Thursday, March 27, 2008

Booking Through Thursday-Cover up


Booking Through Thursday

While acknowledging that we can’t judge books by their covers, how much does the design of a book affect your reading enjoyment? Hardcover vs. softcover? Trade paperback vs. mass market paperback? Font? Illustrations? Etc.?


Not knowing the difference between trade paperback and mass market paperback I had to do some research. I found this. So I have to go with trade paperback. At my local used book store they have a small section of trade paperbacks and that's where I head first. I like the size of them in my hands. If I have to have a particular book, I will stoop to the smaller mass market books. In that case, the older the better.

The covers very seldom influence my purchase. I'm reading alot of classics lately and covers don't matter at all, although the Barnes and Noble collection choose some really good covers, usually artwork based on the book. I don't much care for movie tie-ins, but after a movie is out the used bookstore is usually flooded with them and they are too cheap to resist. But you have to be very careful to get the complete book and not just the movie pieces.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow, I never realised book formatting was that complicated! I tend to think book and movie versions are best kept separate, since they're often so different, but yes, if they're cheap and available... :)

Jeane said...

That was a very interesting link. I didn't realize the decisions authors/publishers make in book sizes were so complex.

gautami tripathy said...

For a favourite author, I do not particularly care for covers. However, font is important!

Booking through cover