More Macrotastic

These are some more macros that I used heavily during a recent project. As some took quite a bit of effort to create, I thought I'd post them in case they can be reused by someone else - or for my own future reference, of course.

Dealing with near-duplicate columns

It's quite common for people to design a spreadsheet with, say, Error Code as a column, then later to realise that a record might end up with more than one error codes, and deal with this by simply creating Error Code 2 on the same row. In our case, I needed to end up with a set of records where each error code was in the same one column, but had its own row, duplicating the rest of the data for the record. There was a lot of data to go through.

The multi-part macro below can do this. It goes through each row from the bottom of the data up*, finds columns with a particular name in the top row (in this case, those containing "Error Code") and checks for values in them. If any cells have values, it'll create a new row for each column containing a value, copy the original row's data across, and set "Error Code 1" to equal the Error Code value in the cell it's working from. When all the target cells have been processed, the original row of data is deleted.

*if you're inserting new rows below your current row, this is a key safeguard to stop your macro getting caught in a loop where it inserts a new row, then processes that new row and adds another... never moving on to the second of the original rows.

Even if the main macro isn't useful to you, you might find one of the subparts useful.

Sub SplitByDupeColumn()
    'takes a sheet where there are several columns containing equivalent information and splits them so each one has its own record, filling in the rest of the data from the original row. For example where someone has created four "Error Code" columns to allow for up to four error codes in a record. Here you are really dealing with a one-to-many relationship. Having a separate row for each record is much neater.

    Dim rgAll As Range
    Dim myRow As Long
    Set rgAll = Range(Cells(2, 1), Cells(ActiveSheet.UsedRange.Rows.Count, ActiveSheet.UsedRange.Columns.Count))
    
'this can be a very long operation, so as long as we know it works, don't bother updating the screen - it'll only slow us down
    Application.ScreenUpdating = False
    With ActiveSheet
'start at the end and go backwards. This way it isn't disrupted by new rows being added below the one we're processing
        For i = ActiveSheet.UsedRange.Rows.Count To 2 Step -1
'messy workaround because it won't accept i as an argument for some reason
            myRow = i
            Call ColToRow(myRow, "Error Code")
        Next i
    End With
    Application.ScreenUpdating = True

End Sub

Sub ColToRow(someNumber As Long, myField As String)
'for a sheet with several columns whose titles contain the same string, takes one row and turns it into one row per entry in that set of columns
'e.g. if you have Notes1 Notes2 Notes3, it will turn one row (with data in each field) into three rows, each of which only has data in one of these fields,
'but contains all the rest of the data for that row.
'Blanks are ignored. The original row is deleted.

    Dim myRange As Range
    Dim colInd As Integer
    
    Dim newCellRow As Integer
    Dim newCellCol As Integer
    
    'messy workaround because the calling subroutine is based on a Long but we want an Integer
    Dim lngRow As Integer
    lngRow = someNumber
    
    'find those cells that are in "Error Code" columns
    Call CellPicker(myField, lngRow)
    Set myRange = Selection
    
    'if value in any Error Code column, add new row for each, then delete the original
    For Each myCol In myRange.Columns
        If Not IsEmpty(myCol.Value) Then
            'get the index of this column so you can insert the value later
            colInd = myCol.Column
            'add a new row
            Cells(lngRow + 1, 1).EntireRow.Insert
            'copy down the data from the original row
            Range(Cells(lngRow, 1), Cells(lngRow + 1, ActiveSheet.UsedRange.Columns.Count)).FillDown
            'copy down the Circ Id value for this column
                'get the new cell where you want to store the values
                Call CellPicker("Error Code1", lngRow + 1)
                Selection.Value = Cells(lngRow, colInd).Value
            Cells(lngRow + 1, colInd).Value = Cells(lngRow, colInd).Value
    
            'blank out the Error Code values in all columns except this one in the row we just created
            Call BlankMe(myRange, lngRow + 1, Cells(lngRow, colInd))

        End If
    Next myCol
    ''myRange.Select
    
    Cells(lngRow, 1).EntireRow.Delete

End Sub

Sub BlankMe(myRange As Range, lngRow As Integer, leaveMe)
'blanks all but one column on one row in a stated range
    Dim colInd As Integer
    
    For Each myCol In myRange.Columns
    'unless it's the column we want to keep, blank it
        If Not myCol.Column = leaveMe.Column Then
            colInd = myCol.Column
            Cells(lngRow, colInd).Value = Null
        End If
    Next myCol
End Sub

Sub CellPicker(LookFor As String, lngRow As Integer)
'picks cells in one row (lngRow), based on the headers for that column
    
    'set variables
    Dim rgToCheck As Range
    Dim rgSelect As Range
    Dim cl As Range
    
    'build a range from cells called LookFor
    With ActiveSheet.Rows(1)
        'find a column called "LookFor"
        
        'select the top row
        Set rgToCheck = Range(Cells(1, 1), Cells(1, ActiveSheet.UsedRange.Columns.Count))
            
        For Each cl In Intersect(ActiveSheet.UsedRange, rgToCheck)
        'select any columns containing the desired text LookFor, except for the header row (this exclusion probably not strictly necessary, but neater)
            If InStr(1, cl.Text, LookFor) Then
                If rgSelect Is Nothing Then
                    Set rgSelect = Range(Cells(lngRow, cl.Column), Cells(lngRow, cl.Column))
                Else
                    Set rgSelect = Union(rgSelect, Range(Cells(lngRow, cl.Column), Cells(lngRow, cl.Column)))
                End If
            End If
        Next cl
            If Not rgSelect Is Nothing Then
                rgSelect.Select
            End If
    End With
End Sub

Protection

This next one comes from the way worksheets were handled in part of the project. Colour-coding was used to indicate the type of data in a cell: many types were not to be changed by the main users. The spec called for white and grey cells to be locked, and doing this by hand was predictably painful since the colours were scattered across sheets and mixed with other colours. The following macro locks white and grey (191,191,191) cells only.

Sub Lock_Grey_White_Values()
    
    Dim rgToCheck As Range
    Dim rgSelect As Range
    Dim cl As Range, myColorIndex As Long
    'check the entire sheet
    Set rgToCheck = Range(Cells(1, 1), Cells(ActiveSheet.UsedRange.Rows.Count, ActiveSheet.UsedRange.Columns.Count))
    
    'white cells = index2
    myColorIndex = 2
    'build a range from cells with white colour
    For Each cl In Intersect(ActiveSheet.UsedRange, rgToCheck)
        If cl.Interior.ColorIndex = myColorIndex Then
            If rgSelect Is Nothing Then
                Set rgSelect = cl
            Else
                Set rgSelect = Union(rgSelect, cl)
            End If
        End If
    Next cl
    'now add grey cells - no handy index, so use RGB 191
    For Each cl In Intersect(ActiveSheet.UsedRange, rgToCheck)
        If cl.Interior.Color = RGB(191, 191, 191) Then
         If rgSelect Is Nothing Then
                Set rgSelect = cl
            Else
                Set rgSelect = Union(rgSelect, cl)
            End If
        End If
    Next cl
    If rgSelect Is Nothing Then
        MsgBox "The Colorindex " & myColorIndex & " hasn't been found."
    Else
        rgSelect.Select
    End If
    
    Selection.Locked = True
    Selection.FormulaHidden = True
End Sub

The next one was used to save a password-protected copy of the file in a new location, saving multiple clicks per use and avoiding typing errors. Only limited security was needed on these files, so having a common password for many files didn't matter. It was only to protect them from casual inspection.

Sub Parallel_Save()
'saves protected version of the workbook in a new location
    Dim NewName As String
    Dim MyPath As String, MyCompletePath As String
    
'save workbook with password in corresponding folder of new location
    MyPath = ActiveWorkbook.Path
    NewPath = Replace(MyPath, "Unprotected", "Protected")
    NewName = NewPath & "\" & ActiveWorkbook.Name
    ActiveWorkbook.SaveAs Filename:=NewName, Password:="password"

    MsgBox "The new version has been saved; don't save this one!"

End Sub

This slightly stronger version protected and saved the files, so that not only was a password needed, but separate password access was needed to change locked cells.

Sub Protected_Save()
'saves protected version of the workbook with password filepass, and protects the active sheet as sheetpass, with locked cells protected

    ActiveSheet.Unprotect Password:="sheetpass"
    Call GetLocks
    Dim myRange As Range
    
    Dim NewName As String
    Dim MyPath As String
'protect the worksheet
    ActiveSheet.Protect "sheetpass", AllowFormattingCells:=True, AllowFormattingColumns:=True, AllowFormattingRows:=True, AllowSorting:=True, AllowFiltering:=True

'Allow 'Protect worksheet and contents of locked cells', 'Select locked cells', 'Select unlocked cells', 'Format cells', 'Format columns', Format rows', 'Sort', and 'Use AutoFilter'.

'save workbook with new password
    NewName = ActiveWorkbook.Name
    MyPath = "C:\Example"
    NewName = MyPath & "\" & NewName
    ActiveWorkbook.SaveAs Filename:=NewName, Password:="filepass"

End Sub

This next one simply unlocks a whole worksheet.

Sub Delock()
'unlocks the whole worksheet
'select all cells
    ActiveSheet.UsedRange.Select
    Selection.Locked = False
    Selection.FormulaHidden = False
End Sub

Coir rioee chimmeeagh?

V'eh ry-yerkal, gyn ourys, agh she skeeal mie t'ayn ny yei shen. Ta ronseyderyn er ngeddyn feanish dy dug magh coyr rioee "inçhynagh" post-l spammagh.

Ren Proofpoint (ny cholught shickyrys fysseree) cronnaghey soiaghey spammagh rish y Nollick. Hug ny kimmee postyn-l tree keayrtyn 'sy laa er feie ny cruinney dys sleih as colughtyn, 100,000 'sy cheayrt. Cha daink agh 10 postyn-l ass enmys IP er lheh, myr shen by ghoillee eh ad y haghney liorish lhiettal IP. Y red anaasoil, shen dy daink 25 'sy cheead jeh jeshaghtyn elley, cha nel jeh co-earrooderyn tradishoonagh. Hooar ad çhaghteraghtyn daink ass "router" thie, jeshaghtyn yl-vean, çhellveeishanyn as coyr rioee; va co-earrooder as ablid eddyr-voggyl ec dagh fer. Son y chooid smoo nagh row ny kimmeeyn er mrishey jeshaghtyn sauçhey, agh er ngeddyn adsyn nagh row reaghit dy cooie hoshiaght, as adsyn ragh row er gaghlaa focklyn arrey jeh ny dug colughtyn er dagh fer. Myr shen, by aashagh eh ad y chleayney.

Cha nel mee goaill yindys kyndagh rish shen. Ta jeshaghtyn inçhynagh goaill stiagh co-earrooder dys geddyn fysseree as aawoalley yn aghtey oc rere eh, ny kiangley rish jeshaghtyn elley, agh ta'n ablid shen nyn vosley magh dys kimmee. S'doillee dy liooar eh cur er sleih co-earrooderyn tradishoonagh y choadey, gyn çheet er y choyr rioee! Mannagh vel jeshaght jeeaghyn dy ve ny cho-earrooder, s'cosoylagh nagh ver sleih my ner dy vel feysht ayn. Chammah's shen, cha nel eh baghtal cre'n feeu t'ec kimmee geddyn greim er coyr rioee - cha neeu eh boirey ort lesh stiurey eh, cha nel fysseree scanshoil aynsyn. Cha nel eh baghtal da cagh noadyr cre'n assee jeh my ghoys ad greim er noadys, ga dy dod veerys neuchramp cur er meeobbraghey er lhiam.

