Guess Who's Back, Back Again

We have been the absolute worst bloggers, we know. Seven months without so much as a simple "Don't read this book!" We are shameful. Damned. Worst. 

But! We're back! Here's to hoping we can get at least two posts up each week. (Might require prayers if our track record is an indicator of our future! ;) 

we can visit waterfalls but we can't blog smh

And speaking of hopeless causes, let's jump into our reading challenges for each other! (We actually achieved last year's challenges, so this isn't completely impossible.) When we started the blog we knew we wouldn't be able to write five reviews a week because neither of us read at such an insane rate, so we thought of other content that would be fun to share, and reading challenges was one we thought would be a lot of fun. If you don't remember, with our inaugural challenges Liz needed to read the Harry Potter books and I had to read three of her favorite books. 

Funny enough, it's pretty.. challenging to come up with challenges for each other. But we manage:

Liz's challenge for Charlotte:

Read a bunch of children's books that Liz loved as a kid. The Secret Garden, Black Beauty, Bridge to Terabithia, Chasing Redbird, and Howl's Moving Castle (and watch the movie, too). Off to the library! 

Charlotte's challenge for Liz:

Read a book by each of the Bronte sisters. We both loved Jane Eyre so much, and when I (Charlotte) read The Tenant of Wildfell Hall I enjoyed just as much if not more than Jane Eyre. So this could be a fun challenge for Liz.  

We'll try to get some reviews up soon, but for now a quick update on what we've been reading lately!! 

Charlotte: The Lord of the Rings trilogy, obviously. What else, what else. This kid/ya series called Fablehaven. I checked it out from the library because I liked the name (I'm a sucker for anything with "fairy tale" "fable" "whimsy" etc written on it.) When I first started reading it I thought it was corny and that I wouldn't finish it, but it quickly sucked me in and I read all five books in a matter of days. Highly suggest! I've also tried to get some Catholic reading in: My Life With the Saints and a blogging for books pick - A Call to Mercy*. 

Liz: Just finished up The Wind Up Bird Chronicles and The Dinner and apparently both were okay! 

Looking Forward... 

We'd like to get at least two posts up per week. Not all of them will be reviews, but we're aiming to write some book-related goodness. Stay tuned! 

*A Call to Mercy - I'd like to just give a brief review here. I started the book and immediately liked it for its wisdom. Mother Teresa was (is!) quite the woman. And beyond advice, her words provide a standard to live up to. I don't always remember to be kind, to forgive, to put others first - reading and rereading this book reminds me to be the kind of person I want to, and need to, be. I highly recommend it, especially if you're Catholic. :) 

See ya soon! 

Liz & Char

Summer Reading List

Memorial day is upon us! Which can only mean one thing... 

A NEW BOOK LIST, OF COURSE! 

We're both looking forward to accomplishing some reading goals this summer. So without further ado... 

Charlotte's Summer Reading List

My summer reading list looks more ambitious than it is. Yes, it’s 16 books. But if we say summer consists of June, July, and August that shakes out to just about five books a month. Which is good, because I planned on reading 60 books this year. (Actually – I am behind! I’m only at 23 right now. But I’ll catch up.) I didn't go with any particular summery theme. I've actually read a lot of "junk" books lately, so.. I should use the summer to make up for it. Plus I'm not going to be on the beach this summer! I'm going to be in the mountains. I don't know why that makes a difference in my mind when it come to what genre to read, but it does!! Nonsensical. I imagine Les Mis will take at least a week and a half, and that’s if I’m really devoted to it. But a lot of the others should be easy reads to make up for it. At least five of these books are kids’ books, and a few are rereads for me, so that makes it go a bit faster. 

1. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

This is on my list of books to read in my twenties. I’ve decided I’d like to read it this summer because… well because I keep watching and loving the movie. It’s time. Also, I was reading a bit about John Brown today and I came across this quote from author Victor Hugo: 

“Politically speaking, the murder of John Brown would be an uncorrectable sin. It would create in the Union a latent fissure that would in the long run dislocate it. Brown's agony might perhaps consolidate slavery in Virginia, but it would certainly shake the whole American democracy. You save your shame, but you kill your glory. Morally speaking, it seems a part of the human light would put itself out, that the very notion of justice and injustice would hide itself in darkness, on that day where one would see the assassination of Emancipation by Liberty itself.” 

So it’s another reason to love Victor Hugo, and it’s pushed me to read his book sooner rather than later. 

2. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte 

One of my general life goals is to read more classics. Jane Eyre is a classic! Not only that, but Liz challenged me to read three of her favorite books of 2015, and this is one of them. Two birds, one stone. Of the books Liz challenged me to read, I initially chose this one to be first since “I have it already!” Well I took a look through my books today. It turns out I do not in fact own it. BUT tis easy to retrieve from the library. 

3. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

I know I’ve mentioned this about 500 times on here, but man. I can’t finish this book! WHY? It’s a mystery. It’s not even as though I don’t like it – so far, I do!! But I just haven’t finished despite reading it for over a year now. What’s wrong with me? I’m vowing to finish it this summer. If I don’t, I’ll have disappointed myself and all of you. 

4. Adulting by Kelly Williams Brown

I’m about half way through this book and I am mostly enjoying it, though sometimes it irks me. I’ll explain more when I finish it and write a review. But I most definitely intend to finish it this summer. 

5. The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien 

This will be the first time I’m reading The Silmarillion. I’ve loved each book I’ve read of Tolkien’s, so I’m excited about this one. And I found it nice and cheap at a used book store. ;) 

6. The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien

7. The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien

8. The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien

Rereads for me. Very excited. May have to have a movie marathon, too. 

