How.. .do you read at night

[mickitaz]

k... here it goes.

I live in studio apartment and I love to read at night. My main problem is finding lighting that won't disturb my husband while he sleeps.

I have tried the little book lights, led lights etc. The few book lights I have tried are either too heavy for paperbacks, constantly have to adjust them every couple of pages or so, or produce too much glare.

The lamps that I have tried are great for reading in the daytime. But again, the carry over ambience generally will wake my husband if he rolls over to face the direction of the light.

So.. here is my question.. Where, when, and how do you all read at night with out disturbing other? Thanks in advance for the suggestions :thumbs_up

[papayahed]

http://www.villagehatshop.com/media/construction-light-sm.gif



I have a small desk lamp type light on my bedside table.

[ben.!]

I have a lamp that connects onto my bedside table, so I usually use that and read for about an hour to two hours before bed. It's the only time I have to read, so I try to use it as economically advantageous as I can. Since my Dad is now sleeping in my room on a mattress with some sheets at the foot of my bed, I now usually use a book light so I don't disturb him. He needs his sleep.

[Virgil]

When I don't want to disturb my wife, I use a flashlight.

[Dori]

Try reading in the bathroom. :p

EDIT: Better yet, try audio books.

[dramasnot6]

I read in the bathroom! Sometimes I get out a fluffy towel and place it on the floor and have a camp-out.

[Niamh]

I curl up in an armchair in my brothers room which is currently my den while hes in Austrailia, and read, with a shawl thrown over my shoulders.
Or i sit in my bed with a lamp on.

[Scheherazade]

http://img.alibaba.com/photo/50297950/Book_Lamp.jpg

I have one of these. It is strong enough to light the page but not strong enough to disturb anyone else.

At times of dire-needs, I use one of these as well:

http://www.spycatcheronline.co.uk/images/PDLUVFLUO.jpg

The fluorescent lamp is not as bright as the regular bulbs (also some strategic positioning also helps).

[HerGuardian]

i usually use some txt files and put them on my mobile and read at night

i try not to use paper books


so i don't disturb my wife

[mickitaz]

i usually use some txt files and put them on my mobile and read at night

i try not to use paper books


so i don't disturb my wife

I really appreciate everyone's help... The one book lite that was pictured, was the one that I purchased, but it was too heavy for my paperbacks. And for my hard covers, it didn't have enough clearence (picky, yes, I know :blush: )

This kind of touches on a second train of thought. I have been thinking bout the e-books from Amazon and Sony. But, me being the old fashioned person I am.. like the feel of a book in my hands.. the paper crunching between my fingers. The clutter on my nightstand and my bookshelves.

Plus.. from what I have seen, not all of the modern books are available on the e-books. While I don't have to rely soley on this method for reading, for the price they are asking for these puppies... I would almost want to use it exclusively. While this does stray somewhat from my original question.. Has anyone tried them? If so, what are your thoughts? Thanks

[blazeofglory]

I need no particular ambiance and anywhere I can sit and read. No particular bed or anything or light for that matter.

[aabbcc]

Read in the living room.

When I was a child my parents passed onto me the habit that I don't read in bedroom (even though for several years I did do that, more out of spite than anything else, probably in that period of my life when I rejected everything they taught me :D), which is an amazing thing - bedroom is a place to sleep and rest, and to only sleep and rest, as I was taught. Sort of your own little temple dedicated to one purpose only, without too much things inside (technology, books, etc), if the size of your apartment permits that. So, if you can, read in another room - that way you won't disturb the person you share room with at all, and will do them a favour, because everything affects the quality of sleep, even little light and your constant turning of pages - not drastically, but it affects. Let them sleep and you nicely read in another room. :)

EDIT: Not also you affect the quality of their sleep, but also the quality of your own reading, especially considering the eyes... Reading with minimum light as some suggested is in most cases unwholesome for the health of your eyes.

[Virgil]

Read in the living room.

When I was a child my parents passed onto me the habit that I don't read in bedroom (even though for several years I did do that, more out of spite than anything else, probably in that period of my life when I rejected everything they taught me :D), which is an amazing thing - bedroom is a place to sleep and rest, and to only sleep and rest, as I was taught. Sort of your own little temple dedicated to one purpose only, without too much things inside (technology, books, etc), if the size of your apartment permits that. So, if you can, read in another room - that way you won't disturb the person you share room with at all, and will do them a favour, because everything affects the quality of sleep, even little light and your constant turning of pages - not drastically, but it affects. Let them sleep and you nicely read in another room. :)

EDIT: Not also you affect the quality of their sleep, but also the quality of your own reading, especially considering the eyes... Reading with minimum light as some suggested is in most cases unwholesome for the health of your eyes.

