I buy hardbacks only for books I truly cherish or authors I admire most. I have a disability and physically cannot hold a hardback book without pain. Paperbacks for me are great. I was anti-kindle until my disability post cancer surgeries and now it is gold for me as I have a blue tooth clicker - as turning a page virtually or physically most days is too hard. But my kindle I reserve for my fun fluff books. I have already read 118 books this year so without kindle unlimited I would be screwed financially. I love them in every form I guess 😜
To be completely transparent, I had been in bed for 12 weeks without being able to use my arm (doctor ordered bedrest). So, I read to keep me from going insane! I have slowed down with my reading a lot.
You are speaking my language! I have been buying more hardbacks recently, out of both impatience and out of loving them as objects. I'm a sucker for a sprayed edge and beautiful endpapers. I also carry a big handbag (Bellroy make sturdy laptop bags that can pass for handbags), and I can usually manage to carry a hardback if it's not too chunky.
That said, my book's being published as a paperback original to encourage more readers to take a chance on it. Romance readers in particular read books at such a rate (several a week!) that they're looking to economize wherever they can.
My tsundoku has now reached four piles by my bed . Half cookery books and half history . So much nicer to read outside on a summer’s day than squinting at a tablet
I buy hardback new releases by certain novelists. And I get second-hand ones too, occasionally. But I've had to cut down! Space is a problem. I recently took three large boxes of books to Oxfam. A few years ago I took 14 bags full! It hurts to do this but it's unavoidable if I don't want to use my Kindle all the time (I don't!). (As a rather sad footnote, I have often re-bought books that I've given to charity...)
Incidentally I’m now reading Caledonian Road by Andrew O’Hagan. Kindle though - sadly. What a brilliant novel! He must be one of the greatest living novelists.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE hard backs and even high end paperbacks… I also swear England has the BEST bookstores. Lots and lots of ‘not bestsellers’. I usually come back to the USA with 23 kg is books!
Don’t get me wrong, I am a fan of ebooks too, but for different reasons; beach reads and traveling primarily.
But there is something particularly pleasing about a hardback book. The pages, the print, the feeling of moving into a more leisured space.
I rarely leave a book store without 3-5 new books.
If you love beautiful end papers I recommend Persephone books. They used to have a lovely little shop on Lambs Conduit Street packed with all their volumes. They specialise in reprinting forgotten masterpieces, mostly by women. Fiction and non fiction. They're now online and send out a charming newsletter. All of their books have end papers that match the title.
I have got a few of theirs. I used to pop in when I was visiting a friend who lived in Lamb's Conduit Street. I gather they're in Bath now so must visit them there.
I adore a hard back cookery book, but am struggling with neck problems created (so my physio tells me), by my poor reading posture. The weight of hard backs is a real issue. I moved to a Kindle for the sheer volume of books that I buy, but even the weight of that including the protective cover is approaching that of a hardback.
A friend has suggested a music stand, but it's not the best solution from an angle perspective.... Any ideas would be welcome 😁
Must be a solution - I suspect some special cradle or other device. I tend to read them sitting in the corner of my L-shaped sofa with the book propped up against my knees. Not sure if that's an option?
Really enjoyable read Fiona, unfortunately I’m very much the paperback fan, I do own a number of hardbacks, although much prefer the lighter, less cumbersome paperback.
Personally I’d prefer both versions to be released at the same time, I know that won’t happen as it’s an additional marketing opportunity, so I’ll just have to be patient and wait for the hardbacks little brother to be released 🤎
Strangely, I just bought a hardback copy of a book after hesitating over the Kindle version. I won’t stop buying Kindle versions of books I want to dip in and out of- they’re very good for work because you can search them. But novels! I just finished the hardback of Caledonian Road I can’t wait for the one I just ordered to arrive – Sarah Perry’s enlightenment.
I am lucky to work in a bookshop and many hardbacks are not so expensive, many have offers of £2, £3, £4 off up to half price, which brings them closer to the price of a paperback which are now £9.99. Having collected books for 40 years and moved house many times I have realised paperbacks don't stand the test of time, any 40 year paperback in my collection is now brown mottled and falling apart, unlike the few hardbacks from the same era that still feel relatively new and precious to hold.
There's so much to love about hardbacks (though one does run out of shelf space much more quickly). Cost is unfortunately a compellingly good reason to wait for paperback if they do get a PB release. I'd say that more than 70% of my collection is PB, but so much more love and publishing spend goes into the HB editions. I do also love paperback reissues: so may publishers have ravishing looking back catalogues.