9. The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown

10. Angels and Demons by Dan Brown

I already own The DaVinci Code and have read some of it. I loved both of the movies. I’m constantly telling myself to read these two, and yet, I never do. WHY? It’s time. 

11. The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous, and Broke by Suze Orman 

Because help. 

12. Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan: 

The Lightning Thief

The Sea of Monsters

The Titan’s Curse

The Battle of the Labyrinth

The Last Olympian

This series has been on my list since a kid I worked with told me I “NEED TO READ THEM.” The kid also loved Harry Potter and LOTR so I’m going to go ahead and give this series a try.

Liz's Summer Reading List

So, my list is significantly shorter than Charlotte's because: 1) I am easily distracted and 2) my work life is nuts, but slightly less nuts in the summer. That being said, I can probably manage two books a month from June through August, maybe more if I am lucky and/or learn how to manage my time better. This will keep me in line with my reading goal for this year.

I have a tendency to read lighter reads in the summer, like YA novels. But this summer, I really just need to continue to make a dent in all of these books I have literally piled up throughout my apartment that I have yet to read. That being said, the books that have made my list are books I definitely want to have read this summer. If I can get to more books, awesome, but these are the one's that I'm prioritizing.

1. The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

This is the book I am currently reading, and I am getting a lot out of it so far! I'm a decent way through the book, but it's unlikely I will finish this before June (this time of year is literally the busiest time of year for me at work), so this will be my first summer-read to complete. It's already making me think differently about how to be happier and what lifestyle changes I should aim to make. It could lead to some productive self-development projects this summer...

2. After Dark by Haruki Murakami

Y'all should be proud at how long I've held off from reading another Murakami novel. Anyway, I read somewhere that May is short story month, so I intended to start reading this short stories collection by Murakami two weeks ago. Naturally, I've had essentially no time to add another book to read for this month, so chances are I won't get my start on this until next week in June. I've heard excellent things about After Dark - I think it'll be a great first read for summer 2016! #cantstopwontstopreadingMurakami

3. Ada by Vladimir Nabokov

I love Nabokov's writing - he's easily one of my favorite authors of all time. This has been written  by others time and time again about Nabokov, but his writing style is so beautiful. I've also said this before, but I love a book that forces you to think critically, and Nabokov's novels never fail to do this. I'd even say his novels are actually what constitutes a perfect novel. The plots are always captivating, his themes always reveal something meaningful about society and human nature, and the writing is sophisticated while still being accessible. I read Lolita for the first time a few summers ago; Ada should make for an excellent summer read as well.

4. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

The whole series would be god damn ambitious for me to finish in one summer (though it would be possible if I didn't want to read as many other things). BUT, I want to start reading the books this summer along with my other reads. It'll be nice to have something easy and pleasant to alternate reading with my other books. I'd also like to be able to stretch the series out through the fall, because what better time of year to read HP than the fall?? Lastly, and most importantly, Charlotte would actually kill me if I didn't start reading them this summer.

5. At the Water's Edge by Sara Gruen

It has been a hot minute since I read Sara Gruen's Water for Elephants, but I remember how much I had absolutely loved it. Water for Elephants was definitely one of my summer reads when I had read it, and At the Water's Edge is right up my alley for a traditional summer read. It has romance, some historical fiction, and fantastical elements (it features the Loch Ness monster! I'm sold).

6. Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee

I have been waiting to read this since it was announced that it was finally going to be published. Earlier this month I was able to get my hands on a really cheap copy, so now it is finally time to get my eyes on those pages! To Kill a Mockingbird is, obviously, a classic, and it has also always been one of my favorite go-to summer reads. This summer, I finally will get to learn about Scout as an adult, and also get to see her father, Atticus, in a new light.

Let's talk about how sexy Atticus was in the To Kill a Mockingbird movie adaptation. So sexy.

7. Farewell Summer by Ray Bradbury

I plan to make Farewell Summer my very last book to read this summer. I know you're probably rolling your eyes and thinking, "wow how corny!" But hear me out first. Farewell Summer is Ray Bradbury's long awaited sequel to his novel, Dandelion Wine. Dandelion Wine is meant to be read in the summer. It's a collection of short stories that take place during the summer in a small midwestern town, and the stories center around two young brothers and the people in their community. Ray Bradbury's writing makes you feel summer. Bradbury's descriptive writing style is so perfect, it's as if you can feel the summer breeze in your living room, and can smell the dirt on your hands. In Dandelion Wine, he captured the essence of childhood summers. SO, with that said, Farewell Summer will likely encapture the transition of summer into fall and winter in a beautiful way to conclude my own summer.

Reading Round-Up

We have failed you, Casketeers! It's been over a month and a half since we've posted anything. The "currently reading" books are already read (or mostly read). As I write this, our blog header still says books are a good antidote to winter's cold nights. It's almost May.

For shame. 

Actually, Liz has been in a really busy season at work. And I've been sick (hospital level sick, so I'm not just making excuses). Together, it's made blogging very difficult. But we're both looking forward to getting back to posting regularly. We've read some good books over the last couple of months, and we're eager (slight exaggeration, possibly) to get reviews up for them.* 

But in the meantime, have you seen some of these bookish links? 

For those of you with a dark or vulgar sense of humor, there's this video of a man who took fake book covers on the subway and recorded people's reactions. Or, a bit tamer but still a little edgy - here are some classic children's books with updated funny titles.

