The Benefits Of Reading

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the benefits of reading

Hey there fellow bookworm’s,

In today’s blog post we will be delving into the actual benefits of picking up a book and reading.

Before I started my research online I decided to write my own list of what I thought the benefits of reading were, to compare with what I found out. To be perfectly honest I didn’t do to badly, but there were much more than I initially thought! The information I did uncover was pretty conclusive in saying the same things.

What’s so interesting is; that there are many health benefits to this endearing hobby than you first might think. Of course the most obvious thing reading is very relaxing and calming which in turn reduces stress and anxieties, giving your body and mind a break from those pests!!! Did you know that by just reading 6 minutes can reduce stress by 60% that’s more than if you were to listen to music, drinking a cup of tea or playing video games. (Doctors should defiantly be recommending this as a stress buster!!!) Reading also gives the brain a good old work out, improving cognitive functions like memory (all though this is yet to happen to me, I’m so forgetful sometimes! Better keep reading then!!!),  focus and concentration. And if all that isn’t enough the next one will surely be! Reading can HELP alongside other things to prevent Alzheimer’s, by keeping the brain active.

This is pretty positive stuff but there is more…

Diving into a good book is not just beneficial to your health it can also help us socially, (yes, I know we like to think of ourselves as introverts but we do have to go outside sometimes!!!!!!!) by increasing your verbal skills; because lets face it us bookworm’s can always find a good book to talk about to spark up a conversation. Perusing a book can make us more empathetic to other people’s life situations and feelings; which we learn from the characters we discover. It’s also food for the brain; giving us knowledge and information; whether it’s fiction or non-fiction they all have something to give! Here come’s another did you know… Did you know that by reading 15 minuets per day will expose you to more that 1000000 words each year. (Gosh I’d love to work out how many words I’m exposed to in a year. I bet it a lot! )

It’s also very beneficial to improving spelling, grammar and writing skills, and  I’m testament to that because mine has defiantly improved since I started reading. Reading can be (I say can be in the loosest sense because we book lovers do like to buy more than a few books) cheap or free (if you go to a library) past time; making it less evasive on your purse/wallet. Reading a book is also a good thing for your neighbour’s I mean their not going to complain because your books are being load, are they?!

Being a reader, we are more likely to volunteer, donate money or goods to charities than non- readers and generally more helpful to other people.

I think it’s pretty safe to say we have a lot to thank books and our love of reading than anyone first might have thought! I hope you’ve enjoyed  READING today’s post as much as I’ve had researching and writing it!

As always feel free to add your thoughts in the comments!

Happy reading!

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Happy 2nd Birthday blog!

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haapy bithday large

Hi Lovely’s,

Doesn’t time fly when your having fun?! I really can’t believe it’s been two year’s since I stared Marie’s Book Boutique, sharing my reviews ( in the hope to inspire you to read or not as the case may be!), and other bookish posts (which I’ve really enjoyed writing and I hope you’ve adored  reading them!). Oh and I nearly forgot about my stationary bog posts too (now we can’t forget them! and who doesn’t love seeing a pretty notebook or two?)

I feel I have had the privilege to have been asked to read and review some truly wonderful book, and love what I do very much indeed. I thank all those people for giving me a great opportunity to read their books.

And you my lovely readers, I feel truly humbled to have gained readers from all over the world (which is pretty dam awesome! right?!), making life long friendships along the way as we share our love reading and books. I think the book blogging community is pretty special, filled with kindness, support and loyalty, a community that has opened up it’s arms to me and welcomed me in. So from the bottom of my heart I than-you!

In my two years of book blogging there’s been many up’s and downs and plenty of thing to learn from along the way ( not just about blogging but I’ve learnt things about myself as a person, and I can only take that as a positive because that’s what life is all about, right?) Know I have enjoyed and continue to adore every single second of my blogging journey!

‘And how will you be celebrating Marie?’ I hear you say.

Well to celebrate this momentous occasion guess what I will be doing? (after I’ve finished this blog post of course!) …. I will be drinking tea and reading!! Perfect!!! (Such a party animal me!!!!!)

With that being said that’s exactly what I’m going to do!

Happy reading guy’s!

