Christmas gifts for someone who reads a lot

Good Christmas gifts for someone who reads a lot make long sessions more comfortable: a warm, adjustable reading lamp, a book stand or e-reader cover that frees their hands, a soft throw, a bedroom humidifier for winter, and a bottle of lubricating eye drops for the eyes that do all the work. Readers blink less while absorbed in a page, so comfort gifts often beat another novel.

What to get someone who loves to read

People who read a lot usually have a to-be-read pile already, and they’re particular about books. Picking the next one for them is a gamble. Gifts that improve the reading itself are safer and get used every day. Think about where and how they read: in bed at night, in an armchair on a Sunday, on a commute, in a waiting room with an e-reader. Then look for something that makes that hour more comfortable.

Gifts for readers that aren’t books

• A reading lamp with an adjustable arm and a warm setting, so light falls on the page instead of in their eyes.
• A clip-on book light for reading in bed without keeping a partner awake.
• A book stand or page holder, which lets them read with relaxed hands and keeps the page at a comfortable distance.
• A padded e-reader cover with a stand, for propping it up on a table or a lap.
• A soft throw blanket and a good mug, the basic furniture of a reading corner.
• A small humidifier for the room where they read most in winter.
• A gift card to a local bookstore, so they choose the book and you choose the place.
• Eye drops for long reading sessions, tucked into a stocking.

Why big readers notice dry eyes

Reading changes how people blink. When attention is locked onto a page or a screen, blinks come less often, and many of them are only partial. Every full blink spreads a fresh layer of tears across the eye; fewer of them means the tear film thins, and the eyes start to feel gritty, scratchy or tired after a few chapters. Reading in a heated room in December, or under a ceiling fan, speeds up evaporation further. Our guide to dry eyes when reading covers the habits that help.

That’s why comfort gifts suit readers so well. A lamp that cuts glare, a stand that lowers the book a little so the eyes aren’t opened as wide, and a humidifier that keeps winter air from getting too dry all address the same thing from different sides.

E-readers, tablets and audiobooks

Plenty of heavy readers have moved some or all of their reading to a screen. E-readers make it easy to read for hours, which is the appeal and also the catch: long, uninterrupted sessions mean long stretches of reduced blinking. Gift ideas for screen readers:

• A stand or grip that holds the device at a slight downward angle.
• A subscription or gift card for their reading app, so they pick the titles.
• Comfortable headphones for audiobooks, which give the eyes a break while the story keeps going.
• A small, elegant timer or bookmark-style reminder to look up every 20 minutes or so.

Eye drops as a stocking stuffer for a reader

A bottle of Quell is small enough for a stocking and fits on a nightstand beside a book. It’s a lubricating eye drop designed to reinforce the tear film’s oil layer to help reduce moisture loss. The label lists its Uses as: For use as a protectant against further irritation or to relieve dryness of the eye. The directions read: Apply 1 drop 3 times per day in each eye. The bottle is .33 fl oz (10 mL), and the drops look milky brown, which is normal: The eye drops have a naturally milky-brown appearance. This is normal and does not indicate a problem with the product.

Before giving drops as a gift, check one thing with the person, or think about whether it applies: Caution should be used in those with egg or bird allergies — For use in the eyes only. If they wear contact lenses or already use prescribed eye drops, the label doesn’t cover those situations, and they should ask their eye doctor or pharmacist first. A stocking-stuffer bottle is a small extra, not a substitute for an eye exam if their eyes bother them a lot.

Christmas gift for someone who likes to read in bed

Bedtime readers have their own setup. A warm-toned book light, a pillow that props them upright so they’re looking slightly down, and a humidifier on a low setting all help on winter nights. A ceiling fan running over the bed is worth mentioning too, since moving air dries the eyes; a gentle hint to switch it off at reading time costs nothing. Drops kept on the nightstand should stay at room temperature, as the label says: Store between 15° to 30°C (59° to 86°F).

Sending the gift

Quell ships from Brentwood, Tennessee, to addresses in the United States. To send a bottle straight to a reader, put their name and address in the shipping fields and your own email in the email field, so the confirmation and tracking come to you. There’s no gift wrap or gift message option, so if you want it wrapped, ship it to yourself first. Shipping is $10.00, and 3 or more bottles ship free. No delivery date is promised, so order well before Christmas. You need to be 18 or older to order. Our guide to sending Quell as a gift has more detail.

If the gift turns out not to suit them, an unopened bottle can be refunded within 30 days of delivery without sending it back. Browse more ideas in gifts and the holidays.