During these strange times, there are some people with a bit of extra time on their hands. If you are not quite sure how to entertain yourself, why not pick up that book that you’ve always wanted to read but never did because you never had the time and preferred to conk out on the sofa while watching old episodes of Friends on Netflix instead (or is that just me)?

Free eBooks

If you are like me, you have a bookcase filled to the brim with books you have never read. Just go over there, pick one up and start reading! However, if you don’t have any books in your house that you actually want to read, why not download an eBook? This way, you won’t even have to leave your house (stay safe, stay home!). I know, I know, there is nothing like reading a physical book, the smell, the touch… But desperate times call for desperate measures.

Project Gutenberg

Don’t have the budget right now to buy books? Lucky for you, you don’t need one! Head on over to Project Gutenberg and download a plethora of classics for free! Yeah, I said it, for free!

Project Gutenberg was founded in 1971 by Michael Hart, the inventor of the eBook. The platform’s mission is simple: to encourage the creation and distribution of eBooks. You can choose from over 60.000 free eBooks for which US copyright has expired. If you live outside of the States, you need to check the copyright laws of your country before you download.

The best thing about Project Gutenberg? You don’t need any special apps to download the eBooks and you don’t need to register or pay a fee! However, as the project is run by volunteers, donations are, of course, appreciated.

Examples of what you can find here: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – Lewis Carroll, Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen, Dracula – Bram Stoker, Louisa May Alcott – Little Women and many, many more. So, if you have always wanted to read that classic, now is the time!

Dutch eBooks

You can also take this time to practice your Dutch reading skills. Bol.com offers various free Dutch eBooks you can download here.

Audiobooks

If you prefer audiobooks over regular books, have I got news for you! LibriVox offers free public domain audiobooks. You can also sign up as a volunteer to be one of the audiobook readers!

Become a member of your local library

Yes, they do still exist, libraries. Become a member of your local library, and you will (most likely) have the option to download the latest eBooks (depending on their catalogue, of course). Check out De Bibliotheek’s online catalogue to see if they’ve got what you are looking for!

Order from your favourite independent bookstore

If you do have a budget for books, make sure you buy your books from your favourite independent bookstore. These bookstores are going through tough times right now and they could really use your support!

Not sure where to start?

Trouble choosing a book to start your reading frenzy with? Head on over to Goodreads, the world’s largest community of book lovers, and read reviews and book recommendations.

Join or start a book club

Done with your reading and dying to discuss the book? Why not join or start a book club? You can discuss the book online via Skype, Zoom, Discord or Google Hangouts Meet. Hey, you might even make some new friends! You can find various book club initiatives online or start one yourself (I did)!

Happy reading!