Books contain just about everything a person could ask for to escape the mundane realities faced every day. However, there are plenty of additions that can be added to a home or library to make it just that little bit nicer, and a tad more unique.
These items are a must have for book lovers to make your reading that bit more relaxing, with a couple just to make your house, office, or classroom that bit more book lover friendly.
10. Personal Library Embosser
Normally, I’m absolutely against anything that even looks like it’s damaging a book, but there’s a certain warmth in seeing a perfectly pressed seal labelling a book as yours. Whether you’re just looking for that extra level of refinement in your library, sick of lending books to others without return, or just love the crisp seal of ownership, this is a simple (and relatively cheap) must have for the more possessive book lovers out there. There are plenty of options with this one too, with quite a few companies offering a variety of seals/pressers for all tastes.
9. Couch Potato’s Glasses
Trying to decide between lying down and reading? Keep dropping your book on your face after saying ‘Just one more page’ for the forty-seventh time? These glasses offer a simple solution. Lie down, have your book already resting in your lap, and read drop-free!
Alright, so this one is probably more for a niche market of book lovers, but there are some pretty good benefits to these, such as not craning your neck for too long. Just make sure you take them off when you get up. I can’t imagine you’ll be getting too far otherwise.
8. Reading Light with Timer
What’s so special about a light, you say? The timer. I’m sure I’m not the only book lover who has read themselves to sleep on more than one occasion. The beauty of this gadget is in its simple utility. Not only do you avoid waking to that hurtful light in the eyes, but it makes the batteries last significantly longer. Just clip onto either a desk or the book (just pad the clip a bit if you’re worried about damage to the book), set the timer, and you’re all good for a relaxing read to sleepiness. Also useful in stopping the endless cycle of one more page when the light goes out.
7. The Bibliochaise
This one has been around for over a decade, but remains a favourite. It has the equivalent of about five linear metre of bookshelf it’s all its nooks and crannies, meaning as long as you keep it stocked with your favourites, you’ll never run out of things to read! The only downside? I wouldn’t recommend resting a cup of tea on the arm. It hurts to think of how many books such a spill could damage.
6. Book Charging Dock
First and foremost, apologies to the Potter fans. No-one likes to see a book glued together and all in all unreadable, but I think in this case an exception can be made. The best part about this gadget is that the internet is full of DIY instructions on how to make one yourself. Whether using a copy of one of your favourites, or like me you just pick out the cheapest hardcover at your local library’s sale (a history book on the Franco-Prussian wars), any book is likely to look better than a pile of cords on the bench.
5. Thumb Page Holder
These little fellas seem to appear on every list like this that exists. There’s a good reason for that. The utility of these simplistic devices cannot be understated. Cheap, and available in far more styles than just the wooden one displayed above, the thumb page holder is a simple yet effective way of keeping the pages where you want them to be.
4. Book Shaped Folding USB Lamp
The folding book lamp has a multitude of benefits aside from the aesthetics of yet another book in the room. First of all, it’s made from wood and paper, making it seem for all intents and purposes like a book- right up to the moment you open it up and make use of the lamp. Being foldable, this gadget is also highly portable, and stores enough charge for eight hours of light. The USB makes it easy to charge as well, and the versatile design allows you to use it as a desk lamp, hang it on a wall, or simply as a decoration to booksy up the house a bit more.
3. Clear Acrylic Book Weight
For the outdoorsy types who may not find the thumb fitting page holders suitable, here’s a great alternative. The clear page holder ensures no part of the text is covered while you read and makes sure the pages aren’t flapping about all over the place. If you’re the type who enjoys reading on the beach, in the park, or are just getting through a few pages over lunch, this one is a must.
2. The LightWedge Reading Light
While we’re on the topic of acrylics; the LightWedge! By far one of the most considerate gadgets on this list, the beauty of this abstract take on the reading lamp is that by directing the light through the acrylic lens, it can ensure the person next to you is not disturbed. Whether on sharing a dark room with others or reading on a long haul flight, this can light up a whole page and let you read in peace, without giving others cause for complaint. Add in the lack of glare and claimed 40hr battery life, and it’s a very convenient addition to any book lover’s collection of gadgets.
1. The NAP Shiatsu Massaging Bed Rest
Do you have a loved one? Or even someone you don’t really like that much, but is obliged to give you a present of some sort? Get them here, show them this Bed Rest. This is by far my favourite on this list. It has almost everything a book lover could ask for including a massage couch, a cup holder, book sleeve and even a pocket for your TV remote (or bookmarks, whichever you find more convenient). Save perhaps light (there used to be variations with this, but as far as I can tell they were all recalled), and a microwave to heat up some late night snacks, this bed-couch is a ‘just add book’ solution to comfortably read before heading off to the land of nod.