Can someone recommend a good app where you can read books for free?

[MrsTumbletap]

I had ones years ago and I read lots of classics on it, and it was completely free. I stupidly deleted it and cannot remember what it was called.

I have since downloaded some apps but they don't have the classics on, like To Kill a Mockingbird, Animal farm etc. But I know these apps exist.

Can anyone help?

This one for example, has a picture of an open brown book as the app logo but it doesn't have to kill a mockingbird in the library.

Screenshot of the library

I borrow ebooks and audio books from my library, especially since covid. It has a huge choice. Have you checked to see if your local library offers this?

Does your local library provide a service? Most do! Ours is excellent

Project Gutenberg?

Or your Local library will have an app - mine uses overdrive and I get 18 books/audio books for up to 3 weeks at a time and they disappear off my device after that so I don’t need to remember to return them

Also if it’s kindle books - go on the amazon website and search in kindle books for free classics.

Kindle.
There was also one that started with a B and had Os in it, all I can think of now is BoJo!

Our library uses BorrowBox, it’s brilliant

Modern classics like To Kill a Mockingbird will still be under copyright. Apps and sites like Project Gutenberg have digitalised much older books where copyright no longer applies.

I use the library app too. And kindle free books.

Bookbub is great for finding free/cheap kindle books. You can set what type of books you like and it brings up a weekly list.

Just tried Bookbub and project Gutenberg, no luck. To Kill a Mockingbird isn't even coming up in the search bar.

Also just downloaded the 'classic books' app and 'Famous books' can't get it on that either.

It's £6.99 on Kindle, which is fine but I had an app that had all the classics for free and it was great.

Maybe it doesn't exist anymore.... :-(

As I said upthread, you won't find To Kill a Mockingbird on a site like Project Gutenberg because it's much too modern. They would be breaking copyright law if they digitalised it and made it available for free.

If you keep an eye on kindle daily and monthly deals and sign up to ereaderiq, you can buy lots of books for 99p or less, which isnt free but is very cheap and gives a good choice of modern and popular books if you're patient.

What’s your library app called? I think it’s on the overdrive app.

@cariadlet but I read 1984 with that old app and it's still available now.

Does that 10 years make a big difference? Will it only be titles before 1960 or 1950 do you know?

www.fadedpage.com/ is a Canadian site with out of copyright books.

I know it’s not free, but if you sign up to amazon prime, you get prime reading which has hundreds of books/magazines to choose from.Then you also get free delivery on things too ? I read all books on prime reading .

@MrsTumbletap In the UK, copyright usually ends 70 years after the death of the creator (writer, musician etc).

George Orwell died in Jan 1950 so I wouldn't have expected his books to be out if copyright until the beginning of this year. 1984 is supposed to be in copyright for a few more decades still. Orwell's estate is very protective over it; they hardly license any merchandise and send out cease and desist orders if they think people are using images too close to the book.

If you got hold of it for free, either the app is paying royalties and offering it for free to encourage readers and then making enough money elsewhere (eg by charging for other books or through advertising) or they're breaking copyright.

I'd stick to your local library app. They've got so many books to choose from.

@MrsTumbletap
It looks as though the copyright has now expired on George Orwell books as they are all now free on Kindle

My library uses Overdrive.

Borrowbox from your local library service? Or even another library service, some let you join even if you don't live there