Any suggestions for (free) summery reads?

BookCat · 05-24-2010, 12:37 AM

Now that we have five minutes of summer, I want to read books set on desert islands or a beach, or just generally in hot weather with a summery feel.

Public domain or freebies infinitely preferred. Any genre, as long as the setting is seasonal.

Thanks lots.

SneakySnake · 05-24-2010, 01:08 AM

How about a true story?

linky here

Xenophon · 05-24-2010, 05:58 PM

How about The March Upcountry?

It's free. The weather is hot... very hot. And there's plot, and excitement, and personal growth. And spaceships and explosions, as well.

Xenophon

P.S. The (first) sequel is also free.

BookCat · 05-24-2010, 11:33 PM

Thanks Sneaky and Xenophon. Have downloaded both but having problems with sony software at mo.

Romantic beach reads anyone?

Shayne Parkinson · 05-25-2010, 08:24 PM

This would be a very short read, as only the first 20% is available as a free sample. But that does include several complete short stories.

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/13985 "Summer Shorts"

It's winter here! But not terribly cold yet - just stormy.

daveconifer · 06-05-2010, 08:56 PM

You can get Snodgrass Vacation for zippo. It's not deep, it doesn't explore the biting social issues of the day, but you might get a few laughs out of it. Go to the "Read Reviews" tab on my facebook page (see signature) to get the 100% off coupon code.

And while you're there, please LIKE my fan page!

SensualPoet · 06-05-2010, 09:25 PM

Does your local library support e-books? About half the stuff I am reading is from the Toronto Public Library, several other titles temporarily free (like Rage of Angels by Sidney Sheldon at Amazon), not to mention some great stuff at Manybooks. Linwood Barclay's Too Close to Home is up next (from the library); it won the 2009 Arthur Ellis Award from the Crime Writer's of Canada. And specific genre you are interested in?

sbaum4853 · 06-06-2010, 11:06 AM

Maybe some public domain desert island classics like Robinson Crusoe or Mysterious Island (Jules Verne) will suit your fancy?

BookCat · 06-07-2010, 12:06 PM

Thanks for all the great suggestions. Will grab Snodgrass Vacation. Have already grabbed the others.
Unfortunately, I live near a Uni, so the local residents library is small and antiquated and has probably never heard of ebooks. The uni library is student only and will be closed for the long vacation soon...great, some peace and quiet to read by!
There are some local charity shops where I could buy a pback for 50p, but this would add to the general book clutter in my house. For some reason, I just don't like pbooks much anymore, apart from reference books.

I've loaded "Treasure Island" onto my reader.

As to genre: I like romances with more to them than sloppiness or soft porn; fantasy style sci fi; historical novels; gentle humour; and books with lots of semi colons in them!

It's easier to say what I'm not keen on: violent action books; spy novels; hard core sci fi; and anything with an unhappy ending. I hate wading through 300+ pages to feel miserable. I've often thrown pbacks at the wall for wasting my time. Realism can stay in real life, I like books to provide an ideal.

My favourite ever summer read is "Castaway" by Lucy Irvine. The sensual writing brings the island to life.

daveconifer · 06-07-2010, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sbaum4853

Maybe some public domain desert island classics like Robinson Crusoe or Mysterious Island (Jules Verne) will suit your fancy?

I downloaded and read Robinson Crusoe and Treasure Island in the past few months. I especially loved Crusoe...

Worldwalker · 06-07-2010, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BookCat

Thanks Sneaky and Xenophon. Have downloaded both but having problems with sony software at mo.

Get calibre.

BookCat · 06-08-2010, 10:33 PM

Thanks WW. I have Calibre, but it's causing me problems also, especially the latest version, which has really mucked up my collections.

Calibre is to complex to use and better left to techies imho. Over the last two evenings I've spent hours on the phone to a techie friend asking him to explain things too me which have been suggested by MR users for sorting out a problem with my SD card. He'd go bonkers if I used Calibre regularly.

I've tried it. Too complex. Want a simple program like the one Sony used to have.

Jenna Anderson · 06-09-2010, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BookCat

Now that we have five minutes of summer, I want to read books set on desert islands or a beach, or just generally in hot weather with a summery feel.

Public domain or freebies infinitely preferred. Any genre, as long as the setting is seasonal.

Thanks lots.

Ok - this one isn't on an island but set on the coast of Italy - The Enchanted April. A free public domain book. I finished it recently and love it. The first part is a little slow but once you get to the vacation home it is very enjoyable. Great summery feel.

Also - have you read The Secret Garden. One of my favorites that gets me in the mood to get outside.

enjoy
Jenna

BookCat · 06-09-2010, 09:14 PM

Thanks Jenna, I've read both of those at least twice and agree that they're great books. Wasn't aware that they're available as ebooks though. I'll be able to read them yet again on my reader. "The Secret Garden" is a real feel-good story, though the tv and film versions have never lived up to the book's magic.

BTW, I've managed to backdate my Sony software. See the thread on the management software board, just in case you want the link. (Version 2.5.00.09170).

bill_mchale · 06-11-2010, 02:45 PM

I am going to suggest Captain Blood by Rafael Sabatini. Most of the Novel is set in the Caribbean. Yes, there is some violence -- it is something of a pirate novel after all -- but it is not over the top. There is also a dose or two of romance and being set in the 17th century it is also an historical novel. And hey, it was made into a movie staring Errol Flynn; if that isn't enough for you, I don't know what is.

