We’ve all been there. You read about a book. You place a hold on the library—and groan when you’re #58 in line.
You think about buying the hardback . . . but realize you’ve already bought five books this month and it’s time to practice some restraint. So you think, “Oh well; I’ll get it when it’s in paperback.”
Or: “My book club would love to read this . . . but only when it’s in paperback!”
This week’s contest celebrates a few of our favorite books from 2010 that are finally in paperback:
Committed: A Love Story by Elizabeth Gilbert. Eat, Pray, Love superstar Elizabeth Gilbert wrote her follow-up about falling in love with her husband. It’s a must-read memoir, and also a history of marriage through the ages and a social commentary on the institution.
Day for Night by Frederick Reiken. Trisha’s eyes get big when she talks about Day for Night, because she loves it so much. As she wrote more than a year ago: “It is often said that successful novels need at least two out of three things: good writing, good characters or a good story. That may be true. But in the best novels, like Frederick Reiken’s Day for Night, you get all three.”
Husband and Wife by Leah Stewart. Heartbreaking and funny, Husband and Wife tells the story of a perfectly normal, happy couple—whose world turns upside down when the husband reveals his novel, Infidelity, is based on a real event.
This Book is Overdue! by Marilyn Johnson. One of our reader favorites of 2010, This Book is Overdue! will leave you convinced that librarians really can save the world.
You want ‘em? Here’s how:
TO ENTER: Leave a comment with the answer to the following questions: Which do you prefer: hardcovers, library books, audiobooks, e-books or paperbacks? Why?
CONTEST DETAILS: The prize is four paperbacks: Committed, Day for Night, Husband and Wife and This Book is Overdue! One winner will be chosen using random.org. Prizes will be shipped to the U.S. The contest closes May 27 at 6 p.m. CST.
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ETA: Congrats to Jennifer, this week’s winner! Jennifer loves grabbing paperbacks from the library. “Occasionally I’ll do an e-book the same as the one I am reading. That way I always have it with me and can read it anywhere.”
Contest is now closed.
I prefer hard cover books as they are easier for me to hold and see the print … but basically, I just LOVE to read
I love to look at Bookpage for new release books and then reserve them from the library.
I prefer a trade paperback. The size and weight of it fits comfortably in my hands. Plus you can take several in place of just one when vacationing.
I just love the feel of a book in my hands. Am giving some thought to an e reader for travel, but still in the “can’t make up my mind” stage.
Hardcovers definitely. I grew up in a very poor family, and the only books I received as a child were gifts from relatives at Christmastime and birthdays. A brand spanking new hardcover book is the ultimate richness for me as I fondle its pages and devour its content.
If a book is long or if I’m traveling, I prefer to read an e-book. If I’m anxious to read a new book by a favorite author, I might get it from the library or buy the hardcover so I can share it with others. Otherwise, I prefer trade paperbacks.
I love hardcovers but appreciate the affordability of a trade paperback. Trade paperbacks travel easier too.
Audiobooks are my preference. I can “read” while cooking, cleaning, driving, or doing almost any other chore. The talented readers add an enriching dimension to the prose.
I read any version of a book; hard cover, paperback or audio – don’t have a reader yet but know I’ll enjoy that version also!
Format, for me, depends on the book. I use audiobooks in the car and at home when doing mindless chores. eBooks when traveling. When reading an actual book I prefer hardcover or trade paperbacks. There are certain books that I will not do audio or eBook because I want to hold the book, see the words, and get lost in the moment.
I prefer trade paperbacks. They are lighter and fit in my purse for reading on the run…But I have a Nook now and I am learning to appreciate having a whole library available in one small device.
I prefer paperbacks. They are easier to hold,lighter in weight and travel much better than hardcover.
I like all forms.
Hardback : for signed first editions of fav authors
Paperback: book club – so I can write in it and reference it as we meet and discuss
Digital: more portable
Audiobooks: when I road trip
Rarely library books : I can never seem to return them….
I prefer trade paperback books, but only if the print is of a decent size. I like that I can easily carry a trade paperback in my pocketbook.
Which do you prefer: hardcovers, library books, audiobooks, e-books or paperbacks? Why?
I’m an avid reader so usually I’ll take whatever form I can get but I will have to say I have not jumped on the bandwagon of the e-books. I usually get it from the library and if I love it I go out and buy it (in either format) to have on my shelf unless its something I HAVE to have and then I just buy whatever format it is currently in. I’m a reader who likes to HOLD the actual book in my hand. I also can’t get over how usually the hard cover is LESS than the e-book. I do also enjoy books on CD. I pop one in at the beginning of the week and usually get through a set by the end of the week. (Currently “reading” the Janet Evanovich series this way.) I find that books you actually need to pay attn to are not good in the car!
