Books on the Nightstand discussion

Hello! I have been reading on my iPad kindle app for a couple of years now (I love it, but that's a whole other discussion). Recently, I have rediscovered how great the library is as I am constantly taking my new-to-reading daughters to get more books.

I checked out a few paperback books and have also rediscovered the issue of disturbing my wife while I read. She reads in bed too, but goes to sleep before me and is disturbed by everything but the very slightest bit of light. (The iPad is fine on a dim setting.)

In the past I have used a variety of book lights, but none stood out as particularly impressive and I'm wondering if book light technology has advanced in the last couple of years or if any of you have found a good solution that works well for you and your partner.

Last night I actually used the light from my iPad's screen to read my book! It works in a pinch, but I'm looking for something a little less ironic.

I've used a flashlight app on my iPhone, but I prefer my Light Wedge. I have a small one & a bigger one; I prefer the bigger one for reading in bed; I keep the little one in the car for traveling-after-dark reading.

http://www.lightwedge.com/

You know Jeff, it's partially a joke, but shortly after I married my FIRST husband, I went to do what I had done for years - read myself to sleep, when he turned over and said, "You're not going to leave the light on, are you?" (No, I'm going to read in the dark!).

My present (second) husband is disturbed by the map lights when I read in the car at night. We have several options for this. One is a small lamp that is on an elastic band (my son got it somewhere) that I wear on my head (like a miner's lamp) or wear it around my neck and use my hands to direct.

I think my son uses a curly light that was meant to be used on an old hand-held video game.

We've also used itty-bitty book lights.

Does any of that help?

Jena wrote: "I've used a flashlight app on my iPhone, but I prefer my Light Wedge. I have a small one & a bigger one; I prefer the bigger one for reading in bed; I keep the little one in the car for traveling-a..."

I was looking at the light wedge but I'm currently reading a smaller paperback and felt that it would be awkward if it was bigger than this book (to accommodate bigger books too) I didn't realize they came in multiple sizes so that's an option. Do you find it distracting to have to move it for each page you read?

Linda wrote: "You know Larry, it's partially a joke, but shortly after I married my FIRST husband, I went to do what I had done for years - read myself to sleep, when he turned over and said, "You're not going ..."

I've decided to keep my wife, so I think I'll try the headlamp. :)

If I could find a relatively dim LED version it might work well. Thank you.

Jeff wrote: "Jena wrote: "I've used a flashlight app on my iPhone, but I prefer my Light Wedge. I have a small one & a bigger one; I prefer the bigger one for reading in bed; I keep the little one in the car fo..."

The one I tend to use is the first one which I wear as if it's a lanyard or wrap around my wrist and it isn't a problem.

I established long before we were married that my husband is immune to the light from my nightstand if he's tired. Then again, he's been known to fall asleep in the middle of the living room floor while playing with the kids.

Sorry, I know that's not helpful. I do love my Lightwedge for the occasional trip where I'm sharing a hotel or guest room with someone, but I get the size issue.

Bedtime for me means audio books. My husband is the lightest sleeper ever. Even the sound of me clicking on my iPod Shuffle wakes him up! Good think I like audio books. (I, on the other hand, sleep through chaos, so he gets to read all night with the full light on if he wants. Did anyone suggest life's not fair?!)

Separate rooms!!!!

@Jan - I have been trying audio in bed too. I usually have a book going in my car and then bedtime is for my other reading, but the last couple of nights I listened. The problem is I fell asleep and it took a while to figure out where I dropped put of the story. :)

THE NOOK/KINDLE!!

nook and a kindle libary book read in day light

Jeff wrote: "@Jan - I have been trying audio in bed too. I usually have a book going in my car and then bedtime is for my other reading, but the last couple of nights I listened. The problem is I fell asleep an..."

That IS a problem! I have the same issue. But--still seems to work well. (I use my audio podcasts when I need to go back to sleep, too, in the wee hours of the morning, so it's actually a plus in that circumstance!)

Separate bedrooms. No, there is nothing wrong with the marriage. This was suggested by a neurologist to deal with poor sleeping patterns in both of us. But it allows me to turn on the light in the middle of the night during a spell of insomnia (and him too).
By the way, I read a chapter aloud each night to my husband as he's falling asleep, then tiptoe across the hall to my room, pick up a different book and read for another hour.

Readnponder wrote: "Separate bedrooms. No, there is nothing wrong with the marriage. This was suggested by a neurologist to deal with poor sleeping patterns in both of us. But it allows me to turn on the light in t..."

I read to my wife most nights too. The separate bedrooms idea is interesting. I'm not sure if it's right for me yet, but the author of Drop Dead Healthy (great book BTW) says that he and his wife sleep separately too. Research indicates that it's much more common than I thought.

Jan wrote: "Jeff wrote: "@Jan - I have been trying audio in bed too. I usually have a book going in my car and then bedtime is for my other reading, but the last couple of nights I listened. The problem is I f..."