--
Bill

05-24-2010, 12:37 AM	#1
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,911 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	Any suggestions for (free) summery reads? Now that we have five minutes of summer, I want to read books set on desert islands or a beach, or just generally in hot weather with a summery feel. Public domain or freebies infinitely preferred. Any genre, as long as the setting is seasonal. Thanks lots.

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05-24-2010, 01:08 AM	#2
SneakySnake I'm watching you! Posts: 6,113 Karma: 22344652 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Sunny Coast Qld, OZ Device: Sony PRS-900(unused lately) iPadAir2, want me Kindle Oasis	How about a true story? linky here

05-24-2010, 05:58 PM	#3
Xenophon curmudgeon Posts: 1,487 Karma: 5748190 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Redwood City, CA USA Device: Kobo Aura HD, (ex)nook, (ex)PRS-700, (ex)PRS-500	How about The March Upcountry? It's free. The weather is hot... very hot. And there's plot, and excitement, and personal growth. And spaceships and explosions, as well. Xenophon P.S. The (first) sequel is also free.

05-24-2010, 11:33 PM	#4
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,911 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	Thanks Sneaky and Xenophon. Have downloaded both but having problems with sony software at mo. Romantic beach reads anyone?

05-25-2010, 08:24 PM	#5
Shayne Parkinson Author Posts: 1,532 Karma: 5447804 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: New Zealand Device: Samsung Galaxy Tab	This would be a very short read, as only the first 20% is available as a free sample. But that does include several complete short stories. http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/13985 "Summer Shorts" It's winter here! But not terribly cold yet - just stormy.

06-05-2010, 08:56 PM	#6
daveconifer Zealot Posts: 109 Karma: 100001 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: Kindle	You can get Snodgrass Vacation for zippo. It's not deep, it doesn't explore the biting social issues of the day, but you might get a few laughs out of it. Go to the "Read Reviews" tab on my facebook page (see signature) to get the 100% off coupon code. And while you're there, please LIKE my fan page!

06-05-2010, 09:25 PM	#7
SensualPoet Wizard Posts: 2,302 Karma: 2607151 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Toronto Device: Kobo Aura HD, Kindle Paperwhite, Asus ZenPad 3, Kobo Glo	Does your local library support e-books? About half the stuff I am reading is from the Toronto Public Library, several other titles temporarily free (like Rage of Angels by Sidney Sheldon at Amazon), not to mention some great stuff at Manybooks. Linwood Barclay's Too Close to Home is up next (from the library); it won the 2009 Arthur Ellis Award from the Crime Writer's of Canada. And specific genre you are interested in?

06-06-2010, 11:06 AM	#8
sbaum4853 YA Fantasy Author Posts: 12 Karma: 52 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Albuquerque, NM Device: kindle	Maybe some public domain desert island classics like Robinson Crusoe or Mysterious Island (Jules Verne) will suit your fancy?

06-07-2010, 12:06 PM	#9
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,911 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	Thanks for all the great suggestions. Will grab Snodgrass Vacation. Have already grabbed the others. Unfortunately, I live near a Uni, so the local residents library is small and antiquated and has probably never heard of ebooks. The uni library is student only and will be closed for the long vacation soon...great, some peace and quiet to read by! There are some local charity shops where I could buy a pback for 50p, but this would add to the general book clutter in my house. For some reason, I just don't like pbooks much anymore, apart from reference books. I've loaded "Treasure Island" onto my reader. As to genre: I like romances with more to them than sloppiness or soft porn; fantasy style sci fi; historical novels; gentle humour; and books with lots of semi colons in them! It's easier to say what I'm not keen on: violent action books; spy novels; hard core sci fi; and anything with an unhappy ending. I hate wading through 300+ pages to feel miserable. I've often thrown pbacks at the wall for wasting my time. Realism can stay in real life, I like books to provide an ideal. My favourite ever summer read is "Castaway" by Lucy Irvine. The sensual writing brings the island to life.

06-08-2010, 10:33 PM	#12
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,911 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	Thanks WW. I have Calibre, but it's causing me problems also, especially the latest version, which has really mucked up my collections. Calibre is to complex to use and better left to techies imho. Over the last two evenings I've spent hours on the phone to a techie friend asking him to explain things too me which have been suggested by MR users for sorting out a problem with my SD card. He'd go bonkers if I used Calibre regularly. I've tried it. Too complex. Want a simple program like the one Sony used to have.

06-09-2010, 09:14 PM	#14
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,911 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	Thanks Jenna, I've read both of those at least twice and agree that they're great books. Wasn't aware that they're available as ebooks though. I'll be able to read them yet again on my reader. "The Secret Garden" is a real feel-good story, though the tv and film versions have never lived up to the book's magic. BTW, I've managed to backdate my Sony software. See the thread on the management software board, just in case you want the link. (Version 2.5.00.09170).

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06-11-2010, 02:45 PM	#15
bill_mchale Wizard Posts: 1,451 Karma: 1550000 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Maryland, USA Device: Nook Simple Touch, HPC Evo 4G LTE	I am going to suggest Captain Blood by Rafael Sabatini. Most of the Novel is set in the Caribbean. Yes, there is some violence -- it is something of a pirate novel after all -- but it is not over the top. There is also a dose or two of romance and being set in the 17th century it is also an historical novel. And hey, it was made into a movie staring Errol Flynn; if that isn't enough for you, I don't know what is. -- Bill