I really like trade paperbacks the best, if only because they’re easier to hold when reading in bed. But if a new title has just come out that I have to have, I will splurge and buy it right away!
I prefer hardbacks because they seem to stay in better condition longer. Most of the books I read are checked out from my local library and I always try to get them first by reserving them prior to actual circulation.I read too many books weekly for my budget to allow me to purchase them. I love to read!!!
Although I own a Kindle, I do prefer hardcover books…I love the feel, the smell of the book and the ability to easily flip pages to recheck, or remind me of something I’ve read…you can’t do that with a Kindle. That said, I find the Kindle travels with me wherever I go…and I don’t need to load down my suitcase with books which I ended up doing before owning one.
I love hard books. The covers are an important part,the texture and smell of the book before you peer in the novel. Nothing compares to the experience of reading and living in a great book.
I also grew up poor but did from time to time get a book as a gift. These were prized posessions. Now as an adult I still like to have my own copy of a book be it hardback or paper.
I’m always #58 in line for the library reserve.
Prefer hardback books and trade paperback books because of the size of the print. Many come from the library so I guess I also prefer library books. I have an e-reader and am trying to get comfortable with reading e-books but am not there yet.
I prefer either hardbacks or paperbacks. I don’t like e-books. I just can’t make myself go electronic. There just something about cuddling up to a book that a nook, etc. is just not going to replace!
I buy paperbacks because that is what my budget can afford. I would love to buy hardbacks because I like the feel of a book in my hands. E-books are fine, my daughter loves them, but I still prefer books in the traditional formats.
I have to go with the true book-lover’s answer: library books! I read approximately 100 books a year. If I had to buy my books, I would either be in bankruptcy, or much less well-read!
Hardback is my book of choice, except when it’s 1000 pages…the weight of the words is overwhelming!
When ‘performed’ well, there is nothing better than an audiobook. Nelson DeMille’s ‘Night Fall’ read by Scott Brick, David Nicholls’ ‘One Day’ read by Anna Bentinck and Alan Bradley’s ‘Flavia DeLuce’ series read by Jayne Entwistle are SUPERB!!! I can listen in my car, on a walk or when shoveling snow (which we did a lot of this year in the Northeast!) and become completely swept into the story, wishing it would never end….
I like to order from the Library – if I like the book I will buy a copy to share.
Oh, that’s a hard one. I just love books! I love the immediacy of my e-books but I guess if I have to pick one, it would be paperback. They’re
– portable
– no charging required
– usually have a great cover that ropes you in
– looked “lived in” by the time you’ve read them
I prefer the trade paperbacks. They are light to carry and the size makes them easy to read and carry anywhere I go. I don’t like the smaller paperback, they are sometimes hard to read. I don’t yet have an e-reader, but hope to someday. Until the, I will continue to buy paperback books.
I prefer hard cover books that I have bought. I can read them at my leisure that way. I mostly buy books by authors that I have read before and enjoy.
I reserve a lot of library books during the year and have to put them at the top of my reading pile so that I am done before they are overdue. I try to be very careful with library books because I don’t want to be the person who puts wear on a book.
I buy paperbacks only if I somehow have missed reading something that I wanted to read but didn’t get around to it and the price is right. I don’t like library paperbacks. They don’t hold up as well to the handling by many readers.
I love and use all of the options listed:
Hardcovers for my favorite authors -
Trade paperbacks to write in for club, or to pass on to friends-
iPad & Kindle for ease of storage, sharing abilities, audiobooks-
The ‘Overdrive’ app allows me to borrow from libraries and download to the iPad. AWESOME feature!! I understand that Kindle will also be offering this ability in the near future. I highly recommend it.
I like library books. I can read far more books than I could afford to buy and I don’t have to find a place to store them. That is not to say I don’t have a few favorites on my shelves that I go back to from time to time.
I prefer audio books when I am stuck in my hour to two hour commute to work. It saves me! I love e books, which it took me a while to warm up to. I really love that I can have thousands of books with me where ever I go…and the dictionary feature is super cool!
I prefer paperbacks. They are easier to hold, fit nicely in my purse, cost less, and smell divine!
hard cover for home reading and paper for on the go.
I love my Kindle for the convenience of always having books available without carrying a lot of heavy weight! BUT, nothing compares to a good real book on a quiet day!!
I love to read so it didn’t matter if it was hard cover or paperback. Then I bought a Kindle and I am hooked. It’s lightweight and convenient. I now get my best sellers as an e-reader. And also I might add the price is less expensive than in hard cover for the books I love.
Hard covers for home sitting in my easy chair. Paper backs for the “road” where a wait at the doctor’s office, the post office, etc. gives me a chance to spend my time reading a few pages. Either way, reading is good for the mind and the soul.
I just LOVE the feel of a new read in any form, but it is taking some time for me to get used to e-books because I miss the feel of the paper as you turn the page to continue the adventure of the story.
