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What am reading and library app

Laurie

Veteran

I have been reading as much as possible this summer, partly thanks to a great book borrowing app that my husband found last year called Libby. If you have a public library card, in the US at least - not sure if int'l yet - you can sign up to borrow books online for free.

Sometimes you have to wait in queue for recently published and popular books. Recently 2 books appeared on my "shelf" simultaneously: Chasing Hillary by the NYT reporter Amy Chozick about spending 10 years covering Hillary up through her 2016 loss, and also What Happened by Hillary Rodham Clinton. Fascinating, I tell you! I could not put down Amy Chozick's account of life on the endless campaign trail, and I actually had tears in my eyes at the end while finishing it on the DC metro home from the airport late one night! She's not super complimentary of Hillary, and Hillary and her staff disliked most of what she wrote, but she was ultimately rooting for her while reporting in the most unbiased manner possible. (She had a really pivotal & unfortunate phone call with Donald Trump...you've just got to read it). Then, reading Hillary's own account of the same events is interesting having the behind-the-scenes scuttlebutt on something Hillary is painting a pretty rosy picture of by her account. I will admit that I'm way more slogged down in Hillary's book, though, which was part of her overall problem I think. Too much information and too many details. But she's sporadically super introspective and humble, which is the most interesting part, and that brings tears to my eyes, too.

Now I'm trying to get through a couple of more books...really, it's too many at the same time! Richard Russo's essays on writing called The Destiny Thief and Clock Danceby Anne Tyler, both of which are pretty good.

I do actually have a day job. This is all nighttime and travel reading! No beach time this summer, sadly.

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14 replies

Latest reply was from jill58

Anonymous

I live and die by the library now. I shudder to think of what I used to spend on books and magazines even as recently as two years ago. I use my library's app and am constantly reserving titles I want to read in hardcopy or in digital format. What freedom to be able to dive into a book, and let it go if it's not working for me. I have the new Anne Tyler on reserve (me and a few hundred others, last time I checked) - glad to hear it's good. I quite like her writing. Not interested in a dissection of Clinton's campaign, but I know those two books are on bestseller lists here too.

Anonymous

Summer is the best time for reading! Thanks for the Libby recommendation, I'll check it out.

I'm going to Paris in a couple of months, so am doing some reading to prepare myself. Right now, I'm on The Banquet Years by Roger Shattuck, which is a fascinating (to me) look at the birth of the French avant-garde during the late 1800's/early 1900's. There are wonderful stories and insights about four particular artists and writers, along with discussions of why their work is important. Next up is The Crimes of Paris, the true tale of solving the theft of the Mona Lisa from the Louvre in 1911.

Also reading: French for Dummies :0

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I love the audiobooks feature. We have Libby and also Hoopla at our library and I read so much more now that I can listen when I walk!

Just finished The Inheritance of Loss and now listening to Fates and Furies.

rachylou

Veteran

Gee, that’s a cool app!

Windchime

Veteran

I discovered the Libby app just a couple weeks ago. I finished Hillbilly Elegy yesterday and am considering which book from my copious Wishlist to read next. (sort of like considering which NAS items to try next!)

Sara L.

Veteran

I use Overdrive for my library app although our public library has several apps that you can use. I know Libby and Hoopla can also be used. I'm constantly reserving books and always have the maximum number of books on hold that I'm allowed. Sometimes they all come available at the same time and I have some intensive reading weeks. Luckily I read fast so it's not usually too much of a problem.

Diana

Veteran

I use Overdrive (the predecessor to Libby) for audiobooks. I also use it to check out ebooks but I have them sent directly to my kindle as it’s nicer to read on than my phone/iPad. I am lucky to have access to two huge library systems (my city one, which is a huge consortium, and the Boston public library, which is available to all MA residents) so the choices are endless! It’s really cut down on my book buying habit, although I still buy plenty!

Currently reading *The Secret History* by Donna Tartt, which is wonderful. It’s one that has been recommended to me over and over again for years.

pil

Veteran

The RB Digital app has lots of magazines. Also Tumblebooks for children’s books.

