen scughey; er lhiam dy ren ad coayl shickyrys 'syn eie shen "fer lane chadjin as possan dy ellyneyr caggee boirey er", as arraghey y skeeal. Hoshiaght ta ard-ven y vrastyl echey ny caillin chadjin jesh, as t'ee soie dy mie ny hoi ny caillinyn keoie caggee elley, agh t'ad jannoo caggeyder jee dy leah. As ny smessey, rere aght boiragh manga, cha dod ad scuirr jeh cur bikini streng urree "son ta niart yn ellyn caggee eck er bun nearey" as lheid y boghtynid. Scuirr jeh! T'eh cur dwoaie er lheh orrym son s'mie lhiam cooid elley y skeeal.

Ta'n ellyn mie son y chooid smoo, agh ta cummey corrym er yn ard-charracteyr bwoirrin. T'ee 17 rere y skeeal, agh ta'n cummey echey sheer-arragey eddyr mysh 15 as mysh 6 d'eash - shen ouryssagh er lheh tra t'ee jannoo eab dy chleayney y gilley dy yannoo jibbag maree. As cha nel cummey 17 d'eash rieau urree. Ren shen milley reddyn dou beggan.

Er lhiam dy beagh eh ny straih lane vie dy jinnagh eh lhiantyn rish yn eie bunneydagh, "fer cadjin ayns seihll ellyneyryn caggee", as lhiggey da Koushi jiooldey ny gammanyn oc. Ta e seihll hene echey as eieyn elley er ny ta scanshoil: studeyrys, sheshaght, leigh. By vie lhiam hoshiaght tra v'eh gobbal lhiggey dou meenaghey ny ta scanshoil ayns bea, as jiooley y seihll shen ta soit er raghid as schlei gyn dean.

Bamboo Blade y.l. 1-4 (Masahiro Totsuka, Aguri Igarashi)

Skeeal taitnyssagh jeh club schoill kendo (ellyn y chliwe). Ta ynseyder faghidagh oc, agh cha nel eh olk, as ta blass feer deiney ayn ghooisht beggan co-ennaghtyn. Breeoil as taitnyssagh, as ta ellyn mie ayn - ayns ny caggaghyn myrgeddin. Cha nel eh taishbyney fo-eaddagh noadyr.

Barakamon v. 1-4 (Satsuki Yoshino)

Skeeal dy vea cadjin bio, bentyn rish penneyr Shapaanagh t'er narraghey dys ellan çheerey son dy sharaghey yn ellan echey, chammah's e smaght er hene. Ta'n skeeal bentyn rish sheshaght, eddyr-obbraghey deiney as bea balley beg çheerey. Ta ellyn lane vie ayn, as s'mie lhiam ny karracteyryn myrgeddin.

Fockle s'jerree

Lhaih mee ymmodee lioaryn, agh cha row ad ass y charnane. Va 81 aym yn çhiaghtin shoh chaie, myr shen ta 81 faagit dou nish. Shegin dou lhaih 31 lioar ayns 22 hiaghtin.

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English version

20th - 26th July

The end of week twenty-nine of the Reading Project. It's been a very sad week and I needed something low-effort, so I bought some digital manga and ignored this whole thing:

Sumomomo, Momomo v. 1-5 (Shinobu Ohtaka)

A somewhat fun twist on the old martial arts, arranged marriage thing: the male protagonist has spurned the family martial arts tradition and wants to be a lawyer. This makes for some interesting scenes. Mostly the art was solid, but there's some weird inconsistency in portraying the heroine. They're apparently teenagers (supposedly 17), but Momoko varies from looking 15 to looking about 6 in some scenes, which is *particularly* creepy when she's trying to get into Koushi's pants. Seventeen, never. That stylistic weirdness threw things off for me.

I'm quite disappointed for a couple of reasons, though. Essentially, the series soon loses confidence in its "perfectly normal kid surrounded by martial artists" shtick and starts shifting away from it. The class president originally seems like a normal girl who will be a nice foil to the violent girls who surround Koushi, and is just genuinely pleasant. Naturally, then, they turn her into a martial artist at the first opportunity. My second disappointment is related: like so, so many others, they feel the need to insert gratuitous fanservice by having her wear a string bikini costume because her martial arts are powered by embarrassment or some such crap. I mean seriously, just grow the hell up. I particularly hate this because I quite enjoy the actual characters and their interplay, and the plot behind it all.

I feel like this would be a great series if it stayed true to its premise and had Koushi adamantly refuse to play their little games. He has his own sphere, with things he considers important, like studying and the law and school. I liked his initial refusal to let them define for him what is imporant; his rejection of their sphere of violence and raw-but-pointless skill.

Bamboo Blade v. 1-4 (Masahiro Totsuka, Aguri Igarashi)

Very enjoyable story of a school kendo club. Although the teacher is kind of contemptible, it's not enough to be unlikeable (and lack of money is a real problem). So far, a fun and lively read, and the art holds up for action scenes too. No pointless displays of underwear, either.

Barakamon v. 1-4 (Satsuki Yoshino)

A very enjoyable, quietly lively story of a calligrapher who moves to the countryside (well, an island) to hone his art and self-control. It's mostly about social interactions and village dynamics. Very solid art and good, relatable characters.

Afterword

I read several books this week, none of them from the pile. I had 81 last week, so 81 are left over. I have 31 books to read in 22 weeks.

Shalee lhaih 2015: shiaghtin 29

Go here for English version. Note, this is rewritten from scratch, not a direct translation.

13oo - 19oo Jerrey Souree

Jerrey nuyoo shiaghtin as feed ny Shalee Lhaih. Shoh ny lhiah mee yn çhiaghtin shoh chaie:

妖怪のお医者さん y.l. 2 (佐藤 友生)

Ny smoo skeealyn er fer-lhee da beishteigyn Shapaanagh. Ta'n straih croghey er feayn-skeaylleydaght ny Shapaan, as myr shen s'doillee dou toiggal eh ny keayrtyn! Er lhiam dy row y chied lioar ny share; ta'n fer shoh goaill stiagh kuse dy spotçhyn keintyssagh nagh vel mee coontey monney jeu, agh t'ad cadjin dy liooar ayns manga, atreih. Ta cooid elley lane ard-ennaghtagh, agh foddym surrane y lheid dy mie.

Fockle s'jerree

Lhaih mee 1 lioar, va 82 aym yn çhiaghtin shoh chaie, myr shen ta 81 faagit dou nish. Shegin dou lhaih 31 lioar ayns 23 shiaghteeyn.

