diff --git a/src/js/controller/mail-list.js b/src/js/controller/mail-list.js
index 09033a2..b6b0595 100644
--- a/src/js/controller/mail-list.js
+++ b/src/js/controller/mail-list.js
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ define(function(require) {
                 return;
             }
 
-            $scope.openReadMode();
+            $scope.state.read.toggle(true);
             if (!window.chrome || !chrome.socket) {
                 return;
             }
diff --git a/src/js/controller/navigation.js b/src/js/controller/navigation.js
index f2b2ee6..108415a 100644
--- a/src/js/controller/navigation.js
+++ b/src/js/controller/navigation.js
@@ -14,8 +14,6 @@ define(function(require) {
 
     var NavigationCtrl = function($scope) {
         $scope.$root.state = {};
-        $scope.navOpen = false;
-        $scope.writerOpen = false;
         $scope.accountOpen = false;
 
         emailDao = appController._emailDao;
@@ -52,13 +50,6 @@ define(function(require) {
             $scope.accountOpen = false;
         };
 
-        $scope.openReadMode = function() {
-            $scope.readingMode = true;
-        };
-        $scope.closeReadMode = function() {
-            $scope.readingMode = false;
-        };
-
         $scope.remove = function(email) {
             if (!email) {
                 return;
diff --git a/src/js/controller/read.js b/src/js/controller/read.js
index 3cf74eb..c2bf5d4 100644
--- a/src/js/controller/read.js
+++ b/src/js/controller/read.js
@@ -7,7 +7,14 @@ define(function(require) {
     // Controller
     //
 
-    var ReadCtrl = function() {};
+    var ReadCtrl = function($scope) {
+        $scope.state.read = {
+            open: false,
+            toggle: function(to) {
+                this.open = to;
+            }
+        };
+    };
 
     //
     // Directives
diff --git a/src/tpl/desktop.html b/src/tpl/desktop.html
index 4375cb7..868b216 100644
--- a/src/tpl/desktop.html
+++ b/src/tpl/desktop.html
@@ -5,13 +5,13 @@
 
   <!-- content wrapper pushed right -->
   <div class="nav-pusher" ng-click="state.nav.toggle(false)">
-    <section class="content main-content" ng-class="{'shift-right': readingMode}">
+    <section class="content main-content" ng-class="{'shift-right': state.read.open}">
 
       <!-- left column: containing list view and navigation header -->
       <div class="column column-left" ng-include="'tpl/mail-list.html'" ng-controller="MailListCtrl"></div>
 
       <!-- right column: containing list read view -->
-      <div class="column" ng-include="'tpl/read.html'" ng-controller="ReadCtrl"></div>
+      <div class="column" ng-include="'tpl/read.html'"></div>
 
     </section>
   </div><!--/.nav-pusher-->
diff --git a/src/tpl/read.html b/src/tpl/read.html
index f13d93a..f499b4a 100644
--- a/src/tpl/read.html
+++ b/src/tpl/read.html
@@ -4,9 +4,9 @@
   <button ng-click="state.writer.write()" class="btn-icon" title="New mail">&#xe006;</button>
 </div><!--/.controls-->
 
-<div class="view-read">
+<div class="view-read" ng-controller="ReadCtrl">
   <div class="headers">
-    <p class="subject" ng-click="closeReadMode()">{{selected.subject || 'No subject'}}</p>
+    <p class="subject" ng-click="state.read.toggle(false)">{{selected.subject || 'No subject'}}</p>
     <p class="date">{{selected.sentDate | date:'EEEE, MMM d, yyyy h:mm a'}}</p>
     <p class="address">From: <span class="label" data-icon-append="&#xe009;">{{selected.from[0].name || selected.from[0].address}}</span></p>
     <p class="address">To: <span class="label" data-icon-append="&#xe009;" ng-repeat="t in selected.to">{{t.address}} </span></p>