Reading Material

[ByTheWay]

I've just finished a beginner's course in Japanese and I'm looking ahead to developing my understanding of Japanese further. My plan is to expand my vocabulary, finish Busy People 2, complete Genki 1 and 2, work on my kanji and then find some reading material.

The following reading material has been suggested:

1. 中・上級者のための速読の日本語 Author(s): Mayumi Oka
Publisher: The Japan Times, 1998
ISBN: 4789009157
2. レベル別日本語多読ライブラリー : にほんごよむよむ文庫
レベル3 & 4 Author(s): NPO houjin nihongo tadoku kenkyuukai
Publisher: ASK Press, 2006-
3. 楽しく読もう2 (817.5-TA-2)
Author(s): Bunka Institute of Language
Publisher: Bunka Institute of Language, 1996
4. 読解 : 20のテーマ (810.7-MI)
Author(s): Toyoko Mitsui et al
Publisher: Bonjinsha, 1991
ISBN: 4893581430
5. ｢読み｣への挑戦 (810.7-IT)
続・｢読み｣への挑戦 (810.7-IT)
Author(s): Hiroko Ito et al
Publisher: Kuroshio shuppan, 1992
ISBN:4874240631, 487424063X (続)

Does anybody have any thoughts about some of these books? I notice that some of them are not exactly cheap and wonder if they offer value for money. The Japanese Graded Readers 3 and 4 are on the white rabbit press website, are made up of 5 booklets each and cost $28.