Let’s celebrate Drop Everything and Read Day! Did you know today was a national day to honor reading?
“Yes, folks, each year on April 12th, we celebrate a national day to honor reading. Even better, the whole month is often devoted to activities and events to encourage the love of reading in your children and within your family and circle of friends. The first D.E.A.R. Day (drop everything and read) was introduced in Beverly Cleary’s book Ramona Quimby, Age 8. April 12th was chosen as the flagship day in honor of Mrs. Cleary’s birthday, but as the concept has grown and become more widely known, more and more focus is given to the entire month. Which sounds great to me!”
How fun is that! The goal of the program is to make reading a regular part of everyone’s routine which I think is fabulous. Because this comes from a children’s book, most of the emphasis is on schools and parents to encourage children to read, but I think it is just as important to remind adults to take the time to read as well.
There is so much to learn and discover from reading books. Books can take us to new places and introduce us to different cultures, religions and ideas. They can teach us new skills or just take us away from the ins and outs of everyday life.
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Besides learning new things, reading also improves your memory, encourages imagination, makes you focus and concentrate and is cheap entertainment.
So, in celebration of Drop Everything and Read Day, I want to share a selection of books to get you reading!
(You’ll find a list of these books on my Resources page. Sign up for more from Living Marvelously!)
A few of my all-time favorite fiction books
The Red Tent by Anita Diamont
Circle of Friends by Maeve Binchy
The Great Alone and The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
If you liked the play “Hamilton”, the book My Dear Hamilton by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie was a great follow up.
A few of my favorite non-fiction books
Light is the New Black by Rebecca Campbell
A Beginner’s Guide to the Universe by Mike Dooley
The Power of Intention by Wayne Dyer
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A few books I have read recently
The Crazy Rich Asians Series by Kevin Kwan was a fun easy read and entertaining to imagine that kind of lifestyle.
Educated by Tara Westover
Maid by Stephanie Land
The Clockmaker’s Daughter by Kate Morton
Circe by Madeline Miller
A few books on my “to read” list
When All is Said by Anne Griffin
Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Beyond the Point by Claire Gibson
A few of my family’s favorites
Harry Potter Series by JK Rowland
Mitch Rapp series by Vince Flynn
Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult
Failure Is Not an Option by Gene Kranz
A few of the favorites that are getting a lot of “buzz” at the local library
Fiction:
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
When We Left Cuba by Chanel Cleeton
The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff
Island of the Sea Women by Lisa See
Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield
Nonfiction:
Becoming by Michele Obama
Inheritance by Dani Shapiro
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
Women Rowing North by Mary Pipher
Girl, Stop Apologizing by Rachel Hollis
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb
Maid by Stephanie Land
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That is quite a list! I hope this gives you a good selection of books to choose from for your next read. I try to take at least 30 minutes before bed to wind down and read. Reading is one of my favorite things to do, but is also easy to put off.
So, in order to celebrate Drop Everything and Read Day, let’s drop everything and read!
What are you reading right now?
Whenever you read a good book, somewhere in the world a door opens to allow in more light.
–Vera Nazarian
(For an easy reference and printout to the books, go to my resources page. Subscribe to Living Marvelously for the password!)