Remake of My Reading History by Arata Nakano

My earliest reading memory

anakano25 — 2025-05-28 17:51:36 UTC

My first memory involving reading is listening to my mom read in Japanese. Japanese was my first ever language, so I had thought that it was the norm throughout the country. I remember constantly being in awe, seeing the different colors merge together in the books she read to me as a kid. Being the curious kid I was, I would constantly annoy my mom until she read me picture books.

anakano25 — 2025-05-28 17:51:36 UTC

My shift

anakano25 — 2025-05-28 17:51:36 UTC

The first book I remember reading alone was Captain underpants. I loved it - the story, the characters, and the drawing style. It was truly the first time I had ever enjoyed reading, and I would nudge my mom to buy me the whole collection of books.

anakano25 — 2025-05-28 17:51:36 UTC

Obsession with Diary Of A Wimpy Kid

anakano25 — 2025-05-28 17:51:36 UTC

I remember being in 3rd grade, where I absolutely despised reading. I had finished and was caught up with the latest Captain Underpants novel, and I had nothing else to read. It was then when my mom showed me "Diary of a Wimpy Kid." As soon as I opened the book, I fell in love. It was a book that I truly resonated to, having both an older and younger brother. It was like reading another story about me, and I soon fell in love with it.

anakano25 — 2025-05-28 17:51:36 UTC

Excerpt: The Diary of A Wimpy Kid

anakano25 — 2025-05-28 17:51:36 UTC

"Be yourself and people will like you." One of the shortest little quotes that resonates deeply within me. From this, I've learned what it meant to be myself, and truly find people like myself. I learned that you should never create a fake image of yourself to impress others, and it is your own self that makes you lovable.

Excerpt: Captain Underpants

anakano25 — 2025-05-28 17:51:36 UTC

"Now I take to the sky like an ostrich!" Even though the books are very childish, I believe that the message that it conveys is truly beautiful still to this day. Just like Captain Underpants, I'll aim for the stars, and take off to the sky, eventually chasing my dreams. I want to make those dreams a reality, and truly become the best self that I can.

Mentors: My older brother, Kanta

anakano25 — 2025-05-28 17:51:36 UTC

My brother has been a mentor not just in life, but throughout my reading journey. He constantly gave me book recommendations, being the "nerd" that he is today. Throughout my middle school life, he had always gave me new books to read, along with influencing me to eventually read manga as well. Despite being a "nerd," he has taught me so much throughout my life, and I wouldn't ask for anyone else to be my brother.

Middle school

anakano25 — 2025-05-28 17:51:36 UTC

Throughout my middle school life, I began to shift away from reading. I slowly became more interested to technology, and how things worked around me. However, it was during 7th grade where I had to pick a book to read for the summer reading assignment. I picked a random book, called "Among the Hidden." At first, I dreaded every single minute of the book. However, as I flipped through pages of the book, I found myself eagerly wanting to know what happens next. Soon enough, I loved the book, and is now a big portion of my reading career.

anakano25 — 2025-05-28 17:51:36 UTC

Excerpt: Among the Hidden

anakano25 — 2025-05-28 17:51:36 UTC

"I don't want to hide anymore. I want to live my life." This quote truly reflects how important it is for you to just be yourself. You should never conceal your identity to anyone just to fit in. Be yourself -and the people that are like yourself will come into your life. I've lived by this constantly every since I have read this book, and will forever be an embedded memory.

Shift: High school

anakano25 — 2025-05-28 17:51:36 UTC

High school was when I started to become more adventurous within my reading journey. Although I was already reading in Japanese, my love for it became much more prominent. I started to clean out the books in my basement, in which was filled with Japanese books. After a while, I found myself reading in English as well -something that I have not done as much throughout my middle school life. Soon enough, reading all together became not much of a chore, but a hobby.

Great Gatsby: an assignment that meant more

anakano25 — 2025-05-28 17:51:36 UTC

Throughout my highschool life, there was not one book that I genuinely enjoyed reading -except Great Gatsby. Something about the atmosphere, the mystery around Gatsby, and the story that the book captured was something that I was intrigued about. Unlike other books, it made me think about what true ambition, love, and identity was without being forced or boring.

anakano25 — 2025-05-28 17:51:36 UTC

Excerpt: The Great Gatsby

anakano25 — 2025-05-28 17:51:36 UTC

"And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer." This quote resembles shift, a fresh start, like when something changes, and suddenly it all feels possible again. Just like how summer in this novel represents renewal, I've had moments like this -a new school year, a new team, or a new place -made me feel like I was starting over.

anakano25 — 2025-05-28 17:51:36 UTC

Article: "Why Do We Keep Reading The Great Gatsby?"

anakano25 — 2025-05-28 17:51:36 UTC

My favorite part about reading

anakano25 — 2025-05-28 17:51:36 UTC

Reading can sometimes be difficult, and school doesn't make it any easier either. There are times where I get assigned a book that I just do not want to read, however is required. However, what makes reading fun is when you find that "one book." It's that one book that could change your whole perspective. When reading, you feel all types of emotions, and you connect with not only the text, but the author as well. If I were to name my favorite thing about reading was, it would have to definitely be the engagement portion with both the text and the author.

Challenge

anakano25 — 2025-05-28 22:08:22 UTC

My biggest challenge when under the topic of reading is definitely finding a book of interest. Constantly, there are times where I would begin a book, but never finish it. My attention span itself is already very short, and therefore it gets very difficult when I sit there trying to read a book that I am not interested in.

anakano25 — 2025-05-28 22:09:20 UTC

Reading goals

anakano25 — 2025-05-28 22:13:11 UTC

In the future, I hope to continue reading all the time. Whether it be the news, or even just a fun little book, I hope to at least keep reading in my daily life. It's an important skill that will be constantly used in the future, hence why I do want to keep flourishing that skill.