Book club?

Options
Danielle_2022
Danielle_2022 Online Community Member Posts: 265 Empowering
in Coffee lounge
Hi everyone,
I love to read but it’s been a little hard to find the motivation lately, so was thinking about starting a book club here, if there’s any interest. I typically enjoy a wide range of genres and would happily go with the flow on that. Let me know :)

What was the last book you read? Would you recommend it?
«1

Comments

  • L_Volunteer
    L_Volunteer Community Volunteer Adviser, Scope Member Posts: 7,922 Championing
    Hey @Danielle_2022

    I think this sounds like a brilliant idea! In all honesty, though, I have been reading too many university textbooks to have the energy to read for pleasure.

    When I find the energy, I want to read Vee Kativhu - Empowered: Live Your Life with Passion and Purpose. It is currently sitting on my bookshelf!

    Have you read anything recently that you would recommend to us?  :)
  • Tori_Scope
    Tori_Scope Scope Posts: 12,468 Championing
    I think it's a great idea too :) I haven't read anything particularly recently, but I'd be up for hearing other people's recommendations!
  • Alex_Alumni
    Alex_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,538 Championing
    I agree, this is a fab idea @Danielle_2022! I used to be an avid reader, but I find it harder these days.

    It would be lovely to have an excuse to properly dedicate time to reading more :)
  • KStout_135
    KStout_135 Online Community Member Posts: 7 Listener
    I'd love to join :)
  • iza
    iza Scope Member Posts: 696 Empowering
    Hi @Danielle_2022, it is a great idea. I am reading lots of books now.

    Literally, I am reading all books which were waiting for me last few years.

    I just finished " Secret" by Rhonda Byrne and will start "Power" by the same autor now.

    Another books which I am half way through are:  "Why kindness is good for you " by David R. Hamilton, "Invisible Women" by Caroline Criado Perez and "The Woman who saved the Children" by Clare Mulley.
    The last two I read  very slowly as they contains lots of details so they are like books of  facts and info. And reading those books,  where is lots of plots make me exhausted. 

    Otherwise I love reading and would love to join book club to. 

  • Danielle_2022
    Danielle_2022 Online Community Member Posts: 265 Empowering
    Thank-you so much for all of the suggestions. @L_Volunteer, I totally relate to what you said about reading textbooks, don’t worry! I used to be such an avid reader before university. I left around three years ago now & it’s still a struggle to jump into it properly! I am trying, though. Hopefully this could be a good first step. 

    I’m a big fan of audiobooks, too, since that’s somehow easier on my brain. Most recently, I read The Silent Patient, which I’d recommend to absolutely anybody, if you like crime thrillers etc. 

    In terms of organising it online, I’m happy for it to be something like a thread here, which is accessible to everyone. That way, at least we can all engage in conversations about the book, even if we’re working at different paces. 

    As a starting point, what are your thoughts on The Midnight Library by Matt Haig? That’s been on my shelf for SO LONG and I have seen a lot of good reviews. The synopsis reads as follows:
    ”Nora's life has been going from bad to worse. Then at the stroke of midnight on her last day on earth she finds herself transported to a library. There she is given the chance to undo her regrets and try out each of the other lives she might have lived. Which raises the ultimate question: with infinite choices, what is the best way to live?”

    Let me know!
  • L_Volunteer
    L_Volunteer Community Volunteer Adviser, Scope Member Posts: 7,922 Championing

    @Tori_Scope – I hear you haven’t read anything particularly recently. I am just wondering when you do get an opportunity to read, is there anything, in particular, you usually enjoy reading? Similarly, the ‘particularly’ indicates that have read recently, but it may not be what we expect. Would you like to expand on what you have been reading recently? Only if you want to of course!  :)

    @woodbine – Hey! Thanks for sharing your reading recommendations with us. Do you recommend Never and/or the book Bomb girls? I must admit, I haven’t heard of these books previously. What genres would you say they are?  :)

    @Alex_Scope – I completely agree with you about the importance of having an excuse to read more! They say just how important self-care is. I think reading, if you enjoy it, is an important part of self-care. Often, books are also available as audiobooks which can make it easier as background sound  :)

    @mikehughescq – Hey! I am really sorry to hear you have had to take a step back from the book club at work. Are audiobooks something you feel comfortable with/tried? I think it is really important you have been able to identify what you need though and what works best for you. I am just thinking about how you could potentially continue to enjoy reading    :)

    @Iza – Hey! It sounds like you really enjoy reading. Do you have any particular favourite books out of the books you have listed that you would recommend to us? They all sound really interesting. Though, as you have identified, it is really important to manage this in line with how we are feeling, our own circumstances, and our own energy levels  :)

  • L_Volunteer
    L_Volunteer Community Volunteer Adviser, Scope Member Posts: 7,922 Championing
    edited February 2022

    Hey @Danielle_2022

    Thanks for your response. Sorry to not have responded to your most recent response. It would seem we posted at similar times which means your post was unfortunately not seen when I responded.

