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Hardcovers or paperbacks?

M

Marie

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Reading the thread about bookmarks and folding pages makes me think about something else:

Do you prefer hardcovers or paperbacks ?

I think hardcovers look nicer on shelves but I definitely prefer paperbacks.
The reason? First because they are cheaper, then because I read mainly in bed and a hardcover isn't practical to hold at eyes level and also because when I fall asleep I often drop the book: a hardcover on one's face hurts a lot more than a paperback.:D

Marie
 
I like hardcovers better (they look better on a shelf, and they're not so fragile), but I usually buy paperbacks because they're cheaper.
 
Definitely hard cover. I get most of my hard cover books from the Library, but I'll buy paperbacks.
 
I agree - I love the way hardcover look on the shelf, and it's so hard to wait around for the paperback editions when the new releases are right there in hardcover.
(Having said that I usually end up buying paperback anyway, much to my disgust!)
 
Definitely prefer hardbacks. Look much nicer and have a more solid feel to them. They are often on discount at local supermarkets a month or so after their initial release. Online place like Amazon often have them at a discount too.

That said, I've still got lots of paperbacks lying around - easier to pack in a bag and move around.
 
I prefer hardbacks. I buy trade paperbacks, but I don't buy mass-market paperbacks at all.. they're just too small for me for some reason. =)
 
Paperbacks are my preference simply because I tend to carry the book im currently reading around where ever I go.

I do end up buying lots of hardbacks though as I can never wait for paperback releases to come out from my favorite authors.

Saying that I do have a little rule though that I always try to buy the same style of book for an entire series. So if I start a series in hard, i continue to by hardback and the same for paperbacks - its does get flaunted now and again though for certain authors :)
 
I start off buying paperbacks of an author. If I like them I usually can't wait until the paperback is released so end up "graduating" to hardback.

What are trade paperbacks?
 
Reya, I prefer trade paperbacks too, but they seem awfully hard to find. Do they print them for every edition of a book or just certain ones? Does anyone know how that works?
 
From what I recall (ive only had a few) trade paperbacks are the same size as the normal hardback books but have a paperback cover.

Ive seen them sold occasionally in bookshops and now more regularily I see them in the UK airports advertised as 'Traveller editions' or 'airport editions'.

Personally I dont like them, i would much rather a normal sized paperback.
 
The stuff we're supposed to tell the customer about trade paperbacks is as follows:
- Same format as hard cover unless the publishers have for some reason made a special exclusion concerning the exact size
- There isn't any real reason why some choose these instead of hardcover, it is entirely the author/publisher's choice
- Most authors choose this format because it's cheaper to manufacture and apparently more popular with the customers, thus they make a larger profit

And that's all I know.
(I don't think there's any real logic behind it, and if there is, none of the people in my bookstore know about it!!)
 
Well, if publishers were logical they'd be, well, vulcans...or something. Anyway just think how much more difficult it would be to get published then? Imagine explaining a character or a plot to Spock? Sheesh :eek:

'preciate the info Amy
 
You're right, Prolixic. The words 'logicality' and 'publishers' don't generally fit into the same sentence.
I'm sorry I couldn't give you more information than that! :)
 
I get a lot more paperbacks than I do hardcovers simply because they're cheaper, take up a lot less space on my shelf, and easily more mobile. The only time a buy hardbacks is if its an author's newest release. If I'm after something already in paperback I'll tend to buy that way.
 
Paperbacks every time! They're easier to handle and carry around and much nicer to read (don't ask me why!) Even collectable books I prefer in a nice paperback unless there is a particularly good or maybe an illustrated hardback edition.
 
Both. I don't really have a preference except that paperback is cheaper and smaller so I can buy more and fit more on my shelves.

~Witch
 
I get more paperbacks then I do hardcover because they are cheaper, but I like the hardbacks because they look nicer, and feel beter in my hands.
 
The large size paperbacks really annoy me. They feel too floppy in your hands whilst reading. Love small paperbacks, or a special edition hardback
 
I prefer to read paperbacks but prefer to own hardcovers. That being said, unless it's a special volume I just look for the first one I can find.
 
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