I love all books. E-books when I’m traveling. Paperbacks to read in bed. Hardcovers when I really love a book, so I can keep it always. Audiobooks in the car. Library books for all occasions…I could go on and on!
I read books wherever I can find them. Most of my reading consists of library books although I do have tons of trade paperbacks that I haven’t read yet as well as a few I’ve borrowed. When we travel I use an e-reader so I don’t have a suitcase full of books to take with me.
I prefer hard cover library books for reading at home, and I use my Nook for on-the-go reading.
Although I love the look and feel of hardbacks, my growing prefernce is for trade paperbacks. They obviously do not weigh as much as hardbacks, yet have the heft and graphic design of a “serious” book. Plus the small print in some mass-market paperbacks can be irritating!
I prefer trade paperbacks. They are a lot easier on my hands than hardcovers or the mass market paperbacks. I always buy my own copies of books. I like to have the option to read them again, or if I want to go back to it later to check something I will have it available. I have a very hard time letting go of books.
That’s a hard question to answer. I love hardback books. I also have an eReader-Color Nook. I have a friend who works at the library and she brings me books home. I also buy books for my eReader. So it’s a toss up! Thank you.
makeupgirl21@comcast.net
I suppose if I had to choose, I’d choose hardbacks….why?? because paper back covers always curl up….silly I know. Truth of the matter is, I just love books, hardback, paperbacks….doesn’t matter. Not ready for ebooks until I read all these books I’ve accumulated here at home.
I love getting a hard back book, there is nothing like receiving a new, crispy book. I also like paperback because you can bend the pages back. I also support my local library (I even made them start receiving BookPage) for the customers. Any kind of book will do for me.
I’ll read a book in pretty much any format: hardback, paperback or ebook. Over the past few years I’ve begun to buy more ebooks for everything except my non-fiction reads. I thoroughly enjoy being able to borrow library ebooks at any time of the day or night. This way I’m still active with the library but doing so from the privacy of my own home (best of both worlds). I’ve attempted audio books in the past but haven’t quite got into this format yet but like that this option is also available from my library online.
Library books are my first choice since “free” can’t be beat any day! And hardbound books are my ultimate favorite to read and to give as gifts.
I prefer paperbacks… can fit more on my shelves! I also appreciate the weight. I never leave the house without a book (or two) in my bag, and paperbacks are much easier to lug around. If I’m desperate for a new release, then library is the way to go, and then I’ll buy the paperback when it becomes available, if it’s a book I truly loved.
I love hardcover books because they are sturdy and they stand the test of being carried all around and sometimes shared. I love to keep my books forever. I own a nook but I am still addicted to my books.
I like trade paperback since they are so lightweight and portable for travel. I enjoy library books as well since they are practical.
I love paperbacks. They don’t feel too special to take anywhere, fold down pages, read in the bath etc… And if it is a good book, I don’t mind passing a paperback along, even if it doesn’t make its way back.
E-books are so convenient – when I travel I can take an entire library with me in one device. In the old days, I used to take 10 books for a two week trip and we know how expensive it is to take extra luggage these days
I prefer paperback because it is easy to carry around and it fits in any bag I carry around, and it is cheaper than hardcover.
I love the feel and smell of a hard cover book. I can be brand new or a recycled one I pick up at a library book sale or even at Goodwill. It just makes me feel good. I did become a big fan of audio books when I had a long commute to work. It made me feel like I was making better use of my time rather than just driving. My mother was a huge reader who always encouraged my sister and me. It made me happy to think she would approve of how I was using the time on my drive.
I prefer paperbacks and library books. Paperbacks are easier to read in bed and are lighter to carry.
I prefer paperbacks. They fit in my purse, usually, and they are easy to hold while I ride therecumbent bike at the gym.
Plus, i can trade them in for credit at my local bookseller.
I personally, love paperbacks, I love to take them to the beach and to any appointments where I may have to wait in a waiting room. They are not heavy, they are the perfect size to stick in your handbag or tote.
If I really like the book, I may even purchase a hardback copy to keep on my shelf and I will pass on my paperback to my friends, so keep them coming in paperback.
For the last 10 to 12 years, I have preferred trade paperbacks for their feel & ease of reading. Never thought I would like eBooks, but my new Kindle is changing my mind. Besides, I’m definitely running out of room to store my huge book collection. A well-used hardback or paperback is still perfect for reading in the bath or at the beach. I have a place in my heart for all kinds of books!
Our book club prefers paperbacks because of the cost but if it’s one that I absolutely loved, I go out & purchase it in hard copy for my bookshelf!
I like paperbacks because they are cheaper than hardcover copies. I don’t like checking books out cause I like having the book for myself and keeping it. Maybe selling them later on in life. I don’t like e books cause I like to just have a regular book in my hand. Not an electronic.
