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Read a book today from Practicingnormal.com #reading #drseuss #poem #greenegssandham
Mariet

National READATHON day in America, Saturday, January 24, 2015

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Make#timetoread.  This Saturday is National Readathon day in America.  It is easy to forget that even though you are reading this the basic literacy skills in America are below the average score for developed countries.  40% of American adults are either at or below reading proficiency and 14% have almost no reading skills.  According to Wikipedia almost 75% of the world’s 775 million illiterate adults are concentrated in ten countries.

We must celebrate the fact that we can read and are able to send our kids to school where they can get a good education.

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Mariet

The Practicingnormal Reading Challenge for busy moms

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I am a reader.

I am also a mom.

Being both can sometimes be quite difficult.

I keep track of all my books that I read on Goodreads and I participate in their yearly reading challenge. One of the things I had to do today was deciding how many books I would read this year and enter the challenge.  This consists of filling in the form and every time you finish a book you update it on the website.   No one ever checks up to see if you read the books that you say you will, but there is a little counter that reminds you for example:  You have fallen behind by 4 books.   I start to feel guilty as soon as that counter starts saying to keep up with this list you better go and read 2 books.  As if I need another thing to feel guilty about.  I’m a mom, I feel guilty all the time anyway. Read more

books reading gifts christmas
Mariet

10 Gifts for your bookish friend

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I have read soooo many books.  One of the questions everyone always asks me is how do I find time to read with the amount of kids that we have.

The answer is that I’m a Reading Ninja and I read all the time.   I keep my e-reader with me and sneak read whenever I have to wait.  With 5 kids that are all involved in lots of activities my life consists of a lot of waiting.This makes me one of those difficult people to buy a book for.   By the time the book is on the shelves to buy I’ve had it on my ‘to-be-read’ pile for ages.

To make it a bit easier for the people that buy me gifts I’ve made a wonderful list of bookish things that I would love to receive.   All my bookworm friends can thank me later.  Just mail the link of the post to your significant other.   They can thank me later as well, maybe with something from the list. (wink, wink)

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old books magical comfort read reading
Mariet

7 Magical comfort reads

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The definition of a bookworm according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary is a person who likes to read books and who spends a lot of time reading and studying.  The definition of the Urban Dictionary states:  A bookworm is a person who is so fascinated by books that he does not know what is happening in the world.

The definition of chocolate cake is a cake flavoured with melted chocolate or cocoa powder, but there is no definition for books that makes you feel like you are eating chocolate cake.   We need a word for that.   Any ideas?

My definition of a bookworm is someone to whom to read is to breath.  Even though I have a busy life and five kids I am always looking for stolen moments when I can stick my nose in a book.  I read while I wait for the bath water, while blow drying my hair,  waiting in line, waiting for kids, every moment waiting is time better spend reading.  If you have a full, busy life every five minutes count.

My house is full of books, my Ipad is loaded with more books that I will ever find the time to read in my lifetime and even though there is soooo many books that I still want to read there is some books that are like old friends that welcome you home.   You pick them up when you’ve hit a bump in the road, or a bit of a rough patch or just when you need a little bit of magic.

These are the books that I pick up when I need a hug and a little bit of comfort.

 

1)  Like water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel

“There are some things in life that shouldn’t be given so much importance, if they don’t change what is essential.”

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girl running playing autumn trees grass freedom beautiful dance play
Mariet

Seven reasons why I love Autumn

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It is the time of the year to pack away your summer clothes, get out your wooly sweater and fall in love with colourful trees.  I’ve always had a special relationship with trees.  I’m sure in my previous life I must have been a huge oak tree, if not I really want to be one in my next life.  The beautiful colours on the trees are one of the many reasons why Autumn is my favourite season of the year.

Here is a list of a few of my Autumn pleasures. Read more