Author name: Jessica Stroud

Original post by Tiffany Wincek, Product Liaison at OverDrive | July 27, 2020 | OverDrive Blog

“I’m not one who sets reading goals. Unless it was for a free personal pan pizza. Remember the BOOK IT! program? Anyone? Turns out it’s still a thing…

I tend to read whatever and whenever I want to, but I am pretty much always reading a book, listening to a book, or both. I have been trying to read more nonfiction, whether it pertains to current events or self-growth. However, I have seen my love of fantasy grow even more. Is it because of the pandemic, the social issues, and being cooped up? I’m not sure, but I bet it’s played a part. I have also been reading more fantasy with super strong female characters (lots from authors Sarah J. Maas, Victoria Aveyard, and Claire Legrand). Having a series to immerse myself in is like the comfort food of books for me. Not unlike a personal pan pizza.”

-Lisa, Training Specialist

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“My attention span and focus has fluctuated throughout the first half of 2020. Lately, I’ve been reading short stories, poetry, or articles. Content-wise, my focus is more on nonfiction, education, and current events than the fiction I usually crave during the summer months. Most recently, I’ve put a majority of my energy toward awareness and educating myself on news and issues. “

-Gabby, Training Specialist

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“I am a lover of audiobooks. In the past, I would listen to them in my car going to and from work. Now that I am home most days, I have been listening to audiobooks while taking a daily walk. For me this is a win-win. I am getting exercise and a way to continue enjoying wonderful stories.”

-Stacey, UX Analyst

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“I’ve read more in the last four months than I did in all of 2019. I’ve circled back to my TBR list and finally read books I’ve long been meaning to: A Discovery of Witches, A Little Life, The Cruel Prince Trilogy (all of which I LOVED). I reread books to see if my opinions changed: Twilight (I fully get why I devoured them as a young adult), The Divine Comedy: Inferno (it just made sense to revisit Hell), and The Lovely Bones (harder now as a mother but still one of the most beautifully written books I’ve ever read).

I read buzzworthy books like Darling Rose Gold and My Dark Vanessa — if you read those both in succession, I suggest a much lighter, feel good book immediately after, like In Five Years. You might cry, but you won’t be knuckle-white clenching your couch pillows like I was with those first two. I also read and listened to books I needed to, books that challenged the view I had of my own seemingly open mind: White Fragility and Me and White Supremacy.

I learned a lot. Reading is still an escape for me, but in our world today, I don’t know if it always should be. We should feel uncomfortable and challenged. We learn more by listening and reading than we do by speaking. Going forward, I hope to continue to choose books that challenge my world view.”

-Christina, Outreach Specialist

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“I’ve definitely increased my listening of political podcasts, which has then influenced my reading choices via interviews with authors or recommendations from guests. Since we’re trying to cook more at home to a) pass the time and b) improve our cooking skills, I’ve been working my way through way more audiobooks whilst in the kitchen. Most recently, I’ve taken advantage of the Black Lives Matter: Community Read titles being offered through my local public library, and I’ve also been seeking out more books from Black authors in general. I’m doing what I can to educate myself so that I can be a better advocate.”

-Ben, Account Manager

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“Usually my goal is to read one book per month, but I’ve only read one in the past several months despite having more time at home since I’m not commuting to work. While that feels disappointing, my kids have started to take an interest in my all-time favorite comic, Calvin and Hobbes, to balance out the reading joy. The best moment so far was when my son quoted Calvin out of the blue when we were playing outside and said, ‘Dad, I’m telling the newspapers about you.’”

-Beau, Team Lead

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About the Author:

Tiffany Wincek, the Product Liaison for OverDrive Education, taught in New York public schools for 10 years prior to joining Team OverDrive. She holds degrees in English, education, and literacy and loves making authentic connections with and providing solutions for OverDrive partners. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, baking, lifting heavy things, and listening to nothing but Nothing But Thieves.

Original post by Tiffany Wincek, Product Liaison at OverDrive | July 23, 2020 | OverDrive Blog

This year has been nothing if not turbulent. For months, our daily schedules, habits, and thoughts have turned upside down, which means our reading lives have changed, too. Below, Team OverDrive shares how their reading lives are different in 2020.

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“Previously, I could not get enough dystopian books. These books have not appealed to me during the pandemic. Now, I’m gravitating more toward own voices ebooks and audiobooks. A few of my favorite titles in recent weeks are My Sister the Serial Killer, I’m Not Dying with You Tonight, and The Downstairs Girl.”

-Victoria, Account Manager

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“I read all the time; all the time. It is my go-to coping mechanism and my only hobby. I open a book on my Kindle and escape. So, unsurprisingly, in this stressful environment I read even more in the last four months – 75 books so far this year. I keep up with J and YA so I can make good recommendations for school partners, and I listen to nonfiction audiobooks (Stamped – Racism, Antiracism and You is so good on audio with Jason Reynolds reading it himself), and I confess to spending the rest of my time in quarantine reading advanced reader copies of chick lit from NetGalley. I read Connie Schultz’s first novel, The Daughters of Erietown; I highly recommend it.”

-Sarah, Content Specialist

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“My reading for 2020 has changed, but also hasn’t changed. I’ve read 18 books already (four ahead of schedule according to Goodreads), but I’ve found myself gravitating toward rereads instead of new reads. Something about rereading my favorite book, and knowing how it ends, brings a sense of comfort to the crazy unknown we’re all experiencing.”

