[Reading Log] Books read in June 2026

Good evening, this is Manon.
Today I went to vote in the local election, and on the way back, I stopped by a neighborhood cafe I had been curious about. Voting and then eating out.

It's a cafe with a great selection of coffee beans, and when I told them what I liked and disliked, they chose the perfect beans for me. I'm the type who isn't a big fan of acidity and prefers a bitter coffee. The cup they recommended was the best, and it paired perfectly with the gateau chocolat! I really want to explore more shops like this that are loved by the local community.

Now, tonight is my monthly introduction of books I've finished reading.

1. Books with a Good Sound / Kumiko Takahashi

I first encountered this book at a book hotel in Kyoto where I stayed in April. Since I started writing on note, I've been seeing more books about writing styles and vocabulary. After reading the first few pages, I resonated with the fun of enjoying the sound of sentences, and I thought, I want to buy this and read it!

The author, Ms. Takahashi, is also a drummer, so she talks about the charm of the rhythm in writing while picking out passages from poems, picture books, and novels. I felt that this book expands the joy of reading, as you can truly experience the comfort of the sentences by reading them aloud.

Regarding what I learned about the act of "writing," here is a part that stood out.

When I'm writing on note, I tend to think I want to write this and that too, so this was a part that made me think, "That's so true."

This is a recommended book for those who love reading and want to expand how they savor writing, or for those who want to learn to write in their own unique style.

2. A Drama of Thirty-One Characters: People Who Lived in Waka / Tomoko Tani

I spent the most time this month reading this book. Waka is a "theme I'm interested in but don't know much about," and since it was a thick book of over 300 pages, I felt a sense of accomplishment when I finished it...!

Recently, I've had a growing feeling that I want to acquire some culture in waka and classical literature, so after looking at a few at the bookstore, I bought this book as my introduction to waka.

What attracted me was the wide range mentioned on the obi, "Over 300 poems included, from the age of the gods to the end of the Edo period", and the fact that it included waka I liked from textbooks, such as those by Ono no Komachi and Sugawara no Michizane. I also liked the calm design of the binding. (I'm not a big fan of the manga-style illustrations often found on books about waka and classics...)

The structure of the book is also interesting; it progresses through time from the age of the gods, Izanagi and Izanami, through the Heian, Kamakura, and Edo periods, introducing waka composed by people of those eras. I was able to learn about the flow of waka, such as how this poem is a variation of that one, or who was influenced by whom.

It also writes about the historical background and the personalities of the people who composed the waka, so it was interesting to feel like I was brushing up on Japanese history through waka. Since many poets are introduced, I even found a favorite poet. I have a few favorite poems, but here is one by Eifukumon-in, a Kamakura/Nanboku-cho period poet I learned about for the first time. I was drawn to its pale, watercolor-like beauty.

At the beginning, I was reading the modern translation to understand the content, but as I progressed into the second half, I strangely felt like Muska, thinking, 'I can read it... I can read it!' Perhaps after looking at 300 waka poems, I gradually increased my knowledge of phrases and vocabulary, making it easier to understand.

This is a book I highly recommend to anyone who wants to experience waka poetry as part of their general education but doesn't know where to start.

3. Solo Hotel / Maro & Maki Hirochi

Next is a manga. I had seen it at a bookstore and was curious about it, so when I found it available on Amazon Unlimited, I read the first volume.

The general plot is about the protagonist, who works at a design firm and values her 'solo time' spent at hotels, introducing her experiences at various hotels in a one-episode-per-chapter format. Many of the protagonist's colleagues also love hotels, so stories about them appear as well.

Perhaps I was interested in the theme of hotel experiences because I had just started longing for classic hotels. When traveling for fan activities, I tend to stay in business hotels, but learning about the charm of various hotels made me think that a trip where the hotel is the destination might be nice once in a while.

There is a list of hotels featured in the stories at the end of the volume, and being able to learn how to enjoy those hotels is another charm of this book I would like to read the subsequent volumes when I have time.

4. Penguins and Self-Care / Chiharu Sakazaki

I just bought this the other day, but since it was a book centered on illustrations, I was able to read it through quickly.

The content is about the Suica Penguin, who is good at self-care, introducing 111 actions It was a book that healed me just by flipping through the pages without thinking about anything difficult.

Here are my favorite pages.

Doesn't that make you feel warm and fuzzy? Another point I like is that wonderful self-care tips are introduced on each two-page spread along with cute illustrations of the Suica Penguin. The texture of the paper also has a sense of warmth.

Recommended for those looking for a healing book.

Conclusion

I was able to read a variety of things this month as well. I prefer physical books, but I often make use of Amazon Unlimited for magazines and manga. (I'm not a shill for Amazon!)
There are many magazines with themes I'm interested in lately, so I'd like to read a variety of magazines next month as well.

I want to continue reading during my commute so that I can write another post about the books I've finished next month.
Well then, good night.