The first one's free

June 2, 2006 7:26 AM

The Washington Post gives away books.At least, the first chapters. Tucked away in the Arts and Living section of their site is Chapter One, a registration-free page that links to reviews and opening chapters of new releases. Of course, there are always other options if you're looking for a digital literature fix.
posted by verb (12 comments total)

Terrific list of resources, verb. Thanks.
posted by ibmcginty at 7:34 AM on June 2, 2006

The NYT offers free* first chapters as well.

* - with registration.
posted by grabbingsand at 7:38 AM on June 2, 2006

And there's this. Good post.
posted by lordrunningclam at 7:41 AM on June 2, 2006

One might also note online lit mags for their online literature fixes. Poems, too.
posted by shownomercy at 8:11 AM on June 2, 2006

The Guardian has been doing this for some time: http://books.guardian.co.uk/extracts/
posted by maggiemaggie at 8:19 AM on June 2, 2006

Man, the secondary links are even cooler than the original post. Thanks, everyone! I'll now engage in a mad spree of bookmarking and dwindling office productivity....
posted by verb at 8:19 AM on June 2, 2006

Nice. Thanks.
posted by OmieWise at 8:47 AM on June 2, 2006

I'm definitely a "try before you buy" reader. Your post and everyone's comments are a treat. Thanks!
posted by font_snob at 8:58 AM on June 2, 2006

I think pulp mysteries and sci-fi novels back into the 1960's were the first to do this which is just to say, it's a good marketing strategy whether your hawking Dave Eggers or Danielle Steele. A win-win I think.
posted by bardic at 11:37 AM on June 2, 2006

(i.e., putting the first chapter of an author's forthcoming novel at the back of the one you were reading. The technology is different, of course.)
posted by bardic at 11:38 AM on June 2, 2006

"Online Books" is one of the best and most unknown sites on the Internet. If your into PD books online.
posted by stbalbach at 6:33 PM on June 2, 2006

List of resources with brief explanations.
posted by ibmcginty at 4:35 AM on June 6, 2006