diff --git a/client/src/App.tsx b/client/src/App.tsx
index ab95290..3937981 100644
--- a/client/src/App.tsx
+++ b/client/src/App.tsx
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import Explore from "@/pages/Explore";
 import Search from "@/pages/Search";
 import AuthorProfile from "@/pages/authors/AuthorProfile";
 import Authors from "@/pages/authors/Authors";
-import NewWorkReading from "@/pages/works/NewWorkReading";
+import SimpleWorkReading from "@/pages/works/SimpleWorkReading";
 import WorkCompare from "@/pages/works/WorkCompare";
 import Collections from "@/pages/collections/Collections";
 import CreateCollection from "@/pages/collections/CreateCollection";
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ function Router() {
       <Route path="/search" component={Search} />
       <Route path="/authors" component={Authors} />
       <Route path="/authors/:slug" component={AuthorProfile} />
-      <Route path="/works/:slug" component={NewWorkReading} />
+      <Route path="/works/:slug" component={SimpleWorkReading} />
       <Route path="/works/:slug/compare/:translationId" component={WorkCompare} />
       <Route path="/collections" component={Collections} />
       <Route path="/collections/create" component={CreateCollection} />
diff --git a/client/src/pages/works/NewWorkReading.tsx b/client/src/pages/works/NewWorkReading.tsx
index e1f0070..5d6c277 100644
--- a/client/src/pages/works/NewWorkReading.tsx
+++ b/client/src/pages/works/NewWorkReading.tsx
@@ -322,16 +322,9 @@ export default function NewWorkReading() {
     const lines = contentToLines(content);
     const totalPages = Math.ceil(lines.length / linesPerPage);
     
-    // Make sure active page is in bounds but without causing re-renders
+    // Make sure active page is in bounds
     const safePage = Math.min(Math.max(1, activePage), Math.max(1, totalPages));
     
-    // Only update active page in a useEffect to avoid infinite re-render
-    useEffect(() => {
-      if (safePage !== activePage) {
-        setActivePage(safePage);
-      }
-    }, [safePage, activePage]);
-    
     const startIdx = (safePage - 1) * linesPerPage;
     const endIdx = startIdx + linesPerPage;
     
@@ -342,6 +335,20 @@ export default function NewWorkReading() {
       startLineNumber: startIdx + 1
     };
   };
+  
+  // Add a separate effect to handle page bounds
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (work) {
+      const content = getSelectedContent();
+      const lines = contentToLines(content);
+      const totalPages = Math.ceil(lines.length / 20);
+      const safePage = Math.min(Math.max(1, activePage), Math.max(1, totalPages));
+      
+      if (safePage !== activePage) {
+        setActivePage(safePage);
+      }
+    }
+  }, [work, activePage, selectedTranslationId]);
 
   // Toggle bookmark status
   const handleBookmarkToggle = () => {
diff --git a/client/src/pages/works/SimpleWorkReading.tsx b/client/src/pages/works/SimpleWorkReading.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0a694b8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/src/pages/works/SimpleWorkReading.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,366 @@
+import { useState, useEffect, useRef } from "react";
+import { useParams, useLocation } from "wouter";
+import { useQuery } from "@tanstack/react-query";
+import { WorkWithDetails, TranslationWithDetails } from "@/lib/types";
+import { PageLayout } from "@/components/layout/PageLayout";
+
+// UI Components
+import { Tabs, TabsContent, TabsList, TabsTrigger } from "@/components/ui/tabs";
+import { Skeleton } from "@/components/ui/skeleton";
+import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button";
+import { Badge } from "@/components/ui/badge";
+import { Card } from "@/components/ui/card";
+import { toast } from "@/hooks/use-toast";
+import { AuthorChip } from "@/components/common/AuthorChip";
+import { useMediaQuery } from "@/hooks/use-media-query";
+
+// Icons
+import { 
+  BookOpen, 
+  ArrowLeft, 
+  ArrowRight, 
+  Languages,
+  Heart,
+  Bookmark,
+  Share2
+} from "lucide-react";
+
+export default function SimpleWorkReading() {
+  const { slug } = useParams();
+  const [, navigate] = useLocation();
+  const isMobile = useMediaQuery("(max-width: 768px)");
+  
+  // Main content states
+  const [activePage, setActivePage] = useState(1);
+  const [selectedTranslationId, setSelectedTranslationId] = useState<number | undefined>(undefined);
+  const [isBookmarked, setIsBookmarked] = useState(false);
+  const [isLiked, setIsLiked] = useState(false);
+  const contentRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
+  
+  // Queries
+  const { data: work, isLoading: workLoading, error: workError } = useQuery<WorkWithDetails>({
+    queryKey: [`/api/works/${slug}`],
+  });
+  
+  const { data: translations, isLoading: translationsLoading } = useQuery<TranslationWithDetails[]>({
+    queryKey: [`/api/works/${slug}/translations`],
+    enabled: !!work,
+  });
+
+  // Page validation effect
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (work) {
+      const content = getSelectedContent();
+      const lines = contentToLines(content);
+      const totalPages = Math.ceil(lines.length / 20);
