I have an eye condition (and am of an age 
) where something like a Serious Readers lamp would be helpful. I’ve used one and it was great. But
HAVE YOU SEEN THE PRICE???
Does anyone have any recommendations for an alternative, available in France? I wonder if an ordinary lamp plus a good bulb would work … but I don’t know what a good bulb would be.
My Kindle has its own lighting system.
I’ve got two 
they’re great, but I need something to read proper books by. Our Maison de pays sells a fair number of books that aren’t ever going to be published on Kindle.
My several Kindles have been relegated to my “may come in useful someday” cupboard.
I now use the Kindle app to read books a) on my phone for mobility and b) on a very cheap 10 inch screen tablet for comfort at home. This will obviate the need for a lamp to read by.
I do not feel restricted to Kindle only books. Project Guttenberg, for example, has some 75,000 free (out of copyright) books which you can download. Use the “Send to Kindle” app to put them in your personal Kindle library for convenience.
As an interesting aside, many of those books are in French. If you prefer to read them in English, simply upload a book to ChatGPT and it will translate it to a useable form of English and in a book format you specify.
To be frank, that just sounds ghastly if we’re talking literature rather than text books. Even then, I’d be cautious about accuracy.
Try Ikea for low cost lighting, tho’ their lamps are sometimes a bit flimsy
https://www.ikea.com/fr/fr/cat/lampadaires-10731/?page=2
A bit more upmarket with discounted prices:-
Lampes de Sol | Lampadaires | Lampes sur Pied .._gaOTYzMTYyNTY3LjE3NjQyMzc4MjI._ga_LPS5XV1LKEczE3NjQyMzc4MjIkbzEkZzAkdDE3NjQyMzc4MjIkajYwJGwwJGgxMTgyNjA5Nw..
How about something like this? Not “cheap” but not as expensive as the serious reading lights. I’ve bought one for OH because he suffers from SAD and it really is very bright.
I don’t think the lamp itself needs to be anything special but maybe look for a bulb with a “High CRI index” i.e. it’s full spectrum (or as much as LEDs can ever be) and has the most natural look.
Something with a CRI of greater than 90.
That’s certainly what i go for if I buy an LED light for photography and video.
One example website from a quick Googling:
It’s still advisable to have some background lighting on, when reading from an illuminated screen, whether it’s a computer or a tablet.
I think “ghastly” is a bit strong. I compared an expensive translation of a paragraph of “Les Mis” with a ChatGPT translation. I found the latter quite acceptable even if the odd American spelling crept in. I am sure this could be allowed for by specifying the translation in UK English. What do you think?
Original
Quoique ce détail ne touche en aucune manière au fond même de ce quenous avons à raconter, il n’est peut-être pas inutile, ne fût-ce que pour être exact en tout, d’indiquer ici les bruits et les propos qui avaient couru sur son compte au moment où il était arrivé dans le diocèse. Vrai ou faux, ce qu’on dit des hommes tient souvent autant de place dans leur vie et surtout dans leur destinée que ce qu’ils font. M. Myriel était fils d’un conseiller au parlement d’Aix; noblesse de robe. On contait de lui que son père, le réservant pour hériter de sa charge, l’avait marié de fort bonne heure, à dix-huit ou vingt ans, suivant un usage assez répandu dans les familles parlementaires. Charles Myriel, nonobstant ce mariage, avait, disait-on, beaucoup fait parler de lui. Il était bien fait de sa personne, quoique d’assez petite taille, élégant, gracieux, spirituel; toute la première partie de sa vie avait été donnée au monde et aux galanteries.
Paid translation
Although this detail has no connection whatever with the real substance of what we are about to relate, it will not be superfluous, if merely for the sake of exactness in all points, to mention here the various rumours and remarks which had been in circulation about him from the very moment when he arrived in the diocese. True or false, that which is said of men often occupies as important a place in their lives, and above all in their destinies, as that which they do. M. Myriel was the son of a councillor of the Parliament of Aix; hence he belonged to the nobility of the bar. It was said that his father, destining him to be the heir of his own post, had married him at a very early age, eighteen or twenty, in accordance with a custom which is rather widely prevalent in parliamentary families. In spite of this marriage, however, it was said that Charles Myriel created a great deal of talk. He was well formed, though rather short in stature, elegant, graceful, intelligent; the whole of the first portion of his life had been devoted to the world and to gallantry.
ChatGPT
Although this detail in no way touches upon the very substance of what we have to relate, it may not be useless—if only for the sake of exactness—to mention here the rumours and talk that circulated about him at the time of his arrival in the diocese. True or false, what is said of men often occupies as much space in their lives, and especially in their destinies, as what they actually do. Monsieur Myriel was the son of a counsellor in the parliament of Aix—noblesse de robe. It was told of him that his father, reserving him to inherit his office, had married him off very early, at eighteen or twenty years of age, according to a custom rather widespread among parliamentary families. Charles Myriel, notwithstanding this marriage, was said to have made quite a stir. He was well made in person, though of rather small stature, elegant, gracious, witty; the whole first part of his life had been devoted to society and gallantry.
Calibre is a good converter I think.
My plan is that one day when I have nothing to do 
i will convert all my Kindle books to a Calibre copy for safekeeping. As gather Amazon only sells us licence to read and if any change there (very long term only worry) DRM would block us reading there.
Plus seems to make potentiallly useable other ways.(Oh dear I have a cough!)
Something like this that can be clipped to the back of the chair or furniture behind the chair?
https://www.weldom.fr/p/lampe-de-bureau-inspire-led-gao-aluminium-argent-h-35-cm-84448796
I have one from IKEA, they don’t do it anymore as I’ve had it probably 12 years. The stand is very sturdy and the light bright for crochet. Thus looks like the same stand but they’ve changed the light: https://www.ikea.com/fr/fr/p/nymane-lampadaire-liseuse-blanc-80336758/
The cheaper ones are flimsy.
I find this does very well