Here's a nice list from Bustle of books with slow starts. Some of these are on our to-read lists. I have mixed feelings on books that start too slow. The Book Thief was super hard to get through simply because the first half of it just dragged on and on and on...  

And check out this wonderful list from Verily that explains various ways reading fiction improves mental health and keeps your brain agile. 

Liz and I often share book-related products with each other and this list was no exception. The pillow chair! The shirt with the anatomy of a book lover! The candle that smells like the Shire! Can't stop!

Both of us adore this apartment that has the feel of a library.

If you love Harry Potter (of course you love Harry Potter), you will likely enjoy this list of potential Harry Potter sequels. Although... the title annoys me because many of these ideas are prequels. Dammit, Buzzfeed! I've often said that I'd really enjoy prequels that focus on the original Order of the Phoenix. I'm also really loving the idea of the seven original books, but from Dumbledore's perspective. (Obviously I don't expect that to happen, but it would be amazing!)

Speaking of Harry Potter... I'm not above a little self-promotion now and then. Go check out my list of Harry Potter-inspired baby names.. Part 1 and Part 2. (And while we're on the topic, check out this post about literary baby names over on Barnes and Noble.)

We might need to check out some of these historical fiction novels based on real women. 

Here's a list of "inspiring books to read when you're feeling lonely and need some cheering up." I've read three of the books: Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Martian, and Why Not Me? I can't comment on the others, but I can say that Perks will most likely not cheer you up. The Martian was pretty awesome, but is about a dude who is stranded and alone, so I don't know if it'll necessarily help with feelings of loneliness.... but Mindy's book, yes, will cheer you up. Good books, nonetheless. 

And here's a super cute little bookish DIY project, in case you're in the crafting mood. 

xoxo

Liz & Char

*Oh, and quick announcement: I really did not like the flirting book, so I am no longer writing reviews of the chapters. I even brought it to the library to donate. If you need help flirting, look elsewhere. <3 

Our 2016 Reading Goals

For avid readers, the New Year means new reading and book-related goals- and we are no exception!

In addition to listing out our reading and book-related goals for 2016, we’ve decided to do something a little interesting- at the end of each of our lists, we will be putting down our reading challenges for each other. So, without further ado…

Charlotte’s 2016 Reading Goals

One of my big goals for 2015 was to read more. Another was to get better at habits, following through, not procrastinating, etc. SO with those things in mind – I actually achieved the reading goal. I think it might be the first time ever that the number of goals I achieved is greater than the number of goals I fell short of achieving!!!

Preeeetty cool.

I read 34 books last year. I want to get to a place where I’m reading between 40 and 50 books every year (like, as a lifelong habit regardless of where I’m at in life – I want it to be one of those things that just is, even when I’m swamped with work or relationships or kids). We’ll see! But this year I agreed to do a 60 book challenge. LOLOL. I 50% have faith in myself, 50% am laughing. Like last year, though, I’m not swimming in a pool of obligations, so if I’m ever going to read that many books, this would be a good year to attempt it.

I do have a few specific reading goals:

1.    Again, read 60 books. Plays count. Short stories count if they’re in a collection. My friend Dana and I came up with these parameters. We’ll have to also be each other’s cheerleaders because reading 60 books is a lot.

2.    I WILL FINISH Pride and Prejudice. …….It might finish me, too. I was reading it in late December, but I’ve put it down for the time being. I’m distracted lately so I think I’ll do better with a non-classic at the moment.

3.    Read The Divine Comedy. This is on my list of books to finish in my twenties AND Pope Francis has recommended that Catholics (or anyone! Yay everyone! <3) read the three books during this Holy Year of Mercy. So this is the year to cross these masterpieces off my list (I’ve read and loved Inferno- very much looking forward to the others).

4.    Review at least half of the books I read. One of my personal writing goals is to post at least 45 reviews, but some of those will be for books I’ve read in the past. But I’m really into writing reviews right after reading books because I’ve noticed it’s made me a more critical and mindful reader, and I’m really enjoying that. So I’d like to review a lot of the books I read this year (ties back into my new lifestyle mode of not procrastinating, dammit!).

5.    Read at least five Catholic books. I do much better with life in general when I’m reading religious stuff, plus I think it makes me a better person.

6.    Read more funny non-fiction. My life feels overwhelming at times, seeping right into my personality and my activities and everything. I need to have more fun. Laughter is the best medicine and I think me needs some.

And now for my challenge to Liz! Liz is basically family at this point but I still throw her shade because her ass hasn’t read Harry Potter. I’ve been peer-pressuring her to read Harry Potter for as long as we’ve been friends, and THIS B STILL HAS NOT. I feel my blood pressure rising just thinking about this bogustry. As soon as we decided we’d give each other one challenge for 2016, Liz knew I was going to challenge her to read Harry Potter. Wrong she was not. It’s time. Liz, hop on the Hogwarts Express. Welcome to Hoggy Warty Hogwarts.

Liz’s 2016 Reading Goals

Like Charlotte, for 2015 one of my goals was to read more. I’ve always been a pretty consistent reader, but between balancing work, school, and internships for years when I was in college, I fell out of the habit of seeking reading as a hobby. Now that I have a stable job, 2015 was the year I kind of fell in love with reading again (not that I ever fell out of love with it, but I was able to pick it up as a regular hobby again).

In 2015 I also started to become a more critical reader, which I like a lot, and I want to hone in on these skills in 2016.

