Sometimes after we have kids, we forget about our hobbies and the things we used to enjoy doing. Or maybe it’s just that we don’t actually have time to do them! Similarly, its often difficult to find time just to BE, whether that’s alone or otherwise. Now that my daughter is almost 2, my life is starting to return to a new state of normalcy. I’ve found my groove and her routine, and even though I work from home, I actually still find time for myself. My hobby of choice has been reading since I was a child. While I can’t power through a book as fast as I used to, the thought of sitting down with a book brings me tons of joy and anticipation. I get to escape for awhile and learn about something I may never get to experience myself. I get to teach my daughter the joys and importance of reading, and she will be a better writer and creative genius because of it.
Even if you don’t love reading as much as I do, you can’t argue with the many benefits of picking up a good read: enhanced mental stimulation which can prolong the effects of dementia and Alzheimer’s, expansion of your vocabulary, relief of stress, improvement in your focus (what mom doesn’t need that?) and a better memory. Now that I have you on board for becoming an avid reader, I’ve picked out some of my favorite books that I think you’ll love! Before my daughter was born I completed a 50 books challenge in 2012, and I’ve also read the entire Babysitters Club series so you can trust my judgement. This list is by no means a New York Times Bestseller list and is comprised entirely of my own opinion on “good” reading. Please check them out!
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1. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
I went through years of various people telling me how good this book was, but kept putting off buying it. When it went to $1.99 on Amazon I had no further excuses. Once I started reading it I regretted buying it sooner! Follow Claire Randall, a former military British nurse after World War II, as she and her husband take a second honeymoon to Scotland. After a harmless visit to a local gathering of boulders, she touches one only to be transported back in time 200 years. This is a wonderfully detailed time-traveling romance novel (so detailed it’s over 600 pages!). If you love romance and historical fiction, this book is for you. Best of all, there are 6 other novels in the series!