[Theydon Bois]

I am very anal about my book collection, to the point where I must have hardbacks of my chosen 'favourite' authors, and when I read a book, I removed the dust jacket so's not to damage it, I even read paperbacks (for random authors that I am not collecting their complete works) without creasing the spine.....

Are more of you book freaks like me, or do you not care what edition you have, or how you read them?

[Sniper Ash6]

Im not bothered about which edition i read, paperback i normally get due to price and i find its easier to read

[Codehead]

I almost exclusively read in bed to wind down at the end of the day. Hard backs are too rigid and bulky for laid back reading so it's paperback all the way for me.

I do like to take care of books though. Mrs Codehead annoys me with her lack of bookmarks, she uses anything that comes to hand, sweet wrappers, crisp packets or even just plonking the book down open and leaving the binding screaming for mercy!

[Toasty]

I recently stopped collecting books, but I had no real preference over paperback or hardback. However, one thing that would annoy me with paperbacks was the change of cover design between editions, so if you started reading a series of books that used one style and you come to book 5 and all you can get is the 2nd edition style, it screwed up your nice neat bookshelf.

I now use the library a lot and find I'm drawn to hardbacks more, they just seem nicer to read.

[Sniper Ash6]

Originally Posted by Codehead

I almost exclusively read in bed to wind down at the end of the day. Hard backs are too rigid and bulky for laid back reading so it's paperback all the way for me.

I do like to take care of books though. Mrs Codehead annoys me with her lack of bookmarks, she uses anything that comes to hand, sweet wrappers, crisp packets or even just plonking the book down open and leaving the binding screaming for mercy!

I fold one of those square note pieces of paper in half and use that as a bookmark

[Theydon Bois]

Originally Posted by Toasty

However, one thing that would annoy me with paperbacks was the change of cover design between editions, so if you started reading a series of books that used one style and you come to book 5 and all you can get is the 2nd edition style, it screwed up your nice neat bookshelf.

/agree!

I think a lot of authors who get past a dozen or so books fall into this catagory...

[GasDad]

When I was a kid I used to see on the stairs (no idea why) eating oranges and reading - found a box of books at my parents last year - you could still see the juice stains.

These days I love to read in the bath - so lots of books need to be aired before being put on the shelf. . My daughter on the other hand, takes immaculate care of her books.

[FruitBat]

I get quite a lot from charity shops these days (have you seen the price of paperbacks?) so as long as it's in good nick, I'll take whatever version it is.

[Stream62]

Much prefer paperbacks for reading purposes and will often buy second hand as love browsing those shops.

Over all not too bothered a bout the condition of the books when I get them as long as they are half decent. However tend to keep, unconcious, reasonable care when i get them and they don't tend to deteriorate unless over long periods.

[Alan CD]

I only purchase paperbacks because of the cost. I tend to read books over and over again and after a few years they fall apart and have to buy a fresh set.

Guy Gibson's "Enemy Coast Ahead" is the forth time I've bought it. Same with Frank Herbert's "Dune" and Arthur C Clarke's "2001: Space Odyssey".

So I have a horrible looking library of old, well-used books!

Alan

[RPupkin]

I am a little anal when it comes to books and hate to crease a spine if I am reading, always use a bookmark and always remove the dust jacket if it is hardback. I like all my books to look like they have never been read.

Also, I had to sell all my older Bernard Cornwell Sharpe novels because the newer ones have a different design and thus my older ones had to match!

[Steve N]

Originally Posted by Codehead

I almost exclusively read in bed to wind down at the end of the day. Hard backs are too rigid and bulky for laid back reading so it's paperback all the way for me.

Same here

[gavan]

Originally Posted by Theydon Bois

Are more of you book freaks like me, or do you not care what edition you have, or how you read them?

eBooks all the way

[dng007]

Hardbacks are nice, but generally buy paperbacks partly due to cost, and partly due to them being easier to read. That said, I quite like the smaller hardbacks you sometimes get - sort of mid-way between.

[Iccz]

I find reading a paperback easier, would rather collect a hardback though

[rickinyorkshire]

I will read any, hardback or paperback. Hardbacks do look better on the book shelf mind

As for bookmarks, i just fold the corner of the page down.

