Do you prefer paperback books or hardcover books?

vr5y

I have a kindle ebook reader.
it just looks like real book.

Trl

I've always said I prefer real books, either hardcover or paperback. but reading ebooks on my tablet is soooooo convenient…

bostonpolar

I :love: books.

For me, it really does not matter if it is hardcover or paperback (and don't forget that inbetween format, the trade paperback).

For much of my life I worked in library and so had access to many hardcover books to read. During this time I would buy for myself to read a great many paperbacks (often some of the hardcover books I read when they became available). Rarely I would buy a hardcover book, if it was something special I wanted.

But things changed for the worst in my life and suddenly my access to almost any books became limited because I could not afford them. It also affected the access I had to the books I owned which I had bought over the years – around 6,000, almost all paperbacks. They had to go into storage and I can no longer get to them. I have going to have to give them up, give them away -- or :blownose: throw them away. Whatever, it will be a terrible thing in my Life since many of them have been part of my life for many decades now. I will be losing a part of my soul in a way when this happens – and it will need to happen soon.

I had to switch to ebooks because of costs and space limitations. Now it is very rare I buy a physical book at all -- almost every book I get now is in ebook form.

Another thing with books has always been that some are only available as hardcover books, some only as paperback, and some only as ebooks. I have some first editions, signed, of both hardcover and paperback books. (I am working at a way to have ebooks signed. :cheesy2: )

The central things for me is -- the book. When I read a book, I am "in" that book. When that is happening, it does NOT matter to me what form the book is, only the words. I don't think about what form it is.

butterfly68z

I enjoy a good read from time to time, I even swallowed Lord of the Rings… then came along ebooks.

Hardcover books where kinda impractical for me, for that reason, hard covers, edges, heavy, etc. I much preferred soft cover books, as I could sit in any position and enjoy a good read.

Now with ebooks, they whole experience is different, to hold so many books in my hands no bent pages, not losing your last read page, making notes, etc. to me its just far more convenient and cheaper these days. I have found some titles in ebook format a tenth of the price of a paper back. Just leave an old book on the table next to you and you will still get that old book smell while reading the ebooks

Priest

@butterfly68z:

I enjoy a good read from time to time, I even swallowed Lord of the Rings… then came along ebooks.

Hardcover books where kinda impractical for me, for that reason, hard covers, edges, heavy, etc. I much preferred soft cover books, as I could sit in any position and enjoy a good read.

Now with ebooks, they whole experience is different, to hold so many books in my hands no bent pages, not losing your last read page, making notes, etc. to me its just far more convenient and cheaper these days. I have found some titles in ebook format a tenth of the price of a paper back. Just leave an old book on the table next to you and you will still get that old book smell while reading the ebooks

.
Maybe they have a candle with an old book smell.

I also prefer ebooks now days, however, I don't like that some distributors can take your ebooks away. They only sell a limited right to the book

Zipperface

I kinda could care less about the format of what I read. Nonetheless, give me a book in hand. Ok. Dammit. I do care. Gimme a book anyday.

SexyToad

I prefer hardcover books when I want them to be part of my permanent collection, but just casual reading I do now on my Kindle or Android.

groovedware

My first choice would be a theatrical film release but there's been enough television adaptations of quality that I guess now I'm sort of like that Imbruglia chick because I'm torn.

Giggle. The last book I read was the last book I read (and I loved it).

laladidoa

Hardcover books are almost like a collectors item to me. I only get hardcover versions for books I really enjoy. Otherwise, for general reading, I prefer paperback.

tranxuan

@laladidoa:

Hardcover books are almost like a collectors item to me. I only get hardcover versions for books I really enjoy. Otherwise, for general reading, I prefer paperback.

Oh, I think about it in the same way. The hardcover books look awesome when you put it on your bookshelf but when you're lying on bed and eating snack, the soft cover is much better.

svenijacobs

Hardcover!!!

raphjd

Hardcover - absolutely over softback

I also do ebooks.

ndk04

I prefer the real thing (paperback > hardcover. simply for the reason that they're just easier to hold) to e-books. But I read too much way too much and books are just way too costly. I wouldn't be able to sustain my reading habits otherwise. So I read mostly e-books which I download for free from torrent sites. E-books are also more convenient.

Trelligan

My preferences are:

Mass-market paperback (the regular-size paperback)
Trade Paperback (the larger ones, up to the size of a hardback)
Hardback

I prefer paperbacks both because they're cheaper and easier to carry around. I always try to have a book with me to cover the boring times of life.
I once spent 2 hours at the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles, a traditionally slow bureaucratic place) without a book. That will never :cry2: happen again.

I sometimes buy a hardback if it's a book I really like and will reread many times. Even better if it contains several books; collected works of Lewis Carroll, the Amber series, etc.
One bookshelf at my house is for just such books.

inkball

I prefer ebooks, they don't take up space and you can take them anywhere if you have a kindle/tablet. Another advantage is that you can grab them for free on filesharing sites if they are available. I literally have run out of space for my physical books. I ran out of shelf space so some are are stacked up to the ceiling.

Zipperface

Probably hardbacks, but I'll take anything, even some of the free stuff (say like at http://www.gutenberg.org/) that's in .txt form. I've even taken the trouble of turning some of those .txt files into actual document form (.doc and .ods) which required line by line editing. This takes a while when it's Dickens I'm a voracious reader. Apparently, when I came home from my first day at kindergarten I was totally pissed off and didn't want to go back because they were simply _not going to teach me to read that year.

Check out http://www.nifty.org/nifty/ if you haven't seen it. Essentially a huge collection of erotic stories by amateurs. Some really suck badly, but some are pretty good.

Also, audio books can be interesting. There's audio versions that you can find (used to at any rate) that are not simply read, but are done pretty much like a radio play with various actors and sound effects. You really have no idea what you've missed until you hear a good radio play. It is no wonder that earlier families would gather 'round and stare at the radio. "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" was originally a radio program before it became a book. This type of radio is awesome!!_

DAVLEN

I find Paperbacks are easier to read in bed and on planes, dont have to wing the elbows too much causing discomfort for who ever is seated alongside :cheesy2:

BBanditz

Paperbacks. I mean, hardcovers are more durable, but paperbacks weigh less.

Once I get an e-reader I'm sure that'll become a competitor, but for now I'm an all-Canadian paperback.

sptrp

I prefer hardbacks, especially for new releases.
I tend to buy hardback and e-reader versions for the books I like.

For older books that might not have an electronic version I'll pick up a second-hand paperback version so my hardback can stay in nice condition on the bookshelf.

ilmodello

hardcover!