I've been collecting books since I was young. Over the years I've owned and collected a myriad of hardcovers and paperbacks that I eventually called my room at my mom's house a jungle, books are literally everywhere (LOL..TMI). But in the last 5 years that I've been on my own I've bought mostly paperback books, and either won or got sent a hardcover book for review. Let's talk about Hardcovers versus Paperbacks.
What's the difference?
Hardcovers or hardbound books have, well, literally a hard cover. They are made with thick protective cover, with usually a paper or leather dust jacket over the main cover. These books are built to last - they don't get damaged easily and the paper used is the long lasting acid free type. Hardcovers are also usually released first and are great for collecting (looks great on shelves especially if they are a set). Because of the cover these books are usually bigger and heavier. They are also much more expensive.
Paperback books on the other hand are made with a cardboard type cover and are most often produced smaller than hardcovers. Paperbacks are released sometimes a few months after the hardcovers as a marketing boost and they come much cheaper than the hardcovers. These books are usually massed produced and are smaller and lighter to carry.
I Prefer...
...Hardcovers
- Because I collect them. I don't mind the varying size of the books, I just find them as really valuable collectibles.
- I love the design of the cover under the jacket. Sometimes the covers are not just plain colors and the designs are so pretty
- In case I meet the author someday, I would love for them to sign my hardcover.
- It will last longer. I own some hardcover books from when my mom was really young. Compared to her other paperback books where the covers have disintegrated, her hardcovers are still intact.
- Easier to make people think I'm an awesome reader if I have a hardcover with me. LOL
- If it's Christmas and my Birthday I prefer to receive hardcovers. Hihi.
...Paperbacks
- When I don't have extra money to buy the hardcover.
- If my collection of the books of the same author are all already paperback
- Easy to bring a smaller book that will fit in my bag and not be that bad on my shoulders
- If by some chance the paperback came out before the hardcover
- Or if the new released versions of older books have these awesome covers in paperback
- If it's a gift and the person who gave it didn't know I prefer hardcovers.
So there goes. Although I have a bigger preference to hardcover I guess I don't really mind whether a book is hardcover or paperback as long as I get to own and read them. And then of course there is the matter of e-books and audio books which I will be discussing in a separate post.
What do you think? Which type do you normally prefer when buying or reading?
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Loved this post Myrth! I prefer paperbacks. Hardbacks for me are great and all but I don't get along with dust jackets xD I'd much rather have a paperback. Also they're cheaper. I do collect my books in paperback form and I love them. I find them nicer to stack then the hardbacks. But that's what I've been used to I guess.
ReplyDeleteMostly with paperback I have trouble keeping the edges from fraying over time. LOL. I used to wrap them in plastic when I was younger (like text books). Don't have the time nor the patience to do that now. Hihi.
DeleteI usually go for hardcovers. They look beautiful and I love to discover some hidden work on the rigid parts. Is always a good surprise.
ReplyDeleteBut sometimes I prefer to go with papaerbacks, when is the case of a series I'm uncertain to read but still don't mind to start. Or some olde fantasy series that have all mismatched edition. For example, I had to buy some mass market paprback. THe edition is really fragile, but I do my best to preserve it.
That's one of the things I love with hardcovers - the design inside. Although of course the majority of Review copies or ARC books I get are paperback so it's still all good.
DeleteI agree with a lot of what you said. I tend to carry a lot of books at once, so paperback is nice for that, but the hardcovers are just so pretty! :)
ReplyDeleteFirst thing I do when I get new Hardcovers is check out the design (if there is any) under the jacket. And I've been drooling iver some HC books that don't have jackets and already have their designs and title on the hard cover itself (which are much more expensive than regular HC).
DeleteI hope this post won't influence me in any way! I just love paperbacks and hardbounds are not budget=friendly for a student haha. Lovely post!
ReplyDeleteI had a mix of books when I was younger. If my mom (or Dad) is buying I always grab the hardbound. Haha
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