Asperger's Book Club Idea

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I created a book club yesterday on Yahoo Groups. It is spin off of my website www.allthingsaspergers.com .

I created this in hopes of helping others and myself with Aspergers and HFA, as well as parents, friends, and others interested in Autism and AS.

I asked some people before starting what they thought of the idea. Many people liked the concept. But I am wondering if this is appealing to others.

The club is basically about us reading a book once an month and talking about it, hopefully learning and exploring concepts and ideas to deal with Asperger's.

What do you think, is this a good idea? Or is just my inner Aspie being dumb to think many people would be interested in this idea.

Best,

Idaho Aspie
www.AllThingsAspergers.com

I have trouble sitting still to read, but yeah It sounds good. Maybe the members could blog it here.

That's a good idea to blog it here. Maybe that can happen sometime.

I did think about the fact that people won't read the whole thing. That is why I told people to just read the parts they find interesting and have time to read. Most NTs with AS children don't have time to read a huge book every month, and AS cannot always hold still.

Thanks for the input.

Best,

Idaho Aspie
www.AllThingsAspergers.com

it depends a lot on the sorts of books that would be read.

For example if you said we're all gonna read The Silmarillion

sigh......

Perhaps you could pick books that are available for reading online as well. That way, people who couldn't get the book from a library or didn't have money to buy a copy etc could still participate.

Maybe start with short stories and see where it goes from there.

that truely is the most boring book in creation

I had to read the Silmarillion twice in a few months, the first read through was to get the language and the second was to figure out what the story was about. I think I got it.

It's the most cryptic but ....

I personally think that Jane Austen's Emma takes the boring prize (sorry ladies - I know it's a girls book and that girls like it). We had to do it in an all boys school.... Pretty sad.

I'd love to join. I'm always gunna read the books recommended on this forum, but...

Good Points!

I though about some of them. I don't think I can come up with a book club that would 100% accessable to everyone. But I certainly want everyone to be able to participate that wants to the greatest extent possible.

Each idea has +s and -s. Books online increase flexability for access, but decrease readibility. Not all people can read books online. It also requires them to have access to the internet when every they also have time to read. New books ensure that everyone hasen't read it, but they are more expensive. Cheaper books are more accessable, but often are either older and outdated, just two years can make a difference in understanting of Aspergers. And short stories are easier for people to get around to reading. But that also gives very little time before people are giving away the whole story in a week.

I figure I will try to get books that about $20. $20 a month is something even I can afford. You have to consider that 66 cents a day, is very little in cost when you compare it how much you send on junk food, videos, and cable, and which is more important, junk food or your mental health?

Also, consider the alternatives to the cost of a book and online discussing with others. There really are no other cost/benefiets that are better. A psychologist is gonna charge $100-$200 for an hour. You could read a book by yourself. However, you will not get the support and interpretation of that book of other people.

Also, if $20 is such a burden to someone, and they cannot get one loaned to them, and they cannot split the cost with a partner, they can always just keep the reciept and when done with the book donate the book to the local library or school and write it off their taxes as a donation.. . effectively costing them nothing.

Best,

Idaho Aspie,
www.AllThingsAspergers.com

Huh?

I would probably join, I read a lot anyway. Just not non-fiction stuff too much.

Sorry if this is off-topic, but I looked at website to which you linked & it's very hard to read. The blue text on blue background disappears-can't see what the options along left side of page are. Am I the only one to notice (and have difficulty with) that ?

Unless one makes enough money in a year to exceed the standard deduction (about $5,000) for an individual, donations/gifts (itemized deductions) don't even come into the picture-found that out last year when I asked at the tax preparation place.

Book club (reading group) isn't bad idea-issue is getting a number of people to literally & metaphorically be "on same page" (in same book). Either I'd run ahead or lag behind, can't pace my own reading to that of other(s).

I'd be interested since I've been reading a lot about autism and asperger's lately. Last month I read Pretending to be Normal and Look Me In the Eye, which is currently on the best seller list.

Yeah, the dark blue show up as black instead of baby blue on some computers. I have been trying to fix that probelm. I have replaced the front page 3 times and it still does it.

I think the deductions do come into play depending how much you make and what kind of deductions you can get. Most households making 35K+ a year with one or two children on the spectrum easily reach the $5,000 mark if they are deducting for their children and services. If you are single and making $35K a year you can probably afford the $20 a month for a book.

The deduction isn't going to help everyone. But it will help many and it is viable option for most families on the specrum making over $35K with is about 65% of the US population.

I don't expect everyone to be reading at the same pace. I don't even suspect everyone will be able to read the entire book. I think they will read the parts important to them, report back to the website, and try to draw from the experience of other people in the group.

Most these books won't be novels. So you can read chapter 1, 9, 6, and 4 in that order, and write about chapter 6 only, and you would be fine. Unlike novels, you have to read at the same pace and are all forced to talk about the same things.

I see your points though and I thank you much for your input. It is very useful to me.

Best,

Idaho Aspie
www.AllThingsAspergers.com