I'm a sucker for rewards, whether it's for my writing or intellectual pursuits.
As an author, I'm no stranger to paying for imagination, especially when my reviews get featured in Google's feed.
It's no wonder successful figures keep their work behind a paywall – they're not just in it for the money.
I've never delved into the details of how platforms with paid subscriptions work, but I do know that millions of readers are eager for knowledge, fresh information, and personal growth, and they're willing to pay for it.
After all, a new release is still a bestseller, and it's tempting to buy it from the store, even if it's a bit pricey.
Even pirates would steal less if there were more public spaces like libraries and coworking spaces with book exchanges.
I avoided LitRes because demo versions just get old – they're like appetizers that leave you wanting more.
Circumstances vary, but even with good things, I'm not always willing to shell out the cash for an e-book, especially since it's just a digital format without the smell, feel, or aesthetic of physical pages.
The paper version isn't eco-friendly, but it's clear what you're paying for. The digital version is way more appealing when it's free.One way to read books on LitRes completely free without a subscription caught my eye. I stumbled upon this prize – you know, when we make a purchase from online partners or transfer money, we get rewarded.
The email arrives with a check and a notification about a gift. They offer: 'Spin the wheel'. And – boom – I got 5 free LitRes books on the condition that I create an account on their website.
It's a great deal for everyone. The online library gains a friend who's already added all the details and might be interested in a subscription. The friend gets 5 books for reading/listening with no expiration date. Everyone's happy.
I checked.
I went to my account to find the right book.
There's a gentle breeze on my account balance because I didn't invest anything,but I'll get five books thanks to the promo code for my 'Ozona' rewards.
The books are available indefinitely. And those outside the promotion can be purchased with a 20% discount. That's not bad.I'm already feeling twice as grateful to the Ozon marketplace because their reward system 'Prizolovlya' opened up a 'window to LitRes' for me.
The Ozon app explained everything in detail.Their instruction came with 'Prizolovlya': I just had to log in to Ozon on time, browse, make a purchase or add something to my cart, rate items, and write comments about what I know. And when the 'Gift Box' opened up, there were five books inside.
But 5 books aren't in the global sense, but rather from the selection. We'll soon find out which.After entering the promo code and minimal data, I created an account,so I could quickly take a look at what to choose from.There aren't enough books, the selection spans several pages,
genres are mainly 'not my thing' or, on the other hand, too well-known.
I've read the classics, 'The Wizard of the Emerald City' was my first favorite book, and Yuilyan Semenov is always on the shelves in any family that reads from childhood. Naturally, both of these are not new to an intelligent person.
Honestly, I don't feel like I've received a 'gift' yet, because the books from the list have been widely available for ages – I have them at home, at friends', and in libraries.
'The Night is Gentle'. Who's a decent person who hasn't at least tried to open this piece? I'm not saying the reader has to finish it.This is a remark about the value of being able to read something for free on LitRes. Classics are easily found in exchange libraries and bookstores.
Well, okay, there's an audiobook, the person tried.
Daniel Defoe. Do you feel happy about being able to read 'Robinson Crusoe' without a subscription? I don't.We grew up on this. This kind of literature should always be accessible because Daniel's not going to lose out on royalties, it's all the same to him.
If you're not familiar with the story of Robinson, you should know it without having to wait for a seasonal sale.
I hope the voice actor at least gets something from the show's revenue.
Authors like Tolstoy, Bulgakov, and Dreiser are the foundation, and they should be free to boot!Okay, I get that these are audiobooks. Let's make sure the voice actors get a fair share of the profits when you buy them.
Some of the options just don't interest me.I was excited to find something edgy and real, not just for the classics on my bookshelf.Sometimes you want to grab something that's not for the faint of heart.
I was on a mission to find 'The Power of Pussy' – a modern, discussed book that's relevant today.
I had to sift through a few versions, but I ended up choosing five books from a different selection.
Formats vary. You can sort them to leave only audio or only text.
Honestly, I was expecting a lot less. I chose this option because I wanted to try something new and get access to my personal account.Out of the bunch, only 4 books caught my attention.I won't lie, I wasn't exactly excited to dive in. But kudos to LitRes for making the listening and reading experience enjoyable.The interface is user-friendly, the loading speed is fast, and the fonts are easily readable.
It's a comfortable experience that lets you pick up where you left off.
Have I finished reading any of them? Not yet. To be honest, I'm not that invested.
I wish I had more books to choose from in the collection, but it's limited.
At least the subscription is lifelong, so I'll probably never run out of options.
The second way to read LitRes books for free without a subscription is actually more effective. But I'm not sure if it'll work in your area.
We have a local library that offers free registration and borrowing of books.
And if you're lucky, they might even give you a password to access LitRes.
If the book is cheaper than the library's price, you can read it using the password after activating it with the librarian's help.
It took us a few minutes to figure it out, but it worked.
A new section appeared in my account related to library orders, and life got a lot easier.
"Sila kiski" was a surprise hit, causing a stir: at first, I raved about it in my review, and then the visitors to "Airek" started expressing their desire to read or not read the book, so I guess it's not a bad thing.
One of the best things about this method is that you won't find any expensive reads using this approach.
Please note that you should check your library's conditions to see if you need to register for access to borrow books.
Every library has its own rules.
I devoured 'The Power of Pussy' in no time and I'm now on the hunt for 'The New Power of Pussy'.
I hope this review has been helpful. That's all for now!