+      const safePage = Math.min(Math.max(1, activePage), Math.max(1, totalPages));
+      
+      if (safePage !== activePage) {
+        setActivePage(safePage);
+      }
+    }
+  }, [work, activePage, selectedTranslationId]);
+
+  // Get the selected translation content
+  const getSelectedContent = () => {
+    if (!work) return "";
+    if (!selectedTranslationId) return work.content;
+    
+    const translation = translations?.find(t => t.id === selectedTranslationId);
+    return translation?.content || work.content;
+  };
+
+  // Split content into lines and pages for display
+  const contentToLines = (content: string) => {
+    return content.split('\n').filter(line => line.length > 0);
+  };
+
+  const getPagedContent = (content: string, linesPerPage = 20) => {
+    const lines = contentToLines(content);
+    const totalPages = Math.ceil(lines.length / linesPerPage);
+    
+    // Make sure active page is in bounds
+    const safePage = Math.min(Math.max(1, activePage), Math.max(1, totalPages));
+    
+    const startIdx = (safePage - 1) * linesPerPage;
+    const endIdx = startIdx + linesPerPage;
+    
+    return {
+      lines: lines.slice(startIdx, endIdx),
+      page: safePage,
+      totalPages,
+      startLineNumber: startIdx + 1
+    };
+  };
+
+  // Toggle bookmark status
+  const handleBookmarkToggle = () => {
+    setIsBookmarked(!isBookmarked);
+    toast({
+      description: isBookmarked 
+        ? "Removed from your bookmarks" 
+        : "Added to your bookmarks",
+      duration: 3000,
+    });
+  };
+
+  // Toggle like status
+  const handleLikeToggle = () => {
+    setIsLiked(!isLiked);
+    toast({
+      description: isLiked 
+        ? "Removed from your favorites" 
+        : "Added to your favorites",
+      duration: 3000,
+    });
+  };
+
+  // Share the work
+  const handleShare = async () => {
+    try {
+      if (navigator.share) {
+        await navigator.share({
+          title: work?.title || "Literary Work",
+          text: `Reading ${work?.title || "a work"} on Tercul`,
+          url: window.location.href
+        });
+      } else {
+        navigator.clipboard.writeText(window.location.href);
+        toast({
+          description: "Link copied to clipboard",
+          duration: 3000,
+        });
+      }
+    } catch (error) {
+      console.error('Error sharing:', error);
+    }
+  };
+
+  // Handle navigation between pages
+  const handleNextPage = () => {
+    if (!work) return;
+    const { totalPages } = getPagedContent(getSelectedContent());
+    if (activePage < totalPages) {
+      setActivePage(activePage + 1);
+      // Scroll to top of content area
+      if (contentRef.current) {
+        contentRef.current.scrollIntoView({ behavior: 'smooth' });
+      }
+    }
+  };
+
+  const handlePreviousPage = () => {
+    if (activePage > 1) {
+      setActivePage(activePage - 1);
+      // Scroll to top of content area
+      if (contentRef.current) {
+        contentRef.current.scrollIntoView({ behavior: 'smooth' });
+      }
+    }
+  };
+
+  // Loading state
+  if (workLoading) {
+    return (
+      <PageLayout>
+        <div className="max-w-full mx-auto px-4 py-8">
+          <div className="flex items-center space-x-4 mb-6">
+            <Skeleton className="h-12 w-12 rounded-full" />
+            <div className="space-y-2">
+              <Skeleton className="h-5 w-48" />
+              <Skeleton className="h-4 w-32" />
+            </div>
+          </div>
+          
+          <div className="flex flex-col lg:flex-row gap-8">
+            <div className="lg:w-64 flex-shrink-0">
+              <Skeleton className="h-64 w-full rounded-lg" />
+            </div>
+            
+            <div className="flex-1">
+              <Skeleton className="h-8 w-3/4 mb-4" />
+              <div className="space-y-3">
+                {Array.from({ length: 15 }).map((_, i) => (
+                  <Skeleton key={i} className="h-6 w-full" />
+                ))}
+              </div>
+            </div>
+          </div>
+        </div>
+      </PageLayout>
+    );
+  }
+
+  // Error state
+  if (workError || !work) {
+    return (
+      <PageLayout>
+        <div className="max-w-[var(--content-width)] mx-auto px-4 py-16 text-center">
+          <h1 className="text-2xl font-bold mb-4 text-primary">Work not found</h1>
+          <p className="mb-6 text-muted-foreground">The literary work you're looking for could not be found.</p>
+          <div className="flex flex-col items-center gap-4">
+            <BookOpen className="h-16 w-16 text-primary/30" />
+            <Button onClick={() => navigate("/explore")} className="bg-primary hover:bg-primary/90 text-primary-foreground">
+              Explore Works
+            </Button>
+          </div>
+        </div>
+      </PageLayout>
+    );
+  }
+
+  // Get content for current view and page
+  const mainContent = getPagedContent(getSelectedContent());
+
+  // Get the selected translation details
+  const selectedTranslation = translations?.find(t => t.id === selectedTranslationId);
+
+  // Calculate reading time estimation
+  const wordCount = getSelectedContent().split(/\s+/).length;
+  const readingTimeMinutes = Math.ceil(wordCount / 200); // Average reading speed
+
+  return (
+    <PageLayout>
