unless you are an avid book reader my question may seem odd. It concerns paperbacks. Have you noticed the poor

Question

quality paperbacks are these days?

I much prefer hardback but the price of most are prohibitive not unless it is a autobiography or biography I am not willing to pay the asking price, so i have to put up with paperbacks or library books.

What do you think, or is it me am I being far too fussy?

Judging by the thumbs up many of us enjoy sniffing books. Weird lot us book worms

Answer 1

I read a paperback recently and due to it being so thick it was very difficult to read without bending the spine (something i despise doing)

Unfortunately tho i had to bend it and when i did all of the central pages came loose!

So no id suggest ur totally correct and paperbacks are of poorer quality these days

Answer 2

I don't think your fussy, but I am an avid reader and I don't have this problem. The only hardbacks I buy are reference books and dictionaries.
English paperbacks are expensive where I live. The last one I bought cost me £10.--, when I peeled of the bookshop's label I found the retail price in the UK was £6.99.
They don't fall apart, which is strange because most of my reading is done in bed and sometimes they fall on the floor when I'm really tired and the book falls out of my hand.
I use a bookmark (free with every new purchase) so the corners of the pages don't break off because I don't bend them over to keep my place.
Sometimes I keep a book because I want to read it more than once, but normally I have a clear out in late October and donate the rest to the Christmas Bazaar at the local Anglican Church.

Answer 3

I don't think you're being fussy, I have the same problem. A lot of people will buy a pb book and read it once then never look at it again. However if, like me, you like to keep your books and read them over and over again, pb's do not last the test of time! The best thing IS to invest in hardbacks, even though they are more expensive they last years, and so will work out cheaper than having to replace your paperbacks time after time! Another way to get cheaper books is regularly visit your local charity shops, bargain book shops and second hand bookshops. Ebay is another good place to look for 2nd hand books.

Answer 4

I think the quality is better than in my father's time; the 50's, I have some ancient paperbacks belonging to my dad - he liked westerns - that feel like poor quality toilet paper!
I think the price of books in this country(Ireland) is a scandal. Paperbacks are almost as expensive as hardbacks.but I take your point; the covers of paperbacks seem to have no ability to weather normal wear and tear.
And I don't think you are being too fussy. I love the feel of a new book of good quality!

Answer 5

Yeah, in most of my paperbacks the lower right corners of some pages are missing where the crappy thin paper tore. And after many rereads pages begin falling out.

I get most of my hardbacks from bookclubs (Literary Guild, Science Fiction Book Club, etc...). They are way cheaper than buying retail. Plus, there's almost always some special running for new members, like get six books for the price of one, or get six books for a dollar each, something like that.

Answer 6

no you are not being fussy, i work as a driver on a mobile library and the price of books is really bad, paperbacks are made very cheaply but if you notice they bring the books out in hardback 1st so if you really want to read it you will buy the most exspensive 1st. if you make a list of all the new books due to come out you can request them from your library and get them in hardback and be 1st on the list when they are released.

Answer 7

You're not being far too fussy, you expect quality when you make a purchase or investment in a fine piece of literature. However, you must remember that if you're not purchasing something brand new, you have to accept the fact that they book or books as it were, have been in other peoples hands, and you are buying a used item. Perhaps you could locate a book exchange, that way you could get your hands on the books you want before too many others have rummaged through them and disheveld the pages.

Answer 8

I suppose the fact that paperbacks cost so little these days counts? The publishers can't make much profit from sales of paperbacks due to places like Asda & Tesco selling them at such low prices,so they have to make cutbacks somewhere-unfortunately the quality of the materials will have to take the brunt of it.Plus a lot of books are made from recycled paper which doesn't have the same feel & quality.

Answer 9

I buy the hardcovers in the discount section after the paperback has been released. You can get then very cheap. Also there is the middle option of Hardcover sized paperback instead of the small trade paperbacks

Answer 10

Actually I think they're somewhat better than they used to be. BUT A usual paperback cost 35 cents when gasoline sold for 35 cents a gallon. Can you name any other product whose price has risen more than the cost of petrol?