    I have heard some really good things about The Silent Patient, and I am glad you also enjoyed it. I have also heard great things about Matt Haig’s – The Midnight Library! I would be interested in hearing everyone else’s thoughts and opinions about this book too though  :)  

  • Lisatho11987777
    Lisatho11987777 Scope Member Posts: 5,874 Championing
    I read books on my book reader I have lots of books on it but haven't read anything for a whilst dince mum came to live with me books are a distraction of I get the chance  
  • Danielle_2022
    Danielle_2022 Online Community Member Posts: 265 Empowering
    edited February 2022
    @mikehughescq,
    I have been thinking more about the accessibility of reading and wondered if you have tried an e-reader, like @lisathomas50? 
    I can only read on my Kindle these days because the pages got a bit too fiddly for me to handle! You can also change and experiment with font sizes that way, which might help with your vision, too.
  • Danielle_2022
    Danielle_2022 Online Community Member Posts: 265 Empowering
    edited February 2022
    I just wanted to add that you can get lots of free e-books & audiobooks through services such as Libby, too.

    Depending on your area, some libraries are able to offer a home delivery service, if going out is difficult for any reason. It's definitely worth asking!
  • Danielle_2022
    Danielle_2022 Online Community Member Posts: 265 Empowering
    edited February 2022
    That's totally understandable, @Username_removed.
    In that case, I know that you can get magnifying glasses that are specifically designed for reading (with LED lights and such), like this one from Amazon.
    It might be worth considering, I'd love for you to be able to comfortably join the book club.
  • Ross_Alumni
    Ross_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,611 Championing
    My most recent read was Story Teller by Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters), which was thoroughly entertaining. I use Audible and the Dolphin Easyreader app, through which I access the RNIB library of audiobooks. 

    I haven't read anything since before Christmas, so definitely looking to get back into it soon because my read list is quite lengthy
  • Ross_Alumni
    Ross_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,611 Championing
    Interesting @mikehughescq, does he still work on it?

    I find it generally useful but it still does have some flaws for an app aimed at users who have sight loss.
  • Danielle_2022
    Danielle_2022 Online Community Member Posts: 265 Empowering
    @Ross_Scope,
    It sounds like a lot of people have hit a reading slump lately! I have also been making my way through 'I Love You, Call Me Back' by Sabrina Benaim. It's a poetry collection and I like that kind of thing because I can just dip into it whenever the mood strikes without losing track of any narrative as such.

    @mikehughescq,
    That's so cool about your friend helping to code the Dolphin app! I have tried learning to code a couple of times myself without much success. I'll maybe start a poll here later on with a couple of options for what to start reading, just to get an idea of interest and everything :)
  • Ross_Alumni
    Ross_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,611 Championing
    I'm glad you enjoy it @Danielle_2022, I can see the appeal of a book that isn't necessarily narrative driven or dependent on you remembering what is going on. Dipping in and out as you please must be quite convenient.
  • Danielle_2022
    Danielle_2022 Online Community Member Posts: 265 Empowering
    Hi all,
    I can't add a poll directly onto this post, but thought I'd include a list of the unread books currently sitting on my Kindle, in case any of those sound interesting :)

    • The Push by Ashley Audrain
    • The Widow by K.L. Slater
    • Misery by Stephen King
    • Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
    • The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
    • The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
    • The Book of Dust by Philip Pullman
    • Birthday by Meredith Russo
    Quite the collection, haha!

  • L_Volunteer
    L_Volunteer Community Volunteer Adviser, Scope Member Posts: 7,922 Championing
    Hi @Danielle_2022

    Thanks for providing us with the list of books you currently have. I was wondering if you would like to give us a brief summary or overview of their genres? Especially as I haven't heard of most of them. I would be fascinated to know more about each though if you would be happy to share  :)
  • Tori_Scope
    Tori_Scope Scope Posts: 12,468 Championing
    @Tori_Scope – I hear you haven’t read anything particularly recently. I am just wondering when you do get an opportunity to read, is there anything, in particular, you usually enjoy reading? Similarly, the ‘particularly’ indicates that have read recently, but it may not be what we expect. Would you like to expand on what you have been reading recently? Only if you want to of course! :)
    I suppose in terms of novels, I tend to prefer murder mysteries and thrillers, and that kind of genre @L_Volunteer :) By particularly I meant more to do with the time period, I haven't read many books in the past year or so. I think the last book I read was a gentle murder mystery, which I did enjoy reading.

    In some senses I do read quite a lot, for fun online, and for my job of course! I do think reading a book feels a little different, though. 

    I haven't read Misery @Danielle_2022, but I've seen the film!

  • Lisatho11987777
    Lisatho11987777 Scope Member Posts: 5,874 Championing
    I have read misery by Stephen King  I find the books more scary than the films I cant read them before I ho to bed because I think about it and I dream lol but misery is a good read I havent read that one Mike is it scary 

Categories