Thanks to fibromyalgia, my world continually grows smaller. I’ve found one thing that helps to expand my borders: reading. I can get through one to three novels in a week. I love getting lost in the stories. I’ve been an avid bookworm since I first learned how to read. My mother fostered our love of books by taking us to the public library every Saturday. I did the same for my children.

I’ve had a Kindle e-reader since they first came out. I currently have over 5,000 books stored on my device. I read a little during the day but usually stick to nonfiction, as I love learning new things. But when I’m in bed for the night, I read for one to four hours, depending on how good the book is. I also subscribe to Kindle Unlimited, which lets me borrow books instead of buying them.

I’ve signed up with a couple of websites that have free books or offers. Two of those are BookBub and BookGorilla. I’m also a member of NetGalley, where I can request books to read for review before they’ve been released.

Another tip for book lovers is to use the search function on Amazon to find free e-books. I believe that those of us with fibro should be reading every day to help keep our minds active and provide an escape from our not-so-fun symptoms. 

I also found a link to a list of the nine best fibromyalgia books to read for 2019, according to the nonfiction curation site BookAuthority. By the way, I contributed to and edited No. 2 on the list. I haven’t read some of these books, but I plan to check them out.

I have a process when choosing books to read. When I discover a book that seems interesting, I read the description, and then the reviews. If I’m curious, I’ll download a sample. If the book still appeals to me, I will then commit to purchasing it. I also check local libraries for e-books on OverDrive. 

I read e-books because it’s hard for me to hold a physical book at times, especially if it’s a hardcover. The slim, lightweight Kindle is comfortable to hold, plus I have hundreds of books in my little device. I also found another resource for free e-books. If you have others, please share in the comments below.

Happy reading!

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Note: Fibromyalgia News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Fibromyalgia News Today, or its parent company, BioNews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to fibromyalgia.