[Iccz]

Originally Posted by rickinyorkshire

As for bookmarks, i just fold the corner of the page down.

[Theydon Bois]

Utter sacrilidge.

[sniffer66]

Actually, I do that, but only to paperbacks.

I prefer paperbacks as I read in bed every night and they are far easier to hold without aching your wrists

[Theydon Bois]

Whats with all these limp wristed readers! This is how you get excercise, lifting those weighty tomes!

[Battle]

I hate Hardbacks, really annoys me having to wait a year from the publish date to the release of the paperback, but thats nothing compared to the new trend of publishers who have started to release paperback in a slightly larger size than normal, its bad enough when they change the cover design so the spines dont match but now not even the size of the books match.

It really hacks me off when a new author ive discovered becomes popular enough to start releasing Hardback books.

I refuse to buy Hardbacks

[nheather]

Don't care - I buy books to read.

If it is a hardback I tend to take more care - I do remove the dustjacket and always use a book mark.

If it is a paperback then I'm not bothered - will open the spine as much as I need, fold the corners.

Basically, I buy the book to read the story as enjoyment not as an ornament in a bookcase and I hardly ever read a book twice. So my paperback get read rather than cared for. When I have finished with them I tend to horde until one day they go to a carboot for 10p each and those that don't sell to the charity shops.

Cheers,

Nigel

[Iccz]

Originally Posted by Theydon Bois

Whats with all these limp wristed readers! This is how you get excercise, lifting those weighty tomes!

I don't like to read hardbacks usually because I prefer to keep them in near mint condition, sometimes when reading a book I habitually fold it at the spine so the front and rear covers are touching (with paperbacks (sacrilege I know)) depending where I'm reading, usually if in a plane it makes it easier for space etc, which brings me to my next point about travelling, paperbacks seem easier to carry around as they're a little smaller and lighter.

[sleaver]

I don't mind either hardback or paperback!

However I will make all efforts as to not damage it! Such as not opening it wide as to not damage the spine, really carefull with dust covers, wont fold over corners etc!

[xit2050]

Like most, I usually buy paperbacks due to cost.
I agree that a hardback looks better on the shelve, but that's not its main purpose, is it?

[Toasty]

Hardbacks have other advantages, larger print and a lot more durable.

[Duncan G]

I buy from charity shops, discount shops or poundshops. I get both paper and hard back but I do not keep all of them once read as I don't have the room. I have 20-30 books I've read sitting in my kitchin waiting to either go back to a charity shop or be binned.

I do collect 1st editions and signed books though and have a couple of hundred most of which I found in charity shops.

I can get through a book within a day as a fast reader and I can have three or four books on the go at one time. Last night I read book 3 of the Darwin awards having brought it that day in a charity shop, then I finished off a book on the Enigma code machine and a detective novell set in victorian times by Edward Marston.

I have books in piles waiting to be read any every now and then a pile collapses and has to be restacked.

[Stockholm]

Originally Posted by Toasty

Hardbacks have other advantages, larger print and a lot more durable.

Yeah, I prefer hardbacks owing to the larger print and more generous spacing you find in them.

I've also picked up some paperbacks that use font that I've found difficult to read. I've never had that problem with a hardback.

Also, hardbacks can feel nicer to hold. I love the size and shape of a good quality hardback.

Some other positives about hardbacks.

Edit - Ah, yes... the fresher smell of the hardback beats the foostie smell of the yellow-hued paperback. Yes.

[the_watcher87]

I prefer paperbacks but if theres a new release (such as the new Dan Brown) then I have to buy in hardback. I always use a bookmark no matter what sort of book and I hate to crease the spine.

I do buy a lot of books out of charity shops and second hand book stores and the spines do tend to be creased so that can't be helped on that occasion.

The wife doesn't care what type of book they are and they are creased in nearly everyway is possible. Annoys me to see them like that, I like my books in good order.

[ozthecoz]

I'm a taxi driver so most of my reading is done iin the car, sitting on the ranks waiting for a fare. For that reason i normaly buy paperbacks as they fit in teh glove box or door tray

saying that - i do like the "look" of a book shelf filled with hardbacks lol