I use my library extensively through my kindle. Check to see if your library has overdrive/libby and borrow books through there. I need to go into the physical library once every year or two so they can re-verify my address but that's it. In addition, I read a lot of fantasy and scifi so I hang out on r/Fantasy a lot. I find a fair amount of free books for my kindle that way. You might be able to find similar deals on other subreddits for genres you enjoy.

Libby. Free online books, audio books or otherwise the patron system at the local library.

I have the app. It works well.

U can find alot of books on Anna’s archive for free ;) I do that when I dont want to give my money to controversial authors or get textbooks

Archive.org

Audiobooks don't work for me. I find them annoying and I can't get into it. Reading books is one of my greatest pleasures though.

I do like podcasts though - my brain is weird.

E-books can be very expensive.

If you can somehow arrange transportation once in a while to somewhere that has a library when they have a book sale (like Uber, a bus, a cab), library book sales are usually very inexpensive. And if you buy a book for a dollar, it won't bother you if you get rid of it. (You can also donate the books you accumulate back to the library to sell again.) You can also get cheap books at Goodwill or a thrift shop. Again, you'd have to arrange for transportation, though.

There is a website booksalefinder dot com which helps you find book sales. (I hope it isn't against the rules to post that. Everyone should know this site!)

Thriftbooks.com is a great way to buy used books. The prices are reasonable. And the selections are varied. Good luck!

>p certain ways to pronounce words in your head. The person reading was pronouncing the u

Is just way more intimate to read and you fill the blank spaces with your own imagination. Just, more in control.

Some people listen to audiobooks at the same time as reading. It helps.

I thought the person reading it read way too slowly! (🐌 go faster!) Plus, when you're reading yourself, you make up certain ways to pronounce words in your head. The person reading was pronouncing the uncommon words differently than I did. One good thing, I learned how to pronounce "ennui"; I was pronouncing it "En-you-eye" it's pronounced "on-wee". 🤷🏻‍♀️

Sign up for net galley, you’ll have to review the books but they’re free.

Besides the Libby app I also sign up for authors newsletters sometimes they’ll send out free books.

Also entering the good-reads giveaways.

AIs are getting pretty good, but still nowhere near natural enough to narrate a book.

I zone out too much to listen to audio books, but I think some people do it just fine. I wonder if it's very different from listening to a podcast (which I also can't do).

Now I don't care if people call it reading or whatever, and plenty of people read books and retain zero information from it once they are done. Then again I am a bit confused by how insistent the audio books peeps are about calling it "reading" when, by definition, it isn't, like I once feel down a rabbit hole on tiktok of videos on the topic and some of these peeps will go to war to defend that. Perhaps because a lot of people look down on listening to audio books as not as good as reading books.

Different strokes for different folks, and at the end of the day it changes nothing for me if people call it "reading".

Why you didn't liked it? That's interesting since you were hyped and all.

Hi there. This subject has been very popular in the past. Please use reddit search and/or check the /r/books/wiki/faq.

One time, maybe 15 years ago, I had to download a new release from Audible. It might even have been the author reading it. I was aching-all-over to read this book. Snowstorm, nearest copy some 400 km away: so, downloaded it. 9/10 do not recommend. I've been an avid reader for decades; I hated listening to it! (Flinx Transcendent by Alan Dean Foster, for the interested. I got a pb copy a few months later)

I have been in a book club for over 15 years. We started with around 12 women and are now down to 7. We meet in person once a month, usually at a restaurant…we socialize for about 30 minutes and then discuss the book. Whoever chose the book has to lead the discussion. It’s fun!

Yes - came here just for this. You never have to leave your house.

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Libby app :) it’s how I save money and I read audiobooks when I commute! If u have friends from other areas, you can log into each others regions using each others card

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Yard sales, charity book sales, shopping clearance at book stores, borrowing books from people you know.

As a former English teacher, I can guarantee many American students struggle with the opening pages. I found if it is read aloud, it can more easily be understood. Nick, the narrator, it trying to establish who he is in a type of conversation with the reader; maybe that's why it reads easier aloud. You might consider an audiobook for this section or listen to someone who feels comfortable with the language and, importantly, the punctuation. Once you get past the first few pages, the writing gets easier. I truly believe this novel deserves your attention as it depicts so much about America almost 100 years ago while proving that in many ways those aspects haven't changed.

Overdrive