Now that I’ve started reading more, one of my top priority goals for this year is to diversify the kinds of books I read. I want to ~learn~ things.

My specific goals are:

1.    I’d like to read at least 20 books this year, so on average 1.5 to 2 books per month. I have to confess…this was my goal last year too. I got pretty close! I got to 16! And some of those books were massive! (*cough* 1Q84 *cough*). So, this year I’d like to actually hit my 20. Charlotte and I differ in opinion when it comes to massive reading goals. I don’t care as much about numerical goals as other readers because to me it’s more important to really understand and absorb what I am reading. If I am rushing to read just to hit a numerical goal and consequently fewer books really stick with me, is it worth having that goal? 20 seems like a reasonable goal given all of the various things I have going on in my life. This year I will do it!

2.    I want to write more book reviews. While I did review a good chunk of the books I read in 2015, I want to get better about writing reviews shortly after I’ve finished reading. When I wait too long to write a review, I feel like my review ends up being lower in quality. This year I want to give myself no more than 2 days after I finish reading to write my reviews.

3.     I want to read more non-fiction books. I have so many. SO. MANY. Just sitting on my bookshelves that I haven’t read. I’m guilty of seeing a non-fiction book in a store and being like “ooh this would be GREAT for my environmental science and policy collection”….and then never actually reading it. Well, not this year! I’m going to start digging into some of the non-fiction I own.

4.    I want to complete a reading challenge. This will force me to diversify the kinds of books I usually gravitate towards. I’m committed to doing this challenge.

5.    Of the non-fiction genre, I specifically want to read more books on political theory.

And now, for my challenge for Charlotte. Since Charlotte’s such an avid reader, and since she’s challenged me to read the entire HP series (which I look forward to doing!), I am challenging Charlotte to read at least three out of the five books I listed as my favorites for 2015. This means Charlotte doesn’t have to read Murakami…but she should. She should read Murakami.  

And that’s a wrap for us! We will fill you in on our progress along the way!

Char & Liz

Our Favorite Reads of 2015

After seeing a slew of articles circulating the interwebs titled "The Best Books of 2015," etc., we knew that we needed to do our own. We've had quite a productive reading year! Charlotte read over 30 books, and Liz read 16! We've read some really crap books, but, more importantly, we've read some truly excellent books that will stay with us for years to come. Here's each of our top five for 2015!

Charlotte's Top 5 Books of 2015

5. The Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins

Okay, okay. This is technically five books. I’ve reviewed three of them so far: one, two, and three. They weren’t the most spectacular books I’ve ever read, but they left a mark. I can always dig a book about rebellion, about ending oppression, about equal rights. I enjoyed this myself, and I know it’s something I can share with the tiny humans in my life: siblings, nieces and nephews, my own kids one day. Books that teach kids about these things make me happy. 

4. The Martian by Andy Weir

Now, this was a damn good book. An astronaut gets stranded on Mars after his crew mistakenly thought he was dead. It’s a story of survival and resilience and the worth of human life. Without giving much away, I’ll say that our protagonist must try and stay alive and his team, as well as hundreds or thousands of people on earth, need to figure out if there’s any way to save him.

I loved this book a lot. It was thrilling yet smart. There are some books I just devour, but they don’t make me think much. This book is jam packed with science and logic but is written in such a way that those of us without degrees in rocket science can still understand it. It’s a real adventure. It’s one of my favorites for the year because it kept my adrenaline pumping; I couldn’t put it down.

3. Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling

I wouldn’t necessarily call this a crucial book, but if you’re looking for something from a female role model who doesn’t fuck around, this is a great place to start. I loved it because it was hilarious, but I also gleaned some insight from Kaling’s experiences. Her first book was also terrific, but this offered a more grown up attitude while maintaining fast paced humor. I’ve been a fan of Mindy Kaling for a while, and I hope she never stops writing books. This book is top five for the many, many laughs as well as the insights. Highly recommend. (And I reviewed it here.)

2. Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin

I haven’t reviewed this book yet, but I did write a few things about it in this post.

Gretchen Rubin is my favorite author for this genre. She combines research, history, and experience to form really great advice to change habits. This book left me feeling more optimistic about my chances to actually improve and gave advice that was actually possible to implement.

And finally, my best book of the year:

1. The Tsar of Love and Techno by Anthony Marra

Just, let’s not get me started on this book again. It’s phenomenal. The writing is unbelievably good, the stories are terrific. I couldn’t put it down. The writing will just blow you away. I reviewed it here and I talked about it a bit more on my personal blog right here.

Liz's Top 5 Books of 2015

When Charlotte and I were discussing this post the first thing she said to me was “so your entire list will be Murakami.” HAHA, CHAR. VERY FUNNY. While she’s spot on, 2015 became the year I discovered Murakami and he became one of my favorite authors, my top 5 is not all Murakami. This list is compiled of the books I read this year that will be the books that stick with me for years to come- the ones I’ll bring up in conversation (and constantly recommend), the ones I’ll think of when I’m reading a different book that shares a similar element, and the ones that drew intense feelings and thoughts from within me.

5) Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Jane Eyre was a pleasant surprise (I was wary given my bad history with other novels of the same period). While I haven’t seen any film depictions of the novel, I assume they focus almost wholly on Jane’s relationship with Rochester, but Jane Eyre is not a romance novel. Jane Eyre is a survivor, a woman that bucks the norms of her time, strong willed, intelligent, and honest. Jane Eyre is entitled after the main character because it’s about her life, and her life is more than just the man she ends up falling in love with. It is about the abusive household she was raised in and survived through, how she came into her own at a strict and unforgiving boarding school and the important relationships she built while there, how she questioned women’s preordained roles in society and challenged them on the basis that women have the same wants and skills as men, and finally, how she found true love despite trying circumstances that would ordinarily keep two people apart.

