Free Books May 2009--Post Here About Free Books

[sharyn]

Yes, I've just figured out how to do this and it is just fantastic.  I'm going through the Chronicles of Narnia now without paying for them.  Yay!

I'm not sure that's something to brag about.  8-(

Sharyn

[Ann in Arlington]

I think hackeynut is saying that he's borrowing from a library. . . ..not that he's got illegal e-copies. . . . . .

[CS]

I just wanted to clarify that this only works with the MobiPocket formatted ebooks, not the Adobe ebooks. I've really enjoyed downloading audio and ebooks from the library, but have noticed that most of the ebooks (at most libraries) are in Adobe formats. Some books are in both formats, but more and more it seems that new titles are being offered in Adobe format only. I asked one library about this and they said that they get more demand for the Adobe format, and that's why the bulk of their funds go towards those.

I'm seriously considering getting a Sony 505 (in addition to my Kindle) so I can read all the formats.

For some reason, my response got erased (or I accidentally didn't send it).

The adobe books, at least at my library, are not in the format we're accustomed to. They're in a special "digital editions" format, which doesn't use Abobe Acrobat but rather another Adobe program. Therefore, they're not even PDF files and I'm not sure they would even work on the Sony or Kindle DX.

[BookishMom]

For some reason, my response got erased (or I accidentally didn't send it).

The adobe books, at least at my library, are not in the format we're accustomed to. They're in a special "digital editions" format, which doesn't use Abobe Acrobat but rather another Adobe program. Therefore, they're not even PDF files and I'm not sure they would even work on the Sony or Kindle DX.

They're in ePub format, and they work with Sony's 505 and 700 models. They won't work with the Kindle because they're DRM'd. See your library's OverDrive help page (click on the Adobe section) and it will explain the specifics of how it works in partnership with Sony. Maybe one day Amazon will work out something with them so we can read them on our Kindles.

[esper_d]

The link maker won't find this! (why?)

Not sure if someone has mentioned this one:
The Cook's Illustrated How-to-Cook Library: An illustrated step-by-step guide to Foolproof Cooking (Kindle Edition)

Cook's Illustrated

[Ann in Arlington]

esper, I put in the KB link. . . .not sure why the link-maker one doesn't always find things, but you can always use older and not as intuitive version 1.0 -- there's a link for it to the right when you're in the regular one.

This has actually been free since the K2 came out. . . I'm kind of surprised it still is. . .but it's got some good recipes.  Definitely pick it up if you haven't!

(It would be excellent for the DX with it's bigger screen . . . .maybe that's why they've let it free. . . . .)

[hackeynut]

I'm not sure that's something to brag about.  8-(

Sharyn

It is completely legal to read them that way.  I have a library card and I download them.  Sadly you have to jump through an extra hoop to get them on the Kindle, but it works like any library book.  You have it for three weeks then the file basically self destructs.

The only difference between pulling the book from the library in paperback is that I can read it on the Kindle.  Not sure of the problem with that...

[ProfCrash]

It is completely legal to read them that way.  I have a library card and I download them.  Sadly you have to jump through an extra hoop to get them on the Kindle, but it works like any library book.  You have it for three weeks then the file basically self destructs.

The only difference between pulling the book from the library in paperback is that I can read it on the Kindle.  Not sure of the problem with that...

There is no problem with that. You are fine.

[sharyn]

It is completely legal to read them that way.  I have a library card and I download them.  Sadly you have to jump through an extra hoop to get them on the Kindle, but it works like any library book.  You have it for three weeks then the file basically self destructs.

The only difference between pulling the book from the library in paperback is that I can read it on the Kindle.  Not sure of the problem with that...

My apologies for misunderstanding!

Sharyn

[CS]

Found this through a reader comment on johnaugust.com:

Gary Denne
May 23rd, 2009 at 11:56 pm

It’s tough to make an impact when there’s so much content being flooded into the market on a daily basis. I went the free novel route, and decided after a long thought process to give my novel away, despite having toiled for several years on it. I wanted it to be read, first and foremost, and figured I’d rather have people reading/downloading it and free, than me charge and reduce the numbers who were interested right down. I wish John goodluck - the public profile certainly helps, I’m sure. And 99 cents is next to nothing, anyways. But I can’t help but feel there’s this internet mentality out there where a LOT of people expect…maybe demand…things to be free these days. Like I said, it’s tough.

The Matt Zander Journals

http://www.garydenne.com/

Click on "Alt Formats" to get the Kindle/PRC file. It's zipped up along with the PDF, HTML, etc. versions.

That's all I can really tell you about the book. There's no description of it anywhere on the page, at least not that I can see. It has a nice cover though. The only hint comes from there: "a novel of life after death." Sounds intriguing enough, and you can't beat free.

Edit: I found this description on Amazon's listing for the paper version:

Product Description
Matt Zander, under-achieving supermarket clerk, wakes in a downtown Toronto hospital after he was shot during a bungled robbery of his boss' luxurious home. As memory of his near-death experience begins to fade, he furiously scribbles down everything he remembers of his journey to the other side. Struggling with his purpose in life, Matt befriends a quiet young loner named Michael, whose dream is to leave the frozen winter landscape of Canada behind for the sun and glamour of Los Angeles. Together they set out cross-country, unaware the road trip will be the defining moment in both their lives. On the way to L.A., as Michael begins to open up and reveal why he must see the Pacific Ocean with his own eyes, Matt simultaneously starts to realize why he was given a second chance at life.

From the Publisher
A humorous and sharply observant look at the journey that is life, The Matt Zander Journals is a thought-provoking novel told through the journal entries of a sarcastic, cynical slacker who, after a life-changing experience, has a good dose of anger at the celebrity worshipping, money hungry, pill-for-everything, dumbed down, psychobabble world we live in.

Sounds great to me. I love a good road trip story.

[MAGreen]

Looks like Kiss of Midnight is free again

[RangerXenos]

Here's a free Star Wars short story:

[EllenR]

Looks like Kiss of Midnight is free again

If you like paranormal romance, I highly recommend it! I got it while it was free before then bought the whole series.

EllenR

[frojazz]

I found this tonight. It was an entertaining, fast read. It isn't a book; it is a script to the pilot episode of a show on Showtime called Nurse Jackie. From Amazon's website: "Content is for mature audiences."

Nurse Jackie Pilot Script

FYI: After I read it and removed it from the device, it didn't show up in my archives.  I had to go to my 'manage my kindle' page to resend it.  (I wanted to follow along when I watched it on sho.com. Click on 'video' and then on 'full episodes.')