Book chain

What is the book chain?

The book chain is a reading group, but with a difference.

It is a postal reading group for braille, giant print and talking books readers, with readers from all over the UK participating.

The chain introduces you to books, authors and genres which you might not have picked yourself, and gives you the opportunity to share your thoughts.

How book chain works

  • In the space of 12 months each person in the book group receives the same eight books.
  • They are given six weeks to read each book and asked to write a review for it.
  • They are also asked to rate each title out of 5.
  • The reviews are then collated at the end of the year, and sent out to everyone in the chain.
  • The chain is restricted to adults in the UK.

How to join book chain

The book chain is available for anyone who reads contracted braille, giant print or talking book.

There are still places left for 2013 if you read braille or giant print. All our talking book places are filled for 2013, but you can get your name on the waiting list for 2014. Why not read alongside for 2013?

If you are interested in joining us or reading alongside, please contact reader.advice@rnib.org.uk or call on 0161 429 1970 for more information.

Read along

Read the titles in 2013's book chain, without the time limit.

Borrow the titles from the main library collection, or your local library.

Reviews and star ratings can be submitted for any book in the chain, until the end of November. Please send comments to: reader.advice@rnib.org.uk or call on 0161 429 1970

This year's books

The titles we are reading this year are:

  • The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
  • Hare with the amber eyes by Edmund De Waal
  • The sisters brothers by Patrick De Witt
  • Ghost by Robert Harris
  • A friend like Henry by Nuala Gardner
  • Close range by Annie Proulx
  • Secret smile by Nicci French
  • Life of Pi by Yann Martel

Star rating

Each member of the chain marks the book out of 5, we then calculate an average rating at the end of each year:

  1. = terrible, hated it.
  2. = ok, not great.
  3. = good, pleasant enough read.
  4. = really good, enjoyed it.
  5. = excellent, couldn't put it down.

See at a glance what the chain members thought of the titles they have read.

At a glance

Books the chain have previously enjoyed include:

  • 127 Hours, Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Aron Ralston ( 2.5 stars)
  • Creature of the Night by Kate Thompson (3.5 stars)
  • Family Values by Wendy Cope (3 stars)
  • Found wanting by Robert Goddard
  • From a Buick 8 by Stephen King
  • Girl with a pearl earring by Tracy Chevalier
  • Life Skills by Katie Fforde (3 stars)
  • Notes to my Mother-in-Law by Phyllida Law
  • One Day by David Nicholls (3 stars)
  • Outcast by Sadie Jones
  • Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid (3 stars)
  • Small Hand by Susan Hill (3.5 stars)
  • That's another story by Julie Andrews
  • Tilt by Jean Sprackland (2.5 stars)
  • To kill a mocking bird by Harper Lee
  • Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
  • War of the Worlds by HG Wells (2.5 stars)

Comments from book chain members

"I was really delighted to learn that my reviews bring enjoyment to others in the same way that reading and then reviewing the books give me so much pleasure and indeed I honestly don't know what I'd do without them."

"Just to let you know I still enjoy the book chain hugely, I've not read anything truly outstanding yet in this one, but its certainly a good way of discovering authors one might not have wanted to try in the past."

"You are certainly widening my reading first ghost stories and now Sci Fi wonder what it will be next, so glad I joined the book chain!"

Review taster

You can read all the book chain reviews and find out how to write a great review yourself.

War of the Worlds

It's the end of the world as we know it! I had never read "The War Of The Worlds", although I do have the Rick Wakeman album, and I can remember as a child, the furore caused by the radio play. I was afraid that the book might appear very dated, but instead, I found it both compelling and powerful. For me the most disturbing, scene in the book was not the violence and destruction, but the people trying to get out of London, that is one of the most vivid descriptions I've read in a long time. I'm glad the book chain sent us this book, as I would probably never have got round to reading it myself.

Life Skills

A joyous, fluffy read. Enjoyable and light; the pace was good and the storyline almost believable. I read the whole book over the space of one day. We live near canals and I've always fancied a holiday on a narrow boat. This was a good substitute as I laughed a lot and didn't get wet.

Small Hand

Well that was different wasn't it! Quite creepy I must admit, and my hair is now a good shade whiter. I did enjoy it although I was pleased that it was short as otherwise it would have been tedious if it had been any longer. I was very surprised by the ending and who the perpetrator actually was, and it did leave you feeling a bit up in the air with some of the things that weren't "tied up". It was definitely readable, and I wouldn't mind reading some others by this author.

The Reluctant Fundamentalist

I must admit I did not finish this book it is the only title in the book chain I have failed to finish.
Maybe this does not give me the right to review it but from what I read of the book (this was about half of it) I found this title to be drawn out often straying far from the point and the point it was making gave a very one sided view.

The only credit I can give this author is it was a different way to write a book but I think the manner that he does it in fails to offer a proper start to the book, very brave but a misjudged idea from this writer.

127 Hours

This is a detailed book. Full of description. I can't imagine it would have been funny to be trapped the way the author was for three days with no food and water. Harrowing in its way for sure. However I thought Ralston milked it shamelessly at the end. It seems to me that Aron Ralston is an attention seeker with an ego who took advantage of a disaster. Two stars.

Last updated: 1 March 2013

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