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Book Review On: The Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins

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the girl on the train

About the author (as seen in the book)

paula hawkinsPaula Hawkins worked as a journalist for fifteen years before turning her hand to fiction. Born and brought up in Zimbabwe, Paula moved to London in 1989 and has lived there ever since. The Girl On The Train is her first thriller. It has been published in over forty languages, has been a No 1 bestseller around the world and is now a major motion picture starring Emily Blunt.

 

 

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Publication date: 23rd August 2016

Publisher: Black Swan

ISBN: Paperback 9781784161767

Also available in Ebook, Audiobook and Audio CD

Pages: 416 pages

Genre: Psychological/ Thriller

Format reading: Paperback

Copy provided by: My own brought

Blurb (as seen on the back cover)

Every Day The Same. Until Today.

Rachel catches the same commuter train every morning. She knows it will wait at the same signal each time, overlooking a row of back gardens. She’s even started to feel like she knows the people who live in one of the houses. Their life-as she sees it- is perfect. If only Rachel could be that happy.

And then she sees something shocking, and in one moment everything changes.

Now Rachel has a chance to become a part of the lives she’s only watched from afar.

Now they’ll see; she’s much more than just the girl on the train…

My Review

Front cover for the girl on the train by paula hawkinsLooking at this front cover with the darkness, the woman gazing out of the window of a train with concern on her face and the house in the reflection of the window really portrays something sombre and gloomy. I like the effect of the title, as its sort of blurred making it look like the train is moving fast! Paula’s name is coloured in gold which glistens in the light and looks great against the dark backing.

As soon as I spotted this book, I knew I had to get my mitts on it because A) I had read many good things about this book and B) a friend had recommended it to me and not to shy away from a recommendation I had to read it!

Rachel is the girl on the train, she travels on it each morning and knows that the train will stop at the same place every time. There she can gaze’s out of the window overlooking a row of houses back gardens; of the street she used to live, and watching the people who live there from afar. She feels like she knows them and their perfect lives, something that Rachel wants for herself. She was married but has recently divorced from her husband Tom after her constant drinking and erratic behaviour became a problem, the pressure of trying for a baby and it never happening for them and Tom having an affair with Anna. Now Tom and Anna are having a baby together and not just that but their still living in what was her and Toms marital home. Rachel still makes a nuisance of herself by calling round the house or ringing Tom, just to talk to him.

Rachel lives with her old university friend Cathy; who get’s increasingly worried about her friends drinking often finding her so out of it she doesn’t know where she’s been or who with. Cathy is worried about her friend and her erratic behaviour. But what Cathy doesn’t know is that Rachel has lost her job and is pretending to go to work every day so as not to raise suspicion.

Then one day when the train stops Rachel notices the couple she has been watching are no longer as perfect as they seem after she witnesses them argument, then they woman is reported as missing and an investigation is open as to her disappearance. How ever Rachel was in the area the night Megan went missing only her memory is very hazy and fragmented due to her being legless. Rachel senses something isn’t right that there is more to Megan’s sudden vanishing, but what? What happened that night? Did Rachel see something vital to the investigation that night?

Now Rachel finds herself entangling her life with those she has been watching, by visiting Megan’s husband posing to know Megan; in the hope she can piece the puzzle back together to work out what happened that night. By visiting Megan’s husband posing as Megan’s friend This doesn’t go unnoticed by Tom and Anna from across the street; who are getting more than annoyed by her presence. But what will she find out? Will the police want to talk to her? Will Tom and Anna report her for being a nuisance? What happened to Megan? Is she alive or dead?

The Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins is such a gripping and chilling read, that had me gripping the pages I turned in anticipation of what was going to happen in this book. There are so many twist’s to this story I didn’t see any of it coming to be honest. Paula’s writing is so captivating  and thought-provoking, I can see why this was made into a film (which I have yet to watch!). Each chapter is told from each of the lady’s perspective (Anna, Megan and Rachel) giving the reader a fuller picture of their thoughts and actions; which I thought really made the story intriguing. I couldn’t put this book down defiantly a page turner for sure!

