You might think that all you need for a solid reading session is a good book and a place to sit, but having the right items to help you read the way you want to or make you feel comfortable can make the difference between enjoying a book for hours or cutting a reading session short, so you want to make sure you know all the tools you could have at your disposal. Whether you’re looking for something new to make your reading life easier or trying to find a perfect gift to give a book-loving friend, here are 10 items that any avid reader would love.
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1) Bookmarks
We’ve all torn off scraps of paper or scrambled to find some random flat enough object to use as a makeshift bookmark at the end of a reading session. In the end, you might even come to like that folded sticky note, but it’s clear that the bookmark you choose matters. This metal feather bookmark could pair extremely well with a fantasy read, or maybe it just fits your aesthetic preferences. The options are endless and selecting a bookmark that can follow you from book to book or that matches your reading experience can make it all the more enjoyable.
2) Page Holder
If you have a book bound in a way that makes it never want to stay open, then a page holder will help ease that frustrating reading experience. A page holder will fit nicely around your thumb while you hold a book with one hand and spread the pages out, and the length of the holder will stop your pages from turning inward while you read. Page holders make reading with one hand easy and comfortable, so if you tend to multitask while you read, this product will let you have a free hand while you do so. As a bonus, some companies such as Missing Digit Workshop will even custom engrave wooden page holders for you!
3) Book Weights
Page holders are great when you’re holding a book, but when you need reading material flat on the table, a book weight will do the job much better. Instead of needing your hand to apply the necessary pressure to keep a book open, a book weight will have small…well, weights at each end that will keep the pages pressed down despite the spine position or wind that might make pages inclined to close or flip. If your book weight is made of rubber or a similar material, like our recommended book weight, then you will even be able to keep the pages flat while the book sits at an angle too, which makes this perfect for studying and pleasure reading. It’s also very flexible, making it easy to move it in any direction you need it, no matter how odd the positioning.
4) Book Stand
If you’re reading a paper book, the metal prongs of this book stand will hold your page, and the adjustable angle will make sure your neck stays comfortable for long reading sessions! Don’t worry if you’re the reader who prefers digital reading but still needs a useful option for keeping your device in a comfortable position, though.
A book stand like the one we’ve picked out here will also fit a laptop or tablet, so if you’re more modern and like to read electronically, this will still work wonders for you when reading for long periods of time.
5) Booklight
A book light is the perfect item to have when reading before bed or in darker rooms around the house. It can also make a great traveling companion if you like to read during the commute. This book light comes with three different brightness settings, and you’ll find this important because you always want to make sure you have the proper lighting when you read. Too little light and your reading will be cut short because of eye strain, and if your room’s lights are at awkward angles, you might strain your neck or sit uncomfortably as you try to read. A book light will provide you with the perfect amount of light from exactly the angle you want.
6) Bath Tub Caddy
Keeping with the idea that the best book accessories help you read in a variety of situations, a bathtub caddy allows you to maximize comfort while reading. All you need to do is set up a few candles, light the room well enough to read, and relax in a warm bath with the current book on your reading list. Of course, we recommend a caddy with adjustable sides and the ability to support a hardback book or your tablet— just make sure you don’t drop anything into the tub!
7) Bookplates
As readers, we love each and every book we put on our shelves, but we do have favorites. And for those books near and dear to you, bookplates offer a unique way to personalize them with a vintage flair. Whether they are stamps or letterpress bookplates, each will have an appealing design that you can match to your own aesthetics and a space for your signature. Alternatively, you could stamp each book in your library with this copse of trees and your signature to add to their history as your library grows or they circulate around the world.
8) Bookends
When you’re an avid reader, it’s normal to read more than a single book at one time. It might get a little hectic remembering where you put each book you are currently reading, and this makes bookends extremely valuable. If you have a simple, elegant pair of bookends like these, you can set aside space on top of your desk or bookshelf for the stack of books you’re currently reading. Now everything will be well organized and in one place. You’ll even get some bonus aesthetic value given the variety of bookends to choose from.
9) Carrying Bag/ Tote
If you’re here at Between the Shelves, it’s not much longer before you’re between the pages of a good book again. Those books need to travel with you though, so any book lover will enjoy a large tote bag that’s just the right size for moving around a variety of books. Tote bags serve both as a handy way to move around books and a place to show off your favorite quotes or bookish slogan.
10) Book-Themed Mug
Lastly, what’s reading without a hot cup of coffee to go along with it? Everywhere you look reading and comforting beverages go hand in hand, so you’ll naturally want a mug that puts you in the mood to read and matches your interests.
Reading always goes well when you have everything you personally need with you, and just a few small accessories can go a long way to make reading more organized, cozy, and engaging. If you’ve been looking for new accessories to either enhance your reading experience or give as a gift, then hopefully you now have some inspiration for which items you and your book lover need to keep those reading sessions going in ease and style.
