-
Tweet Tweet
-
Membership
Mar
30
Sunday Salon | The best laid plans…
Filed Under Sunday Salon
Hello fellow saloners - I wasn’t sure I’d actually be able to post today - I updated my websites last night to Wordpress 2.5 and managed to break them… so today, instead of working through my to do list, catching up with saloners, and reading my latest book I’ve spent about 7 hours trying to fix things… and to top it all off the clocks went forward today so I’ve lost an hour of my precious Sunday!
Given that I don’t have the luxury of time I think I’m just going to answer the latest question posed by the BTT team:
While acknowledging that we can’t judge books by their covers, how much does the design of a book affect your reading enjoyment? Hardcover vs. softcover? Trade paperback vs. mass market paperback? Font? Illustrations? Etc.?
Firstly - I’m ashamed to admit - that I do judge a book by its cover - I just can’t help myself *lol* But once the book has actually been selected I prefer paperback to hardcover - the latter are just too large and cumbersome to read and carry around… plus I have another shameful secret to admit… I like to crack the spines of my paperbacks! I know - its a terrible sin - but I don’t feel like I can truly settle down and get to know a book until it’s done ;0)
I prefer a book to have a nice readable font size - I’d rather have more pages than a small font, how are you supposed to enjoy a novel when you have to squint to read the words??
As for illustrations - they’re hardly here nor there. In fiction I’d prefer none - though of course a practical text book or cookery book should be stuffed full of images and photographs.
What about you? Are you a fellow spine-cracker? Do you prefer to be the first to read a book and head straight for the hardbacks? Can you help me out and explain the difference between a trade paperback and a mass market one??
Last week Small World posted about her favourite book - To Kill a Mockingbird - and I decided that perhaps I should get myself a copy. As luck would have it the book was on sale at the supermarket so I’ve put my TBR on hold and am getting stuck in. I’ve just finished chapter 7 and am so far finding it to be an enjoyable novel - though I think we are still within the scene setting section. I’ve always avoided it until now as it’s such a school book, and I remember *literature* being a slog when I was at school - now I’ve discovered it isn’t I’m tempted to go back and re-read my GSCE and A-level set books!
Happy Sunday everyone - thanks for stopping by :0)
Mrs S
Fan of the Twilight series? Check out these great Twilight related books and jewellery items
Related posts:
- Sunday Salon | It’s all about the books
- Sunday Salon | Never Judge a Book by its Cover
- Sunday Salon | Between Books
- Sunday Salon | April round up
- Sunday Salon | Some questions answered
Comments
13 Responses to “Sunday Salon | The best laid plans…”
Leave a Reply
One of the reason why I used to prefer used books was that the spine was already cracked. I used to always bend the cover around to the back of the book when reading the right side page. I don’t know why but I don’t do it as much as I used to.
I have had Harper Lee’s book on my shelf for a while and I always look at it, wondering if I should start it. It was on a challenge list that I never finished.
I also tend to judge books by their covers - especially if the cover looks wonderful…then I usually buy the book immediately
Sorry to hear about your blog woes - I can sympathize…there really is nothing more frustrating!
‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ is one of those ‘must reads’ that somehow I’ve so far managed to avoid reading. But I suppose books become ‘musts’ for a reason. I’ll see what i can find in my supermarket. Was it a national chain?
Ha, I seem to follow Ann around saying, me too. I’ve never read To Kill A mocking Bird either. I shall have to, soon. I think I’ve even got it on a bookshelf somewhere - spine already cracked. Yes, I agree about the cracking, I’ve never thought of it before - rather like breaking in new shoes. I agree about paperbacks too, and the small print - especially as I get older (sigh).
Happy Sunday!
I try hard not to crack the spines of books. I like to read books in nice condition and try to pass them on in the same condition.
I think we’d all be lying if we said the cover of a book has no effect on us - at the very least to entice us to pick it up and take a look inside (or not!)
I read Mockingbird when I was in school, and of course I’ve seen the movie and the stage play. It really is a wonderful book.
Ugh, I hate having to deal with the technical aspects of blogging. Hope you still had time to get some reading done!
And, I may not necessarily judge a book by its cover but if I see a pretty book cover at the bookstore display, then I’ll probably pick it up to see what it’s about.
I also judge a book by it’s cover sometimes. At least initially. When I’m browsing through a store, a cover will catch my eye and I’ll pick up the book to take a closer book. Is it something I’d be interested in reading? If so, I might get it or just add it to my wishlist.
Although I’m willing to read any type of book, paperback or hardback, I do prefer trade paperbacks if given a choice. And while I don’t set out to break the spines of books, sometimes it does happen. I don’t stress out over it if it does.
I hope you have a great week!
@Megan - I’m finding it hard to read books I’ve swapped for as the spine is already cracked! It also makes it harder to see which books I’ve read already - I usually rn my finger across the spine to check
I can definitely recommend Mockingbird - it’s a great book.
@Wendy - hello - I agree books with great covers should be snapped up
@Ann - go get a copy from somewhere! I’m in the UK and it was in ASDA :0) It’s a reasonable price at Amazon though
@Clare - like breaking in new shoes - perfect analogy - I’m glad I’m not alone!
@J.Kaye - sorry I’m a menace ;0) I do find when I’m looking for books on the swap site I look for uncreased ones… but only so I can crease them myself *lol* Honestly though I struggle with second hand - I think books are quite intimate and prefer new ones to used…
@Ravenous Reader - you are so right about the cover - so it bemuses me how such terrible covers are put onto some books - they must surely have done some research about sales versus good looking covers??
@Iliana - blog woes are over I think - and I got some reading done so it all turned out happily ever after in the end!
@Literary Feline - Eye catching covers just ask to be added to my basket…
Thanks for stopping by Saloners - see y’all next week *wave*
The difference between a trade and mass market paperback?
Oh, about $10!
*penny drops* Ahh they’re the larger paperbacks - that usually appear with the hardbacks at my store - and often come from book clubs - where they’re released before the normal paperbacks… yes - I don’t really like them - still too big to carry around!
Eek! I was just contemplating whether or not to upgrade to Wordpress 2.5 today… Might wait a bit until I’m feeling braver
By the way, since Mockingbird is one of my favorites, I offer a free “kit” on my website — if you get stuck, check it out:
(http://bookclubclassics.com/Blog/wp-content/upload/2008/03/to-kill-a-mockingbird-sample-kit.pdf). It’s meant for book clubs, but is hopefully helpful for anyone tackling Lee’s classic!
I was out of town for the latest BTT… I don’t think I care much about covers, but I certainly notice the size of my paperbacks!!
Hi Kristen - thanks for the link I’ll definitely check that out.
I really enjoyed the book and am sad that I’ve finished it.