From the beautiful writing to the themes that still hold true today, Jane Eyre as a novel, and as a character, will stick with me for years to come.

4) 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami

I was torn between including 1Q84 and Kafka on the Shore for this list. As I’ve written before, Kafka on the Shore is the Murakami novel that pieced together the puzzle for me- it’s the novel that made me finally feel like I was starting to truly understand what Murakami is all about. But it’s 1Q84 that has made my list because it’s the first Murakami novel I read. As I’ve continued to read Murakami novels, and even works by others, 1Q84 frequently comes to mind. 1Q84 was, in some ways, a challenging novel as an introduction to Murakami’s works, but as I’ve continued to read his novels, I gain a better understanding of 1Q84 as I reflect on it.

1Q84 is a combination of a dystopian, sci-fi, fantasy, and love story all wrapped into one novel. The story follows Aomame and Tengo as they navigate some kind of parallel universe, which Aomame calls 1Q84. As they try to figure out this strange new world, Aomame’s and Tengo’s paths eventually come closer and closer together. Aomame has become one of my favorite female literary characters, and as I’ve read more of Murakami’s novels, I would argue that Aomame is the strongest female character he has ever written.

1Q84 is complex, fantastical, confusing, and both heartbreaking and beautiful, which is why it makes my top five of 2015.

3) The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

If I could only choose one word to describe The Handmaid’s Tale it would be “terrifying.” Published in 1985, this dystopian novel is frighteningly relevant to today. In the future, a supposed terrorist attack takes place (blamed on Islamic extremists) that ends up killing the President of the United States and most of congress. This gives the opportunity for a religious extremist group, the “Sons of Jacob,” to put forth a revolution and take over the government. This new world strips women of all human rights and creates new class divisions. The story is shared by the protagonist, Offred, a handmaid that was assigned to the household of Fred (thus her name, Offred). Due to declining birth rates, Handmaids are assigned to upper class households for  reproductive purposes.

Through flashbacks of Offred’s life prior to and after the revolution, we are introduced to a world of rampant pollution, sexism, and religious extremism. This book is one of my favorite reads of 2015 because, especially given the dialogue that has taken place during this presidential election season, it’s themes of environmental degradation, the desire of men to control women’s lives and bodies, and class warfare are more important to understand than ever. Atwood’s novel is not a cautionary tale about our future- it’s a warning about the present.

Nolite te bastardes carborundorum. Don’t let the bastards bring you down.

2) A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki

For those of you who are familiar with Doctor Who, you probably will recall one of the Doctor’s famous lines about the nature of time: “Time isn’t a straight line...time is more like wibbly wobbly...stuff.” A Tale for the Time Being is a superb novel that will make you question the nature of time and how we are all connected.

This novel is told through the narrative of Nao, a teenager who was born in California that is forced to move to Japan, where her family is originally from, when her father loses his job, and Ruth, a Japanese-American writer who lives on a small island off the coast of British Columbia. Nao’s story is told through her diary, and Ruth’s story is told as she is reading Nao’s diary, which she finds one day on the beach. As an American, Nao is treated by her peers as a foreigner, and consequently she is relentlessly bullied while she is in Japan. Her father struggles to find a job and is thrown into a deep depression. After he tries to commit suicide numerous times, Nao’s own mental health is greatly impacted. Ruth finds Nao’s diary while she is in the middle of severe writer’s block. Nao's diary takes Ruth on a crucial journey to possibly save Nao, while also saving herself. While Ruth and Nao's stories are on different timelines, the two are connected both literally and figuratively in ways that, at times, will boggle your mind.

Thrilling, thought-provoking, and emotional- this novel will stand the test of time for me.

1) Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami

Norwegian Wood, which I recently reviewed at length, is my favorite book of the year. Beautifully written, touching, and relatable, I could hardly put this book down. Murakami’s insightful words on death and the importance of love leave a lasting impression. As someone who has experienced death, when I read Toru’s thoughts as he was trying to understand death himself, I thought “yes, exactly, this is precisely what this is like.” This book is not only a favorite for this year, but possibly one of my all-time favorites because when I recall this novel, all the feelings it gave me come flooding back.

Liz & Char

Reading Round-Up

Hello! It's the happiest and merriest and most wonderful time of the year! (Current events notwithstanding.) With the end of the year comes a steady flow of "Best Books Of 2015" posts, which makes for some good reading! Check out some of our favorites here, as well as some other terrific book-related posts! 

Because we're conceited buttheads, let's start with Charlotte's post about her favorite books over on THL. Any you've read make the list? 

Have you seen NPR's book concierge yet? It's pretty fabulous! We highly suggest you take a peak and see if ya strike a fancy to any of those killer books (The Tsar of Love and Techno made the list, of course!).

Reading Harry Potter is even better when you're an adult. Check out what this writer over at Bustle has to say about the evolution of lessons she learned from Harry Potter.

Have you considered writing your own book? What do you think of these tips on creating a writing plan?

Buzzfeed selected their favorite fiction books of the year, and while we think there are some stellar-sounding books on that list... it's a bummer that it's mostly just contemporary fiction. More books! We want more books!

Came across this list of books that will make you more interesting on Pinterest and totally love it! We've read a few of them ourselves, and some are on our list of Books to Read in Your Twenties!