As erskyn shen, cha nel ny jeshaght jeant dy ve feer sauçhey. Dy cadjin, rere Proofpoint, cha nel eh aashagh da'n çhellooder kiangley roo as reaghey ad, dys aanoaghey claareyn noi-veerys as reddyn elley. S'doillee eh feddyn veeryssyn er y jeshaght mannagh vel corys-obbree cadjin oc, ny aght neuchramp dy obbraghey er. Cha nel coadey noi-veerys mie ry-gheddyn, cha nel claareyn oc ta shickyraghey as gaanoaghey lheid ny cooid vog, as cha nel skimmee coadee cur geill da'n 'eysht. Er lhiam nagh vel sleih smooinaghtyn dy baghtal - she co-earrooder t'ayn, myr shen t'eh lane scanshoil ad y choadey noi kimmee, son ta co-earrooder gyn coadey ny cho-earrooder gyn mainshtyr, as dy leah she co-earrooder kimmeeagh t'ayn. Ta co-earrooderyn feer ymmydoil da kimmee - ta niart co-earrooagh lhiggey daue brishey coryssyn scanshoil elley, my she glioonagh ny coyr rioee t'ad gaavainshtyr, she co-earrooder t'ayn.

She eiyrtys gyn shaghney t'ayn, er lhiam, as wheesh sleih cur wheesh jeshaghtyn elley er y voggyl (cre'n fa? cha nel mee toiggal), as toiggalys beg oc er sauçhys co-earrooder. Wahll, chammah's shen, she dooghys lhiastey t'ain, son y chooid smoo, as cha nel monney sleih coadey y co-earrooder hene oc, gyn çheet er jeshaghtyn elley. Cha neeu eh, ta shin lieh-chredjal, as shen dy liooar dooin gyn jannoo eh.

As rish 2020, myr shen, bee y kishtey stiagh ad lane dy soilsheenyn noa-Viagra hug y coyr rioee dhyt, as bee y jeshaght chaffee as y çhellveeishan cur co-chialg er bun dty varroo ass lieh possan kimmeeagh ayns çheer elley.

Coontey y Veeb

Y Scaa Harrish Innsmouth: Ronsaghey

As myr shen cheau mee tammylt y fastyr shid ayns Lioarlann y Theay Newburyport, shirrey fys er Innsmouth. Va mee er nyannoo eab dy vriaght ny cummaltee ayns shappyn, thie bee, garreishyn as oik ny firvooghee, agh dooar mee dy row ad ny smoo fastagh foast er y chooish na hoig mee jeh ny dooyrt y jantagh tiggad. Hoig mee dy leah nagh beagh traa brash dy liooar aym dy chur shee er y tostid dooghyssagh v’ayn. Va sorçh dy ghrogh-ourys do-hoiggal oc, myr dy row blass neuchooie ennagh er peiagh erbee as anaase echey er Innsmouth. ‘Sy YMCA raad va mee goaill aaght, hug y cleragh coyrle bog noi goll dys lheid y voayl grouw as fioghit; as va’n ymmyrkey cheddin ry-akin ec skimmee y lioarlann. Rere barel sleih ynsit, by leayr eh nagh row Innsmouth agh ny ard-hampleyr dy ‘ioghey baljagh.

S’goan y fys hooar mee ayns lioaryn shennaghys Choontae Essex er skellooyn y lioarlann. Hoilshee ad dy row y balley currit er bun ayns 1643, er enney er son troggal lhongyn roish yn Irree Magh, ny ynnyd ard-raah marrey leah ‘sy nuyoo eash yeig, as eisht ny valley mwyljyn jeh beggan scansh chrog er niart ny Manuxet. S’tiark er lheh ny focklyn cheau ad er plaie as rouaney 1846, myr dy dug ad drogh-ghoo er y choontae.

Cha row monney screeuit er fiodaghey y valley, agh by leayr eh scansh ny coontaghyn s’anmey. Erreish da’n Chaggey Theayagh, cha row çhynskyl erbee jeant agh ec Colught Sheeley Varsh, as cha row dellal erbee feeu geill ry-akin foast agh creck caagyn airhey as sheer-eeastagh. Dirree cosney yn eeastagh ny sloo as ny sloo rish leagh yn earrey tuittym as colughtyn mooarey cohirrey nyn oi, agh cha row rieau genney eeastyn rish Purt Innsmouth. B’anvennick eh chum joarreeeyn ayns shid; fo focklyn reajagh hooar mee feanish dy row Polannee as Phortiugee ennagh er nyannoo yn eab, as dy jagh ad er skeaylley dy barbagh quaagh.

Y red va wheesh sym aym er, shen slamockle er cliejeenys quaagh as kiangley neuvaghtal eddyr eshyn as Innsmouth. By vaghtal eh dy dug y lane çheer geill dy liooar da, son lhaih mee dy row sampleyryn ry-akin ayns thie-tashtee Ollooscoill ny Miskatonagh ayns Arkham, as ayns shamyr taishbyney Heshaght Hennaghys Newburyport. Va coontaghyn brisht ayn, eig as cadjinagh, agh dennee mee snaue fo-strooan quaagh kinjagh nyn mast'oc. Va blass feer whaagh as boiragh er y chooish, do nagh dod mee ceau eh ass my chione, as ga dy row eh anmagh dy liooar ‘syn astyr reih mee dy heein sampleyr Newburyport—dooyrt ad dy nee nhee mooar v’ayn as coreir neuchorrym echey, jeant myr tiara dy baghtal—my dod mee reaghey shen.

Hug y lioarlannee notey enney dou son meoir ny Sheshaght, Bnr. Anna Tilton. V’ee cummal ‘sy naboonys, as erreish dou cur soilshaghey giare jee, va’n shenn ven ooasle kenjal dy liooar mish y chur lhee stiagh ‘sy thie doont, son nagh row ee anmagh agglagh. Va çhaglym feeu oc, dy jarroo, agh va’n aigney aym my lhiettal veih cur tastey cooie da’n chooid smoo jeu. Hirr mee y nhee joarree ghlist fo sollys lectragh ayns cuilleig hashtee.

Cha nee ro-ennaghtaght aesthetagh ghow yn ennal hene assym; cha row feme erbee er y lheid. Va aalid neughooghyssagh ennagh er yn ashlish joarree soylleysagh honnick mee ny soie er clooishag velvad ghorrym. Eer nish, s’doillee dou soilshaghey ny honnick mee, ga dy nee tiara v’ayn dy baghtal, rere y choontey lhaih mee. Va’n çheu veealloo ard, as va ymmyl feer vooar as neuchorrym aght ennagh echey, myr dy row eh kiaddit da kione ooh-chrooagh, as frourtagh bunnys. Er lhiam dy nee airh v’ayn son y chooid smoo, agh va skell quaagh gial ayn hug orrym credjal dy nee co-veain v’ayn, ga nagh nhione dou cre’n meain elley v’ayn as y jees co-aalin. V’eh oor-noa, bunnys, as dod mee er geau ooryn jannoo studeyrys er ny cowraghyn tayrnagh v’er, nagh row casley rish tradishoon erbee by nhione dou eh. Va kuse jeu towse-oaylleeagh, as annym baghtal ny marrey er kuse elley, as va keiraght yindyssagh as schleioil ennagh er nyn ngrainney er yn eaghtyr myr linney as aashag hrean.

Ny smoo yeeagh mee, ny smoo drualtys hug eh orrym; as mastey’n yindys dennee mee blass anveaghee nagh dod mee cur enney ny baght er. Hoshiaght heill mee dy nee dooghys quaagh neuheiltagh ny h-ellyn voir orrym. Shimmey obbyr ellyn honnick mee roish shen, agh adsyn nagh lhiann hug strooan ashoonagh ny kynneeagh er enney ain, v’adsyn jeant jeh yoin myr freggyrt jeianagh hass noi dagh strooan er enney. Cha row y tiara yn derrey yeh ny’n jeh elley. By leayr eh dy lhiann eh rish saase coardit ennagh, appee as fondagh, agh va’n saase shen lane scarrit rish saase erbee—Heear ny Hiar, shenndeeagh ny jeianagh—va maa rieau er vakin ny er glashtyn jeh. Dod oo er gredjal dy nee keirdaght heihill elley v’ayn.

Agh dy leah hoig mee dy row bun elley, as wheesh niartal, foddee, ec y ghraue-aash v’orrym: cummey jallooagh as maddaghtoil ny caslyssyn quaaghey. Va sannish ayndaue jeh folliaghtyn foddey as çharvaalyn traa as spoar erskyn credjue, as daase bree ny marrey gyn brishey dy ve drogh-vonneydagh, faggys. Mastey ny jallooyn grainnit va bugganeyn far-skeealagh lane dy ghrayn arraghtagh as olkys—cummaghyn jeh eeast as rannag anvestit—as cha dod mee cur jeem ennaghtyn jeh far-chooinaghtyn lhiantynagh meegherjoilagh, myr dy ghooisht ad killagyn dowiney kirpey ta tashtey bun-chooinaghtyn shennayragh atçhimagh, as tayrn neese scaaghyn assdauesyn. Heill mee ny keayrtyn dy row dagh linney ny h-eeast-rannagyn ard-vollaghtagh lane dy vun as bree olkys yoarree gyn yss.

Nagh neuchorrym y scansh v’eddyr cummey y tiara as y shennaghys giare prosoil daa-insh Bnr. Tilton dou. Va fer Innsmouth er meshtey er ny chur fo ghioal son symm erskyn credjue ayns shapp State Street ayns 1873; hooar eshyn baase ayns boiraneys laa ny ghaa ny s’anmee. Chionnee y Çheshaght eh dy jeeragh veih’n ghioalteyr, as jannoo taishbynys cooie da’n whallid echey. Hug ad lipaid er myr keird ny h-Injyn Shiar ny ny h-Injey-Sheen, foddee, agh va’n fogrey shen shallidagh dy baghtal.

Lesh cosoylaghey dagh heiltynys er cre ass haink eh as cre’n oyr v’eh ayns Sostyn Noa hene, va Bnr. Tilton aignagh dy chredjal dy daink eh ass tasht joarree roosteyryn marrey ennagh v’er ny gheddyn ec y çhenn Chaptan Obed Marsh. Cha dooar y barel shen annoonaghey erbee liorish ymmyrkey ny Marshyn; son cho leah as dynsee adsyn dy row eh ec y Çheshaght, v’ad er chur arralyn ardey shassooagh er-e-hon, as v’ad garral foast dy kinjagh gyn scansh da briwnys anchorragh ny Sheshaght gyn creck eh.

Rish shooyl magh ass y thie, hoilshee ee magh dy baghtal dy row y sheiltynys roosteyryn marrey cadjin dy liooar mastey sleih ynsit yn ard myr soilsheydys da berçhys ny Marshyn. Y barel ecksh er Innsmouth dorraghey—balley nagh dug ee rieau shilley er—she feoh neuchramp v'ayn, kyndagh rish leodaghey cultooragh y valley. Ren ee mish y hickyraghey dy row lieh-vun ec ny sannishyn jeh ooashley jouyil, bentyn rish cultys ‘olliaghtagh whaagh v’er ngeddyn greim er y valley as goaill urree hene ynnyd ny h-agglishyn cair-chredjuagh.