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English version

13th - 19th July

The end of week twenty-nine of the Reading Project. Here's what I've read this week:

妖怪のお医者さん y.l. 2 (佐藤 友生)

More stories of the ghost doctor. Their dependence on Japanes mythology means they're sometimes a bit hard for me to follow, despite the explanatory notes (in tiny, tiny writing). I found this volume a bit less interesting than the last, despite the fact it has some more origin story in. That's at least partly because it contains the kind of sex-themed "jokes" that are annoyingly common in manga.

Afterword

I read 1 book this week, I had 82 last week, so 81 are left over. I have 31 books to read in 23 weeks.

Shenn chooinaghtyn: More by Luck than Judgement

Cheayll mee jeh shenn charrey er y gherrid, as hug eh gys my chooinaghtyn dy row shin tayrn caslys-skeealyn er feie ny leaghtyn foddey er ny henney.

Hooar mee kuse jeu (ghow mee toshiaght aahayrn ad keayrt dy row) as, wahll, shoh blass y traa t'er ngoll shaghey.

Recently, an old friend got back in touch, and reminded me that we used to squander time in boring lectures drawing silly cartoons. For some reason I entitled these "More by Luck than Judgement", in honour of a ceilidh band who played at my cousin's wedding (it's a good name, what can I say?).

I managed to track some of them down, which I started redrawing a few years ago, and well, here's a taste of the old days.

Shalee lhaih 2015: shiaghtin 28

Go here for English version. Note, this is rewritten from scratch, not a direct translation.

6oo - 12h Jerrey Souree

Jerrey hoghtoo shiaghtin as feed ny Shalee Lhaih. Shoh ny lhiah mee yn çhiaghtin shoh chaie:

Some Chinese ghosts (Lafcadio Haern)

Çhaglym dy skeealyn scaanjoon as feayn-skeeayllaght anaasoil. Cha nee çhyndaays hene t'ayn, agh aascreeu rere y skeeal Sheenish ('syn Çhapaanish!) dys lhieggan noa 'sy Vaarle. Ta kuse jeu lane whaagh (feayn-skeeal bun tey, myr sampleyr) agh ghow mee soylley jeu.

A view from the Imperium (Jody Lynn Nye)

Ta mee er lhiah obbraghyn elley Nye as ghow mee soylley jeu. Shoh y lioar share jeu, er lhiam. T'ee screeuit dy meein, as ny focklyn scughey ass y raad as lhiggey dhyt goll shaghey. Ta schlei lettyragh dy liooar ec Nye myrgeddin. T'ee cur sheese rassyn y bun-skeeal foddey roish my t'ou toiggal y scansh oc, as cha row mee jerkal rish fer erbee jeu. She seihll anaasoil bioyr t'ayn, agh cha nel ee jummal stiagh mynphoyntyn as jerkal rhyt cur ad gys cooinaghtyn. Ta ny karracteyryn cleaynagh dy liooar, myn- as ard-charracteyryn y jees. Ta Nye dy kinjagh screeu mraane anaasoil, as by vie lhiam y Chooinseilagh erskyn ooilley, ga dy nee ben-oik t'ayn gyn blass hene caggee urree. Shen yn aght!

Shegin dou cur moylley er lheh da'n ard-charracteyr. S'doillee agglagh eh screeu ommidan ooasle as ard-chied echey, as jannoo shen y credjallagh, gyn croo fer nagh by vie lesh peiagh erbee eh. Ta screeu ass y chied reayrtys ny smessey foast. Ta Nye croo cormid jesh eddyr foill as mie; ta Thomas jannoo reddyn ommidjagh, agh t'eh cooilleeney reddyn scanshoil myrgeddin. Cha nee feniagh caggee t'ayn as laue niartal echey, agh cha nel eh jummal traa sleih neuooasle as cur orroo eh y hauail noadyr. Ta'n skeeal gra dy nee fer kenjal as cleaynagh t'ayn, as chreid mee shen. Ga dy nee anoayllagh t'ayn, ta cree as mian echey dy jannoo e chooid hare, as imlid dy liooar dy hoiggal feeu sleih cadjin. Kionneein y nah lioar nish mannagh row mee cummmal veih kionnaghey lioaryn.

Fockle s'jerree

Lhaih mee 2 lioar, va 84 aym yn çhiaghtin shoh chaie, myr shen ta 82 faagit dou nish. Shegin dou lhaih 32 lioar ayns 24 shiaghteeyn.

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English version

5th - 12th July

The end of week twenty-eight of the Reading Project. Here's what I've read this week:

Some Chinese ghosts (Lacfadio Haern)

An interesting little collection of ghostly short stories. They're based on Chinese stories that circulated in Japan while he lived there, though according to his notes, he's essentially rewritten them rather than simply translating a Japanese version. They're characterful and appealing.

A view from the Imperium (Jody Lynn Nye)

I've read and enjoyed Nye's work before, but I wasn't prepared for how enthralling I found this book. Technically, it's very impressive. Plot seeds are regularly planted well in advance, so smoothly that I never saw them coming. The setting is detailed enough to feel vibrant and new, but not crammed with aliens to memorise. Minor characters were nicely articulated, while Nye has always written good, interesting female characters without resorting to arbitrary badassness - the Councillor was excellent.

I was particularly impressed with the protagonist. A character who's a spoiled, privileged aristocratic twerp is very difficult to write convincingly without making them unlikable. First-person perspective makes it even worse. Nye balanced this nicely between flaws and virtues, competence and cluelessness. He's neither an action hero, nor a time-waster in constant need of saving. Thomas is supposed to be kind, likeable and charming, and I really felt that that charm seeped out of the page, so that even his foibles felt endearingly human rather than irritating. I'd buy the next book right now if I wasn't not buying books.

Afterword

I read 2 books this week, I had 84 last week, 82 are left over. I have 32 books to read in 24 weeks.

Shalee lhaih 2015: shiaghtin 27

Go here for English version. Note, this is rewritten from scratch, not a direct translation.

