We have had several requests about rekindling our bookclub. Blue has very kindly offered to coordinate this project for our community , so please show your support. Tell us what you are currently reading, any recommendations, and your all time favourite book. Please give as much detail as possible.
Thank you
Title:
Author:
Year:
ISBN:
Brief synopsis:
Your review:
Star rating 0- 5 (5 being the best)
It takes me forever to read a book because of sheer tiredness so that I fall asleep on the book and have to read and re-read and very often read the book again when I reach the end. I just finished ‘The Plague’ by Albert Camus.
It is very pertinent today with the Ebola crisis and is about a town placed in quarantine to contain an outbreak of a deadly plague and explores the reactions of the citizens. Camus wrote it as an allegory of France’s suffering under Nazi occupation. It’s brilliantly written, huge credit to the translator, and I absolutely loved it.
I don’t have an ISBN as my copy is over 50 years old but it is still in print and available on Amazon.
Hi Nel, and everyone
I wuould love to be a member of a bookclub and have volunteered to cooirdinate this one. If you are interested please join up.. I realize there are times when reading is beyond many of us because of tiredness, pain etc. But I'm hoping this will be another distraction from pain and also something fun to do.
Nel has nominated Albert Camus The Plague. Does anyone else have any suggestions? I am nominating Gone Girl because I have just started reading it. LOL. My adult son recommended it and they have just put out a movie version with Ben Affleck starring. . I'm only 50 pages in but so far, it's proved to be an intriguing book
Gone Girl
Gillian Flynn
2012
ISBN 9781780228228
Nel has mentioned Amazon as a book resource. I'd like to add in The Book Depository. It's an international online book store. They sell new copies and also, often used copies. I have found them to be very competitively priced and they deliver for free. I use them quite a bit as I don't visit the library anymore.
I hope others are interested in joining up for 'Book Club.' I do love to read, although my reading attempts can be spottly. So it is probably best if it's a 'read slow bookclub.'
blue
Hi bLue,
Gone Girl is a good choice. I read it sometime back before I decided that a bookcase full of classics ought to be read before new books. It is a real treasure trove of books bought before the 60s by my parents in law. There were few books in my childhood home as Mother believed in the library and saw no reason to buy books. Children were allowed 5 books each and I read mine and my brothers’ books every week.
I hadn’t heard of the Book Depository and it looks good. Better not to use Amazon where possible.
Another book I enjoyed was Rohinton Mistry’s ‘A Fine Balance" and I went on to read “Family Matters” also by Mistry’s. Both books set in India. Also “Lovely Bones” by Alice Sebold, a story told from beyond the grave by a murdered girl. So many more but my memory is shot and I will have to look at my bookshelves to remind myself of titles. My daughter arrived from Australia with a present for me: “The Road to Nab End” by William Woodruff about his childhood, brought up in poverty in Blackburn, Lancashire UK, born in 1916, same as my mother and three years after my father. It was a wonderful read and my other daughter bought me the sequel, “Beyond Nab End” in which he leaves the North and travels to London to make his fortune - which he did in apite of recession and the 2nd world war and went on to go to Oxford University sponsored by his trade Union and eventually became an eminent academic and writer. Both great books and you don’t need the family connection to enjoy them.
I could go on and on but won’t.
I very much look forward to members’ suggestions.
Hi Nel,
I grew up with a library in our house but it was full of non fiction books. I just didn't get into them because I loved fiction and so I used to use my local library religiously. I used to hang onto all the books I bought and read and I had quite a collection. Then at some point I was into 'minimalizing' and gave them away. While I don't really have the space for lots of books sort of regret giving them on because I've grown to like rereading books a second time. However, any books I buy now I pass onto others to read. Which works well for me now as a number of family members and people I know will loan me books to read.
I've really enjoyed a lot of Gone Girl. At one point I didn't want to put it down but Strangely I've gotten to the last 50 pages or so and don't want to pick it up to finish it. I guess the ending is turning out to be a little unreal to me. But the rest of it has been a good read. I will finish it, though. Did you have any problem with the last bit of the book? I'd be really interested to know your take on the ending. Have I something to look forward to, or is it disappointing? LOL.
blue
What your Dr may not tell you about fibromyalgia: The revolutionary treatment that can reverse the disease.
R Paul St Armand and Claudia Craig Marek
ISBN 978-1-4555-0271-4
May 2012 (3rd Edition)
Having also been diagnosed with fibro I found this book enlightening if not controversial. Talks about a breakthrough protocol Guaifenesine, hypoglycemia, carb intolerance and connection with IBS, CFS and cognitive impairment. Offers charts for body mapping of trigger points/suggestions for bodywork therapists.
Easy quick read, no scientific babble.