I have a Kindle, and I love its light weight and portability, but I still prefer paperbacks for their design. I’m a sucker for a beautiful, engaging cover.
I love paperbacks………….light, and easy to take along where I go…………I just love the feel of a book in my hands!
My favorite type book is paperback because of cost, size and weight. I’m becoming a fan of e-books because of the same reasons but still love holding an actual book.
I love the way library books make me feel! When I walk out of a public library with my arms filled with books, I feel thrifty, community-spirited, environmentally-conscious, and a sense of camaraderie with the person who held the book before me. The sight of my library card gives me a sense of belonging to a group of people worldwide I may never meet, but who share my passion.
On the other hand, I love my Kindle because I’m running out of shelf space and I can tuck it into my bag and go anywhere and never worry about being without a book. The look of the new and larger paperbacks are appealing and tempt me, too. I seldom consider a hardcover unless it’s a cookbook.
Recently, due to my husband losing his job, I’ve re-discovered the local library in order to curtail the amount I spend on books, and have to say that I love it! Knowing that I have to return a book in three weeks has led to me reading a lot more in the past few months.
I use them all depending what I’m doing….”too little time..so may books”!
My main preference is the library book. I love my library plus with interlibrary loan, I can get just about any book I’m looking for. If I am going to buy a book, it will be a paperback because I enjoy the pleasure of carrying it around in my purse to read anywhere. I also get a lot of paperbacks at the library – best of both worlds!
Paperbacks are my favorite – I always keep one in my car to read during all the time I spend waiting….for baseball practice to end, for kids to get out of detention, for inevitable summer traffic jams. I buy paperbacks all year and then once a year, donate all of them to our annual Library Book sale.
I prefer ebooks so I can take my entire library with me.
I love paperbacks because they are easy to carry and fit in my purse. I always have a book in my purse or car. However, I do like reading books as soon as they come out so I end up reading mostly hardbacks.
I prefer library books because I can’t always afford to buy a book. After that I prefer paperbacks. When I am finished with them I can donate them to St Josephs Indian School in South Dakota. They have a bookmobile that goes to the different reservations and they really appreciate the books. Shipping them media rate is pretty inexpensive.
I don’t like to discriminate. I prefer library books when I’m broke, and hardcovers when I’m too excited to wait. I prefer paperbacks when the the book is well loved and I want to write in the margins. Audiobooks are ideal for long bus rides and when I’m washing dishes in the kitchen and ebooks are for those rare times when all I have with me is my phone.
I love them all.
I love to get books at the library, usually paperbacks. It is great to be able to read almost any book I want free from the library and I can get them in paperback (except the “new” releases) or e-books which make them easy to carry around as I love to read every time I can grab a couple of minutes.
I prefer paperbacks. I always carry a book with me, and any purse I buy must be able to hold my wallet and a trade paperback. Sometimes it’s big enough for a hardcover book too, but not always. I mainly use my e-reader for travel — I love the feel and smell of a real book. No e-reader can replace that. Also, I like to loan my books to friends. I read a lot of different genres, and for every book I read, there’s a friend to whom I would like to recommend it; therefore, library books don’t work too well for me. My overdue fines are always ridiculous!
B-) This is the intro to my blog:
“All that mankind has done, thought, gained or been: it is lying as in magic preservation in the pages of books.” ~ Thomas Carlyle
I get so excited about books in hardback, paperback, on tapes, on cds. I love ‘em all! There are not many genres in the “Books Genres” list that I don’t have a book to fit. I love to shop for books, I love to buy books, I love to read books. I love the smell, I love the feel, I love the texture, I love all the photos, I love all the pretty colors. Love ‘em.
Then I discovered e-books. At first they held no appeal for me. A quick download – to read on my computer. Well, that’s ok. Convenient. I didn’t think that I would ever go looking for digital books. But I must confess that I’m hooked! How’d that happen?
It began with the Kindle for PC application that Amazon offers, free. Free is good. Actually, these days, free, for me is great! So I thought that I’d have a look. I discovered that there are over a million (yes, over 1,000,000) free (royalty free) books that I could download to my PC via Kindle for PC. ”Free classics and out-of-copyright, pre-1923 books, as well as limited-time free promotional books available for Kindle”. Did you know that there are 15 “Oz” books written by Frank L. Baum? I’m reading them for the first time.
In addition to the Kindle application, I’ve acquired an application by Sony and one for Adobe Digital Books. I’ve found so many interesting books or documents to download.
I have checked books out of the local library for over 60 years and love the feel and smell of hardback books. However, as I have grown older I find that paperbacks are easier to manage. Now I have an e-reader that I use when I need to enlarge the print. So I really can’t pick a favorite, they all have their place in my world.
