cobaltclear

[ Clear ✨ 30+ / any pronouns ] Fan of detective novels, mysteries, manga, and Japanese light novels

308 points

0% overlap

My Taste

Before the Coffee Gets Cold (Before the Coffee Gets Cold, #1)

Reading...

The Mimosa Confessions (Light Novel) Vol. 5

16%

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The Mountains Sing

Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai

With the epic sweep of Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko or Yaa Gyasi’s Homegoing and the lyrical beauty of Vaddey Ratner’s In the Shadow of the Banyan, The Mountains Sing tells an enveloping, multigenerational tale of the Trần family, set against the backdrop of the Việt Nam War. Trần Diệu Lan, who was born in 1920, was forced to flee her family farm with her six children during the Land Reform as the Communist government rose in the North. Years later in Hà Nội, her young granddaughter, Hương, comes of age as her parents and uncles head off down the Hồ Chí Minh Trail to fight in a conflict that tore apart not just her beloved country, but also her family. Vivid, gripping, and steeped in the language and traditions of Việt Nam, The Mountains Sing brings to life the human costs of this conflict from the point of view of the Vietnamese people themselves, while showing us the true power of kindness and hope.

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The Mountains Sing

Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai

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Glitch, Vol. 2 (Glitch, 2)

Shima Shinya

After coming across the otherworldly “Hirata,” Kaname Ito makes contact with one of the strange “glitches” occurring in town. Meanwhile, Kei Kinjou-Dias determines that the source of the “mysteries” is inside the forest that towers over the center of town. But what will he find there...?

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Slam Dunk, Vol. 14

Takehiko Inoue

Winning isn't everything in the game of basketball, but who wants to come in second? It takes dedication and discipline to be the best, and the Shohoku High hoops team wants to be just that. They have one last year to make their captain's dream of reaching the finals come true—will they do it? Takehiko Inoue's legendary basketball manga is finally here, and the tale of a lifetime is in your hands! Captain Akagi returns to the game as the second half gets underway, and despite playing on a potentially career-ending sprained ankle, he refuses to let Kainan intimidate him. However, the Kings continue to show Shohoku no mercy, with their star rookie Maki relentlessly attacking the basket and drawing fouls and the ever-reliable Jin widening the lead. As the game clock hits the ten-minute mark, Coach Anzai decides to make a drastic move!

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Glitch, Vol. 1 (Glitch, 1)

Shima Shinya

Siblings Minato and Akira Lee have moved to a new town, and they’re expecting things to be different― but not this different! Ghostly figures tower over and pass through buildings, drawing no reaction from the locals, some of whom appear far from normal themselves. When Akira spots a strange creature outside her window, she and her new friends organize a search. If no one else can explain the uncanny appearances, the investigation club will get to the bottom of it!

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Silver Spoon, Vol. 6

Hiromu Arakawa

Amid the whirlwind of festival preparations, the newest members of the Equestrian Club face their first riding competition. Having always been laser focused on his studies, Hachiken has never been tested in a sporting event before. The dedication that marked his academic career has helped Hachiken survive the trials of agricultural school, but the pressure to come out on top nearly crushed him once already. Can Hachiken claim victory on the racecourse—and over himself? Chapters 45-53

cobaltclear commented on a post from the Pagebound Club forum

alette

Edited

Manga/Manhwa/Manhua/Light Novels, etc. Platform Recs

Question: I was wondering if folks have any platform recs for reading translated manga, manhwa, manhua, light novels, etc.? Bonus ask: let me know if you have any favorite stores for purchasing books.

Some Context: I'm based in California, so I mostly utilize my library at the moment. It has a decent amount, but I'm always looking for ways to read more! Genre-wise/topic-wise: I'm pretty open

I’m looking for:

Platform-wise: Free is great, but I'm open to purchasing a membership/coins if it's reasonable. I know that's subjective- so if you could let me know if you think it's worth it or the pros and cons, that would be appreciated. So far, I've only really used Webtoon.

Purchasing-wise: I'm open to e-books if I can own it fully. I tend to limit physical book purchases (due to space T^T) unless I've already read it and it's a favorite. I'm familiar with the typical US book chains, bookshop.org, and Crunchyroll.

I'm an English reader only (unfortunately), but feel free to drop recs for other languages too! Thank you in advance!

cobaltclear commented on a post from the Pagebound Club forum

AmyWendy

What medium is everyone using to read?

I think I prefer physical books, but they’re pretty expensive, so I’m thinking of getting an e-reader. What do you use?