                                                     Marie’s Book Boutique gives

                                         The Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins

                                                      A Gripping 5 Sparkly Stars

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Book Review On: I’ll Be There For You by Kelsey Miller

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i'll be there for you

About the author (as seen on the inside of the book jacket)

Kelsey MillerKelsey Miller is a journalist and the author of Big Girl: How I Gave Up Dieting and Got A Life. She and her work have been featured in Glamour, Allure, Teen Vogue, Salon, People, Good Housekeeping, Entertainment Weekly, Women’s Health and other outlets. She is the founder of The Anti-Diet Project, one of Refinery  29’s most popular franchises, for which she received the Digiday Publisher of the Year Award. She lives in Brooklyn.

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Publication date: 25th October 2018 (Hardback)

Publisher: HQ

ISBN: Hardback 978-0263275810

Paperback 978-0263276473 (Publication date 17th October 2019)

Also available in Ebook and Audiobook format.

Pages: 304 pages

Genre: Television/ Drama

Format reading: Hardback

Copy provided by: My own brought

Blurb (as seen on the back cover)

In September 1994, NBC aired the pilot of a new half-hour comedy sitcom. It began as plainly as the title implied, with five twenty somethings lounging at a coffee house talking about nothing much. For the first three minutes they didn’t even have names. Then Rachel Green burst into Central Perk, hoisting up her sopping wet wedding dress, her hair utterly unremarkable. She introduced herself to the gang, and the gang to all of us. The story had begun.

Over twenty years since the low-profile debut. Friends is an enduringly popular and obsessively watched as ever. But has the 90’s classic stood the test of time? Are some parts of it more problematic that we remember? What was it that made it such comforting viewing? And who was the cast’s least favourite guest star?

Kelsey Miller answers all these questions and more in this definitive look at one of the most beloved show in television history.

My Review

I'll be there for you front cover

The front cover of this book just screams Friends; from the font and colour used on the title to the famous orange couch that the cast sat on in Centrel Perk. I love that under the title there is three umbrellas one yellow, red and blue which the cast use in the opening credits of the show.

As soon as I found out about this book I knew that I had to buy it, being a super fan and all!!!!! (Well so I thought!) I was only 10 years old when Friends started, so I didn’t really start watching it till I was about 14 maybe 15. (all though now I have watched all the episodes now, more than a few times I might add!!!!!!)

I’ll Be There For You is packed full of information from one of the most famous American sitcoms of the 90’s. Kelsey has left no stone unturned as the book starts with the writers and how Friends came about, to choosing the cast to how they thought it was going to be a flop and much more.

I have to say I really thought I was a Friends super fan but on reading this book I know now that there was so much I didn’t know. I absorbed all those facts and learning in more depth about the show and the people who were involved. I really enjoyed reading this wonderfully written book about a show I still love so dear. As I said earlier I thought I was a super fan before I started reading this book… well I defiantly am now!!!!!!! For me Friends a show I will always go back and watch; its like a cosy blanket wrapping around you with laughter!

 

                                                         Marie’s Book Boutique gives

                                                   I’ll Be There For You by Kelsey Miller

                                                        A Fantastic 5 Sparkly Stars
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Goodreads 2019 Reading Challenge

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goodreads hedding

Hey bookworms,

As some of you will know by know I’m partial to a reading challenge or two!!!!! I’ve taken part in the Goodreads reading challenge now for a good few years, and it’s one that I find helpful in keeping track of how much I read in a year.

To start the challenge you can visit the Goodreads website

where you can singe up and then you can start the challenge by pleading a number of books you would wish to read in a year and off you go! Read away!!!! How do you come up with the number I hear you say? Well it’s really up to the individual, what ever your most comfortable with really. I just go on the last years number of books and try to beat that. Last year I read a grand total of 79 books, so that’s my pledge for 2019! When completing a book you can record you thoughts on that particular book and how many stars you would give it (that is optional) and it will appear in you list of books on you reading challenge. There is a Goodreads App (There’s an App for that!!!!!) which I use all the time and find it really helpful and so easy to use!

Do you also do the Goodreads reading challenge? If so do you have a system when coming up with the number of which your going to pledge? Or Are you not really in to reading challenges?

As always I love to hear your thoughts!!!!

 

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POPSUGAR Reading Challenge 2019

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Hi lovely’s,

As some of you will know last year I decided to do the POPSUAR Reading Challenge

Unfortunately I never quite got to complete; only managing  20 from the 40 prompts which also meant I didn’t get to the 10 advanced.