Not read in bed? :eek2: :eek2: That's sacrilige. ;)

[Nightshade]

Try reading in the bathroom. :p

EDIT: Better yet, try audio books.


I read in the bathroom! Sometimes I get out a fluffy towel and place it on the floor and have a camp-out.

Or put towels in the bath... then you can lie down and read... I do that sometimes if Im sharing a room with fussy siblings.
kitchen floor are another suprisingly comfortable place.

Ive got one of these http://www.independentliving.com/images/106178.jpg its great except that after about 90 minutes it gets too hot and turns off.

But the best solution is invest in some of these
http://www.findcoolclothes.com/products/large_photos/kittymask.jpg

[aabbcc]

Not read in bed? :eek2: :eek2: That's sacrilige. ;)
No in my bedroom, no. But I do read in my living room / bibliotheque, where it's pretty comfortable to read. I have very comfortable couch and armchairs there, as well as desk and working place if I wish to read "properly". :D But mostly I indulge myself so I read curled up in one of the armchairs, with a blanket.

[black butterffl]

why don't u just throw ur husband out of the room :P:P:P
kidding kidding
yeah just reaf in the living room or in the bathroom (never tried that btw :P)

[RoCKiTcZa]

I simply turn on my cell phone screen's light and read under the covers. :lol: Most of the reading I do at night is "stealthy" so I don't really go for the comfort/convenience factor.

[ClaesGefvenberg]

The lamps that I have tried are great for reading in the daytime. But again, the carry over ambience generally will wake my husband if he rolls over to face the direction of the light.I don't think the light source is the real problem. Do you think a screen between you and hubby would solve the problem?

/Claes

[Nossa]

I have my own room, so this isn't really a problem. But if I need to read in a room with someone sleeping, I either try reading the corner of the room, away from where they're asleep. Or I use one of those little lamps that Scher posted, they're pretty good.

[mickitaz]

I really appreciate all the ideas, guys. Thanks. Most of the time, it isn't too much of a problem. But on the rare occassion, the light bothers my husband. I have tried reading in the bathroom.. kinda fun but my rear goes to sleep. I sometimes read outside on my porch with an led light my husband has for grilling at night time. Most of the time, I am in bed before he is. But on the rare occasion (like the night of the release of the final Harry Potter book) I was up to 5 am reading before I put the book down.

[blazeofglory]

In our country there is regular loadshedding and reading at night is exciting but the problem is no light.

[mickitaz]

In our country there is regular loadshedding and reading at night is exciting but the problem is no light.

May I ask what "loadshedding" is? just curious. :blush:

[Pensive]

May I ask what "loadshedding" is? just curious. :blush:

Breakdown of electricity due to shortage of water/machinery/worker's laziness/government's lack of good govern/some other reason.

We are having it pretty bad these days. From a few days it's like the electricity comes for exactly an hour and then it goes for an hour. Twelve hours a day it stays and the other twelve hours are supposed to be spent in candle-light/emergency light (those who can afford have generators and stuff too but that can't be done by everyone). End of the rant. Couldn't sleep well last night due to it. :(

[mtpspur]

Most of my reading is in bed but when the long suffering one arrives I move to the living room.

[Joreads]

Buy your husband an eye mask then you can read everynight. It works for us but I am not suppose to tell anyone so we will keep this just between us.

[wilbur lim]

I literally read in the living room while my mother is asleep in the bedroom.It doesn't hitherto affect anyone despite the intensity of the light.

[JBI]

I have my own room, but I have before, in the past, used the street lamps as light - they provide just enough, though you strain your eyes that way. Better off getting a headband, and sticking a flashlight onto it, sort of like a miner's helmet. That way you can read, and not bother anyone, or be too uncomfortable (but you may look silly).

[JBI]

No in my bedroom, no. But I do read in my living room / bibliotheque, where it's pretty comfortable to read. I have very comfortable couch and armchairs there, as well as desk and working place if I wish to read "properly". :D But mostly I indulge myself so I read curled up in one of the armchairs, with a blanket.

Eek, I only like to read in my bedroom. I feel, it is far slower reading with a shirt on than without one. Also, I have a memory foam mattress, so it elevates the book nicely if I prop it up on a pillow, to the point where I can put 3/4 of my body asleep, while still reading, and therefore read longer, faster, and later.