Books I Can Get on Overdrive

[Joanne]

I would like to find books I cab get on Overdrive. I like most anything good quality that is does not have a lot of sex and violence. I like fantasy (not epic), literature, science fiction and biography. Some Chrisrian. Nothing too predictable. I liked The Shape of Mercy.

[Em__Jay]

As far as I know Overdrive allows access to eBooks and audio books in a school or library collection.
Your options will be based on whichever library you have access to.

[Kristie]

I have always been able to peruse the Overdrive website for the library without being a member, so you can see what is available. My library is dropping Overdrive at the end of the year, so I recently joined Brooklyn Public Library (I live in MN). For about a year before I joined I made a list of books they have that I wanted to check out. I was still an Audible member, so I didn't want to buy a book I was going to be able to check out on Overdrive.

If you are interested in what libraries offer non-resident membership (for a fee), there is a discussion thread in the Technical Stuff section.

[Dee]

individual libraries are going to purchase different books - so you are going to need to look at what books your library has purchased to listen to

[Sally]

I use Cuyahoga Library (In Ohio) and I have access to almost every book I search for. One disadvantage is that it returns the book on time, I was in the middle of listening to Eat, Love, Pray and it just stopped and returned it, now I have to be on the hold list to listen to the rest. So I pay close attention to the day it is due now.

[Joanne]

My library does have Overdrive though. They tend to carry the most well known authors. I was just asking for listening suggestions. Books that I would be likely to find there.

[Kristie]

Joanne wrote: "My library does have Overdrive though. They tend to carry the most well known authors. I was just asking for listening suggestions. Books that I would be likely to find there."

Your best bet is to search your library's Overdrive site to see what they have, since every library's selection varies so much. For example, my library only had about 1,000 audiobooks on Overdrive. I just looked at Brooklyn's Overdrive site and selected only those available right now...there were over 15,000. That's not counting the ones you can put on hold. But despite that, my local library still has some that Brooklyn's does not.

I only suggested other libraries as an alternative if your library's selection isn't very robust (as is the case for me). I know I didn't even know that was an option until a few years ago.

Good luck!

[MissSusie]

Every library's Overdrive is different because each library and/or consortium buys their own content.

[Sally]

Joanne wrote: "My library does have Overdrive though. They tend to carry the most well known authors. I was just asking for listening suggestions. Books that I would be likely to find there."

I only recently started using audiobooks. But I really enjoyed the way Sissy Spacek read To Kill A Mockingbird.

[Sally]

Kristie wrote: "Joanne wrote: "My library does have Overdrive though. They tend to carry the most well known authors. I was just asking for listening suggestions. Books that I would be likely to find there."

Your..."
Oh I am listening to Lincoln in the Bardo right now. It won the Man Booker,, The audio version has tons of famous people reading it (over 50 I would guess) people like Susan Surandon, Ben Stiller, Megan Mullany.. BUT I find it very confusing. I like the story, but I have to read the book at the same time so I have more an idea of what is going on,, its written more like a play,, everyone talking, no real description of what is going on.

[Carlissa]

Joanne wrote: "I would like to find books I cab get on Overdrive. I like most anything good quality that is does not have a lot of sex and violence. I like fantasy (not epic), literature, science fiction and biog..."

Here are some audiobooks that I have enjoyed:
Theft of Swords by Michael J. Sullivan
Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel
Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
The Pecan Man by Cassie Dandridge Selleck

[Joanne]

Thanks Sally and Carissa! My library's Overdrive has some of those! When I am finished listening to the Orc King by R.A Salvatore, I may try one of those!

[Mara]

Besides OVERDRIVE, many libraries carry AXIS 360, HOOPLA, and RECORDED BOOKS DIGITAL, and CLOUD LIBRARY.

San Francisco Public Library carries AXIS 360 and HOOPLA. I find with these two you can get popular books faster than through OVERDRIVE.

With RBDIGITAL I believe the waiting period isn't long or none at all. The books may not be the most current, but you can get a lot of the older books that RB published.

I get my RBDIGITAL through the Mobile, Alabama Public Library. Which costs $20.00 a year.

All you have to do is look around.

[Joanne]

My library doesn't have any of those. I have gotten a few old books for free from Librivox though!

[Carlissa]

Joanne wrote: "My library doesn't have any of those. I have gotten a few old books for free from Librivox though!"

I have recommended several books to my library to add to their ebook or e-audiobook collection, and they have added several of my recommendations. Maybe check your library's website to see if you can recommend books for them to purchase??

[Jeanie]

I highly recommend Ready Player One. While technically sci-fi, it has much that is more like fantasy.
The Frontier Magic series by Patricia C. Wrede beginning with Thirteenth child has good narration, an interesting concept--alternate reality described as Harry Potter meets Little House on the Prairie--and isn't filled with violence.
A fun and often silly book/series begins with Off to Be the Wizard... also technically sci-fi but, wizards!

[Robin P]

Mara wrote: "Besides OVERDRIVE, many libraries carry AXIS 360, HOOPLA, and RECORDED BOOKS DIGITAL, and CLOUD LIBRARY.

San Francisco Public Library carries AXIS 360 and HOOPLA. I find with these two you can ge..."

I think the Libby app has taken the place of Overdrive for some libraries so you could check on that also.

[L J]

If you are enjoying Salvatore I suggest trying other books in the Forgotten Realms or Dragonlance series. Other authors you might try include Terry Brooks, David Eddings, and Terry Pratchett. Been years since I read them but don't remember any explicit sex or extreme graphic violence. My library Overdrive has those series and authors. If your library doesn't have a book you are seeking on Overdrive check to see if the library has a reciprocal agreement with another library where you can get a card for no fee.

[CatBookMom]

Joanne wrote: "My library doesn't have any of those. I have gotten a few old books for free from Librivox though!"

Your Profile page says you're in Philadelphia. Many of us used to have (may still have) paid memberships to the Free Library of Philadelphia, which had/has a large selection of ebooks and audiobooks. The LA public library's selection has grown a lot, so I no longer pay to be a part of FLP.

[Joanne]

Thanks L.J. and Catbookmom!

[Christine]

Enjoyed reading the discussions on the thread. Thanks for sharing, everyone!

[Bonnie]

our online catalog has the option to set for e-books, kindle, audible or all 3. So I just check for any book I want to get or put on hold and see if it comes up. Lots of times they are easier and quicker to get than kindle e-books but have a shorter time to keep them.

[Mara]

My biggest pet peeve with living in California where I can get free library from any library in the state for FREE, is that I have to walk in and get it.

The only problem with that is I live in Humboldt County, and the Library I want a card from is in Santa Clara county. Which doesn’t make sense to me.

I can happily get a card from the library in Mobile, AL by paying $20.00 a year. All I have to do is fill out the card application and send them $20.00 no questions asked.

As electronically connected we are in California you’d think it would be a piece of cake to get a card. Not so. Apparently the book vendors have a say in this. Which I think is unfair to the people of California living in other California counties.

[Faith]

Mara wrote: "My biggest pet peeve with living in California where I can get free library from any library in the state for FREE, is that I have to walk in and get it.

The only problem with that is I live in Hu..."

New York is the same, but I discovered that some libraries have a digital only option. I don't get a library card unless I go to a branch but I can borrow e-books, audio books and movies without a card. Maybe some California branches have that option too. I had to search for it on the website.

[Mara]

Faith,

I don’t think so. The only library I know of that allows California residents to get a card without walking in is Sonoma County Library. They let you have a card four months and then you renew your membership for four months if you choose too.

I don’t see why this can’t be implemented all over California. That way book vendors and OverDrive can see what’s popular or not popular.