The Sword and Laser discussion
Is There a Perfect Shape for Books?
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Used to love paperbacks for ease of holding. Didn't like hardbacks even when I decided to get them - as, for instance, I didn't want to wait for the last book of Piers Anthony's Incarnations of Immortality. (Turns out I should have waited.) I have a distinct recollection of reading it at a diner the morning after after a knock down drag out karate event known as "Special Training" which is a series of hard workouts over a four day period intended to break you down physically and build you up mentally. Anyhoo, I could barely keep the thing open and the pages fought me the entire time.These days my vision would make it hard to read the print of any paperback. Hardback would be easier if glasses were my only option; I start to understand why older members of the British upper class favored hardbacks. But anyhoo, for me it's ebook by far. Which is hard to do for ARCs but has been known to happen.
I prefer reading on my Kindle these days. However, I prefer the feel of a glossy cover paperback that's between 300 and 500 pages. The page count appears to be important. It just feels better.
Phillip wrote: "I prefer reading on my Kindle these days. However, I prefer the feel of a glossy cover paperback that's between 300 and 500 pages. The page count appears to be important. It just feels better."Yes, a trade paperback that length is good. Short novels and novellas feel too flimsy in paperback - hardcover is better for those.
Mod
Getting to choose the font and font size gets more important as I get older. I own books that I can't read any more, or at least not without a severe strain on my eyes.
When I lived in Japan for a year, I fell in love with the little tiny books they have there. Apparently, they're called Bunkobon (文庫本) and wikipedia describes them as "small-format paperback books, designed to be affordable and space saving" stating that "the great majority of bunkobon are A6 (105×148mm or 4.1"×5.8") in size."I found that I simply could not resist buying them, even though my Japanese (still) isn't actually good enough to read them! There are some mystery books there! Like, it took my 5 years to realise that one book I bought is a collection of short stories! They are the perfect size for taking out with you - by which I mean they would fit into a large pocket! I really wish publishers in England would bring out English versions in the same dimentions.
Since the small size means long stories would be WAY to thick to bind comfortably, longer books are usually split, so The Name of Wind, which I own in Japanese, is split into 5 books, which also means you get muliple cook looking covers. Downside, it is super expensive, since you're more or less paying 5 times as much for the same book.
Ruth (tilltab) Ashworth wrote: "When I lived in Japan for a year, I fell in love with the little tiny books they have there. Apparently, they're called Bunkobon (文庫本) and wikipedia describes them as "small-format paperback books,..."Thanks for the info. I knew “Name of the wind” was split up, and had seen the beautiful cover art, but didn’t know it was because of the physical size of the book. I think I had just been told that that was how it was done in Japan.
Ruth (tilltab) Ashworth wrote: "When I lived in Japan for a year, I fell in love with the little tiny books they have there. Apparently, they're called Bunkobon (文庫本) and wikipedia describes them as "small-format paperback books,..."There was an attempt at something similar in the US a few years ago. Tiny books, printed flip-book style, apparently based on a format that is popular in continental Europe. Here's the NY Times article I read back then: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/29/bu...
But I haven't really thought about them since, so I suppose they must not have gained any traction.
My favorite format to read is a mass market paperback. They fit so well in my hand.I also like a brand new hardcover but after awhile my arms get tired holding it, especially back in the day when I was buying the new Wheel of Time books as soon as they were published and trying to read them in one sitting!
I dislike (a lot), "tall" mass market paperbacks. They have the same width as a traditional mm pbk, but are an inch or two taller. They feel very awkward in my hands.
Seth wrote: "But I haven't really thought about them since, so I suppose they must not have gained any traction."From what I can find searching for minis, dwarsliggers, or flipbacks, nothing was created beyond the initial experiment.
Looks like the UK did a more extensive run but it, too, fizzled out. Interestingly, that appears to have taken place in 2011, a full 7 years before the US attempt. I can’t find any UK flipbacks published after 2011, or any US flipbacks published after 2019.
I don't read print much anymore, but when I did, I was mostly only frustrated when I couldn't get all the books in a series the same height on my shelf. For example, the paperbacks of The Dark Tower saga are at least 2 different heights.
Rectangular usually does it for me but I have to admit I haven't seen many other shapes, at least not in books made for adults. I do prefer the trade paperbacks over the pocket-sized ones - they just fit better in my hands. They also allow for slightly larger print than the pocket-sized paperbacks do, which is important to me now that I'm over the half-century mark. I'm not a huge fan of hardcover books, but I do like the Library of America books and the Everyman's* Library books. * How long do you suppose it will be before they have to change that word? I'm setting the over/under at 3 years.
Trike wrote: "Interestingly, that appears to have taken place in 2011,"Weird - that's the year I went to Japan and discovered the little books! Who knew I was such a trendsetter!
Ruth (tilltab) Ashworth wrote: "Trike wrote: "Interestingly, that appears to have taken place in 2011,"Weird - that's the year I went to Japan and discovered the little books! Who knew I was such a trendsetter!"
I’ve always said so.
Armed Services Editions were a nice compact size
RJ - Slayer of Trolls wrote: "I'm not a huge fan of hardcover books, but I do like the Library of America books..."Part of what makes these great is their flexible bindings. I don't know what makes the difference, but even when new they don't take as much effort to keep open as a standard hardcover. Also, I think they have a sewn in bookmark in each one, and I appreciate that a lot.
Seth wrote: "RJ - Slayer of Trolls wrote: "I'm not a huge fan of hardcover books, but I do like the Library of America books..."Part of what makes these great is their flexible bindings. I don't know what mak..."
You're right, the bindings are terrific, the way they neatly fall open without feeling like they are flimsy at all. And the bookmark is such a nice touch. I do remove the dust cover when I am reading them, and the books look great with or without it.
I always give preference to exclusively paper books in any binding. Solid is of course good because it is more durable, but I try to keep all my books neatly. Recently I read a wonderful novel I found on https://paperap.com/character-of-mari... - there are always a lot of free essay example there. I can safely recommend this book. She impressed me very much and, perhaps, I will re-read it more than once.
For reference: Book size https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_size
Why are Books That Shape? https://bookriot.com/why-are-books-re...
https://www.tor.com/2021/09/09/mark-a...
Although I read ebooks and have been listening to more audiobooks lately, I still wind up with a lot of physical books. Sometimes I look for Advance Reader Copies, or buy a hardcover signed by the author, and when I get my hands on them, I probably spend more time than I care to admit just admiring the shape and feel of the book. I also have hundreds of vintage paperbacks with remarkable cover art. So I get what the author of the article is talking about.
I recently received a signed copy of Richard Kadrey's latest Sandman Slim novel, King Bullet. It's one of those small hardcovers that fit nicely in my hands which seems to make reading it even more pleasurable. Is that too much information? ;-)