How do you do it?

I have just re-read one of Donna Leon’s novels, set in Venice. In one part of the story, her protagonist, Commissario Guido Brunetti was at home having a solitary lunch. He wanted to read a book while he ate, but the pages wouldn’t stay open. Here’s how he solved the problem:

“He took out the lasagne, cut it and put a chunk on a plate. He poured a glass of Pinot grigio then opened Gibbons to his place, and propped it up against two books Paola had left on the table. He employed a cutting board and a serving spoon to hold the pages open on both sides. Satisfied with the arrangement, he sat down and started to eat.”

I asked one of my email buddies what she does to hold her books open, and she said she often uses bananas. At $12-$15/kg over here, that’s not a good option.

So, here’s how I keep the book I’m currently reading ( Bella Mafia, by Lynda La Plante) open while I read and knit. A garlic press can serve more than one purpose. Let’s hear how you have solved this life problem.

There's usually a mug of coffee close by, also