entertainment

Apps and Services for the Busy Bookworm

Apps and ServicesAs long as I can remember, I’ve been a bookworm.

Granted, I have watched a lot of TV. I can name pretty much every Twilight Zone episode and throw around I Love Lucy references with the best of them. But books…well, that’s something totally different.

I grew up with lots and lots of books. My parents read to us and had us read to them as we got older. And any book was certainly fair game. As long as we were reading, it was a good, good thing.

Never one for sports, I was often the lone person in the library reading. Indeed, I quickly transitioned from Dr. Seuss to Walter Farley’s Black Stallion series. Horses merged into science fiction and chick lit and classic literature, eventually landing me smack dab in the middle of Kindle territory.

Yes, I am a bookworm.

But what does a bookworm do when they’re too busy or tired to read? And–for that matter–what does a Christian do when they can’t read scripture?

My dear friends, I’ve been going through this lately. Too little time to sit down with a good book. But luckily for us in the 21st century, we’ve got apps. Although some apps and services cost money, others are totally free.  And that is a great thing in our day and age! You can be filled up while not breaking the bank.

The following are the apps and services that have been helping me through a book-less time, providing me with a positive way to begin and end my day (along with some entertainment in between):

  • The Bible App. We all know this one, right? It’s pretty much my standard app. With its selection of reading plans–along with several audio ones–it’s great. [Free to use!]
  • Abide. This is actually an app that I found through a reading plan on The Bible App. This includes audio prayers paired with calming music. [Free to use!]
  • She Reads Truth. This is one that I’d considered downloading in the past but didn’t as the reading plans were paid. Having tried it, though, I can say they are worth the price. The devotionals are meaningful and provide an interesting view of the scripture being read during that time. [Free to download, some free reading plans.]
  • First5. This app is designed to be the first thing you read in the morning, and indeed it has become so for me. The devotionals for this app are also great and provide a very positive beginning to my day. [Free to use!]
  • Daily Audio Bible. I’m not sure how I discovered this app, but I’m glad I did. This is an app that sounds just like its name. Daily audio Bible readings, all set to calming music. Brian Hardin is the founder of DAB and also the reader for the app. Great app all around. [Free to use!]
  • Kindle Unlimited. Not really an app, but rather a service provided by Amazon, this is awesome-r than a big pumpkin spice latte. Seriously. It’s sort of a Netflix for reading. The great thing about it is not only the “unlimited” part but also the fact that many of the books include narration. So you can clean the house and exercise while listening to the latest book on your phone. [This one costs, so your mileage may vary.]

Hopefully these apps and services will brighten up even the most drab and harried of your days.

Do you have any favorite apps? Please share them! And don’t forget to hop on over to my Facebook page! 

Favorite Places for Discounted or Free e-Books

freeordiscountedebooksPerhaps one of my greatest weaknesses is books, and having an electronic reading device–or even a computer–certainly doesn’t help. Growing up, we had to go to the library or a small, local bookstore to find our reading material. Even if we had both in our neck of town, the choices were always limited. Now, the entire world is at the tips of our fingers. And when it comes to books, I lose all ability to delay my satisfaction for another time. Pressing that button to purchase books is so easy that I often spend more money in a month than I would care to admit.  That is why I appreciate those websites and bloggers that search for e-books that are free or possibly highly discounted. I can indulge my love of reading without breaking the bank.

First, a confession: I am a Kindle person, and so much of this information will be specifically Kindle-oriented. However, I did find this discussion that may help Nook owners who want to partake of the deals without buying a Kindle for themselves.

One obvious way to find great books for cheap is to subscribe to Kindle’s “Daily Deals” email. While it used to include only one deal per day, it now offers at least four in varying genres and reading levels. For a science fiction person like myself, I was ecstatic when they made that change.

Below you will find the sites that I follow on Facebook, but I am sure that there are many more, especially those that cater to niche markets or genres that aren’t my favorites.

Another source for book deals is through blogs that you follow. Some bloggers will post free or bargain books on their Facebook pages. For example, one blog that I follow, The Coconut Mama, posts books that fit in with the subject for the blog. I have downloaded several and found them quite useful. Give your favorite bloggers some love by liking their Facebook pages, and you might be surprised at what you find!

Finding frugal entertainment might take a bit more work, but it’s worth the effort. I have found some great deals on cheap or free books, but even better, I have discovered authors that I might not have bothered to read otherwise. Although some books have been very poor quality, I have been pleasantly surprised at the many talented authors who offer their works online. This makes my indulgence that much more gratifying.

Reading is perhaps one of the best and simplest forms of entertainment. Although many do not enjoy reading novels, there are plenty of informational e-Books available that will provide you with the knowledge necessary for your frugal lifestyle. or perhaps simply give you an expanded understanding of a topic that you find interesting. By taking advantage of these resources, you can learn from others and share this knowledge with your family and friends. While our grandmothers may have not understood our new reading devices, they would certainly appreciate applying our knowledge in a practical way to improve the lives of our family and community.