29oo Vean Souree - 5oo Jerrey Souree

Jerrey shiaghtoo shiaghtin as feed ny Shalee Lhaih. Shoh ny lhiah mee yn çhiaghtin shoh chaie:

聲の形 y.l. 1 (大今良時)

Ta ellyn mie er bashtal 'sy lioar shoh; atreih, cha ghow mee taitnys jeh'n skeeal hene. V'eh orrym lhaih lheid ny lioar ayns Lettyraght Vaarle 'sy scoill, as cha by vie lhiam eh eisht noadyr. Skeealyn sheer-ghroamagh, lane dy "rieughid" (dy ghra myr shen, groamid), karracteyryn nagh by vie lesh peiagh erbee ad, as soilshaghey magh nagh vel peiagh kenjal erbee ayn as nagh vel bea agh doccarys as surranse. Ta daa pheiagh mie ayn: moir yn ard-charracteyr Shouyra, as Nishimiya. Cha nel rheamys currit da'n voir agh tra t'ee boirey er Shouya. Ta Nishimiya balloo bouyr ny h-ourallagh da braggartys Houya, agh cha nee karracteyr hene ayn; she greie bun-skeeallagh ("plot device") t'ayn. Cha nel aittys chamoo aash erbee ayn, as cha nel kied ec peiagh erbee agh Shouya aase aght erbee. Atreih, ny yei shen, cha by vie lhiam eh er chor erbee. Va mee jerkal rish skeeal anaasoil mychione caillin wouyr as gilley ta kiangley rish as cooney lhee. Agh shoh dooin Very Special Episode, as cha nel bea hene ec Nishimiya; cha nel ee ayn agh son dy chur cummaght er bea Shouya.

妖怪のお医者さん y.l. 1 (佐藤 友生)

Skeeal scoill neughooghyssagh anaasoil ta croghey er feayn-skeealeydaght Hapaanagh. Ta daa ard-charracteyr ayn as ablid oc dy 'akin spyrrydyn. T'eh ginsh meer toshee y skeeal daa cheayrt, jeh reayrtys ny caillin as eisht jeh reayrtys y yilley. Ta'n nah lhieggan cur stiagh stoo noa, as aght ennagh t'eh beggan quaagh dy daag ad y lheid jeh'n chied lhieggan, agh, wahll. By ghoillee dou toiggal ny keayrtyn; chammah's croghey er cultoor ny Shapaan, t'eh jannoo ymmyd jeh fontyn ellynagh nagh dod mee lhaih ad dy baghtal! Ghow mee taitnys jeh ny yei shen. Ta'n gilley quaagh dy liooar; ayns ayrn, shen kyndagh rish y bea v'echey roish y scoill, agh ta kuse elley gyn soilshaghey foast. Cha nel mee shickyr, son ta manga dy cadjin goaill stiagh ram aittys keintyssagh ta quaagh da ny Goaldee.

Fockle s'jerree

Lhaih mee 2 lioar, va 86 aym yn çhiaghtin shoh chaie, myr shen ta 84 faagit dou nish. Shegin dou lhaih 34 lioaryn ayns 25 shiaghteeyn.

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English version

29th June - 5th July

The end of week twenty-seven of the Reading Project. Here's what I've read this week:

聲の形 v. 1 (大今良時)

This book is full of lovely, realistic artwork. Unfortunately, it's not my sort of story at all. This is the kind of book we were forced to read in English Literature - full of misery, "realism", characters nobody could like, and heavy moral messages about how everyone is basically awful and life is crap. There are precisely two likeable characters: the protagonist's mother, who gets minimal pagetime, and the victim Nishimiya herself, who is essentially a plot device in this volume at least. Most of the volume consists of bullying. There is no humour or relief from the misery, and no characters other than protagonist Shouya are allowed to develop, which is a problem given that he's completely unlikeable. It's a huge shame, because I thought this was going to be a really interesting series about the experiences of a deaf kid and this boy who gets involved in her life. But no, she's essentially a Very Special Episode plot device as far as I can tell, serving only to motivate the protagonist in various ways.

妖怪のお医者さん y.l. 1 (佐藤 友生)

An interesting supernatural school story based on Japanese folklore. It has two protagonists who can see ghosts. The first part of the story is told twice, from each character's perspective, which was interesting. The second version adds a fair bit of new stuff, and it seeks a bit odd somehow that this particular stuff was omitted from the first. Some of this was hard to follow, particularly as it uses artistic fonts in places that are harder to read than usual. Still, I enjoyed it. The male protagonist is odd, and while some of that oddity is explained by his background, some is still unexplained. I'm not sure yet if it's just the usual manga tendency to use a lot of sex jokes, or something else.

Afterword

I read 2 books this week, I had 86 last week, 84 are left over. I have 34 books to read in 25 weeks.

Shalee lhaih 2015: shiaghtin 26

Go here for English version. Note, this is rewritten from scratch, not a direct translation.

22h-28oo Vean Souree

Jerrey sheyoo shiaghtin as feed ny Shalee Lhaih. Shoh ny lhiah mee yn çhiaghtin shoh chaie:

The Night land (William Hope Hodgson)

By vie lhiam dy by vie lhiam dy skeeal shoh, agh va'n aght screeuee dy my lhiettal. Cha s'aym my she skeeal mie t'ayn ny dyn, myr shen. Ta'n aght screeuee jus do-lhaih. Cha nee prose bardagh (shen mie ny keayrtyn) chamoo shenn aght t'ayn (ta mee lhiah y lheid dy jeean) - t'eh neuyeeragh as yl-chast, as ta grammeydys lane whaagh ayn (abbyrt ennagh? shenn aght nagh vel fys aym er? marranys hene?) myr scansh eddyr uss as y skeeal. Lhaih mee daa chabdil roish my scuirr mee jeh. Cha s'aym eer cre'n genre t'ayn: t'eh mastey straih farskeealaght heanse, agh v'eh jeeaghyn shennaghyssagh dy liooar. Cha dod mee surranse eh. As ta eieyn lane shenn-emshiragh ayn mychione currymyn deiney as mraane, as ta shen jus dree.

Friend Island (Francis Stevens)

Ny skeeal giare, dy jarroo. Cha noddym cur genre baghtal er: ta FSS (far-skeealaght heanse) 'sy teihll hene, agh cha nel shen bentyn rish y skeeal t'ayn, as ta reddyn yindyssagh ayn nagh vel fansee cadjin noadyr. Ta Stevens maylartey ynnydyn mraane as deiney gyn cur wheesh trimmid er y chooish, as by vie lhiam eh shen. Y skeeal hene, cha nee agh beggan aitt t'ayn. Ghow mee taitnyss jeh, agh cha nee The Citadel of Fear t'ayn er chor erbee.

