Which format do you prefer?

I stumbled across this and I was going to include this in my news post, but it got a little long, so it’s been upgraded…

Grasping for the Wind is asking an intriguing question:

Though we all know that some books only come out in certain formats, if the world were perfect and you could have a book in any published format, which do you prefer – hardcover, trade paperback, mass market paperback, audiobook or ebook? Why?

For me, I can honestly say that I understand the general consensus of hardcovers, but I have to go with trade paperbacks. While I like hardcovers (and I always get a hardcover if I’m meeting a author), they are not as easy to get cozy with and read.  Granted, I can do it and have done it, but I’ve found that trade paperbacks are easier to cuddle with.  I guess that’s what I’m trying to say.  I like to snuggle up in the corner of my couch with a good book to read, but when I have a hard cover, there are only so many positions that are comfortable. Massmarket paperbacks are really good for this, but they generally don’t stand up to multiple re-reads.  The spines get creased easier and the just don’t seem to last as long. However, trade papers don’t tend to crease as easily (correct me if I’m wrong, but this has been my experience), they still look pretty good up next to hardcovers (the size is generally the same), and it’s easy to snuggle down and read them.  Plus, they are generally a lot lighter than any hardcover to carry around.  So I have to admit, that’s my preference – trade paperbacks.  Granted, if anyone is going to send me a book that’s signed or I’m going to an appearance to get a book signed – hardcover all the way.  There’s no question about it, they will last a lot longer than any paper bound novel.

Regarding SciFiGuy’s comment – In a perfect world every book would come in a hardcover format, preferably slip-cased and signed by the author.“) – while having all of my novels in hardcover and signed would be nice, I think that would take away some of the appeal of having them signed.  All of the books that I have signed are because I’ve either met the author, won them in a contest, or they’ve sent them to me to be read.  That makes them a little more special to me.  So if I was able to go out and buy them like that, I think the idea of having a book signed would lose it’s appeal and become more of a novelty than anything than something to treasure.

I’m kind of with SQT @ Fantasy and Sci-Fi Lovin’ Blog, I’m not a big e-reader and I haven’t made up my mind on e-books yet.  I don’t have an e-reader and while I have had my hands on a Kindle (they are nice), they just to have the same feel as reading a book.  There’s not the whole turning of the page sensation going on.  There’s no anticipation of what’s going to happen next because you can’t flip the page any faster than the machine will let you.

Although, Gareth @ Falcata Times has a really good point.  If I had a Kindle, think of all the books I could take with me on vacation.  I’m always packing at least a book a day when I’m gone (or I did pre-Ian) because I could get through that many.  Vacation means relaxing and relaxing means reading to me.  I still do things, but vacation also tends to bring a long car ride and what a perfect time to read.  If I had an e-reader, I would have more room in my suitcase because I wouldn’t have to take so many books.  So I haven’t completely made up my mind on e-readers yet…

Now SciFiGuy’s comment has got me rethinking e-readers…

As for ebooks they may offer convenience advantages for mobility but in my mind they are more disposable then newspapers. A week, month or years from now I will be able to retrieve and share a book I have acquired in a physical format. I seriously doubt the same will be able to be said for ebooks with constantly changing technologies and DRM limitations. Maintaining a personal digital library seems like a crapshoot at best

If you think about it, he’s right. Just take a look at the changes in video recordings. In my own lifespan, we’ve gone from VHS to DVDs to BluRay. What could happen with digital books?  I like to keep my books, hence the reason I buy them.

On a side note, I hate dusk jackets on hardcovers.  Yea they are pretty to look at on the shelf and all that, but they make reading the book dificult.  I always take mine off whenever I read a book with it.  Plus, a book without a dusk jacket just looks more…noble.  I don’t think that’s the word I’m looking for, but I don’t want to say sophisicated either.

“I hate proprietary format for each brand. This alone will keep me from purchasing a reader and utilizing ebooks. Let the format be open to all brands and readily available” – I am so with you on this one Neth @ Nethspace.

Dark Wolf @ Dark Wolf’s Fantasy Reviews:  I know that now the books come a lot in these formats but I like seeing the physical books, I like seeing them new or with those little damages left by reading and which give them a personal note. I have to agree with Dark Wolf on this.  I have many fond memories of certain books and I think he’s right.  It’s hard to create those same memories with e-books.

Tia @ Fantasy Debut: If a book gets reread often enough to tatter the book, then the author deserves to get the royalties from the extra sales.  Hell yeah.  If I re-read a book often enough that I have to replace it, than just tells me that the books are so worthy of it and I have no problem supporting the author in continuously buying the same book over and over again.  I’ve already done this with Diana Gabaldon’s entire Outlander series.  I now have the entire series in hardcover because I’ve already gone through two sets of paperbacks.  And I plan on buying a paperback set as well (probably in trade format) once I have the money so I don’t mess up my shiny hardcovers.

If you haven’t figured it out yet, I was writing this as I read everyones comments and one comment I keep seeing over and over is the “accidents” that happen to books.  I will be honestly, I can be accused of reading in places I shouldn’t, but not with anything that I want to treasure, which means nothing but a mass market goes anywhere that an accident could occur.  Why do I sacrifice mass market?  Easy, they are cheaper to replace.  Duh.  :)  If a mass market gets ruined or has an accident, it doesn’t bother me.  Unless there’s been a major accident, I will just wipe the spill up and continue reading. It adds character to the book.  If the book gets too damage, and I liked it enough, then why not support the author and buy another copy.  The accidents don’t bother me and they are apart of life.  I don’t let them ruin my reading experience.

I have to say, the question ended up with quite a diverse reaction from many of the commentators.  Some people gave me new ways to think about e-readers, but a lot solidifed my previous impression on them.  I’m glad I’m not the only one in the book community who isn’t completely ready to move to e-readers.

Overall, I’m still a trade paperback girl.  They have all the benefits of a hardcover, but the convenience of a mass market.  Of course, in a perfect world, I would have one of each – a hardcover for my library and a trade paperback to read.

Now I’m curious.  How would you answer Grasping for the Wind‘s question?