She “Oardyr Folliaghtagh Ghagon” v’ayn, er lhee, as gyn ourys, ny red mooidjeenagh far-phaganagh haink Niar keead er dy henney, tra va aalaghyn Innsmouth er çhee failleil. V’eh dooghyssagh dy row ee er mayrn foast, son haink bree braew noa dys ny h-aalaghyn nagh row er vailleil reesht, as dy leah va ard-chummaght ec y chultys ‘sy valley; ghow ee urree hene ynnyd Masoonys, as feddyn oayll ‘sy çhenn Halley Masoonagh rish New Church Green.

Ass lieh Vnr. Tilton, ny ben chredjuagh, va’n clane skeeal ny bun mie dhyt shaghney shenn valley fioghit as lomarcan. Dooys, she brod noa v’ayn. V’ee er chur jeeanid antrapoaylleeagh er y ghreesaghey seyrnagh as shennaghyssagh v’orrym hannah. S’goan y cadley hooar mee ayns shamyr veg y “Y” yn oie shen.

(...ny smoo ry-heet...)

---

Ass The Shadow over Innsmouth liorish H.P. Lovecraft.

Y Scaa Harrish Innsmouth: Sannishyn

Cha geayll mee fockle er Innsmouth neayr's y chied laa—as y laa s'jerree foast—honnick mee eh. Va mee kiart er roshtyn slane eash, as myr shen va mee jannoo turrys harrish Sostyn Noa, fakin yindyssyn as shenn reddyn, as jannoo ronsaghey caaardyssagh. V'eh foym goll dy jeeragh voish shenn Newburyport dys Arkham, voish haink kynney my voir. Cha row gleashtan aym, agh hie mee er traen, tram as barroose, reih yn aght sloo deyr dagh cheayrt. Ayns Newburyport, dooyrt eh dou dy beagh eh share goll er y traen dys Arkham; she ayns oik tiggad y stashoon dynsee mee dy row Innsmouth ayn, tra ren mee thittys er leagh y traen. Va jantagh cullagh ayn, as oaie creeney echey, as rere y vlass echey by vaghtal eh nagh daink eh ass slyst Newburyport. Hoig eh dy row eh orrym spaarail argid, as hug eh sannish elley dou nagh row coloayrtagh erbee elley er jebbal.

“Oddagh oo goll er y çhenn varoose, er lhiam,” as eh beggan neuarryltagh, “agh ch’nel ad coontey monney jeh ayns shoh. T’eh goll trooid Innsmouth—bee enn’ ayd ersyn—as myr shen cha mie lhieu eh. Ta Innsmouthagh dy imman, Joe Sargent, agh ch’nel troailtee ry-gheddyn ayns shoh, ny ayns Arkham noadyr, er lhiam. Dy jarroo, ta mee g’ill yindys dy vel eh ayn foast. T’eh neugheyr, agh cha vaik mee rieau ‘gh daa ny tree troailtee er, as ad Innsmouthee. T’eh goll voish Kerrin y Valley—rish Drugglann Hammond—ec 10 ‘sy voghrey as 7 ‘syn astyr, mannagh cheagil eh. Shenn-chlabberey agglagh, er lhiam, agh ch’row mee rieau er.”

Shen y chied ‘ockle cheayll mee er Innsmouth scaagh. Veagh sannish erbee jeh balley do-akin er caslys-çheerey as do-gheddyn ayns lioaryn-oayllys anaasoil dou, as er coontey yn aght quaagh loayr y jantagh er, ghooisht m’anaase dy jarroo. My ta balley greinnaghey wheesh ourys er y naboonys, shegin da ve neuchadjin er y chooid sloo, er lhiam, as feeu geill y turrysagh. My v’eh er y raad cour Arkham, yinnin farkiaght aynsyn; as myr shen vrie mee fys ersyn veih’n jantagh. Loayr eh lesh kiarail, as haink blass ard-wannalagh er, myr dy denee eh ny s’ooashley ny’n balley loayr eh ersyn.

“Innsmouth? Wahll, she balley quaagh t’ayn rish beeal ny Manuxet. She ard-valley v’ayn, faggys—purt ennoil roish Caggey 1812—agh t’ee er shirgaghey rish y cheead s’jerrey. Ch’nel raad yiarn nish—cha jagh rieau B. & M. ny hrooid, as ga dy row crouw-linney dys Rowley, scuirr ny traenyn bleeantyn er dy henney.

“Ny smoo thieyn follym na sleih, yiarrins, as ch’nel keird oc agh eeastyn as gimmee. Ta cagh dellal ayns shoh, ny Arkham, ny Ipswich. Va mwyljyn dy liooar oc traa dy row, agh t’adsyn ass ymmyd nish, er lhimmey jeh un thie sheeley airhey; t’eshyn paart-emshiragh, y paart smoo shang honnick oo rieau.

“Agh va’n thie sheeley shid ny red mooar laa dy row; shegin dy vel Shenn Marsh ny s’berçhee na Croesus. Shenn ‘er whaagh, Marsh, cha nel cass ny crub jeh ry-akin çheumooie. T’ad gra dy daink gorley crackanagh er rish eash, ny lheamys elley; aghterbee, t’eh shaghney sooill y theay. She oe Chaptan Marsh t’ayn, eshyn hug er bun y colught. Va e voir ny ben joarree—ass y Vooar Yiass t’ad gra—as na’ row mushtaa ayn tra phoos eh caillin Ipswich jeih bleeaney as daeed erash! Shen y barel t’oc er Innsmouthee, as ‘sy clyst shoh ta sleih keiltyn fuill Innsmouth erbee t’oc. Wahll, choud’s leayr dou, ta clein as clein-ny-clienney Varsh kiart g’llrish peiagh erbee elley. Ta sleih er nyn cowraghey dou ayns shoh nish as reesht—agh er lhiam na’ vaik mee ny clein hinney rish tammylt. Ch’vaik mee rieau y shenn ‘er.

“As cre’n oyr ta cagh cur wheesh ourys er Innsmouth? Wahll, ghooinney, ny cur wheesh geill da tutleraght sleih ayns shoh. T’ad fastagh dy liooar hoshiaght, agh my t’ad goaill toshiaght cha nee ad scuirr arragh. T’ad er skeaylley tutlerys er Innsmouth rish keead ny ghaa—ayns sannish, son y chooid smoo—as s’leayr dooys dy nee aggle t’ayn son y chooid smoo. Nee oo gearey rish ny skeealyn cheayll mee jeu—mychione shenn Chaptan Marsh dellal conaantey rish y jouyll as cur lesh flaieeyn ass niurin dy chummal ‘sy valley, ny mychione ooashley-jouyll as ouralyn dwoaieagh ayns thie ennagh rish y cheiy hooar ayns ayns 1845—agh ta mish ass Panton, Vermont, as ch’nel mish currit da credjal lheid ny skeealyn.

“Ta skeealyn feeu ec y çhenndiaght er y sker doo rish y clyst myrgeddin—Sker y Jouyll, t’adsyn cur urree. T’ee erskyn yn ushtey mennick dy liooar, as cha nel ee rieau foddey fo, agh cha dod oo cur ellan urree. Wahll, t’ad gra dy vel çhionnal dy youyil ry-akin urree ny keayrtyn—nyn lhie harree, ny ratçhal stiagh as magh ass ooigyn ennagh. She nhee cregganagh lhome t’ayn, mysh meeilley veih’n thalloo, as rish laghyn s’jerree lhuingys v’ad cliaghtey shiaulley foddey ass y raad dy gholl shagh’eck.

“Wahll, adsyn na’ row ass Innsmouth. Shen mastey loghtyn shenn Chaptan Marsh, er lhieu—t’ad gra dy row eh cliaghtey goll urree rish oieghyn as y tidey cooie ayn. Row eh, foddee; she rinn anaasoil t’ayn, s’cosoylagh. Ta caa hene ayn dy hirr eh craght roosteyryn marrey urree, as haink lesh eh, foddee; agh dooyrt ad dy row eh dellal rish jouyil urree. Dy jarroo, er lhiams dy nee y Captan hayrn drogh-ennym er y sker.

“Shen roish plaie 1846, tra hooar lieh phobble Innsmouth baase. Cha hoig ad rieau bun y chooish; çhingys joarree ennagh, s’cosoylagh, haink ass y Çheen ny boayll ‘nnagh er ny lhongyn. V’ee dewil dy liooar—va rouaney ayn, as jannoo dwoaieagh nagh haink sannish jeh ass y valley, er lhiam—as cha daag ee agh brooillagh dy valley. Cha ren eh rieau slaanaghey—ch’nel agh 300 ny 400 dy ‘leih cummal aynsyn nish.

“Agh feer vun aigney y theay, shen jus far-vriwnys kynneeagh. Ch’nel mee cur foill orroosyn as y barel shen oc. Ta feoh ayms er cummaltee Innsmouth chammah, as cha raghin da’n valley jeh my yoin hene. T’ou uss d’Eearagh rish y vlass ayd, agh ta fys ayd er cliaghtaghyn lhongyn Hostyn Noa. V’ad dellal ayns puirt whaagh ny h-Affrick, ny-Aishey, ny Mooir Yiass as dagh ooilley boayl, as na’ dug lhieu erash feallee whaagh noadyr! Cheayll oo er y dooinney Halem haink erash as ben Heenish echey, foddee—as ta possan ass ellanyn Feejee faggys da Cape Cod foast.

“Wahll, shegin da lheid y red er daghyrt ayns Innsmouth. Va’n balley rieau scarrit rish y çheer ec ny curree as awinyn, do nagh vel bun as baare y skeeal ain, agh s’baghtal eh dy dug lesh shenn Chaptan Marsh fir joarree ennagh erash da’n shenn valley tra va tree lhongyn fo oardagh echey foast rish toshiaght ny keead. Ta fuill whaagh ennagh ec pobble Innsmouth jiu, gyn ourys—ch’ noddym cur baght urree, agh t’ee cur bibbernee ort aght ennagh. Hee oo blass beg jee er Sargent, my hedys oo er y varroose echey. Ta king cheyl whaagh ec kuse jeu, as stroinyn lhean, as sooillyn deamagh sheer-vlakey na’ vel meekey, bunnys. Ch’nel y crackan oc lane chiart, noadyr; t’eh garroo as carragh, as ta çheughyn nyn mwannalyn shirgit ny fillit. T’ad lhomey myrgeddin, as ad feer aeg. S’messey cummey ny shenn ‘leih—insh yn ‘irriney, er lhiam nagh vaik mee rieau ny feer shenn ‘eallee. T’adsyn geddyn baase lesh jeeaghyn er y scaaney, s’cosoylagh! Ta dwoaie ec beiyn orroo chammah—va doilleeidyn cabbil oc dy kinjagh derrey haink ny gleashtanyn.

“Ch’nel sleih ayns shoh n’ayns Arkham, ny Ipswich noadyr, bentyn roo er chor erbee. T’adsyn shaghynagh dy liooar tra t’ad çheet dys y valley, ny my nee peiagh erbee elley eab dy eeastagh ‘sy aahley oc. S’quaagh eh dy vel whilleen eeastyn rish Purt Innsmouth tra na’ vel soar jeu ry-gheddyn ayns buill elley—agh jus jean eab dy eeastagh ayns shid as nagh bee ad dy lurg ayns shallid! Va sleih cliaghtey çheet harrish er y raad yiard—erreish daue dooney y fo-raad, hooill ad as goll er y traen ec Rowley—agh ta’n barroose ayn nish.

