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Thursday, March 22, 2012

Random Ramblings—Hardback, Paperback, e-book…Oh my!


I’ve been thinking about this lately and I want to get some other opinions.

I’ve always been a bit of a book snob. I LOVE hardbacks. If I can find a book in hardback I always buy it. Sometimes I won’t buy books if they only come in paperback.  And e-books are they really books?

This was all before I started trying to get published.

But now I’m in a bit of a conundrum. I’ve read some FANTASIC books in paperback—some of my favorites in fact. And since getting a Kindle, I’m loving all the books I can ONLY get in e-book.

I think hardbacks will always be my favorite. I love how they look on my shelves and they hold up so nice to multiple readings. But now I’m starting to change my mind.

So my questions to you are…What book format is your favorite? Would you sign with a publisher that only printed paperbacks? Or e-books?

-Angie





25 comments:

Anonymous said...

I've always loved paperbacks (and not just because they're cheaper). Hardbacks always seemed too bulky. I still don't care for e-books, but they sure are convenient. My daughter came to me at 10 last night and asked if I could download a book to her I-pod because she needed it for class. This sure beats the days when we had to rush out to the bookstore and hope they have the book in stock. :)

To answer your other question, I'd sign with any publisher willing to pay me for my words. :)

Nick Wilford said...

I think I like paperbacks best, but there's loads of advantages to an e-book (eg easy to read with one hand while doing other things). Hardbacks are good from an aesthetic viewpoint, but can be awkward and unwieldy.

I'm not snobbish. Getting my words out there is the most important thing to me!

Tara Tyler said...

i will take whatever i can get! i like paperbacks, they're the lightest =)

but i do believe one day, many years in the future, paper pages will become obsolete, a part of history... the process has begun in schools with the young, e catalogs and ezines, manuals online, bookstores closing =(

Madeline Mora-Summonte said...

My preference used to be hardcovers - and there are still a handful of authors whose work I buy in hardcover - but over the years, I found I like trade paperbacks better. It's like the best of both worlds - bigger than a mass market paperback but smaller and easier to handle than a hardcover. As for ebooks, I've only read a few of them and they were shorter, more like novellas, and it was on my phone, so I don't have an opinion on that.

I would like to be published both in print (hardcover or trade paperback is fine!) and in ebook form. Readers are everywhere! :)

Kyra Lennon said...

I like all forms of books, though I do have a soft spot for hardbacks. They aren't as expensive as they used to be, and they just look nice!

Also, I would love to see my books published in any form, there is no snobbery here!

Kelley Lynn said...

It depends on where I'm reading. I am in LOVE with reading while working out and the Nook is the best way to go for that. It gives me about four hours of reading at least as I clamor between ellipticals, stairsteppers and stationary bikes. And when I'm traveling (which is often) the ebook is the way to go.

However if I'm in bed or just around the house I like to hold a book. That will never change. And I love having a book shelf too.

I'm not sure what I think about being only published in one form or another. Whether its just ebooks or just hardbooks. I think most read from all formats so I would prefer to be published in all...

Oh to be published :)

Cassie Mae said...

I like books with words in them ;)

Elizabeth Seckman said...

I would sign with the kid down the street who wanted to sell my work in crayon!
Seriously, I think e books will keep growing and it will be a thorn in the side of big houses. I love that I can take a chance on new writers. I mean I got Jolene Perry's "Night Sky" (loving it) ; Annalisa Crawford's "Cat and the Dreamer" (loved it too); and Linda Sands "Not Waving, Drowning" (love it too)...each for 2.99...less than a value meal. I would probably be less inclined to buy at $10. It gives me a chance to try new things. It's like a freaking smorgasborg and I'm loving it.

Elizabeth Seckman said...

I prefer these for the bathtub...fear of electrocution

Donna K. Weaver said...

I still love the feel of a hardback, but I've taken to looking for the ebook first.

Chantele Sedgwick said...