We've had our fair share of assigned and/or recommended reading throughout high school and college, and we've definitely kept some of our favorite texts! So we thought this article on books you'll want to read again as an adult was intriguing. Are there any books you'd like to re-read as an adult? Charlotte thinks it'd be great to reread Animal Farm (first read in sixth grade, about 12 years ago) and Liz would love to reread Heart of Darkness.

Charlotte is personally of the opinion that LOTR and HP are on the same level, and that no other books can compare, but here, read this article about books that are allegedly as enchanting as the HP series.

Check this out: every 16 year old in Sweden will be given a copy of We Should All Be Feminists. How great! (Also, related article.)

December means Christmas means gift guides means gift guides specifically for book lovers means gift guides specifically for lovers of Harry Potter means gift guides specifically for people who have chosen Hermione Granger as their favorite HP character. Enjoy. (Swooning over this one.) We also loved this list of gifts for English majors - not aptly titled! It's a list of gifts for writers and for book lovers alike! Liz is fond of that dope ass reading lamp and Charlotte likes the "Shhh" light.

Loving the winners of Goodread's best books!

Here's an article that lists books with "unexpected hot sex scenes." "Hot" is relative, tho.

We also liked The New York Times list of 100 notable books of 2015.

I love the holidays and we don't mind the occasional YA book, but.. damn, some of these books sound corny.

Ah, this was sweet. Authors share the books they're thankful for.

And, oh! Are you Catholic? Or do you like Pope Francis? Or do you want to live like Jesus, hollah?! Today starts the year long Jubilee of Mercy, and Pope Francis has suggested reading Dante's Divine Comedy. Charlotte's read Inferno, and Purgatory and Paradise are on the list! This year is the year!

Best Book Quotes! Throw it on a poster, bro. 

Do you have a kid who loves graphic novels? Or, maybe you love them! Mighty Girl has compiled a list of terrific graphic novels.

Really, really enjoyed this article explaining how a few literary characters got their names! Coming up with names for characters is no easy task. 

And finally, from Modern Mrs. Darcy, a list of books that you *should* have read in high school, but are worth reading now. (As part of a reading challenge! we love reading challenges!)

And that's it for this round! 

Stay tuned for a list of our favorite books we've read this year! 

xoxo

Liz & Char

Reading Round Up

Hey hey. We know things have been a little slow over here lately. Liz is busy at work and Charlotte is busy constantly being sick. We do have a nice line up of reviews planned for later this week/early next week though, so don't fret. 

In the meantime, here's a terrific bunch of book-related stories from around the web:

First and foremost, did you all hear that Entertainment Weekly has published some of the first pictures from Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them?! We're both very excited and Liz has proclaimed that Eddie Redmayne has never looked better and Charlotte has decided she must read the book before the movie is released. (Also, check out America's version of  the word for non-magical people. It's different from the UK's "muggle." Don't know why.)

In related news, Queen Rowling has announced she's working on a children's book. She's said this before, so it makes us nervous, but we're going to throw caution to the wind and let ourselves be hella excited. 

(And because we simply cannot post a Reading Round-Up without a plethora of HP/Rowling related stories, check out this stellar review of "Career of Evil," Rowling's newest book published under pen name Robert Galbraith. After such praise, the book is certainly on our radar.)

Charlotte loves Gretchen Rubin's books but never read Happier at Home after hearing much of it was a reiteration of Rubin's first book. But! After happily finding this old post, maybe it's a must read?! The idea of shrine-like areas filled with things we love throughout a home sounds wonderful.

Bustle threw together a list of books that ambitious women ought to read. What do you think? (Charlotte thinks there's a fine line between ambition and selfish, predatory, shark-like behavior, but she's willing to read some of these if they offer good advice.) 

Both of us loved this post of tattoos inspired by books. Liz already has a pretty awesome idea for one, and Charlotte is... trying to think of one.

If you like powerful, emotional stories, hop on over to this list of books that are just sure to make you cry. We can personally attest to the cry-factor of several of them.

The Royal We is a book that neither of us would read without prompting, but Charlotte is reading the first few chapters to gauge interest. We do love Lauren Graham though, so it's exciting that she's involved.

Do you love YA? Check out this list of most-anticipated young adult novels coming out this month!

They are turning the extremely popular self-help book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, into a television show. Weird? Not weird? What do you think?

Khloe Kardashian wrote a book and it seems as though it's not all bad.

One more HP link: here's a list of fan fiction you might want to read if you love HP. 

And we'll leave you with this awful, awful idea of building a Hunger Games theme park.

xoxo

Liz & Char  

Reading Round-Up

Ciao bellas. Thanks for all the Filthy Casket love the last couple of weeks. We're getting good feedback, and nothing makes us happier. (Okay, maybe books make us happier. And puppies. And Star Wars. But nothing else!)

We've got a great bunch of book-related links from around the interwebs!

Liz is a huge Alice in Wonderland fan. Are any of you? Check out this list of little known facts about the Mad Hatter.

We've dissed romance novels quite a few times on this blog, but here's a list of 13 such books that allegedly must be on every woman's list. Maybe we'll have to give them a chance?

Strand Book Store is keepin' it real, telling us what book we could buy instead of wasting money on America's beloved Pumpkin Spice Lattes. (Also, how perfect is "coffee industrial complex" ??????)

We literally expelled lots of laughs out loud while reading this Twitter war between two book publishers.

Charlotte may or may not be addicted to lists, and after reading this, she's considering making her own list of books to read in the winter. (You're forewarned.)

