tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8011557877105021955.post2290093781156142973..comments2024-03-25T22:59:30.053+00:00Comments on Desperate Reader: A Very Happy FindDesperate Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15708411387912078122noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8011557877105021955.post-75001725955384888752013-10-16T12:21:30.575+01:002013-10-16T12:21:30.575+01:00I am with you, preferring paperbacks.
I used to l...I am with you, preferring paperbacks.<br /><br />I used to like hardbacks, believing in their permanence. But in end of 1980s there was time when I was able to get my hands to pristine copies (Soviet shortages meant people liked to keep things they could need under hands, so many bought books for children in case they would need a gift) of my favorites from childhood. My own books had fallen apart from too much reading.<br /><br />That is how I learned that paper from 1960s is NOT good for longevity - these pristine copies crumbled under my hands, no matter how gently I treated them.<br /><br />And then the roads and vehicles of the public transport were improved, so that reading in public transport became possible, and I became a paperback person!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8011557877105021955.post-73984174747505298502013-09-29T17:58:51.787+01:002013-09-29T17:58:51.787+01:00Agree on the hardback front - for actual physical ...Agree on the hardback front - for actual physical ease of reading they're not that great and tend to weigh too much to comfortably lug in your bag to read on the commute. I do have a few duplicates due to sentimentality - Claire's comment about P&P struck a cord as I too have my scribbled in teenage copy as well as one that hasn't actually come apart at the seams. I have to say that its Georgette Heyers where most of my dupulicates lurk as I can never remember which ones I own when I spot second hand copies!Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13910207125156819184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8011557877105021955.post-34229256837890813692013-09-28T20:10:10.446+01:002013-09-28T20:10:10.446+01:00The duplicates I have are mostly due to sentiment ...The duplicates I have are mostly due to sentiment as well, I've just got a new copy of an old favourite which was falling apart but we've been through so much together it will be hard to get rid of the old copy especially as I know a charity shop would just bin it. I suspect I'm an accumulator rather than a collector but have neither space or time for things which can't be used and enjoyed (or drunk). Desperate Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15708411387912078122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8011557877105021955.post-72052075114143762362013-09-28T20:04:49.491+01:002013-09-28T20:04:49.491+01:00I spend a lot of time daydreaming about bespoke bo...I spend a lot of time daydreaming about bespoke bookshelves, it's something of a shared fantasy between Doug and I (there's an insight into our relationship). Personally I think tatty paperbacks have an aesthetic appeal of their own - although perhaps more so when you've owned them from new and the tattiness is a testament to your own reading history. Some books, especially the ones with a strong house design, should definitely stay together, they might even deserve their own dedicated bookshelves. Desperate Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15708411387912078122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8011557877105021955.post-12484471618131287392013-09-28T19:57:31.723+01:002013-09-28T19:57:31.723+01:00I only have about 30 or 40 penguins - I hadn't...I only have about 30 or 40 penguins - I hadn't realised before that how much the penguin logo changed over the years, It's easy to see how these particular books became so iconic, even now they strike me as the perfect package - cheap, functional, attractive, and pleasingly anonymous (I think that's what I mean rather than discreet). I like the way they keep on circulating as well - how many kindles will work after 50+ years of use? Just a genius idea. Desperate Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15708411387912078122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8011557877105021955.post-19187142939465248922013-09-28T19:51:10.065+01:002013-09-28T19:51:10.065+01:00If it were my shed it would say more about my fear...If it were my shed it would say more about my fear of spiders... I have a kindle app on my phone which I sometimes use but I by far prefer physical books. I was shocked to realise that we pay vat on ebooks in the UK when we don't on paper books. I'm not sure why that is but as I'm very much opposed to vat on books it's another reason to stick with paper ones. Desperate Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15708411387912078122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8011557877105021955.post-80405385763910245252013-09-28T19:46:59.061+01:002013-09-28T19:46:59.061+01:00I feel like I'm in a safe place here now! Many...I feel like I'm in a safe place here now! Many of my blogging and bookish friends will happily have multiple copies which I've never really understood (where do they keep them all?) I'm happy to wait for papaerbacks to come out as it often takes me an age to read new books and a couple of times when I've had a hardback review copy I've read it and then sent it to the charity shop only to buy it again in paperback. Desperate Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15708411387912078122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8011557877105021955.post-17322098176462221832013-09-28T16:42:06.753+01:002013-09-28T16:42:06.753+01:00I think Thomas has it right: book collectors might...I think Thomas has it right: book collectors might sneer, but readers are infinitely more practical. I only have duplicates of a few books and those are for sentimental reasons. The copy of <i>Pride and Prejudice</i> that I studied as a teenager is falling apart and I have a better copy now but I can't get rid of the old one, with its margin notes and little hearts next to my favourite passages.Claire (The Captive Reader)https://www.blogger.com/profile/07430380065718826213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8011557877105021955.post-66377365098563302742013-09-28T13:50:33.214+01:002013-09-28T13:50:33.214+01:00I think *readers* will tend to agree with you. Boo...I think *readers* will tend to agree with you. Book collectors not as much. John wants all of my books to be HCs so they look better to him on the shelf. For me, I love all my tatty paperbacks. Sometime next year when my new shelves are built to my specifications I am going to integrate my PBs and HCs alphabetically. Now, mainly due to the quirks of current shelving units, they are separate. But I know I am never going to be able to integrate my Persephones. They look too good all in a row. I think I feel similar about my old Viragos as well as a few other types. Thomas Hogglestockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14284352537015457974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8011557877105021955.post-1917308547491968632013-09-28T11:29:05.116+01:002013-09-28T11:29:05.116+01:00No raised eyebrows from me, either. Two paperbacks...No raised eyebrows from me, either. Two paperbacks can often comfortably sit in the space one hardback takes up. Lovely to see an old Penguin in such good condition. I was lucky enough to visit the Penguin archive at Bristol Uni where my partner teaches - fascinating to see how trhe jackets have changed. How unsophisticated book marketing was when Allen Lane launched Penguin's paperbacks!Susanhttp://www.alifeinbooks.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8011557877105021955.post-22914337168247172222013-09-28T11:02:09.993+01:002013-09-28T11:02:09.993+01:00I don't tend to buy hardbacks because of the c...I don't tend to buy hardbacks because of the cost. But I do buy duplicates. *But* they're e-copies of books I know I own but can't face going out to the shed to unpack. I suspect that this says a lot about my low moral character. ;-)skiourophilehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08200877834536477400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8011557877105021955.post-82954376131590355192013-09-28T03:18:08.910+01:002013-09-28T03:18:08.910+01:00No raised eyebrows from me! I also prefer paperbac...No raised eyebrows from me! I also prefer paperbacks. In fact, when a much-anticipated book comes out that I know I'll want to read right away (and eventually own), I've been known to get the hardcover from the library for my first reading, because I just can't wait to read it, and then purchase the paperback when it comes out because that's what I'd rather have. I'll spring for a really gorgeous hardcover, but rarely for a standard one. <br /><br />I also don't like owning multiple copies of books, also for space reasons. Again, I might make an exception for something beautiful and collectible, like a favorite book with great illustrations, but mostly no. Teresahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09896331683344872038noreply@blogger.com