I love hardcovers, as you know, but as long as the book is good, I don't really care how I read it. And obviously I don't care how I'm published, since my publisher does paperback and e-book. A few years ago I would have been sad, since I'm obsessed with hardcovers, but if someone is willing to pay me to write, I don't care how the book comes off the press! :)

Shallee said...

I still love paper books best, but I'm growing to love ebooks a lot. If a publisher offers me an ebook only deal, I'd still take it!

Cortney Pearson said...

Cassie, you crack me up!

Cortney Pearson said...

I'm kind of a snob too, I prefer hardback if it's a book I love! Lately though, I'll take what I can get. And I have a nook, which I love to read on on occasion, but I prefer to have the real thing in my hands, especially if there's a part I want to keep turning back to (like a saucy kisisng scene, lol--yeah, I admit, I reread those!), it's harder to find on a device than having the book. There's just something comforting about books, about *paper*.

Emily R. King said...

I love the feeling of a hardback, but usually purchase paperbacks. Now that I have my Kindle Fire, I've been enjoying e-books. I guess e-books are like ice cream, there isn't a "flavor" I don't.

Dani said...

I like paperbacks. They're lighter, cheaper, and depending on the size -easy to conceal.
But my kindle is much more convenient. I like being able to buy a book with the touch of my finger!

Sarah Tokeley said...

For me, hardbacks only look good on a shelf, they're too heavy, you can't carry them around in your handbag and you can't read them in the bath :-)

I've always loved paperbacks. I have the kindle app on my pc but I'm not a lover because when I read, I like to curl up somewhere. I think it would be different if I had an actual tablet. I don't know which way I'll go when I start submitting, but I won't rule any publisher out. Ebooks are definitely here to stay :-)

Jessie Humphries said...

I'm down with anything. I'll take what I can get. But lately, I prefer reading on my kindle.

Leigh Covington said...

Stop it right now! You have to stay a book snob with me!
I'm terrible about. I love my pretty hardbacks although I'm okay with a paper back too. There are some books that I really want to read that are only available on e-book so I'm going to finally delve into that world, but I still love my babies on my shelf. :)

Aldrea Alien said...

I prefer small paperbacks to hardbacks and tradesizes since I can fit more on a shelf. There are a few bigger books that aren't in danger of being replaced by smaller versions (short story collections mainly, though there's also a first edition I'm not yet willing to let go).
Despite having about thirteen books on it, I've yet to read more than a few lines on my kindle. It is cute though. I can actually see myself liking it when I get around to reading a novel on it. Which is weird because I swore I'd hate eReaders.

Jaycee DeLorenzo said...

I'm a fan of paperbacks and ebooks. I love the way hardbacks look, but the prices for them are ridiculous, they're bulky and hard to hold in a comfortable way when I'm vegging, and you can't hold them correctly in the bath.

As for publishing, it wouldn't affect my decision to publish with a company.

Jeff Hargett said...

I've always favored paperbacks, preferring them for feel and cost. However, I've found reading e-books on my tablet to actually be easier on my eyes. That, coupled with the fact that I can tote hundreds of books on that gadget with no additional weight or bulk is way cool.

Meredith said...

If price were no issue, I'd love to buy only hardbacks. I use them for decoration around my apartment. :)

Jeremy Bates said...

I prefer hardbacks as well; however, when it comes time to moving...yikes! On thing I have learned from moving is to NEVER fill up a box with books just because there is room.

As long as a publisher was a good one, I'd go with any format, albeit my last choice would be an eBook.

Melissa Sarno said...

I love this question (seriously, it got me irrationally excited.) I am a paperback lover. I love that it's flimsy, that I can dog-ear the pages and crease the seam. For me hardbacks are too rigid and difficult to maneuver, particularly since I read on the subway, on the go. I do not own an e-reader and don't plan on buying one. But I recently read a kindle single on my phone. I liked the experience. A lot.

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