The Terror (Arthur Machen)

Cha row fys aym cre'n lioar veagh ayn, agh va mee er glashtyn jeh. She lioareen t'ayn, 90 duillagyn. Wahll, she folliaght t'ayn, as fer lane quaagh. Hoig mee red ny ghaa rish lhaih y skeeal, agh cha dod mee roshtyn y freggyrt hene er chor erbee derrey ghow ny karrecteyryn toshiaght soilshaghey magh y chooish. Chreid mee dy nee far-skeealaght whaagh v'ayn - ta sannish jeh cummaghtyn joarree dy leah - agh cha nee, 'sy cheeal chadjin. Ta moralaght Victoriagh echey, as cha nel eh lhiantyn rish cliaghtaghyn far-skeealaght whaagh.

Voir eh orrym dy vel eh croghey er sleih gyn rheynn fyssyree ymmydoil, eer marish ny caarjyn oc. As cha nel y dunverer feer tushtagh, myr shen lhisagh ny smoo sleih er scapail baase, as eisht er doiggal bun y chooish. Myr shen, er lhiam dy vel y chied 80 duillag lane 'eeu, agh cha nel mee shickyr mychione y jerrey!

Magic for Beginners (Kerry Link)

Hooar mee y lioar shoh nastee aght ennagh, myr shen cha vaik mee rieau coontey giare ny red erbee myr shen. Chreid mee rere yn ennym as y coodagh dy nee fansee baljagh v'ayn - da'n aeglee, foddee - mychione ynsaghey druiaghtys. Cha nee. She teihys skeealyn t'ayn, as cha dod mee coontey monney jeh. She sorçh dy feeynaidyn lettyragh fansee v'ayn, er lhiam. T'ad quaagh jeh yioin, as shen dy schlei, agh cha chreid mee dy row dean baghtal oc. Lhaih mee daa as scuirr mee jeh. Va blass far-skeealaght laue-lioar RPG oc, er lhiam: soilshaghey magh seihll ennagh dy mie, agh ny share shen na skeealaght. Ghow mee taitnys jeh kied lieh y chied skeeal derrey hoig mee nagh beagh feasley erbee er ny reddyn quaagh aynsyn. V'eh gollrish prowaltyssyn screeuee ennagh, cloie marish eieyn quaagh, agh gyn eie fondagh er cre'n skeeal v'ayn. Wahll, va lhaihderyn elley jeean dy liooar - mooarane jeu! - myr shen, ny crog orryms ynrican.

Two Keys vol. 1 (Chloe Chan and Aliena Shoemaker)

Skeeal noir fansee bajagh mie. Ta'n ellyn garroo dy ellynagh, as ta shen cooie da'n ghenre er lhiam; t'eh cur trimmid er cummaghyn as gleashaght, agh t'eh baghtal ny yei shen. She skeeal cleaynagh er lhiam, as lhaihym y naa lioar nish. Cha nel mee toiggal cre'n fa nagh vel kiartyn erbee ec sleih pishagagh - veagh ad ymmydoil dy liooar da'n reiltys, er lhiam, as er lhiam dy beagh pishagys hene ny kaart dellal ymmydoil myrgeddin. Agh, shen y seihll t'ayn.

Two Keys vol. 2 (Chloe Chan and Aliena Shoemaker)

Cha hoig mee taghyrtyn y skeeal shoh wheesh mie as y chied lioar. Shimmey reayrtys lane ghleashaght t'ayn, as er lhiam nagh vel yn ellyn wheesh cooie da shen. Cha hoig mee ny keayrtyn ny va taghyrt, as erskyn ooilley tra va pishagys 'sy chooish. She skeeal mie v'ayn, agh v'eh orrym gobbraghey ny smoo 'sy lioar shoh na 'sy chied lioar. Er lhiam dy vel shen, ayns ayrn, croghey er ny bun-skeealyn t'ayn. Ta arc baghtal as jerrey echey ec y chied lioar, as eisht arc elley hayrn harrish dys y nah lioar. 'Sy nah lioar, ta'n arc shen çheet gys jerrey neuhickyragh, as ta'n nah arc beggan moal er lhiam. Ta jerrey ard-haghyrtagh echey, agh dooys she "c'rad hig ass shen, hmm?" v'ayn, cha nee "cur y nah lioar dou kiart nish!" v'ayn.

Fockle s'jerree

Lhaih mee 6 lioar, va 92 aym yn çhiaghtin shoh chaie, myr shen ta 86 faagit dou nish. Shegin dou lhaih 36 lioaryn ayns 26 shiaghteeyn.

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English version

22nd-28th June

The end of week twenty-six of the Reading Project. Here's what I've read this week:

The Night land (William Hope Hodgson)

I wanted to like this, but the writing stopped me. I have no idea whether it's a good story or not. The writing style is incredibly hard to read; not purple prose (which can be good) nor simply archaic, but very roundabout and fussy and thoroughly getting in the way of whatever story may be there. I got two chapters in and then gave up at the prospect of more. I don't even know what genre it is - it's part of a sci-fi series, but everything I saw looked like historical fiction to me. I have a high tolerance for archaism and dense prose, but I couldn't stomach this. It also starts as it (I'm told) means to go on, with some depressingly antiquated ideas about gender roles, which apparently turns into alarming possessiveness later.

Friend Island (Francis Stevens)

Actually a short story, not a book. It's hard to genre-pigeonhole this one - it's got a setting that's some kind of sci-fi, but barely comes into it, with fantastical elements too. I liked how it flips gender roles just in passing while setting up the story. The actual story is just a bit of fun really. It's a far cry from The Citadel of Fear, though.

The Terror (Arthur Machen)

I had no idea what to expect from this - haven't read any before, only heard of it. It's actually a novella, a mere 90 pages. It's good, very peculiar. I had inklings of things that were part of the mystery, but could not see my way to the answer, and it was only once the characters themselves put things together that I would be able to. I thought this was going to be a weird tale, and changed my mind about what kind of weird tale as the revelations came along, but in the end I think it actually isn't. It's got a very Victorian sensibility and doesn't really seem to fit the frame of the weird tale. It seemed early on as though it might bring in alien influences on almost Lovecraftian lines.

It does rely in a couple of places on the slightly annoying device of characters failing to share information that would have helped them put the facts together. There's also a slightly weird thing going on where essentially, lots of people are being killed, but there are remarkably few unsuccessful attacks; this is actually a bit unlikely once you know the solution, and you'd expect the truth to come out quite easily. The attacker is not intelligent enough to only attack when success is likely, and there should really be far more attacks in general.

