Top Ten Tuesday – Online Resources That Enhance My Reading Life
Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. Top Ten Tuesday has been one of my favorite memes ever since I started blogging, so huge thanks to Jana for taking over the hosting duties!
This week’s TTT topic is Online Resources for Book Lovers (what websites, podcasts, apps, etc. do you use that make your reading life better?). I almost skipped this week’s topic because I just couldn’t think of anything beyond Goodreads at first. I put on my thinking cap though and was finally able to come up with a complete list of resources that just make my book-loving heart happy.
Online Resources That Enhance My Reading Life
1. Goodreads.com – It probably goes without saying that this is the main online resource I use in my reading life. I use it to track my reading, to reads reviews to see what new books I might want to read, and to keep my reading wishlist all in one place.
2. Overdrive.com – A way to read ebooks and listen to audiobooks for free, that works through my local library? Heck yes!
3. Scribd.com – Pay a reasonable monthly fee and read as many ebooks and listen to as many audiobooks as you want. They have a pretty decent selection, including new releases, so I use it when I’m way down the list for library holds and am too impatient to wait.
4. Kindle App – I have this app installed on every device I have and love that any ebook I’m reading will sync across all of the devices. This is my preferred app for reading ARCs as well as other ebooks.
5. Audible App – I don’t buy too many audiobooks but my husband has a subscription to Audible so I’ll occasionally use his credit to get audiobooks that are Audible exclusives. One of my favorite things about this app is that it has more reading speed options than any other reading app I use.
6. Get Booked Podcast – I don’t really listen to many podcasts but I tried Get Booked from Book Riot and enjoyed it. Who can resist a weekly show that gives personalized book recommendations to help grow your TBR? LOL!
7. Novel Pairings Podcast – Again, I don’t listen to many podcasts but I came across this one and thought it was fun. The goal of this podcast is to make classic novels “readable, relevant, and fun.”
8. Bookoutlet.com – I’m kind of cheating here since this is more about book collecting than it is actually reading, but anywho, I use this site to buy cheap copies of books I want for my collection. You can sometimes catch some pretty amazing sales and pick up titles you’re looking for as low as $1.99. I pick up a lot of older books this way, especially if I’m trying to read an author’s backlist and can’t find it on any of the other sites and apps I use.
9. Bookbeau.com – This is another site that isn’t really about reading but that just enhances my overall love of books. They sell book sleeves and other great bookish merchandise.
10. Fly Paper Products – Literary Gifts for Book Lovers – Yet another retail site that feeds my bookish addiction. They sell so many great bookish gift items. I especially love their wooden bookmarks and their mugs.
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I’m also “married” to the kindle app, included on all of my devices. I get many of my audiobooks (I listen more than I read these days) from the library and Overdrive allows you to transfer them to my iPhone into the Books app, which is fantastic for managing listening. My library rocks so I haven’t joined Scribd again. I was an early subscriber ten years ago when it was a much different resource. I’m happy they’ve survived.
Great post, Suzanne
I’ve been enjoying Scribd a lot. The only thing I don’t like about it is that after 4 or 5 audiobooks, your selection starts to become a bit limited unless the following month. But still, at $9.99 a month, if I listen to 4or 5 books, that’s only $2.00 a book.
I would say Goodreads is my biggest tool, too, and I use Libby for my local library. I’ll definitely have to check out the bookish items websites – I love stuff like that!
Goodreads is definitely one of the few websites I visit every single day.
Overdrive is the best! I literally use it every day.
I do too. I love it!
Book Outlet has caused my bookshelf to grow a lot, especially in the past year. Did you know they have a storefront as well? It’s in Canada (about half an hour from Niagara Falls). It can be dangerous going to the store, especially if you’re only after a couple of books.
Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!
https://readbakecreate.com/5-booktube-creators-worthy-of-checking-out/
I never knew they had an actual storefront. That’s so cool, but yeah, could definitely see going in looking for one book and coming out with a dozen, lol.
Goodreads would be at the top of my list too. No matter how much complaining I hear about it, it does almost everything I need and I’d be lost without it. I need to try Book Outlet one of these days!
Same here. It’s the only website I visit every single day.
I used some stores for my post as well this week. I loved reading your post.
Thanks!
Scribd is a recent favorite of mine. Happy reading! My TTT https://readwithstefani.com/10-books-about-books-on-my-tbr/
I’ve been using it for about 6 months now and really enjoy it.
Overdrive literally saved my budget. Hahaha.
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday. Thank you!
Same here! 🙂
Bi yes to so many of these! Goodreads, of course. And Overdrive (I would add Hoopla, as well). Kindle app, for sure. I have it on all my devices. I love my Book Beau sleeves. Like you, I’m not big on podcasts but I’ll have to check out the couple you mention.
I wish my local library would get on board with Hoopla but so far they haven’t.
I’m also addicted to my Kindle and Audible app. And of course, Goodreads! I’ll need to try that Get Booked podcast though, it sounds fun.
Right? I’m on Goodreads and my Kindle app pretty much every day.
I use Overdrive (or Libby, actually) all the time. And I will be checking out Fly Paper Products for my bookish family at Christmas!
My list— https://fiftytwo.blog/2021/10/19/ttt-books-i-loved-but-will-probably-wont-re-read/
Happy TTT!
Lori
I hope you find some great gift ideas. 🙂
I’m with you on Goodreads! 🙂
Love it!
You did great! I was totally lame today and had to twist the theme 🙂
That was me last week, lol.
I saw someone of Twitter telling everyone to leave GR, but I like it there. I wish I had more time to spend or that the interface was better for socializing.
Wow, I didn’t even realize there was any kind of push to get away from GR. I love the site, even with its issues, and use it every day.
I have so many new resources I’m discovering just perusing this weeks TTT…Goodreads of course is huge but I’m so bad at going there and updating my books. I keep thinking I’ll get to it. 🙂
LOL! I’m good about updating but I keep saying I’m going to purge and reorganize my shelves there and never seem to get around to it.
I love BookOutlet too—you can’t beat those bargains! I just checked out Fly Paper Products, and I agree that they have some very cool stuff!
The BookOutlet is definitely the place to go for bargains. Great sales and excellent coupons too. 🙂
I blanked on this topic, too. If I had done it, I would have included Book Riot. I love all their book lists. I’m not a podcast listener, so I haven’t tried that. Maybe I’ll give it a go at some point.
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
I love Book Riot too. I also love that they post ebook deals. I’m pretty sure I would have missed a lot of great ebook sales without them.
Some interesting sites. Some I’ve never heard of, so that’s great.
I’ve seen your name a couple of times now and always have to smile because I’m also a bookish libra. Greetings.
My TTT.
Howdy to a fellow bookish libra! 🙂
Great list! I’d never heard of the Get Booked podcast before but you’ve definitely piqued my interest! Personalised weekly book recs?! Yes, please! 😂 I also love my Kindle and Audible apps—I can’t imagine my phone without either!
Right? I use my kindle and audible apps more than anything else on my phone.
6-10 are all new to me and I really appreciate you sharing the sites to buy bookish merchandise! My family are ALL avid readers and I love buying stuff that are bookish in nature for creative gift ideas 🙂
I hope you find some fun gift ideas for them. 🙂