As you may know, Laura, I founded a bookstore in Mexico years ago (it's still going strong but w/ new owners--27 yrs later). We made it used AND new, and bi-lingual of course, and walking into the shop each day, being surrounded by books and the thoughts and words of all those authors just made my heart sing. Before deciding to open a bookshop, I'd kept every single book I ever bought. But when we decided to move to MX and open the store, those books were fair game. Now I religiously clean out my shelves when they get overcrowded and donate to Planned Parenthood which always has a great book sale yearly. But I am still totally in love w/ hardbacks. And the photo of those endpapers in your post--to die for! Long live the written word (and bookshops).
They cost more, they take up more room on my already full shelves... and yet yes I keep buying them because they look and feel so much more beautiful and substantial than paperbacks. When the time comes that I can't afford to buy new books, they'll still be there to re-read. Now the REAL luxury are Folio Society editions... for which I haunt secondhand bookshops and fairs. A boxed full set of the Bronte novels - £30! Less than the cost of just one new Folio today. Though I will succumb to their latest catalogue, I fear.
Fiona, for other beautiful books with gorgeous endpapers, do you know Persephone Books? Now near you, in Bath.
I also noticed they’d moved to Bath (ten minutes from me). I think it was Elizabeth Day who posted from their (launch) evening a couple of weeks ago. Looks like a beautiful place. Maybe see you over there, Fiona?!
I buy hardbacks only for books I truly cherish or authors I admire most. I have a disability and physically cannot hold a hardback book without pain. Paperbacks for me are great. I was anti-kindle until my disability post cancer surgeries and now it is gold for me as I have a blue tooth clicker - as turning a page virtually or physically most days is too hard. But my kindle I reserve for my fun fluff books. I have already read 118 books this year so without kindle unlimited I would be screwed financially. I love them in every form I guess 😜
Totally understand that from your point of view. But 188 books - WOW! If i get through three a month I'm quite pleased with myself!
To be completely transparent, I had been in bed for 12 weeks without being able to use my arm (doctor ordered bedrest). So, I read to keep me from going insane! I have slowed down with my reading a lot.
Well you deserve all the entertainment you can get in those circumstances!
Absolutely agree. Hardbacks are beautiful to look at, lovely to hold and even better to read
You are speaking my language! I have been buying more hardbacks recently, out of both impatience and out of loving them as objects. I'm a sucker for a sprayed edge and beautiful endpapers. I also carry a big handbag (Bellroy make sturdy laptop bags that can pass for handbags), and I can usually manage to carry a hardback if it's not too chunky.
That said, my book's being published as a paperback original to encourage more readers to take a chance on it. Romance readers in particular read books at such a rate (several a week!) that they're looking to economize wherever they can.
Fair enough and MORE than happy to buy it in paperback once it comes out! 👏👏
My tsundoku has now reached four piles by my bed . Half cookery books and half history . So much nicer to read outside on a summer’s day than squinting at a tablet
💯
I buy hardback new releases by certain novelists. And I get second-hand ones too, occasionally. But I've had to cut down! Space is a problem. I recently took three large boxes of books to Oxfam. A few years ago I took 14 bags full! It hurts to do this but it's unavoidable if I don't want to use my Kindle all the time (I don't!). (As a rather sad footnote, I have often re-bought books that I've given to charity...)
I've done that too! Or books I couldn't find and then discovered I had after all. (Nigel Slater's Christmas Chronicles among them)
Incidentally I’m now reading Caledonian Road by Andrew O’Hagan. Kindle though - sadly. What a brilliant novel! He must be one of the greatest living novelists.
So, so good isn't it? And yes, I agree
I LOVE LOVE LOVE hard backs and even high end paperbacks… I also swear England has the BEST bookstores. Lots and lots of ‘not bestsellers’. I usually come back to the USA with 23 kg is books!
Don’t get me wrong, I am a fan of ebooks too, but for different reasons; beach reads and traveling primarily.
But there is something particularly pleasing about a hardback book. The pages, the print, the feeling of moving into a more leisured space.
I rarely leave a book store without 3-5 new books.
You are a woman after my own heart, Julie!
If you love beautiful end papers I recommend Persephone books. They used to have a lovely little shop on Lambs Conduit Street packed with all their volumes. They specialise in reprinting forgotten masterpieces, mostly by women. Fiction and non fiction. They're now online and send out a charming newsletter. All of their books have end papers that match the title.