Magic for Beginners (Kerry Link)

I got this as a free bonus ebook for backing something on Indiegogo, so bear that in mind. I didn't buy it, nor did I see a blurb to evaluate at any point.

The title and cover gave me the impression this would be an urban fantasy, possibly YA title, about learning magic. It isn't. It's actually a collection of short stories. I couldn't really get into it. It seems essentially like literary fantasy vignettes. The two stories I read were knowingly weird, and very successful at it - my problem was that they didn't seem to have anything else in mind. On reflection, they remind me strongly of RPG game fiction, evoking a distinctive setting well but not particularly going anywhere. I enjoyed the first half of the first story, until I realised none of the weirdness would ever be resolved. The second one did nothing for me. It seems like a set of writing experiments in being weird, not apparently going anywhere. Some people absolutely raved about it, so hey.

Two Keys vol. 1 (Chloe Chan and Aliena Shoemaker)

A decent urban fantasy noir. The artistically-rough art style works well for the genre, emphasising shades and impressions, while still being pretty clear to the eye. The story intrigues me so far, though there are a number of unanswered setting questions - not least, why do magic people apparently have no rights? Given they're a potential asset to the government, and also magic tends to be a useful bargaining chip... ah well, it's a setting assumption. I'm interested to see where this goes.

Two Keys vol. 2 (Chloe Chan and Aliena Shoemaker)

I found this one a little harder to follow than the first. There's quite a lot of action scenes early on, and I don't feel the art style is quite as suited to that. Sometimes it wasn't clear to me what was happening, particularly as a lot of magic flies around. This was still a good volume, but not quite as satisfying as the first. I think it's partly because it's setting up a longer-term storyline for next volume. The first volume had one conclusive arc (finding the prisoner) and led into the next; here, the first arc sort of peters out with a stalemate, while the second felt rather slow to me. The ending is a dramatic splash, though not a cliffhanger as such. It's cool, but more of a "huh, I wonder where this is going?" than a "wowza I need the next volume right now!" for my part.

Afterword

I read 6 books this week, I had 92 last week, so 86 are left over. I have 36 books to read in 26 weeks.

Language Myths: Cha nel kuse dy hengaghyn corrym rish

Ta'n art shoh ry-lhaih lesh kied kenjal Ray Harlow, Laurie Bauer, Pheter Trudgill as Phenguin. T'eh er ny screeu er son ny lioar Language Myths, ny lioar vie er bashtal as cagh ny share son lhaih ee.

FEAYN-SKEEAL JEES

Cha nel kuse dy hengaghyn corrym rish

Liorish Ray Harlow

My veesmayd jeeaghyn er ny çhengaghyn ta goll er loayrt ‘sy teihll jiu, vermayd my ner nagh vel yn ymmyd cheddin jeant jeu. Y chooid smoo dy hengaghyn, she kied çhengey heshaght ennagh t’ayn, as t’ad cooilleeney currymyn ny sheshaght shen lane vie. Ta rheam obbragh sloo ec shiartanse jeu; myr sampleyr, derrey’n gherrid, va Ladjyn lhiettalit da ymmydyn er lheh ‘syn Agglish Chreestee Raueagh, erskyn ooilley stiurey shirveishyn as çhaghteraghyn sthie eddyr-ashoonagh yn Agglish. Ta rheam eer ny sloo eck jiu, as cha nel feer ymmyd jeant jee agh son lhaih ny va screeut aynjee dy bunneydagh.

Er y laue elley, ta obbraghyn s’lhea na coraa laaoil ec kuse dy hengaghyn. T’ad nyn jengaghyn oikoil son reagheydys lane ashoonyn, ta ymmyd jeant jeu er son ynsaghey dys ny keimyn s’yrjey, as er son dagh ooilley sorçh dy screeuaght. Fir elley, ta currym eddyr-ashoonagh oc; she Baarle ee y sampleyr share ec y traa t’ayn, foddee. She çhengey hraaght aer eddyr-ashoonagh, ghellal, as hoilshaghey oaylleeagh ee, as lingua franca turrysaght.

Dy meeaighar, er y fa dy vel lheid ny scanshyn eddyr rheamyn çhengaghyn, ta kuse dy ‘leih credjal, mannagh vel rheam lheead ec çhengey, nagh noddagh ee cooilleeney lheid y rheam. Er lesh kuse dy ‘leih, cha nel kuse dy hengaghyn corrym rish. Cha nel ad nyn jengaghyn oaylleeaght, çhaghteraght eddyr-ashoonagh as screeuaght, as er y fa dy vel ad moal, cha nod ad cooilleeney ny currymyn shoh.

Ta lheid y varel ry-akin smoo baghtal ayns sheshaghtyn raad ta myn-hengey goll er loayrt marish ard-hengey. Myr cooish hampleyragh, smooinee er Maorish, çhengey ghooie Pholaneesagh ny Seelan Noa. Rere briwnyssyn çhengoayllee, ta Baarle ny kied çhengey ec mysh 95 ‘sy cheead jeh’n phobble as ny çhengey ynrican ec mysh 90 ‘sy cheead. Ta beggan ny smoo na 12 ‘sy cheead jeh’n phobble cur enney Maorish daue hene, ass 3 millioonyn. Ny yei shen, ga dy vel ad cur trimmid er scansh ny çhengey son enney Maorish, cha nel agh mysh 30 000 loayreyder glen eck. Er coontey caghlaaghyn sheshoil ‘syn Teelan Noa rish ny queig jeih-bleeantyn s’jerree, ta rheam Vaori er ny lhiettal beggan er veggan, as ayns ymmodee buill, cha nel ee ry-chlashtyn jiu agh ayns cruinnaghtyn formoil cliaghtagh.

Rish ny feed blein s’jerree, va ventyr ny ghaa ec politickaght, ynsaghey as scaalheaney dys castey y hroa shen. Myr eiyrtys jeusyn, she çhengey oikoil ny Seelan Noa t’ayn nish. T’ee ry-chlashtyn ayns scaalheaney radio as çhellveeish, as ayns kuse dy scoillyn as eer un ollooscoill, cha nel ny cooish studeyrys ynrican, agh ny çhengey ynsee.

