soft-seater
n.— «The number of reading series in Washington has grown impressively high. They fall into two main types: soft-seaters and hard seaters. A soft-seater is typically held in a fancy auditorium with a lectern and microphone on the stage and, nearby, a small table that holds a drinking glass and water pitcher. The person who introduces the reader is all dressed up and appears to have painstakingly crafted his or her remarks.» —“Read ‘Em Like a Book” by Kevin McManus Washington Post Oct. 20, 1989. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
What kind of book do people ask for most often in prison? Romance novels? No. The Bible? No. The most requested books by far are … dictionaries! A number of volunteer organizations gather and distribute used dictionaries to help inmates with...
Many of us struggled with the Old English poem “Beowulf” in high school. But what if you could actually hear “Beowulf” in the English of today? There’s a new translation by Maria Dahvana Headley that uses contemporary...