“Ta, ta thie oast ayns Innsmouth—Thie Gilman, t’ad cur er—agh s’baghtal nagh neeu monney eh. She my choyrle dhyt gyn jannoo yn eab. Ny share tannaghtyn ayns shoh as goll er y varroose ec jeih er y chlag mairagh; as eisht bee barroose fastyr ayns shid dys Arkham, mysh hoght er y chlag. Haink mee ny quaiyl baghteyr thieyn greasey hannee ‘sy Ghilman blein ny ghaa erash, as hug eh sannishyn graney er y voayl. She cliantaght whaagh t’ayn, rere eshyn. Cheayll y fer coraaghyn ayns shamyryn elley—agh v’ad follym son y chooid smoo—hug ad er creau eh. Çhengey joarree, er lesh, agh dooyrt eh dy nee y sorçh dy choraa cheayll eh nish as reesht voir er erskyn ooilley. Va blass neughooghyssagh er—ushlagh, dooyrt eh—nagh b’lhoys da cur ny h-eaddee jeh as goll dy lhie. Ren eh jus tannaghtyn e hoie as skellal rish cho leah’s dod eh laa ny vairagh. V’ad coloayrt er fud ny h-oie.

“Y feallagh shen—Casey, shen yn ennym v’er—wahll, va skeeal dy liooar echey er ny h-Innsmouthee blakey er, as ad freayll arrey ersyn, er lesh. Dinsh eh dy row thie sheeley Varsh keiltagh dy liooar—she shenn wyllin t’ayn, rish eas s’inshley ny Manuxet. Va’n skeeal echey cohassooagh rish ny cheayll mee roish shen er y chooish. Lioaryn meereiltagh, gyn coontey baghtal er dellal erbee. Fys ayd, she folliaght v’ayn rieau cre ass ta ny Marshyn geddyn airh da’n thie sheeley. Cha ren ad rieau cliaghtey kionnaghey monney meain, agh bleeantyn erash v’ad creck caagyn airhey ass towse.

“Va sleih cliaghtey tutleragh mychione sorçh dy chlijeenys joarree quaagh chreck ny marrinee as obbree y thie sheeley nish as reesht gyn yss, as honnick sleih keayrt ny ghaa er mraane Marsh. Heill ad dy row shenn Chaptan Obed dellal truckal er e son ayns purt yoarree ennagh, foddee—v’eh dy kinjagh kionnaghey mooarane beadyn glonney as jesheenyn, y stoo boallagh da marrinee geddyn son dellal rish ny dooghyssee. Chreid sleih elley, as t’ad credjal foast, dy dooar eh shenn tasht roosteyryn marrey er Sker y Jouyll. Agh shoh dhyt meer quaagh. Ta’n shenn Chaptan marroo rish tree feed bleeaney, as cha jagh lhong mooar ass y valley neayr’s y Chaggey Theayagh, agh ny yei shen ta ny Marshyn foast kionnaghey y chooid dellal dooghyssee shen nish as reesht—moyrneenyn glonney as rubbyr, t’ad gra. Ta ny h-Innsmouthee hene currit daue, foddee—fys ec Jee dy vel adsyn er skirrey neose dys yn un cheim as canniblee ny Mooir Yiass as fir oaldey Noa-Ghuinnee.

“Shegin da plaaie ’46 er lhieggal reih ‘uill y valley. Aghterbee, she mob ouryssagh t’ayn nish, as cha nel ny Marshyn as sleih berçhagh elley ny share. Myr dooyrt mee, s’cosoylagh na’ vel agh 400 dy ‘leih ‘sy lane valley, gyn scansh da whilleen straid t’oc. T’adsyn ny verragh ad ‘trouise vane’ er ‘sy Yiass, er lhiam—meereiltagh as keiltynagh, as lane dy yannoo folliaghtagh. T’ad geddyn ram eeastyn as gimmee, as gymmyrk’ ad magh lesh truick. S’quaagh yn aght t’ee er croo lesh eeastyn ayns shid tra na’ vel veg ayns buill elley.

“Cha nod peiagh erbee freayll tastey jeh’n phobble shid, as she skeeal donney t’ad da fir oik y steat as fir chione-earroo. Cha nel failt erbee da joarreeyn skeetagh ayns Innsmouth, creid mish! Cheayll mee nish as reesht jeh delleyder ny fer oik lheie ersooyl ayns shid, as ta fou ayn jeh fer elley hie ass e cheeayll, as ta fo ghlass ec thie baanrit Danvers nish. Shegin daue er reaghey greain atçhimagh da’n dreih.

“Shen y fa na’ raghin ‘syn oie dy beign ‘s dty voayl. Cha row mee rieau ayns shid as ch’nel mian erbee aym dy gholl, agh stroo hene nagh jean turrys laa assee erbee dhyt—ga dy ver y pobble mygeayrt ayns shoh coyrle noi. My t’ou uss jus fakin y çheer as shirrey stoo shenndeeagh, er lhiam dy beagh Innsmouth lane chooie da’n tym ayd.”

(...ny smoo ry-heet...)

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Ass The Shadow over Innsmouth liorish H.P. Lovecraft.

Shalee lhaih 2013: smooinaghtyn

Ta Shalee Lhaih 2013 jeant. Dobbyr dou falleil ymmodee keayrtyn, agh haink lhiam ee ‘sy jerrey. Ta un skelloo dy liooar da’n charnane lioaragh aym; wahll, veagh eh mannagh beagh cummey as mooadys quaagh ec kuse jeu.

Lhaih mee 135 lioaryn noa nurree, ny cur geill cair daue er y chooid sloo roish my cheau magh mee ad. Cheau mee kuse elley gyn lhaih fockle erbee, erreish dou jannoo briwnys nagh row mee son nyn lhaih, ga dy ghow mee ad dy arryltagh hoshiaght. Cha noddym gra dy vel barel er lheh aym er y chooish, jus ennaghtyn feayslee. Cha nel y carnane wheesh trome er my aigney nish, as ga dy nee’m eab dy lhaih lioar jeh nish as reesht, er lhiam nagh beagh eh loght erbee dou geddyn lioar ass y lioarlann nish as reesht. Chammah’s shen, foddym lhaih nish gyn y bree currymagh v’er yn obbyr nurree.

Ren mee lhiah reddyn elley myrgeddin – aalhaih shenn lioaryn, earishlioaryn, bloggyn ass towse as reddyn elley. Va shen tayrn my hastey jeh’n dean ny keayrtyn, agh er lhiam dy lhig eh dou caa dy aagheddyn bree.

Dy cadjin, va doilleeidyn ayn kyndagh rish yn ailley as stroos t’orrym. Haghyr kuse dy drogh-reddyn rish y vlein, goaill stiagh coayl yn eddyr-voggyl rish daa vee. Eddyr jummal traa as bree er y chooish, as caggey stroos as ailley haink orrym kyndagh ree, cha row bree dy liooar aym dy lhaih ny keayrtyn. Ny keayrtyn elley chionnee mee dhossan dy vanga gerjoil dy my gherjaghey. Er lhiam, mannagh row y lheid er daghyrt, yinnin er stroie y lane charnane lioaragh, ny bunnys. Rish toshiaght ny bleeaney cha jinnin er gredjal shen er chor erbee.

Cosnaghyn

She ram lioaryn ad 135. 88" dy lioaryn - 7.3' ny 223cm as beggan. Dy jarroo, ta kuse jeu ec sleih elley hannah, myr shen, share dou gra 8' dy lioaryn. Cha nel ben-choonee aalin aym, as myr shen va dooilleeid agglagh ayn rish jannoo carnane assdaue – ta liaragh er y laare aym, as va’n carnane jeen ass towse dy huittym. Myr shen, shoh caslys-soilshey: shen mish lhiettal un charnane lesh y derrey laue, as jannoo my chooid share carnane elley y chur er lesh y laue elley, rish y 12 hallid lhig y hamraig dou. Cha daink lhiam eh, as thullick ny ghaa ny s’anmey v’ee ceau lioaryn. Cha row mee son jannoo eab elley. Ta’n lane charnane bunnys bentyn rish y vullagh.

Ta ram jeu manga, 52 dy cruinn, agh shen 83 focklagh foast, as 14 jeu ayns çhengaghyn dynsee mee myr fer aasit. Ta ennaghtyn taitnyssagh cosnee aym. As er lhiam dy ren mee shareaghey ablid ny ghaa rish y çhalee.

Hoshiaght, hene-barrantys dy ‘aagail jeh lioar nagh mie lhiat. Dynsee mee shen ‘sy chlub lhaih blein ny ghaa erash, agh ta’n schlei shen dy kinjagh feeu cliaghtey. Mannagh vel oo geddyn fys feeu ny taitnys erbee ass lioar, cha neeu ee. Ta traa deyr ass towse. Ta lioaryn elley ass towse dyn lhaih, as reddyn elley dyn nyannoo chammah. Eer my t’ou credjal dy jig oo dy ve ny share aght ennagh liorish lhaih y lioar, mannagh vel anaase ayd as cha nel ee greimmey er dty hastey, cha cosoylagh eh.

Eisht, cur coontey giare jeh lioar as cur ayns focklyn my varel hene urree. Cheau mee traa dy lioar er ny coontaghyn, agh ren mee my chooid share dy lhiettal. Ta screeu coontaghyn cooney lhiam cur geill da lioaryn, cur dys cooinaghtyn ny lhaih mee, as jannoo briwnys ennagh er y lioar. Er y laue elley, she Shalee Lhaih v’ayn, cha nee Shalee Screeuee, as cha row mee son ceau roayr traa rish screeu oddagh mee er geau rish lhaih! Cha nel monney barelyn screeuit ec kuse jeu (wahll, er LibraryThing) as myr shen ta mee er gooney lesh sleih elley. Wahll, ta mee treishteil! Erskyn shen, ta’n screeu cur caa dou dy screeu ‘sy Ghaelg, as shen caa feer scanshoil er lhiam. Cha nel mee son caghlaa reddyn ass Baarle car y traa; share lhiam screeu reddyn noa. Er lhiam nagh beagh eh baghtal, agh ta’n lane Shalee screeuit ‘sy Ghaelg hoshiaght, as eisht çhyndaait ‘sy Vaarle. Ny keayrtyn, ta’n Vaarle ny s’liurey er yn oyr shen, son haink eie elley dou rish çhyndaa.

Oh, as cliaghtey lhaih beggan er veggan. Tammylt erash, ghow mee toshiaght dyn lhaih mannagh row tammylt fondagh aym dy chur lane gheill; myr paitçhey ren mee lhaih tra erbee va shallid aym, agh va mee er goayl y schlei. Ta’n Çhalee er lhiggey dou aachliaghtey y shenn schlei as foddym lhaih rish shooyl mygeayrt pairk, rish coayraght, as rish fuirraghtyn er red ennagh rish queig minnid.

Ard-vullee as Feer-injillid

Hirr peiagh ennagh orrym cre’n lioar hare lhiam mee nurree, as voir eh urree nagh dod mee cur freggyrt baghtal. Agh cha by gooin lhiam ny va mee er lhaih jus er y tullick. Shimmey lioar t’er ngoll fo’n droghad neayr’s Jerrey Geuree 2013. Agh shoh aigh, screeu mee coontaghyn jeu!

Lioaryn share ny bleeaney, rere mish-chaie:

• Hug mee ard-voyll dys dagh ym-lioar Bakuman. Venn eh rhym aght ennagh.
• The Stars and Under
• Byzantium, ga dy row ourys orrym hoshiaght.
• Strawberry Marshmallow ym-lioar 5.
• Journey into the Deep
• For all the tea in China
• The armchair naturalist

Oddin screeu ny smoo as goaill stiagh ny 4-rollageyn, agh shen dy liooar, er lhiam.

