Big votive candles are great (like, you know, the 8-inch-tall glass ones with the pictures of Mary on them, only you can get them plain too most places) - they cast more light than tapers, even (the glass reflects it outward), and no mess! Ever since I first discovered this, I will never go back.

For reading, you really want a lamp, like a gas or oil lamp. I dunno much about them other than that they give off lots of light.