Here's today's Booking Through Thursday question, entitled "Collectibles":- Hardcover? Or paperback?
- Illustrations? Or just text?
- First editions? Or you don’t care?
- Signed by the author? Or not?
That said, I'm happy to go to the Huntington Library in Pasadena and while away a couple of hours looking at the rare books and manuscripts, some of which are truly amazing. They have the Ellesmere manuscript of Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales (c.1410); a Gutenberg Bible (c.1455), and a bunch of lovely early Shakespeare.
I do have some pet peeves as to cover art. For example, I'm not a big fan of the "movie" editions of books. And I'd rather have a nice, heavyweight paperback than a mass market paperback, mostly because they're more durable.
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6 comments:
I'm not really a collector, I'm a reader. 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. :)
matt--I second that--I'm a reader, not a collector. LOL about the even sizes of books on your shelves--you are probably much neater than I am :)
I don't like movie images on the covers of books, either. I collect my books to read over and over, so I don't go out and buy the expensive ones- but at the same time I love beautiful leather bindings and linen paper... but it's just a dream to own a library full of those.
I love hardcovers and trade paperbacks but not mass market, too.
Paperback, but sometimes, I want to read the book so badly, I can't resist hardback.
Just text is fine. Illustrations are gravy.
I tried to be a collector, but I love reading too much.
Back when I was a collector, I got some signed copies by Updike, McMurtry, Tyler and Amy Hempel. I'm happy with those; I don't need more.
Jeane--My dream library would be full of the most beautiful books, too! But I'm happy with the hodge-podge I have :)
Claire--the mass market paperbacks are so flimsy, and usually they are so much less attractive :)
Bybee--I find that the only things I buy in hardback are books for my book group, because I just can't wait for paper. Otherwise, it's mostly paper here, too :)
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