Can you read your DLEs?

I hope this doesn't sound sacrilegious but I find these beautiful books WAY too big and awkward to hold and read. Don't get me wrong, I find them beautiful and enjoy them on my shelves, but after looking through them, and enjoying the illustrations, paper texture and the overall 'look' of the book, I just put them back on the shelf. For reading, I prefer to buy a smaller volume that I can easily cradle in my arms without getting cramps. As I read, I often go back to the DLE to again enjoy the illustrations as they pertain to the story.

How do other folks feel about this issue or is it

I used to buy large, beautiful books that looked good on the shelf, but, like you, I found them to be too unwieldy to hold on my lap and read. Now I never buy a book more than 11 inches tall. This practice still enables me to enjoy most DLEs including all the illustrator-signed editions.

>1 Frank_Zwolinski: I read all of mine DLE books and I usually lying down in my bed while I read them. If dle is too large I just place it on the pillow. You spent 300 and more on the book just to look at illustrations? Well, I would never do that. Find your own way to make it comfortable to read large dles . You buy expensive books to read and fully enjoy them not just look at illustrations

>1 Frank_Zwolinski: I read my DLEs and other large books (I collect art books, also, so this is an issue I'm used to dealing with). The best solution I've found is to read sitting upright in a comfortable chair or on a couch and to lay the book in your lap on top of either a bed pillow or a large flat throw pillow. It works out pretty well.

>4 whytewolf1: ditto

>4 whytewolf1: Exactly what I do

>1 Frank_Zwolinski: I use a tilted lap desk on top of two flat seat cushions for ergonomic comfort to read all my books including the DLEs. I place a protective cloth under the leather book to protect the book from accidental damage. I found this set up handled all books 14” and less.

For larger books 15+” I place the lap desk on my desk when reading. I place smaller books for support in the lap desk under the tilted lap desk cover.

I hope you find a way to FULLY enjoy your expensive DLEs.

Folks,

Thank you for these ideas; I will give them a try.

Warmly,
Frank

>9 Bob_Reader: Search “lap desk” on Amazon and you will see plenty of examples.

>11 Bob_Reader: you can also read a book on these stands; they are not just for lap tops. Also look up “ergonomic book holder stand” and you will see some great options. Just make sure the stand is the size you want (mine is 13 x 10) and can handle a maximum weight of 12 pounds which should handle most heavy DLEs.

EP used to sell a lectern, I'm not sure if they still do

>1 Frank_Zwolinski:, >9 Bob_Reader: I’ve been very happy using the “Atlas Ergonomic Bookstand". It’s made of sturdy MDF with a heavy vinyl coating (also comes in several woodgrain finishes.) I bought the industrial-strength model designed for librarian cataloguers, who may need to hold a 4” thick volume open to the title page. I thought I needed the 4” shelf to work with the heavy, fragile 18th and 19th century atlases and encyclopaedias I collect. But if you don’t routinely need to hold a 4” thick volume open to page one, the standard 3” models should work fine, even for the heaviest books. I was able to read, for the first time, my otherwise unwieldy Phaidon "Art Museum", (17x13, 18 lbs) shown in the pix below. I also use it with large Taschen art books. It has an 11x11 footprint and adjustable reading angles from 15 to 60 degrees. It's hinged and collapses down flat - I keep it folded on my desk behind my monitor. Made in US, around $79. Designer's website is at www.bookandcopyholders.com

The photos below show the Atlas LC alone, with the Phaidon elephant folio, with a quarto, and a side view. When I posted a similar message in another forum two years ago, another owner suggested that the tiny silicone nubs on the shelf may mar the gilt on the bottom of the text block – if that’s a concern, you can simply flip the shelf upside-down, for a completely smooth surface.

>14 BangkokYankee: Thank you so much for posting this and the pictures are very helpful to understand how the unit works. I will likely purchase one but I still am trying to find a better setup for reading while in a chair. Most of my reading is done in my soft padded basket chair, in my bedroom (with my feet up) and I like to hold my books upright, cradled in my arms. Having said this, I will look into using this device for larger books while sitting at my desk.
Thank you!
Frank

I’m retired, and sitting upright at a desk is too much like work. If I can’t read a book sitting in my recliner, with or without a pillow, the book probably won’t get read. That’s why I don’t buy the oversized books anymore.

>16 jroger1: What about GOW lol

>17 fancythings:
The height is okay but it’s heavy, so I use a pillow.

>18 jroger1: pillows are the best. Welcome to the club