Overview:
The Peeramid is an unusual item meant as an alternative to a traditional book easel. A lightweight pyramid shaped pillow, it allows you to prop your reading material at a fairly upright angle while keeping the base from slipping. The Peeramid comes in a variety of colors to suit most decorating schemes.
I ordered the Peeramid through Amazon for $29.95. Others have purchased the burgundy model from Drugstore.com for a significant savings; a good option if you’re not fussy about the color. (Edited to add: Some have found deals recently for a leopard or jungle print pattern as well.)
First look:
At a nominal 12” x 12” x 8”, the Peermid is smaller than the throw pillows most of us have on our couches. It’s significantly lighter than I expected; I assumed it would need a certain heft to support the weight of a hardcover DTB. Instead, this is a pillow you can easily use on your lap and not notice the weight!
I bought the Peeramid in Harvest Gold as it appeared to be the most neutral color available, in spite of the name. The upholstery weight fabric is in fact much closer to a warm beige than a true 70’s era harvest gold, with shiny gold-toned accent threads. The fabric used for the Harvest Gold is 50/50 acrylic and polyester, and is not a soft fabric by any stretch of the imagination. It does look like it will hold up fairly well with use. Cleaning instructions are not included; I would assume it’s spot treat or dry clean only.
Usage:
Kindle: The Peeramid almost seems to have been designed with the Kindle in mind. My K2 fits it perfectly, with or without the Oberon cover (folded back), and I can see where this will replace the current easel I have been using in my living room.
Overall, the Peeramid is a nice Kindle accessory that may enhance your reading experience. There are two main disadvantages I’ve experienced that may be deal breakers to some.
Angle—many bookrests are adjustable, the Peeramid is not. The reading angle is probably comfortable for most users, but it’s definitely very upright.
Height—if you have neck problems, this device may very well aggravate them. It adds virtually no height to the book, so if you have it on your lap, your neck will be bent downward to read; laying flat on your back with the Peeramid on your torso, you’ll find yourself bending your chin downwards as well. I’m going to be trying this with pillows of different sizes beneath it to boost the level; I’ll also be trying it in different reading positions to see what works best.
Other reading material (because, let’s face it, not everything is available on the Kindle yet….):
Truthfully, if I’d bought this for anything other than Kindle usage, I’d be sending it back immediately as not worth the price paid. Others may have had a different experience with it, and if so, I hope they’ll let us know by commenting or posting their own reviews.
Magazines: I used a Better Homes & Gardens as a reasonably standard magazine size. Fully open, both pages tend to fall to either side of the pyramid shape, making it hard to read. With one side folded back beneath the other, one page is readable at a time, but the upper open corner of the pages continued to fold back. The pyramid shape simply doesn’t provide enough support to the softer paper of a magazine.
Paperbacks: As near as I can tell, the only way to get the full versatility of using a Peeramid is to break the spines of your books. An intact paperback simply will not stay open in the groove between the pyramid & baffle. The Peeramid could still be used as a prop, but will not be hands free.
Hardcovers: Similar to the paperbacks, an average sized new hardcover will not stay open on its own and required at least one hand to brace the book against the pillow. Older hardcovers with broken spines did better.
Hope this is helpful!
Dilber MC Theme by HarzeM