Where to get free books during the COVID-19 Crisis
A good book is the corner stone of escapism, and while the world is staying put at home in order to save lives – there aren’t many things as comforting as a good story to take our minds past our quarantine spaces.
To many, this is the perfect time to pick up those books on your shelf and sneak in a reread of an old favorite or finally read that book you have been putting off. But what if you need a new read? What if you don’t have access to a bookshelf full of books?
With bookstores and libraries physically closed – here’s what we are reading (and how are we getting new books) in order to remove ourselves from the doom and gloom for a few moments and enjoy long, engaging stories that take us past our living rooms.
Local Libraries
If you are New York based, we can’t encourage it enough – take advantage of the NYPL or the BPL – which offer thousands of online titles to be downloaded for free on any device. They even automatically “return” themselves.
Editor’s favorites
James McBride – The Good Lord Bird
Genre: Historical Drama
Synopsis: Henry Shackleford is a young slave living in the Kansas Territory in 1857, when the region is a battleground between anti- and pro-slavery forces. When John Brown, the legendary abolitionist, arrives in the area, an argument between Brown and Henry’s master quickly turns violent. Henry is forced to leave town—with Brown, who believes he’s a girl. Over the ensuing months, Henry—whom Brown nicknames Little Onion—conceals his true identity as he struggles to stay alive. Eventually Little Onion finds himself with Brown at the historic raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859—one of the great catalysts for the Civil War. An absorbing mixture of history and imagination, and told with McBride’s meticulous eye for detail and character, The Good Lord Bird is both a rousing adventure and a moving exploration of identity and survival.
Genre: Humorous Fiction
Synopsis: In this sizzling debut for fans of The Devil Wears Prada, Wall Street banking analyst Allegra Cobb plans to quit the minute her year-end bonus hits her account, finally pursuing her yoga career full-time. But when she forms an intense relationship with the #InstaFamous guru who may hold the ticket to the life Allegra’s always wanted—she’s not sure if she’ll be able to keep her sanity intact (and her chakras aligned) until bonus day.
Genre: Societal issues/ Non fiction essays
Synopsis: Today’s feminist movement has a glaring blind spot, and paradoxically, it is women. Mainstream feminists rarely talk about meeting basic needs as a feminist issue, argues Mikki Kendall, but food insecurity, access to quality education, safe neighborhoods, a living wage, and medical care are all feminist issues. All too often, however, the focus is not on basic survival for the many, but on increasing privilege for the few. That feminists refuse to prioritize these issues has only exacerbated the age-old problem of both internecine discord, and women who rebuff at carrying the title. Moreover, prominent white feminists broadly suffer from their own myopia with regard to how things like race, class, sexual orientation, and ability intersect with gender. How can we stand in solidarity as a movement, Kendall asks, when there is the distinct likelihood that some women are oppressing others? In her searing collection of essays, Mikki Kendall takes aim at the legitimacy of the modern feminist movement arguing that it has chronically failed to address the needs of all but a few women
Amazon Kindle + Audible
Audible is offering free 30-day trials as well as free audiobooks for children during the crisis. Through a partnership with Amazon, you can access 2 free audiobooks + select free Audible Originals.
Editor’s favorites
Genre: Historic Romance
Synopsis: When first published in 1899, “The Awakening” shocked readers with its honest treatment of female marital infidelity. Audiences accustomed to the pieties of late Victorian romantic fiction were taken aback by Chopin’s daring portrayal of a woman trapped in a stifling marriage, who seeks and finds passionate physical love outside the confines of her domestic situation.
Genre: Mystery
Synopsis: The quintessential mystery novel. Ten strangers are invited to an island by the mysterious U.N. Owen. All are accused of murder and slowly, inexorably, the nursery rhyme comes to fruition, and they begin to die, until there are none. Here’s Agatha Christie at her best with her classic drawing room murder mystery, with extra tension to boot. David Horovitch acts out all the parts, quietly communicating the hints and nuances of Christie’s well-known tale. As each character claims innocence, Horovitch adds a touch of cynicism to voice and story. Yet the mysterious murderer remains unknown until the very last syllable is uttered.
Genre: Drama
Synopsis: Madeline is a force to be reckoned with. She’s funny, biting, and passionate; she remembers everything and forgives no one. Celeste is the kind of beautiful woman who makes the world stop and stare, but she is paying a price for the illusion of perfection. New to town, single mom Jane is so young that another mother mistakes her for a nanny. She comes with a mysterious past and a sadness beyond her years. These three women are at different crossroads, but they will all wind up in the same shocking place.
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