Online Reading

Read.gov encourages everyone to discover the world of books. Here you'll find a variety of free reading resources to explore and enjoy.

Classic Books OnlineSee More Classics »

Author WebcastsMore Author Webcasts »

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Read God’s Word at anytime, anywhere using the YouVersion Bible App. Share Scripture with friends, highlight and bookmark passages, and create a daily habit with Bible Plans. Available for iOS, Android, Blackberry, Windows Phone and more. This is the new Project Gutenberg site See the new website page for information about currently known issues, and how to report problems or suggest changes. Choose among free epub and Kindle eBooks, download them or read them online. You will find the world’s great literature here, with focus on. Search the world's most comprehensive index of full-text books.

Cassandra Clare at the 2011 National Book Festival

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Julianne Moore at the 2011 National Book Festival

Festivals

The National Book Festival is the Library's annual celebration of books and reading. Authors from across the country entertain participants with insights into their work.

Other book festivals and literary events are held nationwide. There is probably one near you. Find a festival near you

Focus on Fiction

The Library has significant collections of the works of Ralph Ellison, Bernard Malamud and Philip Roth — all of whom have won the National Book Award.
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Booklists

Online Reading Log

Read.gov presents a sampling of suggested books that will spark the imagination and transport readers to new and exciting places. Look for these books in your local library. This reading list was compiled based on the authors appearing at the 2009 National Book Festival.

Poetry & Prose

• Eubanks, W. Ralph. “The House at the End of the Road: The Story of Three Generations of an Interracial Family in the American South”
• Glass, Julia. “I See You Everywhere”
• Hirsch, Edward. “How to Read a Poem and Fall in Love with Poetry”
• Nafisi,Azar - 'Things I Have Been Silent About'
• O'Brien, Tim. “The Things They Carried”
• Ryan, Kay. “The Jam Jar Lifeboat”

Mysteries & Thrillers

• Baldacci, David. “First Family”
• Child, Lee. “Gone Tomorrow”
• Clark, Mary Jane. “Dying for Mercy”

Fiction & Fantasy

Online Reading Books

• Al Khemir, Sabiha. “The Blue Manuscript”
• Alvarez, Julia. “Return to Sender”
• Díaz, Junot. “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao”

Online Reading Glasses

History & Biography

Online Reading Comprehension

• Balz, Dan, and Haynes Johnson. “The Battle for America 2008: The Story of an Extraordinary Election.”
• Duncan, Dayton, and Ken Burns. “The National Parks: America's Best Idea.”
• Gordon-Reed, Annette. “The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family.”
• Ifill, Gwen. “The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama”