My simple theory about memory needed for pictures:
Downscaling the picture to 50% means 50% height and width.
0.5 height times 0.5 width = 0.25 area = 25% memory.
In case of the uploaded pictures, I downscaled them all to 25% of the former size. That means 0.25 times 0,25 = 0,0625 = 6,25% memory.
I dont want to make the pics smaller, otherwise I end up with the same bad quality as the previous scans, uploaded by others.
Your idea of dividing the book into its chapters is IMHO the best solution.
Until it's done, I hope you can deal with the slightly loss of quality of the saved pics.
Cheers, Kai