Booking Through Thursday: Collectibles
Here is this week's BTT hosted by Deb. To see other answers and to play along, visit the meme's blog.
Hardcover or Paperback?
I love hardcovers, but I usually don't want to spend the money. Most of my books are thus paperback.
Illustrations or Just Text?
Depends! I'm just learning about graphic novels, and I am amazed to see the variety of topics and genres and the quality of the artwork. So here's a yes to illustrations.
When I read nonfiction history, biography, memoirs, or autobiography, I really like to see maps and photos and the like.
I thought the illustrations and drawings in the Inkworld series and the Tales of Beedle the Bard were charming.
When I read fantasy or books that take place in a made-up world, maps are often helpful.
Do I need illustrations? No. Do I appreciate them when they add to my understanding of the text? Yes.
First Editions or Don't Care?
I'm somewhere in between. It's great when I end up with a first edition, but I'm not a collector of them.
Signed by the Author or Not?
I think it's fun and nice when a book is signed, but I don't go out of my way to get those signatures.
______
What about you? Do you have preferences?
23 comments:
I mainly get paperbacks too. Hardcovers cost too much.
I like hardbacks too. I don't mind a trade paperback, but I do not like the mass market paperbacks at all.
I'm just discovering graphic novels, too. Haven't found many that I really like, but I do find them intriguing. And I love illustrations in all books.
Trade paperbacks are easy on the pocket, eyes and weight. Give me those anyday!
My BTT post
I'm like you. If I find a first edition and really love(d) the book, I'll get it. But now that my bookcases are overflowing, I don't seek them out anymore.
Hardcovers are great collection items, but they're too expensive and bulky! Plus they're not easy to carry around too. I only buy HCs which carries my favourite authors' names, or titles that I can't wait to be released in a year's time, the waiting sure will kill me! LOL.
Good points on the illustration factors...I didn't think about maps and such.
Thanks for stoppin' by my post; have a wonderful weekend ahead...
We think a lot alike!
I agree with you on reading some fantasy books, a map or even glossary are sometimes needed!
Maps are always appreciated in a history or a fantasy book. It's a reference necessity.
I don't really go out of my way for signed books either. I like them, but I lived only 15 mins from Boston and never attended a single author signing.
We have a half price books near my house that takes half off of any paper back price printed on the book. You can find some amaaazzing signet classics for only 25 cents. these dominate a majority of my collection. I have come to the conclusion though that I need to give in and start buying some hard back. I pretty much have all the classics that I can get.
I've never read a graphic novel. Do you have any recommendations?
I'm the same way. I don't go out of my way to collect first editions, but if I come across them, will get it. No answer yet for today.
JoAnn and anyone else interested in graphic novels: I'm pretty new to the form myself, so I'm hesitant to recommend. But if you go to the graphics novel challenge blog, you'll see reviews of an amazing variety of GNs. Click here.
Good answers! I'm not much of a collector either. I do agree maps and such are helpful in some books, fantasy and historical fiction, etc. I hadn't thought of that when I did my answer!
Hardcovers are too heavy! I must be able to carry it around w/o getting a backache. ;o)
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http://greatbooksandfreshcoffee.blogspot.com/2009/02/awww-shucks-you-guys.html
Ditto to all your answers. I feel the same way. :D
Hardcovers are nice but expensive! I usually pick those up at second hand stores and the Goodwill (GREAT resource for books. Picked up Michael Crichton's last book, first edition, for $3!)
I've been asked the paperback vs. hardback question so many times so I'm not doing a separate post for BTT this week. Unless otherwise stated, or gifts, I only buy trade paperbacks. they are easier to carry and lug around. I also like the look of books in even sizes on my bookcases. :)
I really like your reasoning, "I love hardcovers, but I usually don't want to spend the money" - I could have said so myself. I love books, many books, so I usually end up with tattered paperbooks or yellowed throwaways from Falkirk library (which makes the book much more interesting in my eyes).
I like hardcovers too but I find them more cumbersome. Looking around the house, I see that I actually have a lot of trade paperbacks - I think it's because I have this thing about shopping for books at Costco! And right now, I'm liking mass market paperbacks because they work the best for Bookmooch!
I usually buy the paperbacks too. Easy to hold and price are reasonable. Except of course the brand new paperback that they had out there for few of the books - eh. But I only buy the hardcovers if only it auto buy from an favorite authors who been writing series book. But I have lot of stand alone in hardcover too :)
Thanks for visiting and commemnting my blog. I hope you have a great Thursday!
Nice point about graphic novels, I didn't even consider them when I was writing on that question, even though I love them! Also good point about maps. I always felt that in books set in another world, like Tolkein, they are so useful.
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