I prefer hardback (larger print for my old eyes, you know), but the budget prohibits me from spending my entire paycheck on books, so I am a big fan of my local library. I will read ANYTHING you put in front of me. Remember getting in trouble at the dinner table for reading labels and food boxes instead of eating.
I visit the library at least twice a month and borrow audio books, hard cover books, and occasionally a paperback.
prefer lib. books…i am a librarian and have access to the best newest books with just my lib. card…we own way too many books already..
I love hardbacks, but I buy paperbacks for the cost-savings and ease of carrying in my pack. I bought The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo in paperback after I heard all the buzz, and the The Girl Who Played with Fire, and finally read them both in quick succession. Now I am waiting, waiting, waiting for the Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest to come out in paperback so I have a matched set. How crazy is that?!
I collect hardcovers, borrow library books when I’m broke, listen to audiobooks in the car, read e-books on my nook, and collect paperbacks of books I really like but can’t afford in hardcover. If I had to pick a favorite format I’d say hardcover because I like the way hardcover books look on my bookshelves, and they feel more permanent somehow. But trade paperbacks are my favorite format for travel.
Hardcovers are the ones I love mainly because as I read a book it becomes my friend and I can’t seem to part with a friend. Thankfully, I have a library in my home and place my cherished friends there to go back to from time to time.
It is so hard to pick as I love them all. The Kindle is convenient for boring meetings as it is less obvious than the page turning required for books. Paper backs are great for their price. Hard cover books are great for their gravitas. Library books are great because going to the library and seeing all the choices is wonderful.
I prefer getting my books from the library – my favorite place in the world! Love hardcovers – love the feel, the smell, the comfortable fit…on the other hand, love my kindle for traveling. I can download the books I want and take multiple novels and not worry about weight. It’s the best of both worlds!
I love hardback books best and visit my library frequently since I can’t buy EVERY book I want to read! Not into e-books!
I LOVE, LOVE hardcovers. I love the feel of the book in my hands, the weight and the smell of newly printed pages! Owning a first edition is also a plus. I would only buy hardcovers if I could afford it
I like to have all types of books, except audio, just never got into those. As a book reviewer though and the book I get is an ARC, sometimes I just prefer an ebook. Ebooks are fun because you can have a huge assortment of things to read. Thank you!!
Paperbacks….from the library!
I would love to be entered.
If it’s a book I want to keep and re-read than I prefer hardcovers. They look so good on my shelf. If it’s a book I hope to read and share with family or blog followers, than I prefer paperbacks.
I love all books. Hard covers are wonderful to hold. I like the feel of the covers and the pages. Paperbacks are easier for taking along on trips.
As long as it’s a physical book I’m happy. Can’t get on board with electronic books yet. Hope there will always be the alternative.
I have a “to get” list for the library but it is always much nicer to have books of your own so that you can take your time and not have to worry about overdue books.
sue ames
I don’t discriminate. I love books. I am saving audio books for when I am older or infirm. As long as I can hold a book or ereader I will. I read all the time and I read most genres. Did I say–I LOVE BOOKS!!!!!
Paperbacks for the portability and yet, you can still feel and flip the pages unlike e-books!
Like most voracious readers I love many kinds and types of books in many formats, but if I had to chose either hardback, paperback or library book I would say library. As one of my branches’ reference librarians said, “We can’t afford our habit!” I had a long list in my hand, an arm full of books and was talking with her about downloading e-books onto my Nook from the library system. So, second hand books, borrowed books and books I buy myself help feed my reading addiction, but the library keeps it satisfied.
I love books in all shapes and forms. I love my ereader because it carries well – no bent pages, lost place, etc. I always listen to all of Danielle Steel’s books I don’t remember the last I read. I live at my library and take books constanly and take holds. Hardcover, softcover I just love them all!
I prefer hardbacks since I donate them to my small local library after I read them.
I love hardbacks, cookbooks especially that I borrow from the library!
I prefer hardbacks because I like the sturdiness of them. But, if I’m on vacation, I will find several paperbacks and take them because they are smaller and easier to tote around.
Haven’t ventured into ebooks yet, but I am intrigued by the lack of storage space needed. I like library books because they’re free…..paperbacks because they take up less room….and hardbacks because they hold up better!
So all of the above!
I like all (no e-book yet)but I can have more paperbacks,less room and not as pricey…keep one everywhere I am..
I’ve always preferred hardcovers. Since I am a self-proclaimed bibliophile I like to collect books so paper just does not work on the shelf.
Since I buy most of my books at yard sales and goodwill,I like any that catches my eye,paperbacks better for me..but loving &having something to read is above all…
Since I got my nook I love e-books. But I am still partial to Paperbacks in general. It is nice to hold that book in your hands as you feel the emotions of the characters.
I prefer library books. I love browsing thru the many books available. Part of the fun of choosing a book, is looking at other books. Once you have them home, you can decide which book you want to read first.