I have got a few of theirs. I used to pop in when I was visiting a friend who lived in Lamb's Conduit Street. I gather they're in Bath now so must visit them there.
I adore a hard back cookery book, but am struggling with neck problems created (so my physio tells me), by my poor reading posture. The weight of hard backs is a real issue. I moved to a Kindle for the sheer volume of books that I buy, but even the weight of that including the protective cover is approaching that of a hardback.
A friend has suggested a music stand, but it's not the best solution from an angle perspective.... Any ideas would be welcome 😁
Must be a solution - I suspect some special cradle or other device. I tend to read them sitting in the corner of my L-shaped sofa with the book propped up against my knees. Not sure if that's an option?
Sounds like time to go furniture shopping 😜
I might have to swap chairs, currently I'm usually found reading in a wing back chair that is great for back support, but not for my neck....
I am so sorry, Fiona.
From,
Your humble hardback-loving bookseller.
Forgiven 😉 And it’s brought such renewed pleasure in reading …
Really enjoyable read Fiona, unfortunately I’m very much the paperback fan, I do own a number of hardbacks, although much prefer the lighter, less cumbersome paperback.
Personally I’d prefer both versions to be released at the same time, I know that won’t happen as it’s an additional marketing opportunity, so I’ll just have to be patient and wait for the hardbacks little brother to be released 🤎
Oh, I've been a fervent paperback buyer up to now and still buy them. It's just that I now buy hardbacks too!
Strangely, I just bought a hardback copy of a book after hesitating over the Kindle version. I won’t stop buying Kindle versions of books I want to dip in and out of- they’re very good for work because you can search them. But novels! I just finished the hardback of Caledonian Road I can’t wait for the one I just ordered to arrive – Sarah Perry’s enlightenment.
Ooo, will look out for that!
I am lucky to work in a bookshop and many hardbacks are not so expensive, many have offers of £2, £3, £4 off up to half price, which brings them closer to the price of a paperback which are now £9.99. Having collected books for 40 years and moved house many times I have realised paperbacks don't stand the test of time, any 40 year paperback in my collection is now brown mottled and falling apart, unlike the few hardbacks from the same era that still feel relatively new and precious to hold.
That's a very good point. I have much treasured old hardbacks too.
There's so much to love about hardbacks (though one does run out of shelf space much more quickly). Cost is unfortunately a compellingly good reason to wait for paperback if they do get a PB release. I'd say that more than 70% of my collection is PB, but so much more love and publishing spend goes into the HB editions. I do also love paperback reissues: so may publishers have ravishing looking back catalogues.
That is true too (and I do still read them though hardbacks are such a treat)
As you may know, Laura, I founded a bookstore in Mexico years ago (it's still going strong but w/ new owners--27 yrs later). We made it used AND new, and bi-lingual of course, and walking into the shop each day, being surrounded by books and the thoughts and words of all those authors just made my heart sing. Before deciding to open a bookshop, I'd kept every single book I ever bought. But when we decided to move to MX and open the store, those books were fair game. Now I religiously clean out my shelves when they get overcrowded and donate to Planned Parenthood which always has a great book sale yearly. But I am still totally in love w/ hardbacks. And the photo of those endpapers in your post--to die for! Long live the written word (and bookshops).
I think Heron Books is a home from Home for Lizzie too!
They cost more, they take up more room on my already full shelves... and yet yes I keep buying them because they look and feel so much more beautiful and substantial than paperbacks. When the time comes that I can't afford to buy new books, they'll still be there to re-read. Now the REAL luxury are Folio Society editions... for which I haunt secondhand bookshops and fairs. A boxed full set of the Bronte novels - £30! Less than the cost of just one new Folio today. Though I will succumb to their latest catalogue, I fear.
Fiona, for other beautiful books with gorgeous endpapers, do you know Persephone Books? Now near you, in Bath.
I used to go to their shop in Lamb's Conduit Street - hadn't realised they'd relocated to Bath. Will seek them out - thankyou!
I also noticed they’d moved to Bath (ten minutes from me). I think it was Elizabeth Day who posted from their (launch) evening a couple of weeks ago. Looks like a beautiful place. Maybe see you over there, Fiona?!
Is it like fast food? E-books you consume and forget but (generally) hard backs you keep, love and cherish.
Exactly!