diff --git a/src/pyj/read_book/db.pyj b/src/pyj/read_book/db.pyj
index da645e24e4..0965112f6c 100644
--- a/src/pyj/read_book/db.pyj
+++ b/src/pyj/read_book/db.pyj
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ def new_book(key, metadata):
         'recent_date': new Date(),
         'last_read': {},
         'last_read_position': {},
+        'saved_reading_rates': {},
         'annotations_map': {},
     }
 
@@ -300,6 +301,10 @@ class DB:
                 book.metadata[key] = new_metadata[key]
             self.do_op(['books'], book, _('Failed to write to the books database'), op='put')
 
+    def save_reading_rates(self, book, rates):
+        book.saved_reading_rates = rates
+        self.do_op(['books'], book, _('Failed to write to the books database'), op='put')
+
     def update_annotations_data_from_key(self, library_id, book_id, fmt, new_data):
         unkey = username_key(get_interface_data().username)
         self.get_book(library_id, book_id, fmt, None, def(book):
diff --git a/src/pyj/read_book/timers.pyj b/src/pyj/read_book/timers.pyj
index 36147a14e1..d003204df8 100644
--- a/src/pyj/read_book/timers.pyj
+++ b/src/pyj/read_book/timers.pyj
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ class Timers:
     def start_book(self, book):
         self.reset_read_timer()
         self.rates = v'[]'
-        if book.saved_reading_rates?.rates:
+        if book?.saved_reading_rates?.rates:
             self.rates = book.saved_reading_rates.rates.slice(0)
             self.calculate()
 
diff --git a/src/pyj/read_book/ui.pyj b/src/pyj/read_book/ui.pyj
index 9ea2f9815f..ef8306e41d 100644
--- a/src/pyj/read_book/ui.pyj
+++ b/src/pyj/read_book/ui.pyj
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ class ReadUI:
         ui_operations.update_url_state = self.update_url_state.bind(self)
         ui_operations.update_last_read_time = self.db.update_last_read_time
         ui_operations.show_error = self.show_error.bind(self)
+        ui_operations.update_reading_rates = self.update_reading_rates.bind(self)
         ui_operations.redisplay_book = self.redisplay_book.bind(self)
         ui_operations.reload_book = self.reload_book.bind(self)
         ui_operations.forward_gesture = self.forward_gesture.bind(self)
@@ -642,3 +643,9 @@ class ReadUI:
             self.tts_client.speak_marked_text(data.marked_text, self.view.read_aloud.handle_tts_event)
         else:
             getattr(self.tts_client, event)()
+
+    def update_reading_rates(self, rates):
+        if not self.view?.book:
+            return
+        book = self.view.book
+        self.db.save_reading_rates(book, rates)