Hardback or soft cover ?

[TheEllimist]

I prefer hardcover books for my personal collection. They just look soooo much better on the shelf. A bookcase full of tattered and worn paperbacks just isn't appealing to me. However, I do prefer paperbacks from time to time. For Example, I bought Under the Dome on the day it was released and the gargantuan size made it difficult to read for long periods of time and am really glad that I read The Stand(extended & revised edit.) in paperback, but my mission is to acquire the entire SK universe in hardcover.

[Blues_Ken]

Hardback all the way. I loathe the fact that some of SK's works are only available as ebooks.

[The Nameless]

It depends on a few things for me.

I don't like damaging books, but I don't mind having damaged books (my IT is probably one reread away from falling apart) - I have a few paperbacks in new condition, that when I get around to reading I will end up creasing the spine and scuffing the front cover. When I buy them used though, I like the edges to be tanned, the spine creased, a slight curve to it, smelling of old wood etc.

In terms of ease of use, hard backs extra weight and hard edges digging in cramp up my hands after a while, I find paperbacks easier to hold. However, when I read in bed, I lay on my side, head on pillow. Hardback is more convenient for this - early in the book I can just lift up the front cover and it gives a good stiff backing to the pages, then on the right hand page, I can stand the book open on the bed and reverse the proccess towards the end of the book. In the middle I just stand it up for both pages.

The introduction of the eReader adds another element, I was unsure how much I would use it at first, but I use it alot (mine is a kobo - cheaper than the kindle, does the same job, and allows more formats, same reason I will never own an iPhone/iPad).

Right now, I am reading The Stand (Uncut), and funnily enough I bought a paperback copy, my Uncle bought me a hardback, and I have an eBook version. I use the paperback downstairs, the hardback upstairs and the ebook when I go out. I try to stop reading at new chapters to make it easier to switch formats.

Because they both have good and bad points, I will generally go for the cheapest one. My SK collection is made up mostly of paperbacks, I have about 47, only 5 or 6 are hardback. If I had the money, I would buy them all new in hardback just for aesthetics.

[fljoe0]

Hardbacks for the books I want to keep. But I do think from a comfort standpoint, my favorite format is the trade paperback (not the small mass market ones). I like the lighter weight and flexible covers. Some of the mass market paperbacks are ok but do you ever get one where the copy goes to close to the center and you have to practically break the spine to read the book? Another thing I hate in the mass market paperbacks that happens occasionally is small type. A small book with small type is not a pleasant reading experience.

I do like reading on the kindle but for my favorites, I want to have a hard copy. I keep my eye on the kindle daily deal for the $1.99 specials. I like picking up kindle versions of my favorite books that I already have in hard cover that I plan on reading again someday. Under The Dome was a $1.99 kindle book a few months ago, so I got that one. When I read it again, it will be on the kindle.