+      <div className="max-w-[var(--content-width)] mx-auto pt-4 px-4">
+        {/* Work header */}
+        <div className="mb-8">
+          <h1 className="text-3xl font-serif font-bold text-primary mb-2">{work.title}</h1>
+          <div className="flex items-center gap-4 flex-wrap mb-4">
+            <AuthorChip author={work.author} withLifeDates />
+            {work.year && <span className="text-muted-foreground">Published: {work.year}</span>}
+            <span className="text-muted-foreground">Reading time: ~{readingTimeMinutes} min</span>
+          </div>
+          
+          <div className="flex flex-wrap gap-2 mb-4">
+            {work.tags?.map(tag => (
+              <Badge 
+                key={tag.id}
+                variant="outline"
+                className="bg-primary/5 hover:bg-primary/10 text-primary/80"
+              >
+                {tag.name}
+              </Badge>
+            ))}
+          </div>
+          
+          <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+            <Button
+              variant="outline"
+              size="sm"
+              className={`flex items-center gap-1 ${isLiked ? 'text-accent border-accent' : ''}`}
+              onClick={handleLikeToggle}
+            >
+              <Heart className={`h-4 w-4 ${isLiked ? 'fill-accent' : ''}`} />
+              {isLiked ? 'Unlike' : 'Like'}
+            </Button>
+            
+            <Button
+              variant="outline"
+              size="sm"
+              className={`flex items-center gap-1 ${isBookmarked ? 'text-accent border-accent' : ''}`}
+              onClick={handleBookmarkToggle}
+            >
+              <Bookmark className={`h-4 w-4 ${isBookmarked ? 'fill-accent' : ''}`} />
+              Bookmark
+            </Button>
+            
+            <Button
+              variant="outline"
+              size="sm"
+              className="flex items-center gap-1"
+              onClick={handleShare}
+            >
+              <Share2 className="h-4 w-4" />
+              Share
+            </Button>
+          </div>
+        </div>
+        
+        {/* Translation selector */}
+        {translations && translations.length > 0 && (
+          <div className="mb-6">
+            <h3 className="text-md font-medium mb-2">Translations</h3>
+            <div className="flex flex-wrap gap-2">
+              <Button
+                variant={!selectedTranslationId ? "default" : "outline"}
+                size="sm"
+                onClick={() => setSelectedTranslationId(undefined)}
+              >
+                <Languages className="mr-2 h-4 w-4" />
+                Original ({work.language})
+              </Button>
+              
+              {translations.map(translation => (
+                <Button
+                  key={translation.id}
+                  variant={selectedTranslationId === translation.id ? "default" : "outline"}
+                  size="sm"
+                  onClick={() => setSelectedTranslationId(translation.id)}
+                >
+                  <Languages className="mr-2 h-4 w-4" />
+                  {translation.language}
+                </Button>
+              ))}
+            </div>
+          </div>
+        )}
+        
+        {/* Reading content */}
+        <div 
+          className="reading-content mb-8 prose dark:prose-invert max-w-none" 
+          ref={contentRef}
+        >
+          <Tabs defaultValue="text">
+            <TabsList className="mb-6">
+              <TabsTrigger value="text">Text</TabsTrigger>
+              <TabsTrigger value="annotations">Annotations</TabsTrigger>
+            </TabsList>
+            
+            <TabsContent value="text">
+              <Card className="p-6">
+                {mainContent.lines.map((line, i) => (
+                  <div key={i} className="mb-3">
+                    {line}
+                  </div>
+                ))}
+              </Card>
+            </TabsContent>
+            
+            <TabsContent value="annotations">
+              <Card className="p-6">
+                <p className="text-center text-muted-foreground">No annotations yet.</p>
+              </Card>
+            </TabsContent>
+          </Tabs>
+        </div>
+        
+        {/* Pagination controls */}
+        {mainContent.totalPages > 1 && (
+          <div className="flex items-center justify-between mt-8 border-t pt-4 mb-10">
+            <Button
+              variant="outline"
+              onClick={handlePreviousPage}
+              disabled={activePage === 1}
+            >
+              <ArrowLeft className="mr-2 h-4 w-4" />
+              Previous
+            </Button>
+            
+            <div className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">
+              Page {activePage} of {mainContent.totalPages}
+            </div>
+            
+            <Button
+              variant="outline"
+              onClick={handleNextPage}
+              disabled={activePage === mainContent.totalPages}
+            >
+              Next
+              <ArrowRight className="ml-2 h-4 w-4" />
+            </Button>
+          </div>
+        )}
+      </div>
+    </PageLayout>
+  );
+}
\ No newline at end of file