Reading in bed

Pillows propped up - or slapped down - bedside light a reach away, there can be no reading pleasure comparable to the pleasures of reading in bed. Whether it's a book or a magazine, or in the form of tablet or Kindle, the ritual of curling up with a good read is a cherished institution.

The allure lies not only in encountering the contents of what is being read but also in the physical activity in the intimacy of one's sanctuary - the bed. You are up close and personal with the written word - on screen or paper - anchored in bed and, at the same time, freely roaming around the real or unreal multiverse through words.

As the pages are turned or scrolled, the bed itself becomes a portal to alternate realities, or happenings far away. Will you turn this way or that with the page you're reading? Will you lie on your back or belly to read the exciting bits? These become completely valid questions.


The soft lamplight, the warmth or coolness of blankets, and the gentle rustle of pages create a cocoon conducive to peace - which will ultimately run over into a turn of the lamp switch and then sleep.