I wanted to talk about hardcovers and paperbacks because I’m interested to know people’s thoughts on the topic and because Australians do things a lot differently to the rest of the world. Most books (outside Australia) have a hardback release and normally about a year later the paperback comes out. Obviously paperback release often changes and it does depend on popularity and many other factors. Why release a novel in paperback if we can charge more for the hardback edition?
Here in Australia most publishers have rejected this method. There are some hardbacks and there are normally special editions or if you are an author like Dan Brown or Ken Follett they may choose to adopt the same method as the rest of the world. Most releases in Australia come out in trade paperback (for their initial release). Trade paperbacks are the higher quality paperbacks that are normally the same size as the hardcover. Mass-market paperbacks (also known as B format) normally come out a year or more later, but the majority of books remain in the Trade paperback format.
I’m not sure why Australia does it this way but I prefer it. Sure hardcover books look better on the shelf but if I had to choose which I prefer to read I would pick Trade paperbacks. I just think they are more comfortable to read with, not too small and a little more flexible. I like the way Australia does it because really the whole hardcover-to-paperback method is slowly dying and it seems to work better for an indie bookstore. No longer do they have to get two lots of the same book, they just order what they think is the right amount and if it doesn’t sell as fast as expected that’s ok.
Let me know what you prefer and if you have more insights into the hardback/paperback marketing method. I’ve been thinking about this for a couple of days and honestly I think it is a dying marketing ploy. I just thought I would express my opinion, let people know how Australian publishing differs and hopefully create a discussion in the comments.
I prefer to buy and read hardbacks. They’re more robust and a better quality book than a paperback. Trade paperbacks are ok, but the mass market format is too small for my liking. The binding is often stiff and you have to crack the spine in order to read comfortably. A hardback always has a handy inbuilt bookmark – the dust jacket flap – and they often have nice endpapers and sometimes a bookmark ribbon. They’re just nicer books all round. However, I do like OWC and Penguin Classics paperbacks, and if a paperback has French flaps, I’m in. I guess it depends on what’s available, but given a choice, I do prefer hardbacks,
Do you throw books around? is that why you need robust books 😛
i used to be a Hardback person but I love trade paperbacks now. As I read a lot of indie books many are only available in trade paperback so its grown on me a great deal. Mass market is usually a last resort on the print option list.
Mass market is just a little small I think
Yes and spine is sure to get creased which I don’t like if I can help it
no one wants to damage a book
I prefer mass market size for my purse. Mass market or trade size for reading at home. I do love the look of hardcover but often find them uncomfortable to hold. Blame that on my small hands. 😉
I don’t have a purse 😛
I must admit, I’m not a great fan of large format paperbacks (big and floppy), and am even less of a fan of hardbacks! Unless you are a collector and are after first editions or are buying something particularly special for someone that is hardly ever going to be read, I find hardbacks in particular to be heavy, cumbersome and I actually don’t think they look half as good as the paperbacks that, here at least, I think almost always have far more intriguing and attractive covers. Mass market paperbacks all the way 🙂 I also inevitably have a few books in my handbag. And hardbacks simply don’t make the cut.
I love Trade paperback, they are bigger and I find easier to read
I totally hate hardcovers. Way too expensive.
Oh! for some reason I can’t comment from my cell anymore 🙁 Might have to update that phone.
I’m not worried about price as much as you, I pick trade paper back for the comfort factor. If you can’t comment on your phone it is time to upgrade 😛
I prefer paperbacks – mostly trade paperbacks as they fit in my purse and take up less room on the my bookshelves than a hardback. Hardbacks are just too heavy and awkward to carry around from place to place. I also find the jackets, while lovely, to be problematic for a variety of reasons. There is one exceptions to my trade paperback preference. When it comes to old fashioned crime and romance novels I look for the mass market edition. I associate them with old “dime store” novels and reading a noir mystery or romance just seems right when it comes in a mass market size.
Those dust jackets are problematic
Nup I love hardbacks! It is a constant frustration for me that I have to buy online if I want the beautiful hardcovers. If it’s books I don’t care about as much, I’m happy to get the paperback, but it still sucks that they don’t last as long. The edges get bent and ugly, the spine looks crap after a while, and the cover just does nothing to protect the pages within. Hardcover are so much more practical in terms of the longevity of the book, plus they feel good in your hands, and tend to look much nicer. If you find the dust jacket annoying, just take it off while you’re reading the book???
In conclusion… I wish I lived in the US, purely for book prices and the constant availability of hardbacks!