As the sun shines brightly and the breeze whispers stories of adventure, what better way to enjoy your summer than by diving into some of the best fiction books? This summer, the literary world is brimming with a host of fascinating tales that promise to transport you to new worlds, with plots that are captivating, relatable characters, and storytelling that is spellbinding. Here, we present the top fiction reads you must add to your collection this summer.

International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated annually on March 8th to honor the achievements of women and to raise awareness about the challenges they face globally. This day has been observed for over a century, and it has become a global platform for promoting gender equality and women’s rights.

Emirati female authors have been making significant contributions to the field of literature, especially in promoting gender equality and women’s rights. At Austin Macauley, we’d like to take this opportunity to celebrate all of our female authors for contributing to the world of literature and endeavoring to share their voices with the world.

International Women’s Day 2023 Theme

The International Women’s Day 2023 campaign theme highlights a crucial issue that needs urgent attention: the realization that equal opportunities alone are not enough to achieve gender equality. Despite significant progress toward gender parity in education, employment, and politics, women still face numerous obstacles that prevent them from realizing their full potential. This year’s campaign aims to deepen our understanding of these obstacles and challenge the systemic and cultural factors that perpetuate gender inequality. By acknowledging that equal opportunities are not enough, we can begin to address the root causes of gender discrimination and create a more equitable world for all.

History of International Women’s Day

The history of International Women’s Day dates back to the early 1900s when women began advocating for better working conditions and voting rights. In 1908, a group of women marched through New York City to demand better pay and working conditions. The following year, the first National Woman’s Day was celebrated in the United States on February 28th.

In 1910, an international conference of working women was held in Copenhagen, and the idea of an international women’s day was proposed. The proposal was supported by over 100 women from 17 different countries, and the first International Women’s Day was celebrated on March 19th, 1911.

Significance of International Women’s Day

Over the years, International Women’s Day has grown into a global movement for gender equality and women’s empowerment. It is a day to celebrate the progress that has been made in advancing women’s rights and to acknowledge the work that still needs to be done. Women continue to face significant challenges around the world, including discrimination, gender-based violence, and limited access to education and healthcare. This day aims to amplify such causes for the greater good of overall humanity.

Contributions of Female Authors to Women’s Rights and Gender Equality

One cannot deny the power of words when it comes to smashing the prevalent patriarchal culture, and nobody does it better than authors. Through their writing, they have challenged societal norms and given voice to women’s experiences. Many female authors have used their platform to address issues such as gender-based violence, reproductive rights, and workplace discrimination.

We’re celebrating this International Women’s Day by selecting some of our favorite books by or about inspiring women. These books offer a plethora of unique and different aspects of women’s experiences, from working top-notch jobs to finding their true selves; these stories are a powerful punch of feminism that will bring out the superwoman in you.

Reading is a leisurely activity that one should engage in and something good for your brain and well-being. March is celebrated as UAE reading month when various activities are scheduled to encourage children and individuals to read. The goal is to make reading an everyday habit and explore ways to enable communities to participate.

Making an effort to take time to read is essential, and this guide will tell you how to do that and the benefits of reading. Knowing how to make time is necessary, so let us look at a few strategies.

How to Carve out Time to Engage in More Reading?

You can join a reading group or circle with other individuals who are all reading the same book. This will hold you accountable and further motivate you to read. You can create a family reading hour where everyone in the home puts down their tablets and phones and picks up a book to read for an hour. With March being marked as UAE Reading Month, it is essential to look at some of the benefits of reading and why you should participate in activities scheduled throughout the month to encourage you and your family to pick up a book.

Importance of Reading Books

Why should you go through all the effort to make time to read for yourself and your family members? Here is why:

1.      It is Good for the Brain

Reading has been scientifically proven to be good for your brain. How? Well, by reading, specific networks in the brain become stronger with time. These networks, over time, become more active as an individual reads more and becomes engaged with the text they are reading. Certain areas of the brain are used when reading, and as an individual starts to become invested in the book they are reading, their emotions and feelings begin to develop, impacting their brain. This is one of the most important benefits of reading and is number one on our list.

2.      It is Important for Children’s Reading Habits

Reading to your children is extremely important for cultivating reading habits. The benefits of reading to your children not only introduce them to the practice of reading but also builds their vocabulary build, good self-esteem and improves a child’s communication skills. It is well-known that if you want your child to be introduced to books early on, they must be read to from infancy.

3.      It Increases Empathy

Reading is essential because it introduces you to the turmoil of others and emotions you may never have experienced. Seeing different perspectives and viewpoints puts you in the driver’s seat. This way, your empathy towards others will increase, and you will see things differently. Reading biographies and learning how individuals have succeeded and triumphed builds motivation and increases positivity. Self-help books are a great way to learn about others journeys and important ways to learn how to navigate life’s trials and tribulations.