Do you love plot twists? Or do you loathe them? Are you known to google the plots of the books you're reading to avoid heartache? If you love them, you might be interested in these books with killer plot twists. (Not literally killers. We think...)

Did you love Friends? (Mixed opinions over here.) If so, check out this list of novels that might be right for you!

Maybe you're Christian, maybe you're not, but this list of books that are influenced by the Bible is stellar. Superman! Harry Potter! The list goes on. 

We all know Buzzfeed loves quizzing us! Hop over and take this quiz to see which series you ought to read (based on your favorite Harry Potter character, of course!).

Not really into reading fiction? Depending on your reasons, maybe you'll enjoy one of these books for people who tend to hate novels.

It would be weird and very self-promoting to link to our own superb list of books to read in your twenties, wouldn't it? Alright, so we won't mention that...

;)

If you like Russian literature, maybe you'll fancy giving one of these books a read?

Here's a really helpful list of YA books coming to stores this season, if that's what you dig.

And we enjoyed this list of short novels you could read in a day, although... not entirely convinced that all of these are quite that short. Maybe 2-3 days.

And that's all for this time. Stay tuned.

xoxo
Liz & Char

Books to Read in Your Twenties

Hey, ya'll. We stumbled across this terrific list written by another blogger. Check this out: 

I realized that I have 2,843 days left of being in my twenties; I began to consider, in what ways would I like to have grown by age 30? 

"Books" is what immediately came to mind. I want to know my classics, discover the best novels of our decade, and fall in love with new authors. In what other time of our lives will we have so much freedom to indulge in 500-1000 page novels, or actually spend time appreciating those books we “read” in high school?

How great! We were inspired by the list and decided to make our own. Such fun! These are books we've been dying to read, or we've been too intimidated to read (hellllo, Les Miserables!), or we feel should be read in order to be socially literate. We've got just over 2,000 days left in our twenties - enough time to check each and every book off this bucket list, hopefully.

Let's start with the books that appear on both of our bucket lists: 

1. The Autobiography of Malcolm X

Liz: Malcolm X’s words and philosophy are just as relevant today as they ever were. In light of the persistent police violence and institutional racism that exists in the U.S., this book is an important read. 

Char: Agreed. I've started it, but kept putting it off. But this is an important book, and it's especially relevant today.

2. On the Road by Jack Kerouac 

Liz: Coming of age novels are my jam. 

Char: I just want to be socially literate, bebe. When books are referenced so often, I feel the need to read them. I want to know what everyone is talking about. I may or may not also like the way "Kerouac" rolls off the tongue. (A completely legitimate reason to read a book, dammit.)

3. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Liz: I picked it up when I was in High School, read the first 30 pages and hated it. As an adult person, I think I might enjoy it more, so it’s worth giving another shot. It’s also referenced so often in other books, in society, in life, I might as well try to understand what the F folks are on about.

Char: Why can’t I finish this? It’s taking me so long, but I like it and I really need to just finish it already.

4. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez 

Char: Because Mark told me to.

5. Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee

To Kill a Mockingbird is beloved by all and Lee finally had another book published. We’ve got to read it. 

That's all for the books we both want to read before the big 3-0. But don't fret, there's so much more where that came from. 

Charlotte: At the risk of sounding exceptionally corny, when I was coming up with this list, I tried to think about what kind of woman I want to be. (One answer: Not the kind of grown ass woman who hasn't read Pride and Prejudice.) I want to be someone who reads often and who reads critically and thoughtfully. I also want to be the kind of woman who never finds herself without a witty comeback. I'm already pretty good with that, but I can stand to up my literary humor game. 

I want to know more about the world, I want to understand the struggles of other people, and I want to be able to talk about the classics. I also do not - do not - want to be the kind of person who doesn't pick up a book because reading it feels like a daunting task. Do that too many times and suddenly my reading habits will become a metaphor for my life, and that's not the kind of life I want to make. 

You'll also find a few heavy Catholic books on here, because I've really started to love being a Catholic. It's already made me a better person, and I've been devouring saints' stories left and right. Your twenties are supposed to be a wonderful time to solidify habits, and I'd love to start incorporating more of the Catholic customs into my life. No time like the present! 

Lastly, I've got a few kids books on here. Maybe I'll have kids before my thirtieth birthday, maybe I won't - but I really like the idea of having a few kids books under my belt before I'm a parent. Is that weird? Probably. But again, I tried to keep in mind what kind of woman I want to be while writing this - and a good parent is definitely part of the answer.

I own a lot of these, plus most are classics or at least very old, meaning they're nearly free for the kindle. I officially have no excuses to not finish this list.  

Sorry for the novella! Here we go:

6. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

Honestly, I just loved the movie so much that I’ve got to read the book. The story is a beautiful one.  

7. The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri 

We read Dante’s Inferno in high school, and I’ve wanted to read the other two ever since. 

8. The Diary of Anne Frank

I’ve read this before, but I think I should reread it. 

9. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey

Again, because I’d like to be socially literate. 

10. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath 

Numerous people have suggested this, but they’ve also told me it’s very depressing. At some point I’d like to read it, though.

11. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens 

Similar to Pride and Prejudice in that I’ve been reading this forever. I love it, so it’s weird that I haven’t finished it. I think it’s mainly due to putting it down and picking up Harry Potter instead. 

12. Mr. Toppit by Charles Elton

Because I bought it a few years ago and never even opened it. For shame, Charlotte.

