While I'm at home instead of at the Reference Desk, I'm looking for e-books to read that will allow me to (virtually) travel at the end of my workday. While anyone can borrow Lonely Planet travel guides in Overdrive or Libby--they're always available with no waitlist--the books below offer a different way to experience another place. They're all available in Libby or Overdrive, with no waitlist or a short one. I've tried to pick mostly upbeat books, since that's what I'm gravitating toward right now, though there are a couple of darker titles included below, too. Happy e-reading and armchair traveling, and please feel free to email rdesk@mhl.org with any questions about how to access these books or any of our online resources with your library card.
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Crazy rich Asians
by Kevin Kwan This has been on my radar for a while, and I was so pleased to find it and its sequels, China Rich Girlfriend and Rich People Problems, readily available in Libby! This book drew me in from the start with its family drama and many lavish settings--Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Paris, London, Macao, Indonesia... When you have a private jet, it's so much easier to travel! Still, with e-book travel, there's no jet lag to deal with. |
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Symphony for the city of the dead : Dmitri Shostakovich and the siege of Leningrad
by M. T Anderson Still waiting for A Gentleman in Moscow? There's another way into post-Revolution Russia! While this nonfiction narrative is not the most cheerful, it does offer an engaging account of the famous composer Dmitri Shostakovich and how he struggled to keep himself, his family, and his orchestra alive by composing a symphony. How does a symphony keep people alive? You'll have to read the book to find out. Plus, you can stream several recordings of performances of this symphony (his 7th) in Hoopla with your MHL card! |
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The body in the library : a Miss Marple mystery
by Agatha Christie While many of our e-books by Agatha Christie were checked out when I was searching, this title was available, so I decided to borrow it. I knew a good mystery would be an excellent distraction right now! Not only did it give me a chance to meet Miss Marple, a character I've long heard about but never read, it also offered me the chance to travel through space and time to 1940s England--and for way less than I'd spend on a plane ticket! |
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Harry Potter and the sorcerer's stone
by J. K Rowling Can't get enough of the UK? Now's the perfect time to read or re-read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, the book that started it all! Not only will you get to travel through England and Scotland, but you'll also be transported into what must now be the world's most famous school of witchcraft and wizardry. Plus, this book is currently available in Libby and Overdrive with NO WAITLIST, so there's no reason not to check it out today! |
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The trauma cleaner : one woman's extraordinary life in the business of death, decay, and disaster
by Sarah Krasnostein I was browsing biographies with the idea of finding a bio of an interesting historical woman, but instead I found this story of an Australian woman who owns a business that specializes in cleaning up after crime scenes, murders, suicides, hoarding, and long-term property neglect. Switching between her current jobs and her personal history, I got to learn about a fascinating life across the globe. While it deals with heavy topics--child abuse, prostitution, and the trauma implied in the title--this book is surprisingly uplifting as its subject overcomes challenge after challenge to build the life she wants. |
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King Peggy : an American secretary, her royal destiny, and the inspiring story of how she changed an African village
by Peggielene Bartels Here's another biography of a normal woman with a fascinating life: secretary by day, king by night! Not only will you travel between Washington DC and Ghana, but you'll also need to (virtually) visit Boston Public Library's Overdrive/Libby collection to borrow this e-book. Trust me, it's worth the trip! If you've never visited another e-library before, click here to learn how. |
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The 100-year-old man who climbed out the window and disappeared
by Jonas Jonasson This is a trip through Sweden--and much of the rest of the world--that you'd never have the chance to take in real life because it's simply too wild! Hurtling through many major historical moments of the 20th century across the world and many ridiculous adventures in current-day Sweden, this book kept me laughing and guessing. Escaped elephant? Check. Mysteriously vanishing and reappearing bodies? Check. Unlikely romance? Check. Available as an e-book? Check! |
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Ayesha at last
by Uzma Jalaluddin Travel to Toronto, Canada, into a vibrant Muslim neighborhood with this modern adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. The story stands so well on its own that you don't need to have read the original (also available as an e-book) to enjoy this humorous tale of a romance hindered at every turn by missed connections, misunderstandings, and a few outright lies. |
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Who is Vera Kelly?
by Rosalie Knecht This take on a spy novel bounces between 1960s New York City and Buenos Aires as protagonist Vera Kelly infiltrates a student group in the Argentinian capital city under orders from the CIA and then is left to fend for herself as her mission implodes and Vera has to figure out who she really is and how to survive. |
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The life and times of the thunderbolt kid : a memoir
by Bill Bryson I'll admit that Des Moines, Iowa, was never high on my list of vacation destinations, but this book almost makes me want to visit--or at least go back to visit in the 1960s. With cringe-worthy childhood scenes, teenage misbehavior, and plenty of humor, you may even laugh out loud as you listen to the e-audiobook from Libbby/Overdrive. Enjoy all the fun of visiting the midwest without the hassle of traveling! |