Haven’t experienced e-books. Because of arthritis issues, paperback are easier for me to handle. My first choice has always been the hardback book as I have a large collection of books.
I love all of them, but the paperbacks and e-books are my favorite because I am a senior citizen on a fixed income and can’t buy the books like I could when I. was younger.
I am a true bibliophile, and for me the adventure of reading a book includes being able to hold it (the bigger the volume, the better), smelling the pages, studying the various prints, and playing with the pages while reading. I don’t have a preference for paperbacks or hardbacks, love them both. Have no interest in becoming an E-reader as I feel it takes away from the experience of being a true book reader. Plus, I think a person’s book collection, and how it is displayed on shelves, tells alot about the person’s character. Can’t get that from electronic readers.
For most of my life it was all about a hardcover book. I loved everything about a book; the weight, the noise the spine makes when opening it for the first time, the smell of the ink on the page, etc. BUT…I got a e-book this past holiday and I feel like I have rediscovered reading. It all seems so new to me, I am addicted. I truly can’t put it down!
I prefer library books, but only library hardcovers and audiobooks. The paperbacks can get old and ratty very fast.
I love hardbacks because you can loan them out over and over again. I know that you can do that with e-books but it is not the same. Sometimes I love to look at the cover and just enjoy in color. Paper backs and Kindles are fine for portability but I will always favor paperbacks over e-books. It is just not the same when you hold them. Also there is no smell!!!!
I have always liked the feel of a hardback book, but since I got my Nook it is wonderful to have access to many books at once.
I prefer paperbacks because they are easily portable. I read a lot in bed and hard covers are too heavy a lot of the time.
I love, love, love paperback books. I love the way they feel in my hands. They are okay when new, but I love them best with bent edges, the softness of worn paper, the occasional stain, and an unintentional folded cover. The more beaten up it looks, the better.
LOVE library books! It is my tax dollars at work. But if I adore the book, I will purchase hard back. Audiobooks are great, too, for driving trips!
I prefer hardcovers – brand new! Nothing like opening a brand new book and hearing the first crack of the binding being loosened; the smell of freshly inked, new paper. Then there’s the weight of a hardback; something substantial in my hands, and the action and sound of turning the pages eagerly to read more! Hardbacks also have such a regal look lined up on the bookshelves.
In general though, I just love to read. I love the library to be able to take home absolutely anything that catches my eye. I love paperbacks for their affordability and portability. I’m fascinated by the new e-book readers; to have hundreds of books at my fingertips on one little gadget that is the size of one book…!
I like paperback books from the library.. Occasionally I’ll do an e-book the same as the one I am reading. That way I always have it with me and can read it anywhere.
I always prefer paperbacks, especially when they are good and worn in. I’ll take a book anyway I can get it, though.
I love hardbacks but the cost is somewhat prohibitive when you read 3-4 books a week so paperbacks are great. Tried audiobooks but some of the readers are bad. I just like to be able to hold the physical book in my hand.
Hands down hardbacks…gotta love how a book feels in your hands!
I prefer paperbacks due to my budget.
I love paperbacks – especially during the summer – much safer by the pool or ocean.
I love them all. p[aperbacks are key for portability and travel (ebooks too), but I do get through a lot of audio bookson the commute and hardcover’s look so good on my shelves.
I love them all. p[aperbacks are key for portability and travel (ebooks too), but I do get through a lot of audio bookson the commute and hardcover’s look so good on my shelves.
I love library books for browsing and checking out several items to take home where I can then decide which one I want to read first. I love libraries for audiobooks as well. Always have one in the car and another in the kitchen at home to make time fly by when I am stuck doing mundane household chores. Libraries are wonderful because you cannot beat FREE! I usually will buy some hardcovers of favorite authors to have the series but trade paperbacks are my prefered choice if I am spending my hard-earned dollars because they are cheaper. But hands-down library hardcovers win in terms of sheer volume and choice!!!!
I prefer reading hardback books, they are durable and feel solid in your hand as opposed to a paperback prone to damage or an e-book sans soul. Unfortunantly, due to economic status, I am forced to borrow books from the library. If I could buy my books, only hardbacks would grace my shelves.
I simply love books and reading. Hardbacks, for the “must-have-right-now;” paperbacks for all else. Love being able to take a paperback with me anywhere. I have become an avid user of my local library for my stay-at-home reading.
Just love the feel of a book in my hands.
I always prefer the hardcover, the newer the better.
I prefer hardcover books. I try to wait until the paperback edition comes out and then the hardcover will go on sale. I just like the feel and heft of a good hardcover book and they are the best to bring to author signings. I will probably have to breakdown and buy an ebook reader someday since ebooks are taking over and hardcovers and paperbacks will eventually become a thing of the past.