13. Scenes in the Life of Harriet Tubman by Sarah Bradford 

This was the first substantial book about Tubman, and I’d really like to delve into it. 

14. Something by Stephen King

Because I feel like it’s wrong to have never read anything by Stephen King.

15. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck 

Another one of those books that people love and talk about, and that I really ought to read. Plus, Mark told me to read it.

16. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

I loved the movies and I generally love anything by C.S. Lewis. I love LOTR and Harry Potter, so I will likely enjoy the Chronicles of Narnia, as well. 

17. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

Literally because another blogger said it was great and that it fell right behind HP on her list of favorites. 

18. On Being Catholic by Thomas Howard

Kind of self-explanatory? And I’m starting to really love books about the Faith. 

19. Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan

Because one of my favorite kids from work told me I “absolutely have to read this!” Will do, Samson.

20. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Again, it’s a classic I feel like I should read. I’ve started it before, but… HP strikes again.

21. Yes, Please by Amy Poehler 

I love Amy Poehler and I like books by funny women, so.

22. Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut 

I’ve wanted to read this for a long, long time. Must take the plunge, Char. 

23. Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

Because several friends have told me to. 

24. The Confessions of Saint Augustine 

Like I said, love these kind of books. I enjoy learning more about the saints, too. 

25. Cities and the Wealth of Nations by Jane Jacobs

Because I have it. And I hear it’s terrific.

26. Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

Another classic! I started reading this before, and enjoyed it, but stopped. 

27. Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell 

This book is America’s second favorite book (right behind the Bible), so I figure I need to see what all the fuss is about. 

28. Moby Dick by Herman Melville

Another classic. 

29. In Search of Lost Time by Proust 

Not going to lie, my main reason for wanting to read this is just because it was featured in an episode of Gilmore Girls. (But also I just googled it and it’s so highly revered that I really want to read it.)

30. Catechism of the Catholic Church

I’m already reading this, but it’s been slow going. If I can’t finish it in 5.5 years, I’m a major slacker.

31. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky 

What’s that? Classic. (Plus, from everything I’ve read/heard, I think I’ll like the story.)

32. The Epistles of St. Clement of Rome and St. Ignatius of Antioch 

Church classics. 

33. Beloved by Toni Morrison 

One of those books, again, that everyone should read. Of all the people I know who have read it, none disliked it. 

34. The Waves by Virginia Woolf

I’ve heard this described as Woolf’s “strangest” novel and “most experimental” novel, and I’m intrigued. 

35. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy 

I know it’s a difficult and long read, but it’s world renowned and I need to just get over the intimidation and read it.

36. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte 

It’s a classic and it’s in that movie, Definitely Maybe. 

37. Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

Haters gonna hate but I mainly want to read this book because it briefly appeared on an episode of The Daily Show. 

38. Narrative of Sojourner Truth

Another one everyone should read. 

39. Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset 

Numerous bloggers I read have mentioned it so I figure it’s got to be good. 

40. Signs of Life: 40 Catholic Customs and Their Biblical Roots by Scott Hahn 

As I’m getting better at the whole being a Catholic thing, I’d like to read this.

41. Peter Pan by JM Barrie

I’ve heard that the book is amazing. 

42. Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin

This will be a reread for me, but I think it's such a helpful book. 

43. My own book. 

Really, I have 5.5 years. I should be able to finish writing it. 

And now, Liz's bucket list! 

Before I turn thirty I want to read:

44. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

A classic. I like that the Bronte sisters write moody stories. I loved Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, so Wuthering Heights sounds like a natural fit for me.

45. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

I read the first three when I was young, and then I just stopped reading them. It wasn’t that I didn’t enjoy them- I guess I just lost patience for them to come out. I obviously need to correct this and read the series ASAP. 

46. The Millennium Series by Stieg Larsson

Lisbeth Salander is a god damn role model. As a young woman, I’m drawn to a series with an admirable female lead. 

47. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

I read The Kite Runner last winter and loved it! It brought tears to my eyes, so I can’t wait to read Hosseini’s other novels

48. And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini

Same as above.

49. The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami

I’ve read and loved so many Murakami novels. This is one that is constantly hyped up by Murakami fans, so I want to read it myself. 

50. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller

It’s a classic dystopian novel that I have yet to read- it’s time.

51. Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

A classic. It's been on my reading list for years. 

52. The Awakening by Kate Chopin
A lesser-known classic. It's applauded for its feminist themes.

53. Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Chimamanda Adichie has written excellent essays on feminism, and this novel by her sounds like it'll be a fantastic exploration of young love, the experience of being a black woman in America, and the experience of being undocumented.  

54. The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
Edith Wharton is another writer applauded for her feminism. 

55. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
Another expertly written classic. 

56. This Changes Everything Capitalism vs the Climate by Naomi Klein

Clearly this book is relevant to our time. The topic is crucially important to the future of our planet as we know it.

57. The Death and Life of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs

Fuck suburbia, that’s why.

58. As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner

A classic. Sounds depressing, and who doesn’t like to read depressing shit? 

59. 1984 by George Orwell

Shamefully, I read a good chunk of this in Highschool, but never finished it.

60. Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
Another one I started to read, but never finished. I really liked it too! It's renown for being expertly written, and it's definitely apparent when you're reading it. I hope by reading this book I'll become a better writer myself, through osmosis of course. 

There it is! Our twenties bucket list!

Did we do a good job? Do you all think we missed any essential reading? Here's to many nights reading away and completing this list!  

xoxo

Liz & Char