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The original was posted on /r/learnjapanese by /u/AdUnfair558 on 2025-10-24 12:19:12+00:00.
I just wrapped up my first attempt at reading an entire Japanese novel in a week — ティアムーン帝国物語 (Tearmoon Empire Story) — and I wanted to share some thoughts and lessons learned.
My original goal was ambitious: 351 pages in 7 days. I actually did it (I’m currently on the last stretch), but I also realized that speed ≠ comprehension. I was reading 50–60 pages a day, and while I got the gist of everything, I often felt mentally overloaded, like I was skimming more than truly absorbing.
Here’s what I learned:
- Stamina matters more than raw speed ======================================
I thought I could “muscle through” the book with daily quotas, but Japanese reading isn’t a sprint — it’s endurance training. Around the 40–50 page mark, my comprehension dipped hard. My new plan is about 25–30 pages/day, which feels sustainable and lets me actually enjoy the story.
- Understanding comes in waves
There were times I barely grasped sentences, but then I’d reread the next day and things made sense. The brain really does keep processing language in the background. Even when you feel lost, you’re still improving.
- Mining every unknown word kills momentum
At first, I tried to make Anki cards for every word I didn’t know… and it nearly broke me. Now I just highlight interesting phrases while reading, and later I pick a few good sentences to add. It keeps reading fun while still productive.
- “Gist reading” is still real progress
Even when I didn’t fully understand, I noticed I was starting to read for meaning rather than translating word by word. That’s huge! Comprehension grows from exposure, not perfection.
- What’s next
I’m keeping the one-book rhythm but stretching it to 10 days per book — about three books a month. That feels like the right balance between intensity and sanity.
This challenge has been one of the most rewarding things I’ve done for my Japanese so far.
If anyone’s on the fence about reading a full novel — just start. Even if it feels impossible, you’ll surprise yourself with how much you actually pick up along the way.
TL;DR:
Read Tearmoon Empire in a week (351 pages). Learned that 25–30 pages/day is the sweet spot for both comprehension and consistency. Reading fast doesn’t equal reading well, but pushing yourself teaches you where your limits are.