If you didn’t catch it already on my social media channels, this weekend I was a guest over at my good friend, Ann Malley’s, blog, talking about my history with reading, writing, and all things bookish. I gave Ann some information about the Reading Challenge group I started on Facebook this past summer and mentioned how I’ve enjoyed using the challenges to keep myself from falling into a reading rut, when it struck me. There have to be other tools out there to help us be better readers. So, I pulled out my phone and started combing the App Store for reading-related apps. Some, like Kindle and Goodreads, I’ve been familiar with for a long time, but a few were completely new and such fun to discover.
Here’s a list of my four favorites. I hope you find them helpful!
If you want to read faster… try:
Spreeder
Spreeder is a snap to set up. Just type in your email address and choose a words-per-minute reading target, and you’re good to go! You can either add your own text to Spreeder, or you can search their library of works by topic (ranging from Naval Science to Fine Arts and including classic titles, like Pride and Prejudice, as well as more contemporary ones) or grade level (spanning grades 3- 12, College/Adult, Advanced, or Expert). You can also follow Spreeder’s pre-determined “Courses”, which guide you from less challenging to more challenging material and then check out the cheerful, clean visuals that show your stats.
If you don’t have time to read… try:
Audible
This is the only non-free app on this list, though right now, you can sign up for a free month-long trial of Audible or get a special holiday rate on a subscription. If you want to read but don’t have time, this one might be right up your alley, though, and worth the fee. You can download and listen to a huge selection of fiction, non-fiction, even Audible Original plays narrated by high-caliber celebs.
I haven’t used Audible myself, though my husband swears by it. He loves to listen to a book while he’s working on a graphic design project or a new illustration. In my opinion, this is a great app to invest in if you have a long commute to work or school, want to make house chores or yard work less boring, or need a way to unwind in the evenings before bed. A bonus: you can keep any audiobooks you download prior to cancelling the subscription.
If your reading life feels disorganized… try:
Reading List
The beauty of Reading List is its simplicity. The app doesn’t require a lot of fancy instructions; just open it up and click the “+” sign to add a book to your library. You can either add titles manually, by barcode scan, or by online search. You can also add books to a “Finished” list as you complete them, or you can group books together into categorized lists (i.e. Edwardian-Era Historical Fiction, Cozy Mysteries Set on the East Coast, etc.). If you’re already tracking your reading list on Goodreads, this app might be redundant, but if you just want a bare-bones interface at your fingertips, Reading List might be of interest to you.
If you need to train your brain… try:
Elevate
Elevate might be my favorite app of them all. It’s a brain-training program disguised as a game (similar to Lumosity, which I’ve used and enjoyed before, but this one is focused on reading/ writing/ communication skills, as well as math). You can choose goals to improve your reading comprehension, increase your reading speed, or super-charge your memory, among others. After answering a few questions that test your reading, writing, communication, and math abilities, the app designs a personalized gaming experience for you that will guide you to greater levels of achievement.
The games are really addictive to play, and they morph as your skill level progresses. I had a lot of fun trying to beat the built-in timer and best my old scores. The math games were the only ones that frustrated me, though that came as no surprise, ha! Like all the others on this list, Elevate is free, though it does offer a premium subscription. If you don’t want to subscribe to Elevate at all, just click the “X” in the upper left-hand corner when the box pops up asking if you want a free 14-day trial, and continue with your free, no-strings-attached account.
So that’s my round-up of apps to help you become a better reader! Have you used any of these? Any other bookish apps that you use and love?
Keep reading!
Shaen
2 comments
I love this blog, Shaen. You caught me with “audible.” I hate housework and can think of no better distraction than a good book while having to do what needs must. Thanks for the hat tip! Cheers ;^)
Happy you enjoyed the list (and YES to anything that makes housework more pleasant)! I have to admit, I’m a bit obsessed with Elevate now. Those learning games are addictive!
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