Is there a VERY simple ePub reader for Windows?

JJ Johnson · 10-17-2020, 10:44 PM

I'm looking for a reader for Windows (7) where I can easily preview a book in ePub form. One with exactly zero bells and whistles. I don't want it to maintain a library, keep my place, no dictionaries, no highlighting... just open the book, let me use the book's ToC and navigation, and show me what's there.

I realize that it might be more of a utility than something people would want to use for actually reading books. Does such a thing exist?

Pajamaman · 10-18-2020, 12:26 AM

One comes with calibre.

JJ Johnson · 10-18-2020, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pajamaman

One comes with calibre.

Can it be used without adding the book into calibre's library?

Uncle Robin · 10-18-2020, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JJ Johnson

Can it be used without adding the book into calibre's library?

Yes, I do that often - epubs can be associated with the viewer, rather than with Calibre itself

JJ Johnson · 10-18-2020, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Robin

Yes, I do that often - epubs can be associated with the viewer, rather than with Calibre itself

Ok, that will work, then.

Does Calibre have a file association setting in its options somewhere that can do this? I can set it using a Windows utility, but if Calibre can set it, that would be preferred. I get totally lost in the Calibre preferences UI.

Thanks.

mitang · 10-18-2020, 12:38 AM

Install Sumatra, or Calibre on your PC. After that right click on the file you want to have a look and click on Read with. That's everything. No bells, no songs. Have a good day.

pandaeye · 10-19-2020, 03:23 AM

In case even calibre is too difficult for you, you can find some browser extension that support reading epub in the browser (the one I use is chrome). You can either click a hyperlink to the epub file online, or drag a local epub file to the browser to start reading.

JJ Johnson · 10-19-2020, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pandaeye

In case even calibre is too difficult for you, you can find some browser extension that support reading epub in the browser (the one I use is chrome). You can either click a hyperlink to the epub file online, or drag a local epub file to the browser to start reading.

I use calibre, so that's not a big deal. I wasn't aware that the reader could be used standalone. I'm not sure it behaves exactly as I'd expect, but we'll see. And I don't think a browser based solution is what I'm after. Haven't played with Sumatra yet, but it's on the to do list.

JSWolf · 10-19-2020, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JJ Johnson

I'm looking for a reader for Windows (7) where I can easily preview a book in ePub form. One with exactly zero bells and whistles. I don't want it to maintain a library, keep my place, no dictionaries, no highlighting... just open the book, let me use the book's ToC and navigation, and show me what's there.

I realize that it might be more of a utility than something people would want to use for actually reading books. Does such a thing exist?

For what you want, Adobe Digital Editions is perfect.

bazz2004 · 10-23-2020, 04:26 AM

I do have Calibre on my PC and it contains E-book reader which works well with epub. It's opening my books with white print on a black background which is better for the eyes. An e-reader device is how I read books though. Think about upgrading to W10 and simplifying the interface if it's too complicated for your needs. If your now unsupported W7 system goes down you will be in a world of pain.

joe94 · 12-17-2020, 02:08 AM

sumatra pdf is best

Robert Bitzer · 01-24-2021, 07:39 PM

There is a excellent new Epub Ereader out for Windows 10. Called Aquile Reader. Check it out:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/aq...ot:overviewtab

hobnail · 01-25-2021, 04:38 PM

Sumatra PDF doesn't obey my CSS. I don't have any text-align in my CSS for justified or ragged right (just for centering or flush right). In Sigil's previewer it's displayed correctly with ragged right. Likewise in Calibre's viewer. In Sumatra PDF it's displayed with justified, which I happen to avoid like the plague. Even worse is that Sumatra PDF isn't indenting my paragraphs as per my CSS. And even worse is that it's putting blank lines between paragraphs, which I never do. In the table of contents there's a dash; e.g., "Chapter Ten - The storm" where I used &#8212 for the dash but Sumatra PDF shows that sequence of characters instead of the dash.

On the other hand Sumatra PDF is my go to app for reading PDFs. But definitely not for EPUB.

Shohreh · 10-08-2021, 09:23 AM

It's too bad SumatraPDF can't open en EPUB, and search + copy text into the clipboard.

Freda, Bibliovore, and Aquile Reader are only available from the Windows Store ("Where do you want to install? It looks like you don’t have any applicable device(s) linked to your Microsoft account." → gave up.)

The free version of Icecream Ebook Reader doesn't offer copy + search.

Calibre works but is a beast compared to SumatraPDF, and I don't like its UI.

I found Adobe Digital Editions to be the least bad alternative to SumatraPDF: Free, light, supports search + copy, but its UI isn't as good as SumatraPDF.

kacir · 10-08-2021, 09:50 AM

STDUViewer works with epub, pdf, djvu and many other e-book and some picture formats.
It has 10MB and doesn't even have to be installed (there is choice to download installer or *.zip with portable version)
http://www.stdutility.com/stduviewer.html

DISCLAIMER: I am un-affiliated. I just found the software when I was looking for a bare-bone, small, visually un-cluttered viewer to display some relatively niche e-book formats.
Normally I am big fan of Calibre and its viewer.