Dr St Armand can be described as the Fibro worlds Dr Cohen (medicationsense). Remember Cohen himself suffered EM and conducted much research on himself, Dr St Armand has done the same. After 50 years of research St Armand claims he has now been able to manage fibro's devastating disabling symptoms in himself and his patients. Like Cohen he goes as far as to claim remission. Particularly like that numerous references, websites and free links given.
Great read and reference for fibromyalgia sufferers and family/friends/caregivers, or anyone wanting to get a better insight into fibromyalgia. Have an open mind as St Armands work has been deemed controversial.
Give this book 4/5
Hi all!
I would love to read Gone Girl and any other books you chose! I've been wanting to join a book club recently, and it would be great to do it with a community of people like all of you! :)
Hi Thisgirlsonfire
Great! Hopefully we'll get a few more responses. I think this is going to be fun :)
blue
Hi Blue,
Now that would be telling wouldn’t it! I don’t think I should answer, especially if it gets chosen as the book everyone might read, except to say you have to finish it if you have got that far. Apparently readers are about 50:50 divided in their opinions of the ending.
If you decide not to read it I will PM you a summary of the ending:)
Hi Nel,
I grew up with a library in our house but it was full of non fiction books. I just didn't get into them because I loved fiction and so I used to use my local library religiously. I used to hang onto all the books I bought and read and I had quite a collection. Then at some point I was into 'minimalizing' and gave them away. While I don't really have the space for lots of books sort of regret giving them on because I've grown to like rereading books a second time. However, any books I buy now I pass onto others to read. Which works well for me now as a number of family members and people I know will loan me books to read.
I've really enjoyed a lot of Gone Girl. At one point I didn't want to put it down but Strangely I've gotten to the last 50 pages or so and don't want to pick it up to finish it. I guess the ending is turning out to be a little unreal to me. But the rest of it has been a good read. I will finish it, though. Did you have any problem with the last bit of the book? I'd be really interested to know your take on the ending. Have I something to look forward to, or is it disappointing? LOL.
blue
HaHa Nel,
You are right of course.
blue
The times I have ploughed on to the end of an unsatisfactory book and then thought ugh?? I watched a DVD today which was given to me when I was confined to one room with a broken leg and I never watched it. It was Ladies in Lavender, beautiful acting and scenery but when it concluded I thought to myself, well I am just glad it wasn’t a book that had taken me a month to read. I do hate unexplained clues.
HI folks.
The brain is the new frontier in healing and pain management studies. So, people with EM may want to read books that help us better understand the potential of the brain in helping us deal with EM. I'd like to suggest Norman Doidge's latest book on neuroplasticity, The Brain's Way of Healing: Remarkable Discoveries and Recoveries from the Frontiers of Neuroplasticity. I am planning on reading it as soon as it arrives.
I also recommend Mindsight by Daniel J. Siegel who is very good at explaining how the brain works and interspersing stories from his own life and practice in an interesting and humane way. Harnessing the power of our minds to help us deal with chronic physical pain and the resulting emotions is an important topic. Some of us find that brain-based strategies such mindfulness practice, self-hypnosis and Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) help us stay calmer, more peaceful and in less pain.
Dragica
Great choice - I love Doidge. Lets compare notes after reading- deal ;)
mads said:
Great choice - I love Doidge. Lets compare notes after reading- deal ;)
Mads--good idea--it will probably take me a while as I'm pretty stacked at work right now
CHeers, Dargica.
Nel, I noted you mentioned not to purchase through Amazon if possible. My understanding is that Amazon donates 5% of purchase if using the following web address www.smile.amazon.com Is this not so?
HI Mads.
I am nearly finished Doige's new book. It gives me great hope and an idea for some research. Doige lives in Toronto and I am planning on contacting him and asking him for a consult. I want to see if he would be willing to do some work with the Erythromelalgia Association and EM sufferers. Have you read the book yet. Would love to discuss but not sure how to do this as a private chat instead of part of a discussion.
Cheers,
Dragica
Yes it is right Minerva.
I still use Amazon for sheer convenience but the company is seen by many as a tax avoiding harsh employer here in the UK. br />
Amazon Smile is only within the U.S; it doesn’t extend to the UK where I am unfortunately. If I can find a bookshop selling online I just prefer it to Amazon but certainly don’t want anyone on the other side of the pond to do Ben’s friends out of that 5%
Nel, I noted you mentioned not to purchase through Amazon if possible. My understanding is that Amazon donates 5% of purchase if using the following web address www.smile.amazon.com Is this not so?
Which of Doidge’s books have you been reading Dragica?
His latest--"The Brain's Way of Healing Itself"--it's just come out. It's very interesting and centers on using neuroplasticity for healing and pain relief. I highly recommend it. His other book "The Brain that Changes Itself" is also wonderful and a primer on brain function. He writes well and his stories are very interesting--he makes research come alive.
These books have given me several ideas for creating electronic devices that might help EM folks to retrain their brains.
Dragica