Call me crazy but I’m going to give it another go!

Here are the POPSUAR Reading Challenge prompts:

1.A book becoming a movie in 2019.

2.A book that makes you nostalgic.

3.A book written by a musician (fiction or non-fiction)

4.A book you think should be turned into a movie.

5.A book with at least one million ratings on Goodreads.

6.A book with a plant in the title or on the cover.

7.A reread of a favourite book.

8.A book about a hobby.

9.A book you meant to read in 2018.

10.A book with ‘pop’, ‘sugar’, or ‘challenge’ in the title.

11.A book with an item of clothing or accessory on the cover.

12.A book inspired by mythology, legends, or folklore.

13.A book published posthumously.

14.A book you see someone reading on TV or in a movie.

15.A retelling of a classic.

16.A book with a question in the title.

17.A book set on a college or university campus.

18.A book about someone with a superpower.

19.A book told from multiple character POVs.

20.A book set in space.

21.A book by two female authors.

22.A book with a title that contains ‘salty’, ‘sweet’. ‘bitter’, or ‘spicy’.

23.A book set in Scandinavia.

24.A book that takes place in a single day.

25.A debut novel.

26.A book that’s published in 2019

27.A book featuring an extinct or imaginary creature.

28.A book recommended by a celebrity you admire.

29.A book with ‘love’ in the title.

30.A book featuring an amateur detective.

31.A book about family.

32.A book written by an author from Asia. Africa, or South America.

33.A book with a zodiac sign or astrology term in the title.

34.A book that includes a wedding.

35.A book by an author whose first and last names start with the same letter.

36.A ghost story.

37.A book with a two-word title.

38.A novel based on a true story.

39.A book revolving around a puzzle or game.

40.Your favourite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading Challenge.

Advanced

41.A ‘cli-fi’ (climate fiction) book.

42.A ‘choose-your-own-adventure’ book.

43.An ‘own voices’ book.

44.Read a book during the season it is set in.

45.A Lit RPG book.

46.A book with no chapters/unusual chapter headings/unconventionally numbered chapters.

47.Two books that share the same title (1)

48.Two books that share the same title (2)

49.A book that has inspired a common phrase or idiom. (eg Big Brother from 1984)

50.A book set in an abbey, cloister, monastery, vicarage, or convent.

popsugar reading challenge 2019That’s all of the prompts, lets hope I do better than last year…hey?

 

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Book Review on: Who Can Care For Me Now? by Elizabeth Orr + Guest Post

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who will care for me now by elizabeth orr

Publication date: 27th November 2018

Publisher: Clink Street Publishing

ISBN: Paperback 978-1-912562-96-1

Ebook 978-1-912562-97-8

Pages: 158 pages

Genre: Home and Community care

Format reading: Paperback

Copy provided by: Faye from Authoright in exchange for an honest review

Blurb (as seen on the back cover)

Elizabeth Orr is the first to admit that she had no knowledge of the realities of caring for someone desperately ill in the UK.

That was until she found her brother Norman, collapsed on the bathroom floor.

Overnight, Elizabeth was catapulted into the medical and care worlds as she battled to support her brother. The learning curve was vertical, as Elizabeth struggled with the litany of paperwork, red tape, finance issues, and working with myriad NHS departments and resources required to keep her brother alive.

Who Can Care For Me Now? Charts Elizabeth and Norman’s emotional journey through this complex care system- in hospital, at a neurological nursing home, and receiving care at home- from his initial collapse to his untimely death, just twenty-nine months later.

My Review

My thanks goes to Faye from Authoright and Clink Street Publishing for asking me to read and review Who Can Care For Me Now? by Elizabeth Orr. I also want to thank Elizabeth for writing a guest post to add with my review.

The front cover for Who Can Care For Me Now? is a very simple design. The backing colour is a bright and eye-catching being post box red. The title is in white taking up the top half and then there is two curving round a heart; the outline is in yellow. Below that the author’s name in black. I personally think the image of the heart being cupped by two hands say it all really.

On reading the blurb of this book I know that it was going to be an emotional read and I was right!