I listened to the audio book of Keith Richards’ “Life”on my way to and from work not long ago - I don’t think I would have made it through actually reading it!

Just finished “Number One Chinese Restaurant” by Lillian Li - my son knows her and recommended it to me.

Anonymous

Our town library is sponsering several book discussions on the book "The Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the founding of the FBI" by David Graham...a community wide reading program. I am currently reading this book, although it is much more graphic than my usual favorite cozy mysteries. When I see the disappearance of young Native American women trying to defend their land from pipelines today, it is unbearable.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I will have to check out that app. But I love physical, paper books so much too!

I just finished The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah, right on the heels of her book The Nightingale. Both very good. I picked up both in the little library room of the resort when my husband went for our anniversary trip in Cabo. I left four books behind and picked up those two!

Joy, I have Killers of the Floor Moon in my to-read pile. I'm thinking of picking that up next.

Laurie, those Hillary books sound very interesting. I read James Comey's book and found it quite compelling as well. My sister sent me Bob Schieffer's book (a signed copy! she's actually friends with him!), and that is in my to-read pile too.

Laurie

Veteran

My husband primarily takes out audiobooks now on Libby and loves them. I personally dislike them - it seems like there is only one voice reading for all of them, and it sounds drone-y to me. I literally have a visceral reaction the minute I hear it! That said, I agreed to listen to the last memoir of Oliver Sacks and the reader (a different one, apparently!) was very good.

Janet, I also have a stack of paper books by the bed. The thing I find most disconcerting about reading on a device is that I have been surprised when a book ends, and it feels very abrupt, because I don't have the book in my hand to realize how far along I am! I also rarely can remember the title of what I'm reading if on a device because I don't look at it every time I pick it up. But online reading has been really super for distance travel, not having to carry heavy books in my bags. I had a Kindle when they first came out, but it was just another device to carry, charge and try not to lose. Now that I can read on my phone, it's become a more regular activity. I am not sure I can read my fellow-W&M-alum Comey's book - I'm mad at him.

Windchime, Hillary quotes the author of Hillbilly Elegy JD Vance, in a chapter I recently slogged through. I thought that was an excellent memoir. I am not going to finish What Happened before it's due, and I'm not planning to renew, but I'm glad I read about 60% of it.

Sara, I also read fast and I'll read too late into the night if on a Libby deadline. It's great to read instead of watch TV when i have a page turner (or page-swiper) in the works.

So nice to be among fellow book lovers!!

Adriana

Veteran

Thanks, always love these posts. I read on a kindle, but I have paper too. I like thrillers and SF. Just read Birdbox from Josh Malerman, Children of time Adrian Tchaikovsky. Weird SF but kept me up reading.

anne

Veteran

I think the program they use in Australian libraries is overdrive. I'm a big library user, but so far all in print. If I ever was to travel on a long holiday I'd investigate a reading device - I have read a few out of copyright books from Project Gutenberg. My husband however reads almost everything on his kindle, though he usually buys the books. He enjoys audiobooks too.

Laurie I'm sensitive to reader voices too! I love some (Stephen Fry, for example) but have stopped listening to others if I think they are droney or mechanical. I've mostly had that problem on sites where people have volunteered so I suppose the quality isn't there. I read out loud a LOT to my daughter and she prefers my voice to many other people.

Audiobooks are mainly a long car trip things for our family (apart from DD) as I have usually have enough podcasts to listen to get me through solitary home tasks.

I love the book recs we get here on YLF and concurrently reading three of them, and will add some more from this thread, I imagine!

jill58

Veteran

We listened to Chasing Hillary on a trip back to Canada and loved it. Also, Bad Blood -- the story Elizabeth Holmes and her doomed blood testing company is very good in audio form. Currently on my Kindle -- Swallowing Mercury by Wioletta Greg, Katalin Street by Magda Szabo and Patriot Number One by Lauren Hilger. Also, Calypso by David Sedaris.