Trustyr ny bleeaney (kuse):

• Te yn y Grug - doolagh agglagh.
• No matter how I look at it, it's you guys' fault I'm not popular - cha doig mee cre’n lioar v’ayn, as er lhiam nagh doig yn ughtar noadyr.
• Midnight Robber - t’ee çhebbal un skeeal as cur dhyt skeeal nagh vel casley rish ayns tro erbee.
• Farlander - doolagh, broutagh as gyn anaase erbee.
• The difference engine - jummal traa, jummal caaghyn.
• The dragon in the sea - lane dy far-hicklaage far-Freudagh as gyn jerrey fondagh.

Foym

Cha jig Shalee Lhaih 2014. Ta’n Çhalee shen jeant aym; ta’n carnane marroo. Ta feme aym er reddyn noa.

Screeuym coontaghyn nish as reesht, son taitnys as cliaghtey Gaelg, agh cha screeuym er dagh ooilley lioar. T’eh ceau ny smoo tra na chredjagh oo. By vie lhiam cooilleeney reddyn elley mleeaney ‘sy traa shen.

Agh ta’n skelloo DVD aym ny sloo na’n carnane t’er... as cha ren mee monney ymmyd jeh tailley mee Lovefilm noadyr. Er lhiam dy nee blein ny Shalee Jeeaghyn ee 2014.

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So, Reading Project 2013 is done, and while it was very touch-and-go towards the end, I did manage to achieve my aim. My reading pile now fits on a single shelf - or at least, it would do except that a few of them are silly shapes and sizes and have to be kept elsewhere.

I read 135 new books this year, or at least, I gave them a fair crack of the whip before slinging them out. A number of others I chucked out without reading, having decided I didn't feel like it after all. It's a bit hard to tell how I feel about it all other than a vague sense of relief. The book pile doesn't weigh so much on my mind, and while I'll still try to read from it rather than always leaving it for later, I'm prepared to allow myself a bit more leeway with libraries and so on. It'll also be nice to read without the sense of obligation that I've had this year.

While it arguably distracted me a bit at times, I've also reread quite a number of other books, plus read the news, weekly magazines, an absolute ton of blogs and sites, and so on. It's been a reading-heavy year. Rereading old favourites was invaluable at times to restore my stamina and help me chill out.

A lot of the difficulties arose because of my mood issues. Basically there were periods when things went bad, usually coupled with practical problems like a two-month loss of our home internet. Between wasting time and energy overcoming the problems, and dealing with stress and low mood as a consequence, I just couldn't face reading at all some times. Other times I ended up buying armloads of cheerful manga for some easy reading that would cheer me up. Interestingly, if I hadn't had to do that I'd probably have wrought yet more havoc on that reading pile, which at the start of the year I'd never have imagined possible.

Winnings from Reading Project

135 books is quite a lot, really. It is 88" of books - 7.3' or 223cm and a bit. Actually, it's more than that, because quite a few books have already gone to new homes, so it's more like 8' of books. Lacking an assistant I had trouble because the pile was immensely keen to fall over (a sloping floor doesn't help) so the pic here is less impressive than it might be. What we have here is me trying to heave the last stack of books onto the tallest free-standing pile while also holding it up in the few seconds allowed me by the self-timer - and failing. Seconds later it was raining books and I didn't feel like having another go, so best I could do. Fully-assembled, the pile is just short of my roof.

Quite a few of those were manga, of course, 52 of them in fact, but that still leaves 83 proper word-type books. 14 were in non-native languages. I feel I achieved something. I feel like the project has also honed a couple of my abilities.

One is the confidence to give up on a book, something I learned a bit of in book club but can always use practice in. If a book really isn't doing much for you, it is not worth your time. Time is precious. There are always more books to read instead, or completely different things you can be doing. Even if you think a book will improve you somehow, if you aren't engaged or interested, it's unlikely.

Another one is getting across a sense of a book, and my thoughts of it, fairly quickly. I ended up spending a fair bit of time on the reviews, but tried to keep it as short as possible. On the one hand I think doing the reviews helps me focus on reading, helps to cement my memories of them before I can forget, and helps me get my thoughts in order; on the other, the actual reading is the point of the project, and spending too much precious time writing about them afterwards only hinders matters. Some of the books don't have much in the way of existing reviews, especially on LibraryThing, so I feel like I helped. And of course, it gives me an outlet for Manx writing. You may or may not be able to tell, but the reviews are all written in Manx and translated freely to English, rather than vice versa - sometimes resulting in a longer English version as I get more ideas, but I tried to go back and update the Manx where that happened.

Also, getting back in the habit of reading casually. A few years ago I started drifting into the habit of only reading when I had a chunk of time to concentrate in, rather than picking up a book every chance I got, and I'd been finding it difficult to concentrate in short bursts. Reading Project has helped me regain the skills of episodic reading, reading while walking around parks, reading while cooking, and all kinds of other useful tricks.

Overview

Someone asked me for the highlights of what I've read, and were a bit confused when I couldn't give any, but I really couldn't remember what I'd read early last year. There's been a lot of water under the bridge since then. Luckily, I wrote reviews of it all!

Absolute highlights of this year, according to past-me:

• The entire run of Bakuman got rave reviews. Obviously struck some kind of chord.
• The Stars and Under
• Byzantium, despite my initial doubts.
• Strawberry Marshmallow volume 5.
• and Journey into the Deep
• For all the tea in China
• The armchair naturalist

I notice a manga theme, I could go on with the 4-star ratings, but it's far too much effort to be honest. There's a lot of good books out there, anyway.

Worst books I read (a selection):

• Te yn y Grug for being miserable as sin.
• No matter how I look at it, it's you guys' fault I'm not popular for either not knowing what it was doing, or not articulating that usefully.
• Midnight Robber, for not being remotely the book it claimed to be, in genre, themes or tone.
• Farlander for grimdarkery.
• The difference engine for tedium, misery and repeated opportunity-wasting.
• The dragon in the sea for being dated Freudian psychobabble.

Future plans

There is no Reading Project 2014. I have done that thing, and am moving on; the goal of cutting down my reading pile is accomplished and I want a change.

I'll continue to do book reviews, especially as it keeps my Manx writing hand in, but I'm not going to review everything any more. It takes up a surprising amount of time and I want to focus on other things this year.

The next target staring me in the face is the stack of DVDs too large to fit on my single DVD shelf, and the largely-neglected Lovefilm subscription. It looks like Project 2014 is Watching Project.

Shalee lhiah 2013: Jerrey Mee ny Nollick

Jerrey daa vee yeig ny shalee, as y mee s'jerree myr shen, as eisht jerrey ny bleeaney!

Hoshiaght ny bleeaney: 128 lioaryn

Hoshiaght ny mee: 54 lioaryn

• Lhaiht aym:
• Nuyoo hiaghtin as daeed:4 (2 chionnit, 1 jarroodit)
• Jeihoo hiaghtin as daeed: 2
• Kied shiaghtin jeig as daeed: 1
• Nah hiaghtin yeig as daeed:2
• Treeoo hiaghtin yeig as daeed:1
• Goit aym: 2 giootyn Nollick, 2 chionnit.
• Nagh row er y rolley: 1 ayns thie my ayr as my voir

Myr shen, ta mee er scryssey 5 ass y rolley as ta 49 faagit er. Shen y dean! COOILLEENIT!

• Lioaryn lhaiht aym y vlein shoh (y chied cheayrt): 135 lioaryn!

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End of the twelfth and final month of Reading Project, and with it the year.

The Beginning: 128 books

The start of this month: 54 books

• Read this month:
• Week forty-nine:4 (2 bought, 1 not on the list)
• Week fifty: 2
• Week fifty-one: 1
• Week fifty-two:2
• Week fifty-three:1
• Acquired: 2 Christmas presents, 2 bought.
• Not on the list: 1 in my parents' house, for some reason

Well whaddaya know about that? I DID IT! VICTORY!

• Books read (for the first time) this year: 135 books!

Shalee lhaih 2013: Shiaghtin 53

As shoh y jerrey: mean trass hiaghtin yeih as daeed ny Shallee Lhaih. Shoh ny lhiah mee 'sy daa laa shoh chaie:

Outliers (Malcolm Gladwell)

Coontey anaasoil er sleih "ard-cheeayllagh" as y lheid, adsyn ta geddyn barriaght 'sy vagher keirdey oc, ny cosney aundyryn a.r.e. Ta coontaghyn as sheiltynyssyn feau aynjee. Ny yei shen, er lhiam dy vel trimmid neugherjoil eck, eddyr lioar y theay as lioar scoillaragh. T'ee loayrt er aaronsaghey agh cha nel ee cur imraaghyn erbee, ny cur coontey myn noadyr. Ny keayrtyn, chredjin oo dy vel Gladwell soilshaghey sheiltynys as prowalys, agh cha nel eh agh cur dhyt feanish elley. Myr sampleyr, t'eh loayrt er troyn cadjin leigheyderyn ennoil York Noa, as cur jerrey er y chooish lesh "prowal" colught elley as feddyn magh dy vel ny troyn cheddin ry-akin oc. Agh cha nee prowalys t'ayn; ta'n coontey screeuit rolaue, as mannagh row ny troyn shen oc, cha jinnagh eh er screeu y cabdil shen. Cha nel eh gra dy reih eh adsyn gyn thort ass keead colught ny red ennagh myr shen.

'Syn aght cheddin, by vie lhiam imraaghyn ny keayrtyn, as ny smoo fys er troyn elley ny er arganeyn elley. Bentyn rish abdil maddaghtoil ny Sheenee, t'eh gra dy row boddee ny h-Oarpey nyn daaue rish geurey as m.s., tra va boddee Sheenagh gobbraghey car y traa as kerraghey reddyn a.r.e. - nagh row boddee ny h-Oarpey jannoo y lheid? By vie lhiam imraa er shen, ghooinney. Ny yei shen, ta'n lioar shoh feeu er lhiam.

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A final weekly post: the middle of week fifty-three of the Reading Project. Here's what I've read these last two days:

Outliers (Malcolm Gladwell)

An interesting pop-culture or pop-science discussion of where "exceptional" people come from: those who top leagues, ace quiz shows, dominate their field and sweep away competition. There were very interesting case studies and some theories well worth reading about. I did find though that it hits an awkward spot between pop and scholarly: it pulls in research findings without either citing them or providing detailed analysis, and on some occasions seems to be presenting things as hypothesis + evidence that really aren't. For example, he talks about common features for leading lawyers in New York, then pulls up a clinching example of a dominant firm whose partners all show those features - but this isn't a test of his theory at all, it's another example of people who fit that pattern which he already knew about when writing the book. In other places, I'd have really liked discussion of some additional factors or potential criticisms. A few statements really cried out for actual scholarly citation, like the assertion that European peasants slacked off most of the time while Chinese peasants slaved away in rice paddies 24/7. But on the whole an enjoyable read and fairly easy going.

Shalee lhaih 2013: Shiaghtin 52

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

China's Traditional Kunqu Opera (Zheng Lei)

Ghow mee y lioar nastee shoh ayns thie çhaghteraght Heenagh Vanchuin bleeantyn er dy henney. She coontey jeh drama tradishoonagh "kunqu" t'ayn. Cha nel monney anaase aym er opera as y lheid, shegin dou gra, agh ghow mee beggan soylley jee. T'ee gaa-insh reddyn, er lhiam, as ta beggan ourys aym mychione kuse dy aggyrtyn t'aynjee: "gyn scansh da'n ynsaght oc, ny vuitçhoor ny ny eirinagh, dod cagh goaill arraneyn Kunqu dys y notey hene" as y lheid, wahll cha noddym credjal shen er chor erbee, gyn çheet er ny caghlaaghyn cultoor as çhengey t'ayn 'sy Çheen. Agh t'ee mie dy liooar.

