Hardback or Paperback?

I would rather have the hardback but do get the softback editions where there's a significant saving (so I can buy more books, of course). It's not often there's a choice, luckily.

I suffered some angst during the recent the Naval & Military Press sale as they offer the hardback option on some of their titles. Having seen one in the local liibrary, I convinced myself they don't justify the extra cost as they are the same glued binding as the softback, not a 'proper' sewn one (a bit snobby, I know).

 

I always buy hard back books unless its only available in soft back.

 

Idler
I would rather have the hardback but do get the softback editions where there's a significant saving (so I can buy more books, of course). It's not often there's a choice, luckily.

I suffered some angst during the recent the Naval & Military Press sale as they offer the hardback option on some of their titles. Having seen one in the local liibrary, I convinced myself they don't justify the extra cost as they are the same glued binding as the softback, not a 'proper' sewn one (a bit snobby, I know).


Which is a very fair comment , the quality of some hard backs is reflected by the cost.

 

I Prefer hardbacks. But if I know spending some time travelling, I'll purchase a paperback which can handle being thrown into a backpack.

 

I prefer hard cover as they tend to be better made.

Cheers
Paul

 

Hardbacks for me too. The older and dustier, the better.

Lee

 

Depends on the quality of the work. If I plan to add it to my library I'll go for the hardcover. Paperback for the less impressive titles. In Canada, there is a big price difference between the two.

 

Hmmm ... Usually what ever edition I come across first. Although, I have to admit that on my (limited) book shelf, the paperbacks seem to store horizontally, while the hard copies stand proudly side by side.

Paperbacks are easier to handle when reading, and as for quality, it would seem the glue in h/copies does tend to shed the occasional page !?! Or maybe that's just my attempt at bending it backwards...

 

Can't say that I'm too bothered really one way or the other. Although after buying something on eBay I was pleasantly surprised when it arrived to discover it was the hardback.

 

depends on what I can afford.
££££
I'm with Owen as regards this. i do like the look of Hardbacks though on the bookshelf

 

I'll take what i can get.
Though I recently bought the Morpurgo biography of Barnes Wallis from a reseller on Amazon. The Hardbacks were doing for £18 to £110 I bought the "unknown binding" for £3.20... Turned out to be a first edition hardback and not even one nicked from a libruary... <puts on Ja Ja Binks voice> Mesa verrry happy !!!<ends Ja Ja Binks voice>

 

*edit*

 

How many of you have bought a paperback book only to then find it in Hardback and think hmmm that would look better on my bookshelf. I am thinking mainly of those books you want more than any so specific collections/subjects.
Given the response to this it would seem I do have a good thought now and again and it is apparent we are pretty even when it comes to the paperback/Hardback as to which one we plump for.As for me as I said I will buy a book in Hardback I already have in Paperback if its for example a Arnhem book or a prized first edition, I can also see the argument for ease of transport or reading in bed with a Paperback but as a few have said a Hardback looks so much nicer sat on the shelf, until as mine have they collapse

 

hmm buy paperback read it if you like it sell it on and buy the hardback? Hardback are heavier to carry though :S

 

.......
Paperbacks are easier to handle when reading, and as for quality, it would seem the glue in h/copies does tend to shed the occasional page !?! Or maybe that's just my attempt at bending it backwards...

Incidentally, I have had rather the reverse experience.
In a paperback copy of Brian Kingcome's "Willingness to die", which I recently obtained from Amazon and which was my fatigue pocket mate for a while, the pages started falling out at an early stage. (I'm unfortunately unaware of the name of the publisher. ) Carefully applied amounts of HM glue kept them roughly in the originally intended order. But needless to say, it provided an excellent reason to obtain a hard backed version of this gem of a book.

S

 

Hardback or softback, you're only really happy once they've been aligned on the shelf with a set-square and micrometer.

The neatest bookshelves I ever did see...

Maybe we should have a photo bookshelf thread?