The Stroke Network Blogs Book Club began on September 15. Most book clubs physically meet to discuss books. The Stroke Network Blogs Book Club uses the blog area. Access the blog area through the start page of the Message Board, http://www.strokeboard.net. Select the drop down menu Community Links, Blogs.

Using the blog format for a book club is an effective way to communicate. Members enter data at their own speed, and on their own timeline. Several people posed questions. Members chose to answer the questions and/or to make comments

Probably the most dramatic feedback came from hostbonnie. Bonnie stroked three years ago. She was an avid reader pre-stroke. The club’s first book selection was the first book that Bonnie has finished post-stroke. She states that it was a good book to start because it was broken down into small sections. Although Bonnie writes that the small size of the first book as helpful, she said she is almost finished with the second – it’s over 400 pages. What a jump!

Along the same lines Annie27409 not only enjoyed the book herself, but her stroke survivor husband Bill became interested. Ann read chapters to Bill, since at this point he is not able to read. Ann and Bill are continuing to read together and she is hoping to graduate him to books on tape soon.

Several people mentioned that the book was not one they would normally have selected to read. However, it was unanimous that they enjoyed reading a different type of book.

Another area mentioned was the book club as a way to interact with other members differently. It was pointed out that this was a good mechanism for getting to know members better.

The club committee has announced the addition of a new division of the club that is especially for slow readers and readers who need a large print format. Others who don't have the time or concentration for reading a whole book each month are welcome to take part, too.

Here’s how the new division will work: if you would like the challenge of reading something you can discuss on the site afterwards, pick up a copy of the October Reader’s Digest. (Libraries often have large print additions to loan out if you have vision issues.) A blog entry is opened titled the “October Strokers Digest.” See instructions above to get to the Blogs area.

As soon as you’ve completed reading an article of your choice in the magazine, post a comment in that blog entry and others will do the same. Anything you want to say about anything in that issue of the magazine can be posted at any time through out the month of October.

If you have not yet participated, come join your fellow members. The Strokers Digest division has already begun discussing the October issue of Reader’s Digest. The discussion of the second book “My Sister’s Keeper” by Jodi Picoult begins October 15. Blog discussions are kept open so if you would like to make a comment on the first book, “If You Lived Here, I’d Know Your Name: News from Small-Town Alaska,” by Heather Lende, you are free to do so.

If you wish more info about the Book Club there are two places to look. At the top of the Blogs you will see entries for both divisions, Book Club and Strokers Digest. Click the name in the first column to see the categories.
The second way to find info on the Book Club is to go to the Message Board start page where you will find a forum devoted to blogs. It is listed in the Stroke Survivor and Caregiver Community Section and is entitled Blog Community Forum. There you will find general information about Blogs as well as info on the Book Club and Strokers Digest.
 

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