Who Can Care For Me Now? is Elizabeth recounting her and her dear brothers journey from his unexpended collapse, the care he received through out his illness, the issues she faces trying to get Norman the care he deserved and ultimately getting Norman home with Elizabeth and her husband.

I have to say there were a lot of bits through out this sad story where I found myself crying; because alough Normans sister did all she could do for her brother some of the care he received in the NHS care system was awful. I was shocked to read how information on care etc is not widely given which seems madness, Elizabeth had to find things out by herself making an already stressful and emotional situation even more so.  We all know that our NHS is under a lot of strain but I’m so glad that Elizabeth has written this and I sincerely hope the powers that be at the NHS read it also and learn from it.

I can’t say I enjoyed reading Who Can Care For Me Now? for obvious reasons; however I do think this will be helpful to anyone going through something similar,  the NHS as a whole and care organisations.

Thank you Elizabeth for sharing yours’ and Normans sad journey with the world and hope it goes some way into bringing these issues to light.

 

                                                 Marie’s Book Boutique gives

                                      Who Can Care For Me Now? by Elizabeth Orr

                                                                4 Sparkly Stars
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Now Elizabeth has kindly written a guest post. So I will hand you over to her.

 

FIVE THINGS I LEARNT WHILST CARING FOR NORMAN

For me, it is fair to say that caring for Norman was a life-changing experience on many levels. Even today I continue to be shocked at my own naivety regarding coping with the care of Norman once he fell so ill. I had no idea how devastating and debilitating brain disease could be. It seemed that overnight Norman’s mobility was stolen by Mother Nature – how cruel she is! He could no longer walk, stand, hold his own sitting position, turnover in bed, or cut his own food up. He was now 100% reliant upon others to live. His prognosis was poor as he was unlikely to improve. Overnight, our worlds were changed forever and I was forced to come to terms with the extent of my own naivety – some of which I share with you below:-

Legalities

Fortunately Norman had made a Will but neither he nor I had considered Lasting Powers of Attorney for either Finance or Health & Welfare. Not having these documents plagued me throughout my care for Norman. Sadly, it was only Norman that suffered as one of the effects of not having Lasting Power of Attorney for Health & Welfare was that Norman was constantly subjected to Mental Capacity Tests which put him under incredible stress. I learnt the hard way as to how important these documents are. If I could turn the clock back I would, most certainly, put them in place before Norman fell ill and have already done so for my husband and myself.

NHS Continuing Health Care

My naivety extended to NHS Continuing Healthcare – I had never heard of it and had no idea of its importance, especially to someone as ill as Norman. The importance is that if you are found eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare, your care will be fully paid for by the NHS, but if you are found not eligible and you have funds over the limit you will have to fund your own care. Norman was found not to be eligible and at the time, I believed every word I was told by the NHS. However, after Norman had passed away, I was pointed in the right direction regarding NHS Continuing Healthcare. I researched the subject myself and after following the NHS procedure right through to Independent Review Panel and winning, I now regard myself as fairly “informed” and I have great sympathy and empathy for those currently embroiled in the tortuous and emotional journey.

Wealth of Services & Information Available

Throughout the time caring for Norman, I was amazed at how much information is available let alone the numerous services all to help the disabled, seriously ill, and/or their carers. However, it still bemuses me today as to why these services are so challenging to discover. It seemed to me that I only learnt about them once I was unable to make use of them. Examples include “bed positioning”, and being allocated a “matron”, but there are many more.

Care/Nursing Ratios and Training

Whilst Norman was in hospital, the ratio of nurses to patients seemed unacceptable to me but that was the system. My heart went out to the nurses and doctors who were trying their hardest to care for the patients but forced to work under extremely difficult circumstances. How can an individual receive adequate care if there is not anyone there to care for them? In addition, so often I came across carers caring for Norman who had not been adequately trained to carrying out the specialist care he required.

Quality of Life and Psychological Wellbeing

When I reflect on our care of Norman, I am so pleased that I put his Quality of Life and Psychological Wellbeing first and foremost. I know that we were able to give him a far better Quality of Life and Psychological Wellbeing by caring for him at home. Even so, had I not been so naive at the start of this extraordinary and challenging journey, I could have achieved more and I hope by writing Who Can Care For Me Now? I will help others to achieve more than we did.