Books Online?

weread.com

I havent had tons of time to go thru it

You're unlikely to get anything for free that isn't in the public domain, and since it takes at least 50 years for works to get into the public domain, then it tends to be only the classics that are free.  If you have an iPhone or iPod Touch, you can use Stanza (http://www.lexcycle.com/) which has modern books available for a fee and I think allows you to sync your library with your computer so you can read your downloads on it. 

Ah I see. Well, I have an iPod, but not one of the new fancy ones. I'll just catch up on the classics online, I guess, and then read the more modern stuff the old fashioned way, which is kind of ironic, no?  

I'm definitely gonna look into those other sites, though. Thanks!

Historyenne is right - you're not likely to get downloads of any modern books for free.  

Hehe. It was worth a try. I'm not that cheap, honest! I prefer to read books in hard copy rather than online, I just wanted to kill some time at work, but I can just as easily do that while catching up on some classics I've always wanted to read but passed up in order to read something more modern.  

weread.com

I havent had tons of time to go thru it

Yeah, I've been checking that out, but its more like a community and place to list books you have read and reviews and make lists of books you would like to read. No downloads, as far as I can tell. Still pretty cool, though. 

I've been looking more closely at the Stanza website, and it seems that you can download books to your desktop and keep them there, no need to sync to an iPod.  So that might be an option.  The trouble is that if you download too many books then they take up space on your computer, and if you delete them then you waste the money you paid. 

I think the e-availability of the classics is a great thing.  I've got quite a few on my iPod and it's so convenient just to be able to call one up on a whim without having to go to the library or spend any money.  As you say, Jewlz, it's a good way to read the books you always meant to read and never got around to 

weread.com does have a section to read online
but check this out
Google has reached a groundbreaking agreement with authors and publishers.
http://books.google.com/

And, with Stanza, publishers like Random House and BAEN (where you CAN get books for free! Just Google ''Baen Free Library''), will do promotions where you can download more recent books for free.  Of course, if you're me, you end up reading the first book in a series and then buying the rest so free is....relative.

I love Stanza--on those awful occasions where I don't have a book in my bag...I read on my phone.

weread.com does have a section to read online
but check this out
Google has reached a groundbreaking agreement with authors and publishers.
http://books.google.com/

To be honest, the agreement isn't all that great. A large number of authors (including many of my friends) are not too happy with Google. There are many loopholes that are not in the authors favor. Also, I'm not entirely sure the agreement was approved by the judge as of yet.

On a side note I'm happy to see the larger availability online of the older classics. What I do not like are the wealth of sites that pirate copies of authors' works. It is a pain to continue to have to send cease and desist letters.