Rish immeeaght ny ventyryn shoh, va’n varel cheddin dy row mee çheet er ry-akin ec ymmyrkey kuse dy leih: cha nel y jargaght ec Maorish dy ve ny çhengey oikoil ny ny çhengey ynsee erskyn y cheim s’inshley. Ny keayrtyn, lesh fockley magh y varel shoh, t’eh ry-akin nagh vel bun resoonagh echey. S’cooin lhiam barel ayns pabyr-naight ny Seelan Noa blein ny ghaa er dy henney, as foee shickyraghey nagh row Maorish ny çhengey 'eeu, er y fa dy row feme eck er eeassaghey ass y Vaarle er son eieyn noa. Cosoylaghey rish shen, she çhengey vreeagh as so-lhoobagh ee Baarle dy baghtal, er y fa dy dod ee er n’eeassaghey focklyn jeh ymmodee çhengaghyn car ny bleeantyn son eieyn noa.

Agh ta’n eie cheddin, nagh vel kuse dy hengaghyn feeu, ry-akin ayns cooishyn elley. She oraatagh, politickagh as fallsoonagh Romanagh v’eh Cicero, ‘sy chied eash RJC. Screeu eh obbraghyn fallsoonagh ayns Ladjyn, ayns ayrn dys cur fallsoonys Greagagh cour sleih nagh row agh Ladjyn oc, agh myrgeddin, dys taishbyney dy row eh yn-yannoo. Shen er y fa dy row ourys ec ny co-emshiree echey dy dod Ladjyn cur eieyn as aghtyn smooinaghtyn ny Greagee da sleih! Er lhieu, cha row Ladjyn corrym rish. Agh shen çhengey vees ny çhengey ard-scoillarys, oaylleeaght, diploamys eddyr-ashoonagh as lettyraght rish milley bleeaney as ny smoo! Y Reejerey Isaac Newton, ard-scoillar mie er enney ny shiaghtoo eash jeig, hoilshee magh eh ny eieyn echey ayns Ladjyn.

Haghyr lheid y red reesht ‘syn Europey Heear ec jerrey ny Mean Eashyn, lesh ny çhengaghyn dooghyssagh (myr hie ad er enmys) cosney obbraghyn va fo ream Ladjyn roish shen. Ec y traa shen, va sleih ayn as er lhieu nagh dod ny çhengaghyn ardjeeagh, myr Frangish, Baarle, Iddaalish as nyn lheid, jannoo yn obbyr shoh. V’ad ro-gharroo, ro-neuappee, as laccal cooid; cha dod ad fockley smooinaght neuloaghtagh as fys lhean myr ny shenn-hengaghyn, Ladjyn as Greagish. Lhig dooin resooney magh ny ta ry-laccal ec çhengaghyn er lhieu, ny faghyn nagh vel ad corrym rish, as y fesht: “Corrym rish cre?”.

Ny keayrtyn, t’ad reih troyn troggalagh çhengey myr fa dy vel çhengey elley ennagh ny share son obbyr ennagh. 'Syn Elveeish hiar-yiass, ta çhengey ec ymmodee sleih as ish jeh sliught Ladjyn ny coloinee Romanagh. She Romansh t’ayn, as ish çhengey ny theay ayns kuse dy h-ardjyn as baljyn beg, ga dy vel Germaanish er vrishey stiagh 'syn ard neayr's eashyn er dy henney. Myr t’eh son Maorish, as dimraa mee roish, rish ny jeih-bleeantyn s’jerree, ta gleashaght ayn dy vooadaghey ream as paart Romansh.

Nish, foddee Germaanish cur focklyn ry-cheilley dy aashagh, as jannoo co-ocklyn jeu (breearyn, marenmyn as fir elley, cha nel ennymocklyn ynrican). Cha nod Romansh shen y yannoo cho aashagh; t’ee jannoo ymmyd jeh raaghyn dys cochiangley eieyn. Kuse dy Romansheyryn, t’ad er vreggyrt y lhiettrimys shoh lesh credjal nagh vel Romansh corrym rish magheryn bea feer chrampit, er y fa: “foddee Germaanish jannoo focklyn nyn lomarcan son eieyn çhaghnagh, as meenaghey baghtal oc; cha nod Romansh”.

Ta’n barel shoh faagail magh dy vel çhengaghyn elley, myr Frangish as Iddaalish, ‘syn un vuckagh. Agh cha nel doilleeid erbee oc lesh loayrt dy baghtal er cooishyn çhaghnagh. Chammah’s shen, by Romansh ee çhengey dooghyssagh yn ard rish eashyn, as dagh ooilley cooish ayns sheshaght eirinagh alpinagh jeant lioree, as fir jeu feer ‘çhaghnagh’. Lheid ny barelyn, t’adsyn casley rish yn ‘’eayn-skeeal’ t’ad resooney magh ayns Feayn-Skeeal 10: Cha Nel Grammeydys Ec Kuse Dy Hengaghyn. Rere’n ’eayn-skeeal shoh, er coontey scanshyn eddyr troggalyn çhengaghyn, ta lhiettrimyssyn eddyr oc bentyn rish jargaght dy ‘ockley magh kianglaghyn resoonagh eddyr focklyn as eieyn.

Ny keayrtyn elley, cha nel çhengey ennagh ‘corrym rish’ er y fa dy vel eh “graney, barbagh, dewil”. Shoh fer jeh ny h-oyryn, er lesh sleih ennagh, nagh dod ny çhengaghyn dooghyssagh goaill orroo hene obbyr Ladjyn. Myr screeu ard-scoillar ennagh, va blass “soar check as ollish yn ‘er caggee” orroo. Va Dante ny chione-fenee ny çhengaghyn dooghyssagh, as t’ad gra dy dug eh er bun Iddaalish jeianagh. Ny yei shen, lesh creearey abbyrtyn Iddaalagh lesh shirrey fer cooie son ny shaleeyn lettyragh echey, daag magh eh yn abbyrt Romanagh, er y fa: “jeh ooilley abbyrt Iddaalagh, ta’n sheean moal feie oc y fer smoo feodagh – as cha nyrrys, fakin dy vel eh rere trulleeaght as garrooid nyn gliaghtaghyn.”

