Lumo Posted April 14, 2010 Share Posted April 14, 2010 I'm going to buy Jane Eyre (I have wondered about reading it for ages now, but am finally getting around to buying it). However on Amazon there are many editions, Penguin Classics, Penguin Popular Classics, Wordsworth Classics, Oxford World Classics et cetera. Odd question, how do you decide which one to buy? There are even two editions at the amazingly cheap price of 2 pounds so going with the cheapest doesn't solve the problem. In a shop I would look at the text size, the paper, even the smell, but on Amazon I'm left squinting at a tiny picture of each and wondering. I know it's probably too much thought for such a small issue, but it has happened to me before and I'm wondering if others experience the same thing. Now which one to order... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BookJumper Posted April 14, 2010 Share Posted April 14, 2010 My tuppence: - Oxford World Classics (the new white banded ones): good paper/ink, excellent introductions - Penguin Classics (the new black banded ones): decent paper/ink, good introductions - Wordsworth Classics: average paper/ink, usually no introduction - Penguin Popular Classics: ghastly paper/ink, usually no introduction Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirinrob Posted April 14, 2010 Share Posted April 14, 2010 I'd go with the Oxford, good introductions and notes. If I have the choice I always buy the Oxford. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raven Posted April 14, 2010 Share Posted April 14, 2010 I like the sinister black spins of the Penguin Classics range, so I always go for them first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Echo Posted April 15, 2010 Share Posted April 15, 2010 I usually prefer Penguin Classics, Barnes and Noble Classics, and Modern Library Classics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookie Posted April 15, 2010 Share Posted April 15, 2010 I would go for the one you think is prettiest - thats what I do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Univerze Posted April 15, 2010 Share Posted April 15, 2010 I'd do whatever I do when I could buy something in a store but online's much cheaper. Check out which stores have them, go there to check the item you want to buy, but not buy it there, make your choice there, but it online. Then you can check print etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruth Posted April 15, 2010 Share Posted April 15, 2010 To be honest, I just pick the cover I like best! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lexie Posted April 15, 2010 Share Posted April 15, 2010 I would go for the one you think is prettiest - thats what I do. Ooops... that's exactly what I do!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted April 15, 2010 Share Posted April 15, 2010 My choice would the be Oxford ones - the definitely have the best paper, and the typeface is easy on the eyes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Readwine Posted April 15, 2010 Share Posted April 15, 2010 Great question and thank you for your tuppence Bookjumper - I had no idea of the difference either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BookJumper Posted April 15, 2010 Share Posted April 15, 2010 Glad my collector's retentiveness could help ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iamnotreal Posted April 15, 2010 Share Posted April 15, 2010 I would go for the one you think is prettiest - thats what I do. I do this too! If I'm buying paperback, I always go for the Oxford World Classics. They're the only paperback editions that I can get along with! Penguin Classics are good, like BookJumper said, but the Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jankensan Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 the ones with green covers are dirt cheap but have all the words in them so they win my vote. i got the phantom of the opera at Christmas and the poor quality paper made it very light and easy to hold, lol. lazy reader in the house! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nienna Posted April 22, 2010 Share Posted April 22, 2010 Definitely the new Penguin Classics range (black ones). I actually have their version of Jane Eyre and it has a fantastic introduction and brilliant appendices, with clear references to parts of the book. (I tend to read all the appendices of a book if they have them! Very interesting. ) The JE appendices are fascinating! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lumo Posted April 26, 2010 Author Share Posted April 26, 2010 Interesting replies. In the end I went for the Oxford World's Classics. Have only just started reading it now, but the text looks good, paper feels (and smells ;-) ) decent and intros et cetera also seemed good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Shankly Posted May 30, 2010 Share Posted May 30, 2010 For example, The Great Gatsby has these releases (and maybe more); Penguin Popular Classics, Wordsworth Classics, Penguin Modern Classics and Oxford World's Classics. Why are there so many? Is there any difference? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BookJumper Posted May 30, 2010 Share Posted May 30, 2010 (edited) Hi I have merged your thread with a pretty similar one whose posts should hopefully should help explain the kind of differences that do indeed exist between editions - I've done my best to break down the basic features of various editions in my reply on Page 1. Basically, with books that are hugely popular and/or over a certain age you are almost always going to have a wealth of different editions. Some will offer just the text, others the text and accessible introductions, others yet the text and more academic introduction/footnotes/extra material, etc. Paper/ink quality will also vary greatly, which is something to keep in mind if you're a collector as well as a reader. In some cases (with Shakespeare, for instance) different editions will reprint different versions of the same text, so as a rule of thumb the further you go the more important the choice of edition becomes. Edited June 1, 2010 by BookJumper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Shankly Posted May 31, 2010 Share Posted May 31, 2010 Hi I have merged your thread with a pretty similar one whose posts should hopefully should help explain the kind of differences that do indeed exist between editions - I've done my best to break down the basic features of various editions in my reply on Page 1. Basically, with books that are hugely popular and/or over a certain age you are almost always going to have a wealth of different editions. Some will offer just the text, others the text and accessible introductions, others yet the text and more academic introduction/footnotes/extra material, etc. Paper/ink quality will also vary greatly, which is something to keep in mind if you're a collector as well as a reader. In some cases (with Shakespeare, for instance) different editions will reprint different versions of the same text, so as a rule of thumb the more far back you go the more important the choice of edition becomes. Thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BookJumper Posted May 31, 2010 Share Posted May 31, 2010 Not a problem, I live to serve ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanwa Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 Um... pssst... "the more far back"??? Ouch BookJumper. I'm surprised at you! Quick edit: "the further back"! 100 lines of the following: When posting in the wee hours, I must read, reread and reread again before I click Submit.:lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Shankly Posted June 13, 2010 Share Posted June 13, 2010 (edited) Does anyone know if there is a difference between the 1994 and 2010 release of The Catcher In The Rye? Thanks Edited June 14, 2010 by Chrissy merged and rearranged 3 posts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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