Trysor o'r Dyfnder (Geraint W. Parry)

Rere aght Alastair Mclean, aght gyn blass ard-haghyrtys James Bond hug blass aitt er kuse dy lioaryn liorishyn. She skeeal so-chredjal contoyrtyssyn t'ayn, as son y chooid smoo t'eh croghey er aigh falleil deiney tra t'ad scapail gaue. She karracteyryn neuchramp v'ayn, agh shen yn aght cadjin ayns lheid y skeeal. Va'n skeeal hene as ny haghyr baghtal dy liooar, as ga dy dynsee mee y Vretnish (as ta mee foast gynsaghey) va'n aght screeuee fondagh as baghtal dy liooar nagh by ghoillee dou eh toiggal y skeeal. Lioar 'ondagh trooid as trooid.

Va daa ayrn ayn nagh by vie lhiam. Hoshiaght, hie yn ard-charracteyr er keishtey dy broutagh ec y reiltys Goaldagh as cha hirr eh cooilleen erbee son shen, dy jarroo, ren eh co-obbraghey maroo gyn scuirr erbee choud's hoig mee y skeeal. As eisht, va gaue egin er y ven gyn feme. Ta mee toiggal dy vel shen cadjin, agh va gaue baaish mie dy liooar hannah, er lhiam. Bare lhiam gyn y lheid.

Ga dy dug ad dou daa lioar noa myr gioot Nollick, er lhiam dy vel mee sauçhey nish!

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

China's Traditional Kunqu Opera (Zheng Lei)

I picked this up in the Chinese embassy in Manchester a few years back. It's an account of traditional "kunqu" opera. I'm not really into opera and stuff, but theatre is a bit interesting, and I had a reasonable time flicking through this. It feels a bit repetitive at times, and I'm a bit sceptical of some of their claims, like "everyone from butchers to farmers, regardless of their level of education, could sing famous Kunqu arias note for note" which just seems highly unlikely, especially given the massive cultural variance across what is now China. But it's alright.

Trysor o'r Dyfnder (Geraint W. Parry)

In the Alastair Mclean line, but without the touches of James Bond melodrama that made some of those ridiculous. A relatively plausible thriller tale, relying mostly on chance and human error for the close escapes, and with a pretty believable plotline. The characters were two-dimensional but adequate, the plot and events were clear, and the writing was efficient and clear enough even for a learner like me. A perfectly decent book on the whole. There were two sections I didn't especially care for: the protagonist being brutally interrogated by the British, and the love interest threatened with rape. The first is entirely likely, but I'd have liked some comeback rather than continued loyalty to those same officials. The second just felt unnecessary, as it basically always does - the death threats were fine, thanks.

Despite getting two books for Christmas, I should still be in the clear.

Shalee lhaih 2013: Shiaghtin 51

Jerrey kied shiaghtin jeih as daeed ny Shallee Lhaih. Faggys jeant! Shoh ny lhiah mee yn çhiaghtin shoh chaie:

The Little Grey Men ("BB")

Skeeal meein as taitnyssagh bentyn rish kuse dy Vooinjer Veggey (ny fir s'jerree ayns Sostyn) ta goll er turrys rish yn awin dys shirrey braar t'er ny choayl. Rere aght "BB", ta'n skeeal lane dy chooishyn as reayrtyssyn najooragh, as ta'n ghraih echey er y teihll najooragh ry-akin dy baghtal. Ga dy nee skeeal paitçhyn t'ayn dy jarroo, ghow mee soylley jeh. Ta blass feie nagh vel ry-akin ayns skeealyn paitçhyn jeianagh dy mennick: ta'n jee Pan ayn, ta'n Vooinjer Veggey marroo fer, as t'ee çheet ny keayrtyn er y doilleeid t'ayn tra ta cretooryn feie caarjyn ga dy vel ad gee y cheilley.

As lesh lhaih y lioar shen, ta'n carnane lioaragh giarrit sheese dys 50! T'eh cooilleenit aym! Barriaght!

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

The Little Grey Men ("BB")

A gentle and enjoyable story about the last few gnomes in England, who go on a journey upstream to find their missing brother. As usual with "BB", there's a heavy dose of natural sights and sounds throughout the book, depicting a world he cared about. There are also some harsh realities that you don't tend to see in more recent children's books, and a taste of wild fierceness that John Masefield or Saki might have approved - Pan makes his appearance, the contradition of wild creatures being friends and yet predators is touched on, and the protagonists actually kill someone.

Y Scaa Harrish Innsmouth: Goan Foslee

Rish geurey 1927-28, chooilleen fir-oik y reiltys Conastagh ronsaghey quaagh as folliaghtagh er shiartanse dy chooishyn 'sy çhenn phurt Innsmouth ayns Massachusetts. Ayns Toshiaght Arree, haink eh dys geill y theay kyndagh rish kuse dy hoiaghyn oikoil foawragh. Ghow ad mooarane cummaltee, as eisht - lesh kiarail cooie - losht ny vleayst ad ymmodee shenn thieyn rish çheu ny marrey. She shenn thieyn tholtanagh v'ayn, as lieh-loau, as ad follym dy baghtal. Cha ghow sleih neuvriaghtagh monney tastey jeh, son b'leayr daue dy nee co-streeu elley 'sy chaggey liggar meereiltagh v'ayn.

Ta sleih elley cur geill s'geyrey da'n naight, as ghow adsyn yindys er y vonney va goit, er y niart quaagh dy gheiney ghow ayrn ayns ny soiaghyn, as er yn aght keiltagh skell ny pryssoonee rish. Cha daink coontey erbee jeh cooish leigh, ny cassid noadyr; chamoo va cappagh erbee jeu ry-akin ayns pryssoon cadjin. Haink coontyssyn neuvaghtal mychione gorley as sleih-champyn, as eisht dy jagh ad er rheynn eddyr pryssoonyn caggee, agh cha daink rieau fys fondagh er y chooish. Va Innsmouth faagit gyn pobble, bunnys, as eer nish cha nel eh gaavioghey agh beggan moal er veggan.

Tra hug stiagh ny sheshaghtyn libraalagh accan er y chooish, hie ad er cuirrey dys coloayrtyssyn folliaghtagh, as shilley y chur er shiartanse dy champyn as pryssoonyn er lheh. Myr eiyrtys, haink ny sheshaghtyn shen dy ve tost as surransagh erskyn cliaghtey. Va ny fir-naight ny s'doillee dy stiurey, agh fy-yerrey ren ad lhiggey lesh y reiltys. Cha nee agh un pabyr-naight baghtagh screeu er fovooirane dowin lhiegg torpaid sheese 'sy çharvaal marrey rish Sker y Jouyll; as ta'n theay jannoo beg jehsyn, son ta sheiltynys raghtal echey. Hooar ad y meer shen dy taghyrtagh ayns thie lhionney marrinagh, as dy jarroo, v'eh ommidjagh dy liooar, son ta'n sker doo injil hene meeilley dy lieh jeh purt Innsmouth.

Va sleih ny çheerey as ny baljyn faggys jee tutleragh nyn mast’ocsyn, agh cha dinsh ad monney da’n teihll smoo. Nagh row adsyn er goloayrt er Innsmouth loau lieh-treigit rish lieh cheead? Cha dod noanid erbee ve ny s’keoie ny ny s’graney na ny v’adsyn er ngra myr sannish ny myr faaue rish bleeantyn. Shimmey red v’er nyn ynsaghey dy ve fastagh; cha row feme erbee nish dy hionn orroo. Aghterbee, cha row agh beggan beg fys oc, son ta curree hailjey 'adaneagh as follym feayn cumrail naboonee jeh Innsmouth er y çheu thallooin.

Agh fy-yerrey neeym’s brishey y sarey tostid t’er y chooish shoh. Ta mee lane shickyr dy daink lesh yn obbyr, do nagh jig arragh assee ny smessey na greain graynoil, my verrym sannish jeh ny hug feoh er ny soiagheryn ayns Innsmouth. As dy jarroo, ta soilsheydys elley ry-gheddyn son ny hooar ad, foddee. Cha s’aym cre wheesh jeh’n lane skeeal t’er ny insh eer dooys, as ta ymmodee oyryn my lhiettal veih ronsaghey dowin. Va mee tayrnit stiagh y chooish shoh ny s’diuney na theayagh erbee elley, as ta’n chummaght jee foast my vroddey dys couyr barbagh.

She mish roie er çhea ass Innsmouth ayns jerrey ny h-oie er Jerrey Souree 16, 1927 as mish er rouyl. She mish hug aghin aggleydagh da’n reiltys, shirrey ronsaghey as jantys, as hug er bun ooilley ny haink dys geill y theay. Va mee arryltagh dy hannaghtyn my host tra va’n chooish aw as neuhickyr; agh she shenn skeeal t’ayn nish, ass anaase as smooinaght chadjin. Nish ta mian quaagh aym dy loayrt – myr sannish, foast – er ny h-ooryn agglagh shid ‘sy çhenn phurt drogh-ennymagh, fo scaa olk as mastey baase as meechummaghyn anchasherick. Ta insh hene cooney lhiam treishtey reesht dy vel m’aigney sunt; nagh row mee jus y chied ass ymmodee goit ec branlaadys goaillagh scoaghagh. As t’eh cooney lhiam foast jannoo briwnys mychione currym atçhimagh ta foym.

(...ny smoo ry-heet...)

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Ass The Shadow over Innsmouth liorish H.P. Lovecraft.

Shalee lhaih 2013: Shiaghtin 50

Jerrey jeihoo hiaghtin as daeed ny Shallee Lhaih. Ta'n traa aym goan dy liooar nish! Shoh ny lhiah mee yn çhiaghtin shoh chaie:

Roman Chester (T. J. Strickland)

Ny coontey beg jeh shennaghys Romanagh yn Çhaayr. Myr t'eh gra, cha nel eh fo Strickland cur lane choontey, agh soilshaghey poyntyn scanshoil 'sy çhennaghys shen as ny h-oyryn fys t'ain orroo. Lhaih mee y lioar veg shoh rish un traa kirbylagh. T'ee anaasoil dy liooar son y vooadys t'eck (my ta enney ayd er y Çhaayr, ansherbee). Lioar veg 'ondagh. T'ee cleayney rish scoillarys amateyragh ny smoo na ynsaghey theay, myr shen cha nel ee son paitçhyn as y lheid.

African History: a very short introduction (John Parker)

Ny coontey beg jeh shennaghys ny h-Affrick. As shen cooish 'oawragh, ta'n lioar beggan quaagh. Ta mysh lieh jee bentyn rish y çhennaghys hene, as lieh elley loayrt mychione studeyrys shennaghys 'syn Affrick, c'red ta'n Affrick, c'red ta shennaghys ny h-Affrick, mychione sheiltnyssyn shennaghyssagh as yn aght hyndaa adsyn rish ny h-eashyn, as myr shen. Er y fa shen, ga dy row ee anaasoil, dennee mee dy row blass kayagh er y lioar; cha dod mee geddyn greim urree aght ennagh.

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The end of week fifty of the Reading Project. Time's ticking away... Here's what I've read this week:

Roman Chester (T. J. Strickland)

A brief account of Roman history in Chester. As Strickland says, he's making no attempt to give a full acount, but just touch on some of the highlights and our sources of information for historical claims. I read this in a single lunchtime. It's interesting enough considering its size, at least if you're familiar with Chester. A decent little book, with a more scholastic than popular bent, so not really one for the kids.