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12h

The Mimosa Confessions (Light Novel) Vol. 5

Mei Hachimoku

THE END OF AN ERAAfter a shocking proposal carries their relationship into uncharted territory, Sakuma and Ushio greet the new year with a fresh label and newfound resolve. Yet as winter wears on, and the class trip to Hokkaido draws ever closer, their bond will be tested--not only by the lingering question of its sustainability but also by the infamous Sera, sweet-talking trickster and sower of discord.Can their relationship survive the machinations of a man hell-bent on worming between them? Or will Sakuma falter in the face of the biggest moral conundrum he's ever had to confront? In this heartrending conclusion, deep-seated doubts emerge as unspoken lines are finally crossed. When Sakuma and Ushio at last close the book on the most challenging chapter of their youths, where will they find themselves--and each other--in the coming dawn?

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12h

The Mimosa Confessions (Light Novel) Vol. 4

Mei Hachimoku

A PROMISE AND A CURSE “Promise me you’ll always be a good older brother to her, okay?”Misao Tsukinoki clung to these words from her late mother, looking to her older sibling as a guiding light. But when she came home that fateful day to find Ushio wearing her school uniform, her respect and adoration instantly turned to scorn and disbelief. Why was Ushio suddenly dressing like this? When did the changes start? Or had the person she thought of as a brother been someone different all along? Desperate and in need of answers, Misao retraces their life together from the present to the distant past: their father’s second marriage, their history with Sakuma Kamiki, their mother’s death—and a promise they made to each other long, long ago. Old secrets and buried truths will finally come to light as Misao grows closer to understanding Ushio's struggles. And with them, a tragic tale of a fractured family unravels in reverse.

cobaltclear commented on a post from the Pagebound Club forum

22h

HaventReadIt

Reading short books

I think I read too many short books (which I consider <300 pages) this month, and I feel a little guilty about it. I’m not trying to boost up my numbers or anything, I just wanted to read books that just so happen to be short. Somehow I read 4 comic/graphic novels this month so far (3 being from the same series…I just wanted to reread the series from elementary school). Two for the badges (Serviceberry; You made a fool of death with your beauty), and This is how you lose the time war because it’s on my physical TBR.

Should I feel this way? Reading is reading after all, and it shouldn’t matter, right? It feels like a first world problem lol, and sorry for being a little melodramatic. I’m also curious if anyone else feels this way.

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cobaltclear made progress on...

The Mimosa Confessions (Light Novel) Vol. 4

Mei Hachimoku

70%

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23h

Kokoro

Natsume Sōseki

Hailed by The New Yorker as "rich in understanding and insight," Kokoro—"the heart of things"—is the work of one of Japan's most popular authors. This thought-provoking trilogy of stories explores the very essence of loneliness and stands as a stirring introduction to modern Japanese literature.

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23h

I Am a Cat

Natsume Sōseki

Written from 1904 through 1906, Soseki Natsume's comic masterpiece, I Am a Cat, satirizes the foolishness of upper-middle-class Japanese society during the Meiji era. With acerbic wit and sardonic perspective, it follows the whimsical adventures of a world-weary stray kitten who comments on the follies and foibles of the people around him. A classic of Japanese literature, I Am a Cat is one of Soseki's best-known novels. Considered by many as the most significant writer in modern Japanese history, Soseki's I Am a Cat is a classic novel sure to be enjoyed for years to come.

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23h

The Kamogawa Food Detectives (Kamogawa Food Detectives, #1)

Hisashi Kashiwai

The Kamogawa Food Detectives is the first book in the bestselling, mouth-watering Japanese series for fans of Before the Coffee Gets Cold. What’s the one dish you’d do anything to taste just one more time? Down a quiet backstreet in Kyoto exists a very special restaurant. Run by Koishi Kamogawa and her father Nagare, the Kamogawa Diner serves up deliciously extravagant meals. But that’s not the main reason customers stop by . . . The father-daughter duo are ‘food detectives’. Through ingenious investigations, they are able to recreate dishes from a person’s treasured memories – dishes that may well hold the keys to their forgotten past and future happiness. The restaurant of lost recipes provides a link to vanished moments, creating a present full of possibility. A bestseller in Japan, The Kamogawa Food Detectives is a celebration of good company and the power of a delicious meal.

cobaltclear made progress on...

The Mimosa Confessions (Light Novel) Vol. 4

Mei Hachimoku

70%

cobaltclear commented on a post from the Pagebound Club forum

vulpecula

BookCon 2026??? (And book conventions in general)

Is anyone here planning to attend BookCon in NYC this April? Would love to meet up or chat with anyone who feels comfortable!

If you're going, what are you most excited for? I'm psyched to see all the book-themed exhibitors in particular - they just released the list today - but also to attend any fantasy-related panels that are featured! Leigh Bardugo will be there, but I'll only be there Saturday, unfortunately, and she is going to be there on Sunday. My friend got my hopes up that T. Kingfisher would be there, but she is not. :(

If you are not going to BookCon, have you ever been to a book convention? What was that like?

cobaltclear started reading...

Silver Spoon, Vol. 6

Hiromu Arakawa

cobaltclear is interested in reading...