Another love......

I have another love in my life other than my wonderful husband, beautiful children, amazing family, crazy animals, knitting, sewing, running, baking.... the list goes on. This love is so ingrained in my life that I hardly thought of it as being something I do until the other day. It is simply so much a part of me and an empirical part of my everyday life. I do it while I am eating, before I go to sleep, in the ads of a Tv show, while I am waiting in the car, when I am happy, when I am sad, and especially on a holiday...... it is reading. I know where this love came from... my Dad. I remember reading with him almost everyday as a child and even though he worked long hours he always read to me (usually 'The Cat in the Hat') and was encouraging me to read and reading himself. Even in retirement he spends hours reading, the papers and novels, he always has at least one book on the run with a stack of others waiting patiently in a pile beside his bed. My maternal grandmother died when I was 3 but many of my memories of her are sitting with her in her bed whilst she read to me book after book. So this reading thing has been a part of my life even before I could actually read myself.

One of my "ah ha" moments in life occurred while sitting in my kindergarten classroom and I was reading one of those early reader books and all of a sudden it happened I could read silently.... just like that the switch in my brain turned on and I could do it. No longer did I need to read out loud I could read silently. This moment was so profound that I could walk into that classroom today and tell you exactly where I was sitting at that exact moment.

I am never without a book to read... never. If I am close to ending a book without the next one planned I sort of panic... like really panic resulting in a random book purchase from anywhere. I usually borrow from libraries, rarely do I read a book twice and I was so relieved when we moved to the bush that there is a library here. It is open Tuesday afternoons and Wednesday mornings and we go there for a cup of tea and a chat and of course the books every week. It is run by the beautifil Miss Silvia, who always has a friendly ear, a hot cup of tea, a hug, a box of tissues and a friendly face each and every week. The kids love going too beacuse she makes it such a fun, happy place where the kids mix reading, with play and the odd chocolate.



The library in town, much more than just a library





Miss Silvia with the kids lining up for a chocolate in the school holidays


 

As my life gets busier I love the indulgence of sitting down or lying in bed and reading. It is my time and I am doing something just for me. I still haven't been able to do the 'e-reader' thing. I love turning the pages and the smell of the books. But I am not a complete 'techno-phob' do have a Pinterest Board of books I want to read.  I love buying second hand books from stalls and thinking of all the places and people that have shared these words with me. I also love buying a brand new book the smell and the crisp pages, such luxury. I usually pass any books I purchase on to others but I have recently started a collection of my favourites for the girls to read as they grow up.

At the moment my brain isn't working to it's full potential, something about pregnancy hormones and no concentration so my book selection reflects this. Short, interesting books are on the agenda. Nothing too sad or gruesome, books that are too the point and don't require any brain power. I don't think they will ever make my favourites list, but I have read some that do.

Some of my favourites of all time are:

Shantaram - Gregory David Roberts

I could not put this book down, I am still not sure of the facts that make the story up but a amazing story it is.

Nancy Wake - Peter Fitzsimons

What an inspirational Australian women, this is on the list for my girls to read when they are older.

Desert Flower/Desert Dawn - Waris Dirie

Another one for the girls to read when they are much much older. Never have I felt so lucky to be born in Australia where women's bodies are protected by the law.

A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini

A novel that demonstrates beautifully how difficult everyday life is for women in some places still today.

The light between oceans -M.L. Stedman

I recently read this heartbreaking tale and the ethics of the situation had me questioning my own beliefs for days after.

My very favourite author is Kate Morton. She is from Brisbane and has written four novels. I have loved each one. Kate writes beautifully and I cannot help be swept up in the stories as I travel through time and place with her. Each of her books takes you on a journey with the characters as they unfold and evolve throughout the novel. I always hang out for her next read.

I have always read to the kids even since they were tiny babies, and I have spent the majority of the time I an feeding them with a book in my hand. So they are used to seeing adults reading and having books lying around the place. As a result Miss 8 is an avid reader and since she isn't much of a sleeper she will read quietly in her bed till all hours. Miss 5 wasn't so much of a reader until she started school, now she loves it. Learning new words and letters each day, it is magical to see the world of books opening up to her. Master 2 also loves reading, he gets really into books with animals and cars. I often catch him sitting quietly 'reading' to himself making up the story from the pictures.

Now to the kids books, these are some favourites:

Where is the Green Sheep? - Mem Fox

Okay so we all know where the green sheep is but all my kids have loved this book, and really anything by Mem Fox the kids love.

Guess how much I love you? - Sam Mc Bratney

The kids love this  'to the moon and back'.

Hairy Maclary - Lynley Dodd

One can't help getting caught up in this book, it's impossible to read it slowly and without animation, so clever.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar - Eric Carle

I have always wanted to try and eat what the Caterpillar eats on  Saturday... what a wonderful way to teach kids about the life cycle of a butterfly.

The Wonky Donkey - Craig Smith

The Hee-Haw repetition in this book makes it a favourite.

Crocodile Beat - Gail Jorgensen

So many animals so much fun and it has Croc's in it so my boy loves it.

For older readers the girls are really into the Harry Potter books, so much so that I call Miss 8 a 'Potterhead' because she has always got her face buried in one of them. Miss 5 is loving the 'Tashi' series books at the moment.

Now my favourite book of all time for adults as much as kids is....

'Oh the places you'll go' - Dr Seuss.

Almost every page has a quote to get you through life, even today I can read this book and get so much out of it. I have bought this book countless times, most recently for my God Daughter, I urge anyone going through changes, or a difficult time to read this book, it's great to be reminded that this to shall pass as

'Somehow you'll escape

all that waiting and staying.

You'll find the bright places

where Boom Bands are playing'...... I love it!!

So I am interested in knowing what are your favourites, what books do you and your kids love, I am preparing for alot of reading and feeding when this baby arrives one of...... these beautiful days.