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Thursday 5 June 2014

The M.E Bookclub

Photo source: Pinterest

Do you have a chronic illness and love to read? Yes and Yes? Or Yes and only when my brain fog let's me? Or yes and only when my concentration is good? Well no matter which one you answer here's some news to help you share your love of reading. Introducing The M.E Bookclub!! Bought to you through www.goodreads.com 

"The M.E Bookclub is a place for spoonie's to share their love of reading. See what others are reading, suggest good reads and share them with each other.

Books can be expensive and unfortunately most of us are financially constricted, so here's a chance to literally share your love of books with one another."

So how will it work? Fundamentally, if you are interested in reading a certain book then you can post a request in the groups forum. Then if someone else has it and are happy to loan it or give it away then they can message one another (goodreads has a messaging service) to arrange. Likewise if you have a book to loan or give away, simply post it on the forum too. Unlike a regular library there's no deadlines either. We all know and understand the limits of chronic illness so can be patient with one another. As long as a book that the loaner has requested as wants returning after you have finished reading it is returned then everyone is happy.

You can also add books you're reading or read to the groups book shelves to give other readers recommendations. Through good reads you can also see ratings and reviews, should you wish to know more. Goodreads will even give you personal recommendations for more books based on your reads and let you know about new books by your favourite authors.

And what about kindle's? If you have a book to share that is on your kindle then this can be done too as long as the other person has a kindle too or an ereader app to download the book. Loans through kindle last for 14 days and can only be borrowed once. Unless you download it to an ereader. All details about how to do this can be seen here. I will also put the link on the forum of the group.

Sound good? Want to get involved. Well firstly you need to register with Goodreads, which is really easy as you can log in through Facebook, Twitter, email or Amazon. Then search for The M.E Bookclub and request to join. You need to answer a simple question which is 'are you chronically ill and love to read?' Don't worry it's just a requirement of having privacy setting on the group. Then I'll confirm your request and you can start sharing your love of books and putting in requests. Or simply just looking for your next read. If you want to have a nose at my page first before you sign up then you can do so here, 


Photo source: Pinterest

There are a few rules just to keep order and by becoming a member you agree to uphold the rules. Mostly they concern respecting each others property. If you loan a book then look after it. Also respect that you may have to wait until the loaner can get to a post office/post box. And that all of us read at different paces so may need the book longer. If you do loan a book that the loaner has requested they want returned after you've read it then importantly make sure you do (again within your abilities). 

My regular readers will know that I hate a blurb (the bit that gives you a synopsis of the book) I always feel it spoils reading it. If you do wish to know more then this can be easily seen my searching the book on goodreads and you can also leave reviews on there too. 

Photo source: Pinterest

So if you're still interested then get yourselves on goodreads and request to join.  Here's the clubs page, where you can request to join: The M.E bookclub 

Sian x

5 comments:

  1. Totally BRILLIANT idea Sian. I'm heading there now! :D

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    1. Thank you Sally. I was running out of space on my book shelves. Must remember to donate to your husband while I'm online. X

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  2. Hi Sian, I've joined, but can't find the ME Bookclub. Can you put a direct link to the club page?

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  3. I absolutely love your blog, I too suffer sadly from M.E. It is brilliant to see that this horrible chronic illness isn't stopping people from having fun and being adventurous! :)

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    1. Thank you so much Aly. Life is still worth living. I think it means more being ill too. Nothing is taken for granted. Such a hard balance though at times as you don't want to relapse. Obviously we pay the price though unfortunately. Very glad not to be completely bed bound or hospitalised. How do you cope with it? X

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