The Readers Review: Literature from 1714 to 1910 discussion

Although our poll for June still runs for two more days, The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy looks like it will be our June read.

I found a free e-book on Amazon.com that I wanted to share. I don't know how long it will be free, it could be a special. Either way, if you are interested the link is here: The Return of the Native

❀✿ Gem ✿❀ wrote: "Although our poll for June still runs for two more days, The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy looks like it will be our June read.

I found a free e-book on Amazon.com that I wanted to share. ..."

It's not showing free to me? Not that it really matters though as all my libraries have plenty available as both ebooks and audiobooks. But still, it's strange that it seems to be different for me.

Shows as free kindle when I click on it. There is also a free iBook for it and it is free online on Gutenberg.

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/122/12...

You may need to tweak your search a bit. You may actually need to type: Hardy, free or Return of the Native, free. Sometimes it's a bit hidden.

Nicola wrote: "❀✿ Gem ✿❀ wrote: "Although our poll for June still runs for two more days, The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy looks like it will be our June read.

I found a free e-book on Amazon.com that I..."

It depends on the country you are in. Each country has different publishers for same book.

Deborah wrote: "It depends on the country you are in. Each country has different publishers for same book. ."

If Amazon is just snitching the Gutenberg free copies, which they used to do and may still do for classics, it should be free in any country. If they've processed it in some way, or if it's an edition with other materials it might be different. But Gutenberg editions, as far as I know, are free in any country.

I picked up an audible version read by Alan Rickman awhile back and I've been saving it as a special treat. I'm delighted that I'm going to get to use it for this read.

Ooh lovely, Renée. Such a lovely man. Such a loss!

Yes, very lovely. He has long been a favorite.

If you use a tablet, you may know about an app called Megareader. I think it costs a few dollars but it has access to thousands of free books. It contains Gutenberg and several other large sources of classics and some other genres. I own the paper books for Trollope and Dickens, but it's been easier for me to download them and increase the font than to read the the small print in my paperbacks. Sometimes the illustrations even show up as well.

Books no longer in copyright have always been available on Gutenberg, Bartleby, the Univ of Virginia, and dozens of other sites.

Tastes vary. I don't have an e-reader, and I prefer not to sit that many hours in front of my computer screen, since I also work at home online. I like to lie in bed with a paper copy.

I've also downloaded something called the Kindle-for-PC Installer, which lets you read Kindle editions, but I would still be staring into my monitor. I don't see much difference in RotN, except that it says it's illustrated. Only 2 of the illustrations pertained to this book. Meh.

Renee wrote: "I picked up an audible version read by Alan Rickman awhile back and I've been saving it as a special treat. I'm delighted that I'm going to get to use it for this read."

Librivox?

Rochelle wrote: "Renee wrote: "I picked up an audible version read by Alan Rickman awhile back and I've been saving it as a special treat. I'm delighted that I'm going to get to use it for this read."

Librivox?"

Librivox audio's are read by non professional volunteers, often several different readers for one book. I normally find them pretty awful tbh but sometimes I've been pleasantly surprised.

Renee's Alan Rickman reading won't be Librivox.

The Rickman version is indeed a professional recording done by Audible Studios, which I bought on sale and because it's Alan Rickman. However, the Librivox version read by Tadhg Hynes is quite wonderful and is the one I used the last time I read RotN with a GR group. In fact, the Hynes version is so good that it's also sold by Audible... But you can still download it from the Librivox website (or app) for free.

Thanks. I might do the audio one this time, while I'm working.

(OT--Audible is now owned by Amazon too.)

Robin wrote: "If you use a tablet, you may know about an app called Megareader. I think it costs a few dollars but it has access to thousands of free books. It contains Gutenberg and several other large sources ..."

A bit of an aside, but I hope most people here know that reading from a tablet (or computer or smart phone) in the hour before going to sleep can interfere with getting a good night's sleep. The back-lighting process interferes with the brain's sleep functions.

This isn't a problem with paper books or with e-ink e-readers (the normal Kindle or Nook, but not the Kindle Fire or Nook tablets.) Those aren't back lighted, but are front lighted and so don't have the same effect on sleep.

https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/0...

https://www.quora.com/Will-the-new-Ki...

Robin wrote: "If you use a tablet, you may know about an app called Megareader. I think it costs a few dollars but it has access to thousands of free books.."

If you're cheap, like I am, you can use the free FBreader app. It doesn't download the books automatically, but it will read ebooks from Gutenberg and downloads from my library, which covers virtually all the ebooks I want to read.

Very interesting info on back-lighting, Everyman. Thank you.

Everyman wrote: "Robin wrote: "If you use a tablet, you may know about an app called Megareader. I think it costs a few dollars but it has access to thousands of free books. It contains Gutenberg and several other ..."

iPad has a function where we can change the light to night which allows you to read but not interfer with sleep

Deborah wrote: "iPad has a function where we can change the light to night which allows you to read but not interfer with sleep ."

That's an interesting innovation, and equally interesting is that they developed the process, that they recognized the problem of backlit blue light screens and sleep and decided to address it. It may not totally solve the problem, there's probably still blue light coming through, but it certainly should help!

I was aware of that issue, so I read paper books at night. I have a custom now of reading the portion for the week during the day on Saturday. However I was tied up this weekend and still catching up, so my whole week seems off!

Renee, you say you liked Tadhg Hynes's narration. I wonder whether I'm missing something. I read and listened to Mr Hynes for The Woodlanders but I struggled. I really, really wanted to like him as I had so many books to read. I persevered out of some strange sense of loyalty - he's Irish! I felt a certain connection with him by the end just as one might a lame puppy. :D. You are so fortunate to have Alan Rickman narrating it. I don't think I have any credits left on Audible though :-( so perhaps I ought to give Tadhg another shot; or not?! I shall see, though you've given me a little renewed hope in regard to his abilities. I'm aware that I ought not to judge too harshly as Librivox is staffed with volunteers! :O

It also might just be a personal preference. Tadhg is one of the Librivox readers that I happen to truly enjoy so I'm always delighted when I see him listed as the solo. (Other favorites are Elizabeth Klett and Mil Nicholson.) But even with Audible, I'll read reviews that are disparaging of a reader whom I find enjoyable. Some people hate Larry McMurty, for example, while others just love him.