African History: a very short introduction (John Parker)

A short account of African history. That being a massive topic, the book ends up a bit strange. It's partly about the history itself, and partly about historical theory and practice. It discusses what "Africa" means, and "African History"; historical theories that have come and gone about these ideas and about Africa, and how they interact with its cultural and political change over time. Because of that, although the book's reasonably interesting, I didn't really feel like I had a grip on it; it was a bit like fighting fog.

Shalee lhaih 2013: Shiaghtin 49

Jerrey nuyoo hiaghtin as daeed ny Shallee Lhaih. Shoh ny lhiah mee yn çhiaghtin shoh chaie. Va mee son seiy roym son nagh vel monney lioaryn ry-lhaih dys roshtyn y dean, agh haink feayraght hrome agglagh orrym as cha dod mee jannoo monney agh tannaghtyn my lhie as clashtyn rish creelaghyn-fynneigagh rish kuse dy laaghyn:

The Moons of Jupiter (Isaac Asimov)

Skeeal Lucky Starr elley, ny cooish 'olliaghtagh oaylleeagh bentyn rish peeikearys er eayst Yupiter. Ga dy vel contoyrtyssyn aynjee, son y chooid smoo ta'n lioar mychione eabyn Starr y chooish y 'eaysley, as shen liorish ynsaghey ny Leighyn Robotagh erskyn ooilley. Ghow mee ram soylley jeh as mish my lhie nane as y floo aym.

Kionnit er y gherrid:

Genshiken Second Season y.l. 2 (Kio Shimoku)

Skeeal anaasoil as taitnyssagh elley. By vie lhiam fakin ad cur tastey da Madarame reesht. 'Sy chied straih, v'eh beggan thanney, as s'mie lhiam fakin ben goaill anaase ayn. Chammah's shen, er lhiam dy bee shuyr veg Hasahara scanshoil 'sy traa ry-heet. Ta kiangley cramp gaase eddyr Madarame as karracteyryn elley, as ta mee jeeaghyn roym dy 'eddyn magh ny haghyrys.

No Matter How I Look At It, It's You Guys' Fault I'm Not Popular y.l. 1 (Nico Tanigawa)

Hug ynnyd-eggey ennagh coyrle dou dy by vie lhiam y lioar shoh kyndagh rish lioaryn elley by vie lhiam. S'orroosyn y foill, myr shen. Cha noddym gra dy nee lioar vie t'ayn er chor erbee. Ta'n "skeeal" bentyn rish inneen t'er geau rouyr traa cloie gammanyn as lhaih skeealyn graih geekagh, agh veg marish sleih elley; myr shen rish roshtyn 15 d'eash as yn ard-scoill, cha nel schlei erbee eck dy gheddyn caarjyn erbee. Lhisagh eh ve ny skeeal aitt, gyn ourys, agh s'treih lhiam gra nagh ren mee gearey un cheayrt; dy jarroo, chamoo cha ren mee mynghearey un cheayrt noadyr. Er y fa nagh vel caarjyn erbee eck, cha nel kianglaghyn persoonagh erbee ry-akin agh marish braar s'aegey, as cha nel eh ceau traa maree gyn feme. Cha nel coraa ny coraa aigney ny h-inneen anaasoil ny aitt. Ta'n ellyn, son y chooid smoo, jus caslyssyn jee jannoo dreaghyn quaagh son t'ee er creau ny keoie car y traa - cha nel reayrtyssyn aalin ny lane vree ry-akin. Ta Tanigawa croo cooishyn oddagh ve anaasoil ny trimsagh - myr sampleyr, yn inneen çhemmit ayns thie bee rish possan dy cho-ynseydee çheet stiagh as ish son scapail - as feaysley ad gyn y nah vlass ny'n blass elley. Schlei feer ghoan, dy jarroo. Voir eh orrym, er y fa dy dennee mee dy row ad er çhee cooilleeney red ennagh mie dy mennick, agh hie ad shaghey. Son ymmyrkey yn inneen, cha nod oo goaill ree myr inneen 'aitagh; ta çhingys sheshoil ennagh urree ny t'ee ass e keeayll, as cha nel y lheid bun cooie son spotçhal. Dy beagh eh er nyannoo skeeal trome-chooishagh jeh, foddee dy beagh eh mie; agh cha ren eh.

Cha neeu ee. Gyn çheet er kionnaghey, cha neeu ee dy lhaih. My t'ou son lhaih er aegidee gyn schlei sheshoil, lhaih Oreimo ny Haganai ny Genshiken.

Prince Ivan (Peter Morwood)

Ghow mee toshiaght lhaih shoh. Ta daa doilleeid ayn: 1) cha row ee er y rolley son v'ee ayns thie my ayr as my voir, ga dy chreid mee dy beagh ee er y rolley; 2) ta 60 duillag er coayl as mean ny lioar. Cha nel ad giarrit ny caillt, cha row ad rieau aynjee, s'baghtal shen. Quaagh agglagh. Agh by vie lhiam ny lhaih mee jee!

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The end of week forty-nine of the Reading Project. Here's what I've read this week. It's less than I'd hoped, seeing the goal's so close, but I was struck down by a particularly vicious virus that left me basically prostrate for a few days and unable to do much but listen to podcasts:

The Moons of Jupiter (Isaac Asimov)

Another Lucky Starr story, another scientific mystery. This one involves scientific espionage on the moons of Jupiter (obviously). Although a few adventure bits creep in, it's mostly about Starr's attempts to track down the spy as subtly as possible, largely by probing the Laws of Robotics. Asimov puts in plenty of general astronomy for background and general coolness, though. I enjoyed reading this as a distraction from lying helpless with flu.

And the inevitable new acquisitions:

Genshiken Second Season v. 2 (Kio Shimoku)

Skeeal anaasoil as taitnyssagh elley. By vie lhiam fakin ad cur tastey da Madarame reesht. 'Sy chied straih, v'eh beggan thanney, as s'mie lhiam fakin ben goaill anaase ayn. Chammah's shen, er lhiam dy bee shuyr veg Hasahara scanshoil 'sy traa ry-heet. Ta kiangley cramp gaase eddyr Madarame as karracteyryn elley, as ta mee jeeaghyn roym dy 'eddyn magh ny haghyrys.

No Matter How I Look At It, It's You Guys' Fault I'm Not Popular v. 1 (Nico Tanigawa)

Some website or other recommended this on the basis of other stuff I'd read, which means it's all their fault. I can't say this is a good book by any stretch of the imagination. The "story", such as it is, is about a teenage girl starting high school without any social skills or friends, having misspent her youth playing niche games and reading unconvincing romances. This is intended to be a basis for comedy, but I have to say I neither laughed nor even smiled once. Because she doesn't have any friends, the book can't spend time covering her relationships, except briefly with a little brother who doesn't want anything to do with this weirdo. Neither the girl's actual voice, nor her internal monologue, are insightful or amusing; there are flashes of believable teenaged thought, but this is drowned out by manic thoughts that leap about wildly.

The art, for the most part, is images of the girl grimacing and sweating - almost every single panel, in fact. There are no impressive vistas here, and the art didn't feel particularly lively or interesting to me. Tanigawa sets up what could be interesting or tragic situations (such as the girl being trapped in a restaurant when schoolmates come in, and desperate to escape without them seeing) but then manages to resolve them in ways that largely avoid both options. It's frustrating because it often felt like the hovered on the edge of being good, but weren't able to find expression. The girl's behaviour isn't convincing as teenage awkwardness, but so extreme that (in the absence of genuine humour) it felt far more like serious anxiety disorder or some other mental health problem, not an appropriate subject for wacky humour of the kind Tanigawa was attempting. It could have made a decent serious story, but didn't.

Not worth reading, let alone buying. If you want to read about socially-awkward teenagers, read... well, just about anything, but I'd recommend Oreimo (convincing) or Haganai (amusing) or Genshiken (generally great).

Prince Ivan (Peter Morwood)

I started reading this, but there were two issues. 1) it turned out not to be on the list, on account of being at my parents' house (my list is wildly inconsistent in this matter); 2) there's a chunk of 60 pages missing exactly where the major plot kicks off, ruining the book. They're not torn out or anything, it's a printing error that's impossible to spot from the cover or anything. Very weird. I'll want to chase down another copy later though, as I was really enjoying it.

Shalee lhaih 2013: Shiaghtin 48

Jerrey hoghtoo hiaghtin as daeed ny Shallee Lhaih. Shoh ny lhiah mee yn çhiaghtin shoh chaie:

Pam fi eto, Duw? (John Owen)

Eiyrtyssagh da "Pam fi, Duw, pam fi?" as ny smoo 'syn aght cheddin. Er lhiam dy vel y lioar shoh ny sloo trimsagh, agh t'eh foast bentyn rish cooishyn crampey as doillee da ny sleih aegey. Ta aght screeuee as aigney Rhys foast so-chredjal myr gilley ta çheet dy ve ny dooinney aeg, as eshyn leaystey eddyr appeeys, ennaghtyn as boghtynid kiart gollrish mish as my chaarjyn 'syn eash cheddin (ga nagh row shin loayrt 'sy Vretnish ny smooinaghtyn er y chooish shen monney moadyr).

Ghow mee soylley jeh, agh v'eh beggan moal ny keayrtyn, as dennee mee dy row eh beggan ro-liauyr.

Chammah's shen, shegin dou gra nagh vel mian aym John Owen y lhaih reesht erreish dou feddyn magh ny loghtyn jeant echey. S'treih shen.

As kuse nagh vel ass y charnane, chionnee mee ad er y gherrid:

Azumanga Daiaoh Omnibus (Azuma Kiyohiko)

Lioar 'oawragh, agh cha row ee foawragh dy liooar, son lhaih mee ish ayns laa ny ghaa. Ta'n lioar shoh çhaglym scheimyn aittey 4-kerrinagh ren skeealeenyn beggey. Gollrish ymmodee mangaghyn elley ta bentyn rish cooishyn laa, t'ee mychione inneenyn scoill. She aitt meein neuchramp t'ayn, as ghow mee ram soylley jee. Cha kuse jeu ny share na kuse elley, agh shen cadjin dy liooar ayns reddyn aittey; t'eh jus croghey er yn aittys t'ayd.

Aqua y.l. 2 (Amano Kozue)

Ren mee jarrood ee; lhaih mee y lioar shoh shiaghteeyn er dy henney. She skeeal elley meein t'ayn, gyn monney taghyrt agh taitnyssagh dy liooar ny yei shen.

The disappearance of Nagato Yuki-Chan y.l. 2 (Tanigawa Nagaru)

Ta'n skeeal shoh beggan laccal taghyrtyn; son y chooid smoo cha nel monney ayn agh yn ard-charracteyr ve nearagagh bentyn rish gilley s'mooar lhee eshyn. Er lhiam dy vel eh croghey rouyr (wahll, rouyr dooys) er y skeeal elley t'eh bunnit er, shen straih cramp Haruhi Suzumiya nagh vel mee er ny lhaih. Cha b'olk lhiam eh, agh er lhiam nagh vel eh feeu dou lhaih ny smoo.