I prefer reading a physical book, hardback or paperback. E-books are a great alternative and I may be a convert some day; however, I hope books are here to stay!!!!
I’m a paperback girl all the way!
I’m reading my first ebook and enjoying it more than I thought I would. However, I love books, all books, so much my answer has to be all of the above. They all have a place in my heart!
I like library books because you can get them in hardcover, paperback, eBook, and best of all, you don’t have to pay a thing for them! I couldn’t afford to buy all the books that I really want to read.
I agree with those who’ve commented about the portability of paperbacks. Easier to tuck into the purse, backpack, or lunch sack.
I seldom go anywhere without a book!
I love reading hardbooks!
I love books and anything having to do with them, but I guess my favorite form would be first paperbacks, and then e-books. The paperbacks are comfortable to read, and the e-books on a Kindle are awesome because of it’s size and weight!
I suppose I prefer library books. I love reserving a book and, even, more, I love when I am notifed by email that the book is in! I feel good that I am patronizing our local library and I don’t mind the ocassional fine I have to pay for an overdue book. I think of it as a mini-donation to my library!
I love paperbacks because they are not as cumbersome as the hardbacks. I also love them because some editions have “extras” like author interviews or reading group questions.
I like the larger size paperbacks (maybe there’s a special name for them?) when traveling, but otherwise I prefer hard cover because they lay flat open on a table or in my lap, which makes them easier to read. My arthritic hands start aching when trying to constantly hold open or hold up a paperback!
Definitely library books! Ever since I can remember going to the library was a special treat, and in these hard times it’s the only way I can get my reading “fix!”
I like tor ead hardcovers especially when borrowing them from the library. But I especially like to read “large print” books because they are easier on my eyes and I can read a lot faster.
Laura Beyer
When I am home I perfer hardcover because the look better longer. When I am on vaction I like paperback because they do not weigh as much.
Hardcover books … from the library!
I love library books for their ease because I love that good ol’ library book smell, hardbacks for their strength and look on my shelf, ebooks for the variety and amount of books I can read each week, and bless the audiobooks that take the edge off of my morning commute to work. I love books any which way they want to come into my life. I recently have discovered the Playaway books that I can listen to while I do chores around the house or knit. Books are awesome!
Library books of course. They’re free! But if I had to buy my own I’d go with hardcover, I hate paperbacks!
I prefer hardbacks for books I want to keep which are usually non-fiction. For everything else, paperback or electronic is fine.
I prefer hardcovers to all other books. While I do have an Amazon Kindle that was given to me by my daughter and son-in-law this past Christmas and I do enjoy it, nothing compares to the feeling of a nice new hardcover book in my hands. I love the weight of it, the smell of a new hardcover and the wonderful connection to a book when holding it……there is nothing better!
Hardcovers are great, but they are expensive. I most prefer paperbacks, particularly the trade editions. Sometimes they are updated with new material, particularly for non-fiction books. The cover artwork is sometimes even more clever than some hardcover editions-more eye-catching. Plus, they are not as heavy to carry around and take up less space on a bookshelf.
I prefer audio books because they are very entertaining while on road trips and even while cleaning the house!
I prefer library books. If I end up not liking a book I don’t have to finish it. If I buy it I feel obligated to force myself to read it!
If I can’t have a book in the convenience of an e-book, I prefer the hardback–durable and beautiful (usually).
6 months ago, I would have said library books…cost effective, easy to request in my area via the internet and allows the ability to try new authors or genres without impacting the wallet. I would buy the books I really enjoyed, sometimes just to gift to others.
But I got a Kindle in January and I read all kinds of books on there!
Books in all forms are awesome, but hardcover books because they are lovely in my bookcase!
I prefer paperbacks as they are lighter told hold up while reading in bed. They are less expensive and ship for less when I resell them ,as I do with all but my most precious books, of which there still are many.
I own an eReader and like it, audio books are good when I am too lazy or too sick to hold a book but I love paperbacks and hardcovers the most -just for the joy of holding them and because I have enjoyed some amazing cover art!
I prefer hardbacks for their durability and looks, though I also enjoy audiobooks as I can listen while exercising!
I love paperbacks and ebooks. Paperbacks because they’re a bit smaller and take up less space on my bookcase. Ebooks are great when you have a hardback book that’s way too heavy to try and hold while reading….and of course you don’t want to wait until the paperback comes out. I have the best of both worlds. I love my Nook. I just love books period.
Oblige me if you will fellow readers, but I would like to share this with you. This is a section I found online taken from Winston Churchill’s “Hobbies” (1932). I keep a framed copy of this on my bookshelf.