Ta’n daa hampleyr shoh cowraghey magh ny ta goll er dy feer. Ta ny smoo resoonaght er y chooish shoh ayns Feayn-Skeeal 11: S’aalin Ee Iddaalish, S’garney Ee Germaanish. T’eh taghyrt dy mennick dy vel sleih cur er çhengey ny abbyrt ennagh y varel t’oc orroosyn ta dy loayrt. Myr shen, va’n abbyrt Romanagh feie as moal er lesh Dante er y fa dy nee shen y varel v’oc er ny Romanee v’ayn ec y traa. Y treeoo oyr ta sleih gra nagh vel çhengey ennagh corrym rish, t’eh ny s’trimmey; shen y coyrle: “Cha nel X corrym rish er y fa nagh nod shiu loayrt er fishag çheshveanagh aynjee”. Ta shen keeayllaghey dy vel Baarle (ny çhengey ennagh elley myr Germaanish ny Rooshish, myr sampleyr) ny share na X, er y fa dy vel cooishyn ayn nod oo loayrt orroo ayns fer jeu, agh cha nod ‘syn ‘er elley.

Er y chied reayrtys, t’eh jeeaghyn dy ve ny argane mie. Ta reddyn ayn nod oo jannoo ayns çhengey ennagh nagh nod oo jannoo ayns çhengey elley; myr shen ta shiartanse dy hengaghyn ny share na fir elley; myr shen, cha nel shiartanse dy hengaghyn corrym rish shiartanse dy h-obbraghyn, er y chooid sloo.

Agh ta’n varel shoh cur mee-enney er tro hengaghyn kyndagh rish y çhennaghys oc myr tro undinagh hengaghyn. Dy ghra myr shen, rere’n varel shoh, er y fa nagh row oyr ny feme erbee rieau dy loayrt er (myr sampleyr) fishag çheshveanagh ayns Maorish, cha nod oo jannoo eh arragh er coontey lheamys undinagh ennagh t’er Maorish. Agh lesh beggan smooinaghtyn, heemayd nagh nodmayd cummal seose yn argane shoh.

Cha loayr ad er co-earrooderyn ayns Shenn Vaarle; ta Baarle Yeianagh yn un hengey as Shenn Vaarle, agh ny s’anmey; myr shen, lhisagh shin credjal nagh nodmayd loayrt er co-earrooderyn ayns Baarle Yeianagh. Shen ommidjys, gyn ourys. S’baghtal eh ny haghyr; rish ny bleeantyn, ta Baarle er ngiennaghtyn y chooid ta feme ain urree dys loayrt er co-earrooderyn, as ymmodee cooishyn elley nagh row fys orroo ain ayns ny shenn laghyn. Dys resooney magh cooish ennagh ayns çhengey er lheh, ta feme ain er focklyn dys çheet er mynphoyntyn y chooish; dy ghra myr shen, tasht-fockle cooie.

Gyn ourys, shegin dooin dy vel y çhengey lhiggey dooin ny fockley y chochiangley ayns jeean-loayrtyssyn, feyshtyn, as myr shen. Agh ta ny h-aghtyn shoh ec dagh çhengey. Ta cabdilyn elley loayrt er y chooish shoh, Feayn-Skeeal 10: Cha Nel Grammeydys Ec Kuse Dy Hengaghyn, as Feayn-Skeeal 4: She Çhengey Resoonagh Ee Frangish. Dy giare, ta scansh eddyr çhengaghyn bentyn rish obbraghey troggal ny çhengey, agh foddee ad ooilley fockley y ream cheddin dy cheealyn troggalagh.

Cha nel y tasht-fockle cheddin ec dagh çhengey. S’feer eh dy vel kuse dy hengaghyn er naase tashtyn-fockle bentyn rish cooishyn nagh vel sleih loayrt orroo ayns kuse dy hengaghyn elley. As she “aase” eh y fockle breeoil shoh. Foddee oo loayrt er fishag çheshveanagh ayns Baarle, er y fa dy vel y tasht-fockle eck er naase rish aase smooinaghtyn oaylleeagh; cha row eh ayn er son dy bragh myr tro undinagh ny Baarle. Ren Baarle mooadaghey y tasht-fockle eck, ayns ymmodee aghtyn rish ny h-eashyn, dys cooilleeney ny femeyn noa v’eck. Foddee dagh çhengey mooadaghey y tasht-fockle eck ‘syn aght cheddin, dys goaill stiagh cooishyn erbee as feme ec ny loayreyderyn oc dy loayrt orroo. Lesh jeeaghyn er ny focklyn t’ad jannoo ymmyd jeu ‘sy Vaarle dys loayrt er cooishyn çhaghnagh, as ymmodee fir neuhaghnagh neesht, heemayd dy vel y chooid smoo jeu ass çhengaghyn elley, as er nyn govestey stiagh ‘sy Vaarle. T’ad cur “eeassaghey” er shen, ga nagh vel eie erbee dy jed ny focklyn er cur erash! Ta dagh çhengey jannoo shen er shlee, agh s’cosoylagh dy vel tasht-fockle “eeassit” Vaarle y fer smoo ‘sy teihll, mastey ard-hengaghyn er y chooid sloo.

Ny yei shen, cha nel eeassaghey yn aght ynrican dy nod çhengey mooadaghey y tasht-fockle eck. Dy mennick, ta’n tasht-fockle goll er aase “veih’n çheusthie”, dy ghra myr shen, liorish y chooid t’eck hannah. Ny keayrtyn, agh cha nel dagh keayrt er chor erbee, ta çhengey as ny loayreyderyn eck jannoo shen er y fa dy vel ad credjal dy jinnagh eeassaghey aggair jee. Oyr elley son aase tasht-fockle lesh cooid ny çhengey hene, shen dy by vie lesh screeudeyr ennagh dy nod y lhaihderaght chiarit toiggal ny ta screeut echey dy aashagh, as veagh ram eeassaghey nyn gumrail, foddee.

Shen ny ren Cicero. Son dy screeu ayns Ladjyn er eieyn fallsoonys Greagagh, begin da tasht-fockle Ladjynagh y aase, as shen corrym rish ny h-eieyn by vie lesh soilshaghey magh. Son y chooid smoo, ren eh shen liorish goaill fockle Ladjyn as cur keeal er lheh er dy jioinagh. Sampleyr feer scanshoil, shen yn ymmyd jeant echey jeh’n ‘ockle Ladjyn ratio son ‘resoon’, as haink yn ymmyd shoh da Baarle myr reason. Ny keayrtyn elley, chroo eh focklyn noa jeh bun Ladjynagh; myr sampleyr, chroo eh qualitas (haink shen y ve quallid ‘sy Ghaelg, quality ‘sy Vaarle) dy jioinagh dys çheet er eie Greagagh.