I get so lost that I've chosen to listen to stuff that is non linear as a whole (like Rebel Buddha) or something I've heard so many times that it doesn't matter where I pick up or leave off (like the Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy series).

@Melodie and @Tina - Don't get me wring, I LOVE my iPad kindle app for night time reading, and even my wife's kindle for daytime reading. I just found some good books that aren't available in e-book format and wanted to find a more analog solution to night reading. :)

@jenna, @ane (and the lightwedge proponents) - Do you have scratching issues with your lightwedge? I read some reviews that said that just sliding it across paper can scratch it. My guess is that this won't impair reading and that you could repair it pretty easily. Any issues for you?

Also, does the light fan pattern bother you?

I took care of this problem by getting a divorce. Lol Now my dogs sleep with me, and they don't complain about my reading lights. I'm keeping the dogs.

I have a Kindle case with a built-in booklight. If I'm reading on my Kobo or a paper book, I use a rechargeable booklight made by Verso. It's small and lightweight but puts out a good light.

@Jeff -- my small lightwedge got really scratched up, but I treated it pretty rough. Bigger one hasn't had that problem. Sometimes it is awkward to move it when you turn the page, especially if you're trying to read one-handed, but I really love how little light it emits in the rest of the room; it's also the perfect amount of light for reading, I think. My husband has suggested I could get a headlamp for reading--it seems more practical to him and he doesn't think he'd mind the light.

My hubby uses a headlamp and it works well as long as he's not using the crazy bright one. He could sleep through a marching band, so I just use the bedside lamp!

I understand the newest e-ink nook has a nightlight integrated....sounds like a great idea, but I don't really need it.

I really appreciate all of the great feedback. I am going to try out an LED headlamp. It fits all book sizes and I get the bonus of feeling like a spelunker while I read.

My husband works 12 hour shifts, 5 and a half days a week and as a result he sleeps so soundly I could be disco dancing, with a mirror ball, on my side of the bed and he wouldn't notice.
That lightwedge looks like a great idea for knitting at night in the car.

I'm lucky, my husband will sleep through almost anything, I have the nightstand light on every evening and he sleeps. Very occasionally will he complain, usually if he has problems falling asleep.

OKAY folks you should NOT be reading IN bed, bad for the head, neck, & shoulders and your marriage. But we all love falling asleep to a good story, that's why we're lifelong readers anyway - right!?!
Recently I've fallen in love with the "FREE" short story podcasts from the New Yorker, find your favorite author reading one of your favorite writers or vise versa! You can find it on ITunes, search podcasts - literature.

I'd suggest using a book light whose brightness is adjustable, so you can dim it when all other lights are off. The light should also produce warm light to make you feel relaxed and ready for a nap. Blue light is good for work, but may mess with your sleep hormones.
My favorite is the Ecologic Mart’s Eye Care that has 8 light intensity levels, from 5lm for reading in very dark environment all the way up to 40Lm. You can read a review here:
https://www.hookedtobooks.com/10-best...
You'll also find it on Amazon.

Saya wrote: "I'd suggest using a book light whose brightness is adjustable, so you can dim it when all other lights are off. The light should also produce warm light to make you feel relaxed and ready for a nap..."

Thanks for sharing that. It looks like a good light

As to falling asleep while listening for Jan and Jeff, recently I listened to books before I went to sleep, but knowing I would probably drift off, I set the timer for 15 or 30 minutes. Then I knew where I had to look for dropping off. Of course, If I made it for the time that I had set, I would just do it a second time, probably for 15 minutes.

I use my kindle paperwhite to read so I normally just put a extra pillow between us while he sleeps and I read.

Well my partner is a dog. She won't sleep in the little bed I got it so I tolerate it.

Headlamp! Like for camping.

Since I am extremely light sensitive and don't sleep well if not in total darkness I thought I'd give my suggestions. I say get your partner an eye mask or a scarf. I can't actually wear a mask due to some sinus issues so I use a scarf draped over my eyes. I hope this helps.

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Hugs

Robert
https://Ecologicmart.com

Kindle Papewhite.

My dog now tolerated me,

I don't read in bed. Instead, I read in my comfy chair in the living room until I am ready to go to bed, and then I get into bed with earphones to listen to soft music/nature sounds/audiobook/other thing intended to lull me to sleep. If I wake up in the middle of the night and want to read, I get up and go downstairs to do it. The bed is for sleeping and only sleeping.

Reading before bed has become a staple of my nightly routine, as I've really found it helps calm my racing mind to fall asleep much easier (especially with everything going on these days). I try to stick to reading physical books to avoid the blue light, and was having the very same problem with the reading light bothering my wife, as she went to bed earlier. I wasn't able to find any book light that worked on its own, but using it along with the Night Nook has done the trick for me (also works with laptops too!). www.nightnook.com/