Read Note/Paper Game Freeze

[DerEider]

Whenever I pick up a piece of paper/note/scroll to read, MW freezes up. Have to crash out of game & restart at last save. If I pick up same paper/note/scrolll while in Inventory [can't read it], game proceeds without a hitch. I can use a scroll as magic ok, but cannot pick one up.
Could not read 1st documents at the Census/Customs Office in Seyda Neen nor the directions to Balmora, etc. Otherwise have proceeded through quests & missions just fine. But, cannot read any of the clues, directions, maps, etc.
This has made doing the Skaal/Solstheim quests especially hard [like where the 6 Skaal Standing Stones are located, or the Snow Bear/Snow Wolf Armor price list].
Have installed several mods to improve appearance/textures/clothing but a detailed reading of each revealed none apparantly affect reading notes, maps or scrolls.
Btw, I'm proceeding without being able to do a fresh start because I cannot get through the Census Office. I'm using an old, pre-mod save-game from just past the Census Office.
Anyone have an idea how to fix?