Ta myn-hengaghyn, myr sampleyr Maorish as Romansh, jannoo y red cheddin jiu ren Cicero son Ladjyn. T’ad jannoo tasht-fockle ass cooid t’ec ny çhengaghyn hannah, do nodmayd jannoo ymmyd jeu dy loayrt er cooishyn nagh row shin loayrt orroo ayndaue monney roie, myr co-earrooderyn, leigh, oaylleeaght as reddyn elley. Cha cosoylagh eh dy jig y daa hengey shoh y ve nyn jengaghyn oaylleeaght ny diploamys eddyr-ashoonagh, agh dy beagh shennaghys elley ayn, veagh ad, foddee, as eisht veagh shin resooney magh, foddee, my ta Baarle “corrym rish” ny dyn.

Language Myths

Baarle: "This illuminating and highly readable collection of essays explores some of the myths, for example: standards of children's speech and writing have declined; women talk too much; the 'purity' of the English language is under threat; some languages are more attractive to the ear or are harder to learn than others; the media has a detrimental effect on language. These widely held views are questioned and shown to be based on inadequate or false information, or simply, not to be true. Other essays explore spelling problems, attitudes towards accents, controversies over changes in language, and the belief that some languages have no grammar."

Fys lioar-oaylleeagh:

• Enmys: Language Myths
• Soilsheyder: Penguin, 1998
• Reagheyderyn: Laurie Bauer & Peter Trudgill
• ISBN-13: 978-0140260236
• Kiangley: Er ynnyd-eggey Phenguin (kiart ec y traa screeuee)

Screeudeyryn

Ray Harlow

She Ray Harlow eh screeudeyr yn art shoh. She çhengoayllee eh, as anaase echey er ymmodee çhengaghyn. T'eh cur geill er lheh da Maorish as Polaneesish, as t'eh cur cooney da obbyr freayll çhengaghyn 'sy Teelan Noa, chammah's da sheshaghtyn Europagh ta jannoo eab myn-hengaghyn ardjynagh y 'reayll.

Laurie Bauer

Ta Laurie Bauer ny cho-reagheyder ny lioar. She çhengoayllee eh, as anaase mooar echey er jalloo-oaylleeaght (kiaddey focklyn, er lheh) as sorçhyn dy Vaarle harrish y teihll (Baarle y Teelan Noa, er lheh).

Peter Trudgill

Ta Peter Trudgill ny cho-reagheyder ny lioar. She çhengoayllee eh, as anaase mooar echey er sheshengoaylleeaght as abbyrtyn. T'eh er nyannoo ram obbyr er abbyrt Norfolk as t'eh ny eaghtyrane onnoragh ny sheshaght Friends of Norfolk Dialect.

Penguin Books

She soilsheyder lioaryn eh Penguin Books.

Shalee lhaih 2015: shiaghtin 25

Go here for English version. Note, this is rewritten from scratch, not a direct translation.

15oo-21oo Vean Souree

Jerrey queiggoo shiaghtin as feed ny Shalee Lhaih. Shoh ny lhiah mee yn çhiaghtin shoh chaie:

An introduction to Elvish : and to other tongues and proper names and writing systems of the third age of the Western Lands of Middle-Earth as set forth in the published writings of Professor John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (ymmodee)

Ta'n lioar ard-scoillaragh dy liooar. As anaase aym er çhengaghyn Celtiagh (bun obbyr Holkien) hug mee shilley ny trooid, as er lhiam dy vel ee fondagh dy liooar. Agh dy jarroo, cha nel oo lhaih lhaih ny lioar mannagh vel oo jannoo studeyrys er y chooish. Cha neeym monney ymmyd jeh mannagh bee feme çhelleeragh aym dy screeu Elvish chiart, ny red ennagh myr shen.

エマ (y.l. 1) (森薫)

Ghow mee taitnys jeh'n skeeal shoh, bentyn rish cooish ghraih (dy baghtal) eddyr caillin hie as fer aeg ooasle. She skeeal shennaghyssagh t'ayn, as myr shen ta'n aght loayrtys wheesh scanshoil as ny focklyn hene; er y fa shen by ghooillee dou toiggal ny keartyn, cha nel Shapaanish vie dy liooar aym son lheid ny mynphoyntyn. Ta mian aym dy 'eddyn magh ny vees taghyrt. Son y chooid smoo she manga da aeglee ta ry-akin 'sy Vaarle, as shen ny ta mee er lhaih, agh shoh skeeal da sleih aasit as ta scansh baghtal eddyr oc. Shegin dou gra dy vel eh quaagh nish as reesh. Ta flah Injynagh ard-verçhagh ayn as t'eh ard-haghyrtagh dy liooar, markiagh trooid Lunnin er elefantyn as dossan dy vraane daunse marish; er lhiam dy vel scansh genre ayn eddyr eshyn as y drama thie cadjin ta cooid smoo y skeeal. Dy jarroo, s'doillee dou goaill rish y ghaa 'sy skeeal cheddin. S'treisht lhiam dy beagh eh ny share ny s'anmey.

Fockle s'jerree

Lhaih mee 2 lioar, va 94 aym yn çhiaghtin shoh chaie, myr shen ta 92 faagit dou nish.

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English version

8th-14th June

The end of week twenty-five of the Reading Project. Here's what I've read this week:

An introduction to Elvish : and to other tongues and proper names and writing systems of the third age of the Western Lands of Middle-Earth as set forth in the published writings of Professor John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (ymmodee)

This isn't the sort of book I'm going to *read* per se, it's somewhere between a reference and a scholarly tome. I've had a reasonable look through it (I'm interested in Celtic languages and linguistics) and it seems well-done, but equally I'm not going to get much use out of it unless/until I suddenly need to use Tolkeinesque languages accurately.

エマ (y.l. 1) (森薫)

A very pleasant read. I found it a bit difficult to catch the nuances; as a classic historical story, the way things are said is as important as what's said, and my Japanese isn't up to that yet. However, it's an interesting setup and I'm intrigued as to what will happen. Some of the elements are rather odd: the larger-than life Indian prince and his antics (racing through London on elephants accompanied by a dozen dancing-girls) seems to belong to a different genre from the serious family drama, and honestly it's hard to reconcile the two. I sort of brushed it off, and I'm hoping the gap will either work itself out later, or not be important.

Afterword

I read 2 books this week, I had 94 last week, so 92 are left over.