““What shall I do with all my books?” was the question; and the answer, “Read them,” sobered the questioner. But if you cannot read them, at any rate handle them and, as it were, fondle them. Peer into them. Let them fall open where they will. Read on from the first sentence that arrests the eye. Then turn to another. Make a voyage of discovery, taking soundings of uncharted seas. Set them back on their shelves with your own hands. Arrange them on your own plan, so that if you do not know what is in them, you at least know where they are. If they cannot be your friends, let them at any rate be your acquaintances. If they cannot enter the circle of your life, do not deny them at least a nod of recognition.”
Annette,
What a beautiful post!
My favorite is paperback. They are cheaper, easier to carry around with you and easily fits in a bag I’m carrying with me to a Dr.’s appt.. They also fit onto my nightstand perfectly
Hardcover because there is nothing like a brand new book.
I love paperbacks because they are so much easier to take with me if I have a few minutes here or there to read. But hardbacks are faster reading because the print is usually bigger.
Hardcover!!! They last so much longer and are beautiful. I find that I destroy paperbacks.
I love the look and feel of library books, but paperback books are easier to handle.
I prefer library books for myself. I teach middle school and spend all my spare book money on books for our students. I have a classroom library and also place many of the books I purchase in our school library. For my own books, I usually use the public library to save money. I love the idea of books being shared and talked about, and that’s what can happen with library books, whether they are public, school, or classroom library books.
Personally, I like trade paperbacks. You have the convenience of a paperback, but with the bonus of larger print, comparable to a hardcover, which is easier on the eyes.
I prefer to read hardcover or audiobooks. Let me explain. I find it more comfortable to read hardcover books than smaller-print paperbacks. There are some audiobook readers who bring to life the characters with such vividness that I prefer to listen to those books. Some readers are so adept at different voices that one feels that the whole cast of characters is contained in one capable person.
Library books! What’s better than free?
Seriously though, since I didn’t pay for it, I don’t obliged to finish it if I don’t like it – I can just bring it back and move onto something else that I might like. No time wasted!
I prefer paperbacks. Much easier to handle (and they don’t take up as much room on my nightstand or in my purse as hardcovers)!
I prefer hard covers for books that I’m going to keep, but still have plenty of paperbacks. I’m fairly new to audio books and I love them, but I find myself wanting a physical copy of the book in addition to the audiobook copy.
I prefer ebooks – I LOVE my ereader. I prefer the convenience and portability of them.
I prefer paperbacks for most books because they are easier to handle and to store. I like hardbacks for more non fiction books or books that I can go back to and search for info.
Paperbacks because they are so much easier to read in bed! And then library books because I don’t feel the pressure to read them if I’m not really enjoying them!
I prefer reading paperbacks because they are easier to manage when holding and am able to tuck them in my purse.
paperbacks – then I don’t feel quite so badly when I drop them in the bathtub….
Library books. I have to pay my tax dollars whether or not I use the library.
I prefer hardbacks. Why? Because they’re harder to damage while reading and they’re easier to stack in the bookshelves!
I prefer paperbacks because then I can afford to own the books I’ll want to read again and/or loan out to friends.
I get most of my books from the library. Since I read BookPage and other book reviews I’m usually up on what will be coming out in the future. I get my reserve in early and I’m usually first in line for the best new books.
If I book is large (400 or more pages), I’ll buy it for the Nook. My arms get tired holding up the heavy books.
I love books any way I can get them! However, I prefer hardback most of the time since I’m more comfortable with them and started out getting them at the library when I was a kid.
I Love ALL Books. Books on my Kindle when I travel, Hardbacks from Authors I adore and Library Books for new (and old) that I’d like to try and paperbacks if they are a bargin. Just call me a bookacholic.
I prefer library books. If I fall in love with the book, then I’ll buy it…
I prefer library books which includes all types of books. I also enjoy bookstore browsing, & buying hardbacks or paperbacks if they continue or complete a series.
Having read all my life ( I can’t ever remember NOT reading LOL) I still prefer hardbacks and paperbacks. I still want to smell the book, hold the book and fall asleep with it in my hand.
I tried audio books years ago, not for me!
However having also been a computer geek for 20 yearsI must say I am intriqued by the electronic version of books via the Nook or Kindles simply because it’s new technology and I love that aspect.
I still think I will remain a fan of the old fashioned love of holding my books and going to the library.LOL
Which medium do I prefer them most? May I select all of the above? Given that each form provides both pros and cons, what I believe is the most important element of each is the opportunity to read. Whether it is a book that you can touch and feel as you ingest its contents or an electronic gateway to a plethoria of materials, both options provide an entrance into the chance to read. So, my favorite choice would be the choice to read.
I would have to say hardbacks from the library. There’s nothing quite like the heft of a hardcover. The only drawback is getting a library book after it’s been read by a smoker–yuck!
Library books, duh!! I’m a children’s librarian and every child needs the opportunity to curl up with a book.
I like hardbacks or trade paperbacks.