4.      Decreases Stress

If you want a natural stress reliever, then reading is economical and something you can do all independently. You do not need to depend upon another individual to do it, nor must you make a significant effort. All it involves is a book and some free time. Did you know that 30 minutes of reading decreases blood pressure and lowers heart rate? This national reading month, why not try a natural stress reliever?

5.      Can Help with Depression

This is a big claim but one that should be taken seriously. Reading fiction can take your mind away from current turmoil and past traumas that, as individuals, we tend to focus on when our mind is left to linger. If you pick up a book every time you feel triggered or think about past events, it can distract you and help you shift your attention elsewhere.

Celebrate UAE Reading Month with these Great Reads

Find out what activities are taking place during UAE Reading Month by checking out this site and buying these books to enjoy this month and throughout the year. Having a list of books to buy from is a great way to motivate yourself to purchase one. Add these to your list today, and you will be ready to participate in March’s reading events.

These books can be bought online at the Austin McCauley site:

Connect with Austin Macauley Publishers for more such blogs, and submit your manuscript if you want to publish your work. You can also make a quick and easy submission through the online submission form. You can stay updated with our new releases and activities by joining our family of authors and readers on Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram.

The new year brings new goals and self-improvement resolutions everyone wants to meet. If you were like most, you committed to reading more this year than you did last year.

Reading is one of the few activities busy individuals sometimes need help finding time to actively participate in. With so many everyday tasks that take precedence in work and family life, putting that book aside is usually what one does when trying to complete other more ‘important’ tasks.

Learning how to read efficiently and effectively is a great way to improve your reading skills and increase the rate at which you can finish books. A great way to do this is through the practice of active reading. But what is active reading, and how can you practice it? This post gives you an overview of the skill and how to improve your reading skills.

What do we mean by Active Reading?

Active reading is reading to understand with a determination to understand the text and evaluate it according to your needs. When actively reading, you are not just simply going over the text but dissecting it to consider what it means to you.

You can practice active reading by highlighting essential passages, making notes in the margin and by, critically looking at the text and asking yourself questions. You can test yourself by putting the material away for an hour and then trying to create a summary of the text in your mind. You can even tell someone else what the text means to evaluate your understanding and comprehension of what you have read.

Students often use active reading when trying to retain and understand textbook material. It is an effective way to learn more and learn better. As an adult, active reading is a great way to read a book, especially if you are part of a book club or reading circle. It will give you thoughts and comments to share with the group when you meet to discuss what you have read each week. Having questions ready for other readers will help you evaluate your understanding of the text compared to others.

Top Tips on How to Improve Reading Skills

Looking for ways to improve reading skills and reading practice. These tips will get you started in the right direction:

1.      Plan It Out

Make a plan and schedule how to improve reading skills. You can also schedule your reading time by scheduling meetings, work tasks, and after-work social commitments. This is the best way to carve out time to read for busy individuals who depend on calendars and meeting invites. This time does not have to be after office hours when you may be overwhelmed with family commitments. You can even spend your lunch hour or commute to and from work reading a book.

2.      Create Targets to Meet

Can’t finish that book on time? Why not create small goals you must meet every day or every week? Create targets to meet each week to complete the book by a specific time. By dividing up the chapters and pages, you can manage your reading time and finishing the book will not seem so overwhelming. You can even treat yourself after meeting your goal by watching a movie or engaging in fun reading activities.

3.      Research Author and Purpose of Text

Research the author and what inspired them to write the book. This is a great way to give you perspective on why the book was written, its inspiration and the writer’s perspective when they were penning the words. In certain circumstances, knowing why a book was written can give you a deeper understanding and comprehension of the book.

4.      Try Note Taking

Making notes on the margins is a great way to practice active reading and remember essential points about passages you read. By writing notes, you can remember important aspects of the book that you can go back to when needed and writing on the margins or sticky notes will help you find them easily.

5.      Summarize the Book

Making a written or mental summary of the book is a great way to improve reading comprehension. Book covers have summaries that can be an excellent blueprint for you to follow when making your summary. Share the summary with friends or relatives whenever anyone asks you what you are reading.

Read more Effectively and Efficiently with these Tips

Now that you have five easy ways to improve reading skills that will help you read with more intent, there is no stopping how many books you can get through. It is important to remember that by putting down our phones and tablets and stepping away from our desktops, we commit to unplugging and spending time with ourselves without distraction. Why not pick up a book instead and delve into the relaxing pages of an excellent book to reenergize your soul and mind?

Connect with Austin Macauley Publishers for more such blogs, and submit your manuscript if you want to publish your work. You can also make a quick and easy submission through the online submission form. You can stay updated with our new releases and activities by joining our family of authors and readers on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.