-Andrea, Product Support Specialist

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“Prior to COVID-19, I enjoyed reading predominantly ebooks of different genres and topics. Over the last few months, I realized that I wasn’t making much time to read. Because I was spending so much time working on my computer, the screen time drained my eyes. After I transitioned to only using audiobooks, I felt much happier and made time each day to listen. I’ve also transitioned to audiobooks that are either inspiring, humorous, or informative. With so much happening in the world, these genres have helped me stay positive, educated, and mentally strong. Examples of these audiobooks are The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple, and currently David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell.”

-Kaleigh, Account Manager

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“For the past several years, about 90% of my reading has been in audiobook format, which I love. I am a terrible multitasker, so I listen to audiobooks while I drive, clean, bake, sew—everything! However, since coronavirus started, I’ve been working from home, which has given me more time (no commuting or socializing!), so I have switched to mostly ebooks. While I still love audiobooks, I’ve felt the need to engage myself 100% in the books I’m reading as a form of escape, whereas audiobooks allow me to split my focus. So far in 2020 I’ve read 71 books, and 15 of the last 16 have been ebooks!”

-Hannah, Content Specialist

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“With the onset of COVID, I’m cooped up in a one-bedroom apartment and technology has taken over my life. While I still try to read, I’ve spent more time sitting at my desk, playing online board games, Zooming with friends for social contact, or falling deep into the Netflix black hole! My body made it known that I needed to get outside and go for daily walks. Audiobooks made for the perfect motivation to get out! I’ve set the rule that I can only listen while going for a walk, so if I want to know what happens next…well, I’ve got to get my behind moving!”

-Bailey, Account Manager

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“When the first wave of the pandemic hit, I was learning how to work from home daily instead of twice a month and I was preparing to move to a new apartment. My reading habits definitely took a hit. I went from reading several books a week to not reading at all. Every topic felt too heavy or too unimportant, even the most hopeful nonfiction books or the fluffiest and sweetest teen romances.

I began reading again – slowly – once I got settled into the new place and learned how to better balance my work and home life conditions. I eased back in with a few re-reads of old favorites and queued up some audiobooks for (masked!) outdoor walks around my new neighborhood. I still felt guilty for not listening to the news or to podcasts telling me how to live more/better/different, so it was sometimes hard to find a way back in, and I would turn to TV or video games as an outlet.

Three months later, I finally feel able to read on a somewhat regular schedule again. I have been devouring everything I can to educate myself on Black history and how to be a better ally and activist for the Black Lives Matter movement. And when the world seems like a cruel or scary place, I escape into some new favorites in self-help, romance (hello, Talia Hibbert!), and LGBTQIA+ YA.”

-Sydney, Training Manager

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About the Author:

Tiffany Wincek, the Product Liaison for OverDrive Education, taught in New York public schools for 10 years prior to joining Team OverDrive. She holds degrees in English, education, and literacy and loves making authentic connections with and providing solutions for OverDrive partners. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, baking, lifting heavy things, and listening to nothing but Nothing But Thieves.

OverDrive’s Black Lives Matter: Community Reads is a digital book program created to provide simultaneous access permissions to important titles on social justice and anti-racism. The titles included in the program are focused on #ownvoices and are intended to help us to read, listen, learn and grow as we expand our knowledge of race relations.

Beginning today, So You Want to Talk about Race by Ijeoma Oluo, will be available as an audio book from through July 26, 2020. Editor-at-Large of The Establishment Ijeoma Oluo offers a contemporary, accessible take on the racial landscape in America, addressing head-on such issues as privilege, police brutality, intersectionality, micro-aggressions, the Black Lives Matter movement, and the “N” word. Perfectly positioned to bridge the gap between people of color and white Americans struggling with race complexities, Oluo answers the questions readers don’t dare ask, and explains the concepts that continue to elude everyday Americans.

Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor by Layla F. Saad is available as an OverDrive eBook through July 12. This title is immediately available to read with no wait list.

The book is based on the viral Instagram challenge that captivated participants worldwide, Me and White Supremacy takes readers on a 28-day journey of how to dismantle the privilege within themselves so that they can stop (often unconsciously) inflicting damage on people of color, and in turn, help other white people do better, too.

Listen to an interview with Layla F. Saad on the Professional Book Nerds podcast:

 

Following the initial publication of this blog post, OverDrive announced that The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas was added to the Black Lives Matter: Community Reads digital collection as an eBook. This title will be available until July 19.

This title is the recipient of several awards and accolades, including: 8 starred reviews ∙ Goodreads Choice Awards Best of the Best ∙ William C. Morris Award Winner ∙ National Book Award Longlist ∙ Printz Honor Book ∙ Coretta Scott King Honor Book ∙ #1 New York Times Bestseller

The audio book The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander is available from OverDrive with no wait list through July 15.

Since it was first published in 2010, this book has been cited in judicial decisions and has been adopted in campus-wide and community-wide reads; it helped inspire the creation of the Marshall Project and the new $100 million Art for Justice Fund; it has been the winner of numerous prizes, including the prestigious NAACP Image Award; and it has spent nearly 250 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Most important of all, it has spawned a whole generation of criminal justice reform activists and organizations motivated by Michelle Alexanders unforgettable argument that we have not ended racial caste in America; we have merely redesigned it.