10-17-2020, 10:44 PM	#1
JJ Johnson Connoisseur Posts: 70 Karma: 2119794 Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: Colorado Device: Kobo Libra H20	Is there a VERY simple ePub reader for Windows? I'm looking for a reader for Windows (7) where I can easily preview a book in ePub form. One with exactly zero bells and whistles. I don't want it to maintain a library, keep my place, no dictionaries, no highlighting... just open the book, let me use the book's ToC and navigation, and show me what's there. I realize that it might be more of a utility than something people would want to use for actually reading books. Does such a thing exist?

01-25-2021, 04:38 PM	#13
hobnail Running with scissors Posts: 1,592 Karma: 14328510 Join Date: Nov 2019 Device: none	Sumatra PDF doesn't obey my CSS. I don't have any text-align in my CSS for justified or ragged right (just for centering or flush right). In Sigil's previewer it's displayed correctly with ragged right. Likewise in Calibre's viewer. In Sumatra PDF it's displayed with justified, which I happen to avoid like the plague. Even worse is that Sumatra PDF isn't indenting my paragraphs as per my CSS. And even worse is that it's putting blank lines between paragraphs, which I never do. In the table of contents there's a dash; e.g., "Chapter Ten - The storm" where I used &#8212 for the dash but Sumatra PDF shows that sequence of characters instead of the dash. On the other hand Sumatra PDF is my go to app for reading PDFs. But definitely not for EPUB. Last edited by hobnail; 06-06-2023 at 10:22 PM.

10-08-2021, 09:50 AM	#15
kacir Wizard Posts: 3,465 Karma: 10684861 Join Date: May 2006 Device: PocketBook 360, before it was Sony Reader, cassiopeia A-20	STDUViewer works with epub, pdf, djvu and many other e-book and some picture formats. It has 10MB and doesn't even have to be installed (there is choice to download installer or .zip with portable version) http://www.stdutility.com/stduviewer.html DISCLAIMER: I am un-affiliated. I just found the software when I was looking for a bare-bone, small, visually un-cluttered viewer to display some relatively niche e-book formats. Normally I am big fan of Calibre and its viewer. Last edited by kacir; 10-09-2021 at 02:07 PM. Reason: Corrected typo in a word Viewer.*

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10-18-2020, 12:26 AM	#2
Pajamaman Wizard Posts: 2,874 Karma: 10700629 Join Date: May 2016 Location: Canada Device: Onyx Nova	One comes with calibre.

10-18-2020, 12:38 AM	#6
mitang Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2020 Device: Kobo Aura H2O ecition 2 and Kobo Clara HD	Install Sumatra, or Calibre on your PC. After that right click on the file you want to have a look and click on Read with. That's everything. No bells, no songs. Have a good day.

10-19-2020, 03:23 AM	#7
pandaeye Member Posts: 12 Karma: 42646 Join Date: Feb 2020 Device: none	In case even calibre is too difficult for you, you can find some browser extension that support reading epub in the browser (the one I use is chrome). You can either click a hyperlink to the epub file online, or drag a local epub file to the browser to start reading.

10-23-2020, 04:26 AM	#10
bazz2004 Groupie Posts: 199 Karma: 14745 Join Date: May 2020 Device: Boyue Alita	I do have Calibre on my PC and it contains E-book reader which works well with epub. It's opening my books with white print on a black background which is better for the eyes. An e-reader device is how I read books though. Think about upgrading to W10 and simplifying the interface if it's too complicated for your needs. If your now unsupported W7 system goes down you will be in a world of pain.

12-17-2020, 02:08 AM	#11
joe94 Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2020 Device: Kobo Libra	sumatra pdf is best

01-24-2021, 07:39 PM	#12
Robert Bitzer Enthusiast Posts: 34 Karma: 8242 Join Date: Nov 2018 Device: Onyx Boox Note Air, Kindle Oasis2, Sony PRS-650	There is a excellent new Epub Ereader out for Windows 10. Called Aquile Reader. Check it out: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/aq...ot:overviewtab

10-08-2021, 09:23 AM	#14
Shohreh Addict Posts: 222 Karma: 304158 Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: France Device: none	It's too bad SumatraPDF can't open en EPUB, and search + copy text into the clipboard. Freda, Bibliovore, and Aquile Reader are only available from the Windows Store ("Where do you want to install? It looks like you don’t have any applicable device(s) linked to your Microsoft account." → gave up.) The free version of Icecream Ebook Reader doesn't offer copy + search. Calibre works but is a beast compared to SumatraPDF, and I don't like its UI. I found Adobe Digital Editions to be the least bad alternative to SumatraPDF: Free, light, supports search + copy, but its UI isn't as good as SumatraPDF.