I Don't Like You At All, Big Brother!! y.l. 6-7 (Kouichi Kusano)

Lioar aitt elley 'sy 'traih shoh. Aght ennagh chreid mee dy nee jerrey y skeeal beagh ayn, agh cha nee. Ta ny h-inneenyn foast lieh-chaggey son tastey gilley aeg ard-channooagh. Er lhiam nagh row eh wheesh aitt as yn ym-lioar roiee; er y fa, foddee, nagh vel monney caghlaa 'sy skeeal? Cha s'aym. Mie dy liooar, cha nel mee shickyr my lhaimys ny smoo ny dyn (agh my ta dreeys orrym traa ennagh, lhaihin y nah lioar gyn leaystey erbee).

Genshiken Second Season y.l. 1 (Kio Shimoku)

Aaaah. Cha nel mee rieau er screeu er y chooish, son lhaih mee ad bleeantyn er dy henney, agh by vooar ass towse lhiam Genshiken tra dooar mee ad. Va mee cliaghtey kionnaghey fer y vee, bunnys, myr beggan sheshaght aitt tra va mee my lomarcan. Ta'n straih bentyn rish possan ollooscoillagh as anaase oc er reddyn "otaku" - manga, anime, kiaddaghyn as lioaryn bentyn daue, as y lheid - oh, as ram jeu lane dy chooid cheintyssagh. Agh ta'n straih hene cooie da peiagh erbee, bunnys, as by vie lhiam lhaih er bea laaoil ny sleih shoh, as ny kianglaghyn eddyr oc, as ny cooishyn va scanshoil daue. She sleih quaagh dy liooar t'ayn, gyn ourys, agh nagh vel shin ooilley quaagh 'syn aght er lheh ain? As cha nel wheesh scansh eddyr "otaku" as "geek", ga nagh vel anaase aym er y stoo cheddin hene.

Aghterbee... ta'n "Second Season" erreish da cooid smoo ny karracteyryn er vaagail yn ollooscoill as sleih noa er jeet stiagh. S'mie lhiam fakin dy vel Ogiue ayn foast (as Ohno chammah, agh ta aigney as dooghys jialgagh Ogiue feer anaasoil). Ta'n possan çheet dy ve lane dy vraane, as shen anaasoil lesh dooghys y phossan caghlaa. Rere cliaghtey, ta'n skeeal tayrnit dy jeeragh as bio, lane dy mynphoyntyn ga dy vel yn ellyn cruinn dy liooar. Feer vie.

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

Pam fi eto, Duw? (John Owen)

A sequel to "Pam fi, Duw, pam fi?" and pretty similar. It's a bit less sad, but still dealing with the complicated and difficult affairs of teenagers. Rhys' style and mindset remain believable, swinging from ingenuous honesty to self-conscious self-mockery and between maturity and idiocy in a way that's very familiar to me when I was that age. Although we weren't that worried about the status of Welsh, to be fair.

I enjoyed it, but it felt slow and a bit long sometimes.

It's also impossible (now that I learned about it) to divorce these books from the appalling allegations made against John Owen after they were written. I don't think I could read any more from him. A shame.

And some that don't count, because I bought them:

Azumanga Daiaoh Omnibus (Azuma Kiyohiko)

Massive book, sadly not massive enough because I've finished it too quickly! It's a collection of 4-panel comics forming storylines, about (like so many others) some girls at school. It's simple, gentle fun and I enjoyed it a lot. The experience was a bit variable for me, because like anything aiming for jokes, some just work better than others for me.

Aqua v. 2 (Amano Kozue)

I actually bought and read this some time ago, but noticed I've missed it off the list somehow. It's another slow-paced and gentle story without much going on, but relaxing to read.

The disappearance of Nagato Yuki-Chan y.l. 2 (Tanigawa Nagaru)

This story, after two volumes, feels a bit light on plot; mostly there's little going on except the protagonist feeling nervous about the boy she likes, and some shennanigans around that. I suspect it's too heavily reliant on the original (a series called called The [various] of Haruhi Suzumiya that I've never read and don't particularly plan to after reading a bit about it. I don't hate this, but I just suspect it's not worth me reading any more, it's probably something only fans of the original would really appreciate.

I Don't Like You At All, Big Brother!! v. 6-7 (Kouichi Kusano)

Another fairly entertaining book in this series. For some reason I had the impression that this would be the end of the story, but it's not. As per, several girls are fueding (playfully and knowingly-ridiculously) over the attention of boy who's an incorrigible pervert. I felt like it was less entertaining than the last one, perhaps because not much changes in the story and it's feeling less fresh as a result? It's okay, I'm not sure I'll make much effort to read more of this series; but saying that, if I get bored sometime I'd probably read it without hesitation.

Genshiken Second Season v. 1 (Kio Shimoku)

Aaaah. I've never written about this, because I read them years ago, but I loved the original Genshiken manga when I discovered them. In fact, they're the first manga I read barring one volume of Ranma when I was far too young to know what manga was. I bought about a volume per month for a bit of cheering-up when I got lonely in my little flat. The story follows a (Japanese) university club for "otaku", i.e. people obsessed with manga, anime, plastic models, games and so on - with quite a heavy focus on adult material, although this doesn't shift Genshiken itself into the adult bracket. I found it really fun reading about the day-to-day happenings, relationships and aspirations of this bunch. They're all a bit odd in their own ways, but to be frank, aren't we all? I don't share their precise interests, but there's a hairsbreadth between "otaku" and "geek" for all that, and I found their personalities relatable. It helps that the protagonist is one of the less extreme examples and offers an introduction to the others.

Anyway... I discovered the existence of "Second Season" very recently and gave in this week. Most of the original characters graduated during or at the end of the original series, which means an influx of new people and a shift of focus. In the place of Sasahara, the original main protagonist, we have Ogiue - a quite natural change as they're similar types and she grew into a sort of viewpoint character during the last series. I've always liked her prickly character, so that's fine by me. The club is now overwhelmingly female, which leads to an interesting shift in focus for the club as a whole. Pleasingly, the old members still make an appearance. As always, the story is well illustrated, with lively drawings filled with detail, despite a deceptively simple style. Just excellent, really.

Shalee lhiah 2013: Jerrey Mee Houney

Jerrey kied vee jeig ny shalee.

Hoshiaght ny bleeaney: 128 lioaryn

Hoshiaght ny mee: 65 lioaryn

• Lhaiht aym:
• Kerroo hiaghtin as daeed:2 (chammah's y 2 chowree mee son Jerrey Fouyir)
• Queiggoo hiaghtin as daeed: 4
• Sheyoi hiaghtin as daeed: 2
• Shiaghtoo hiaghtin as daeed:1
• Hoghtoo hiaghtin as daeed:6 (5 chionnit, atreih)
• Nagh row er y rolley: 1 (chowree mee dy lhiah mee ish tra scuirr mee jee hoshiaght, agh daahoshee mee)
• Goit aym: 5.
• Scryssit er bun elley: 2. Cheau magh mee daa lioar nagh row mee son nyn lhaih.

Myr shen, ta mee er scryssey 11 ass y rolley as ta 54 faagit er. Shen 4 ry-lhaih roish jerrey ny bleeaney - wahll, ny smoo my ta mee son freayll y carnane fo 50 trooid Nollick as laa ruggyree... Gambatte, Shim-san!

• Lioaryn lhaiht aym y vlein shoh (y chied cheayrt): 125 lioaryn!

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End of the eleventh month of Reading Project.

The Beginning: 128 books

The start of this month: 65 books

• Read this month:
• Week forty-four:2 (as well as the 2 I noted for October)
• Week forty-five: 4
• Week forty-six: 2
• Week forty-seven: 1
• Week forty-eight:6 (5 new-bought, alas)
• Not on the list: 1 (restarted and finished reading it after giving up once and marking it as done with)
• New: 5. Yet more manga, of course. So easy and pleasant to read!
• Struck off for other reasons: 2 that I've decided I just don't want to read (see elsewhere for details)

That's another 11 off the pile, leaving only 4 that I need to read by the end of the year - although if I want to reach the new year with under 50 through Christmas and a birthday, I'm going to need to read more than that, methinks.

• Books read (for the first time) this year: 125 books!

Shalee lhaih 2013: Shiaghtin 47

Jerrey hiaghtoo hiaghtin as daeed ny Shallee Lhaih. Shoh ny lhiah mee yn çhiaghtin shoh chaie:

Maya glyphs (Stephen D. Houston)

Nah lioar lhaih mee 'sy 'traih lioaryn shoh "Reading the Past" (by Egyptian Hieroglyphics ee y chied lioar). S'treih lhiam gra nagh vel Houston wheesh mie as Davies myr screeudeyr da'n lught gyn ynsaghey. Ta mysh kied lieh ny lioar mychione shennaghys sleih heear feaysley ny cowraghyn shoh - castreycair, agh cha nel mooarane dy anaase aym er shen. Eisht t'eh goaill toshiaght soilshaghey magh ny cowraghyn hene, agh cha daink lesh eh, er lhiam. She corys screeuee feer chramp t'ayn, ta covestey jallooyn crampey myr un 'ockle, as cha nel ee rieau cur bun mie dhyt trooid soilshaghey beggan er veggan cre'n aght t'ou uss nyn lhaih. 'Sy chied sampleyr hene, t'eh loayrt er cowraghyn ta cur meehastey da ny reillyn as ta caslys jeh tree cowraghyn crampey gyn coontey mie jeh ny t'ad gra. Cha nel eh rieau jus cur caslys jeed as insh dhyt ny t'eh dy ghra as cre'n fa. Myr shen, cha dennee mee rieau dy dod mee toiggal yn aght ta'n corys gobbraghey. Cha nel mee jerkal rish toiggal ny cowraghyn hene, agh erreish dou lhaih obbyr Ghavies chreid mee dy doig mee cree yn aght screeuee Egyptagh. She lioar hirrym t'ayn nagh vel cooilleeney y dean ta foee, er lhiam.

Cheau magh mee daa lioar elley. Gormenghast trilogy (er lhiam nagh vel mee son lhiah eh, as t'eh liauyr ass towse - cre'n feeu?) as Newid Byd, erreish dou feddyn magh dy nee çhyndaays 'sy Vretnish t'ayn ass y Vaarle. Er lhiam nagh neeu eh ceau traa er y lheid.

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

Maya glyphs (Stephen D. Houston)

The second book I've read in this series "Reading the Past" (Egyptian Hieroglyphics was the first). I'm sorry to say Houston doesn't come across nearly as well as Davies as a writer for the lay audience. A big chunk of the early book is about history, but the history of Western attempts to decipher the script rather than its own history - okay, but I have no particular interest in the lives and rivalries of these academics. When he does begin discussing the scripts, it didn't go too well. It's a very complicated system, involving intricate pictures that are combined in clusters to create words, which are themselves arranged in rows. Houston just never spends the time to explain simply how a basic reading goes, by showing you a cluster and breaking it down into parts. The very first example you see, he's making a point about exceptions to the rules and shows a few signs and a reading, but since he's making about three separate points in the same example I couldn't decipher it at all. It's not clear how the transcription relates to the clusters, let alone the individual symbols. As a result I never had a sound basis to follow the further explanations. I didn't expect to come out understanding Mayan writing, but I did hope to come out feeling like I knew how it worked, as I did with the hieroglyphs. Sadly, Davies doesn't pull that off. It's a pretty dry book that doesn't really accomplish its aim, in my view.

I've also slung out two books unread. The first is the Gormenghast trilogy (in one book). I just realised that, from what I know of it, I'm not really interested in reading it, and since it's a massive and rather heavy book it's not something I can plough through quickly so's to have at least read it, nor skim over to get the gist. The other is Newid Byd, which turns out to be a Welsh translation of an English book. Since I got it because it was Welsh, I don't really feel much point in bothering with that.