Comments on: The first one's free

The first one's free

verb — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 07:26:31 -0800

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.

By: ibmcginty

ibmcginty — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 07:34:46 -0800

Terrific list of resources, verb. Thanks.

By: grabbingsand

grabbingsand — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 07:38:59 -0800

The NYT offers free* first chapters as well. * - with registration.

By: lordrunningclam

lordrunningclam — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 07:41:25 -0800

And there's this. Good post.

By: shownomercy

shownomercy — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 08:11:11 -0800

One might also note online lit mags for their online literature fixes. Poems, too.

By: maggiemaggie

maggiemaggie — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 08:19:34 -0800

The Guardian has been doing this for some time: http://books.guardian.co.uk/extracts/

By: verb

verb — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 08:19:41 -0800

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....

By: OmieWise

OmieWise — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 08:47:24 -0800

Nice. Thanks.

By: font_snob

font_snob — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 08:58:22 -0800

I'm definitely a "try before you buy" reader. Your post and everyone's comments are a treat. Thanks!

By: bardic

bardic — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 11:37:59 -0800

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.

By: bardic

bardic — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 11:38:59 -0800

(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.)

By: stbalbach

stbalbach — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 18:33:03 -0800

"Online Books" is one of the best and most unknown sites on the Internet. If your into PD books online.

By: ibmcginty

ibmcginty — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 04:35:44 -0800

List of resources with brief explanations.