chrysalis_stage Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 I have to say paper back, does anyone else love the way the books smell, old or new!? Um i love it! or am i wierd?! I love the smell too, love the smell of books and magazines. I prefer the smell of new books tho. Alot of old books I've come across smell of smoke, must have came from a smokers household. When a new book or catalogue comes through a good sniff is needed lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 I like the smell of books too. I was a book shop last night with my partner and I picked up a Golden book and smelt it. He thought I was little weird. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Your not weird, he's the weird one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BookBee8 Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 I love the smell too! I prefer paperbacks, they're easier to hold and cheaper too. Hardbacks hurt my hands as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rawr Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 I like to sniff books too, does that make me weird? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nollaig Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 No that doesn't make you weird. Lots of other things make you weird, but not that. I kid, I kid. Don't kill me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucybird Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 I just had a sudden image of all these people standing in a bookshop sniffing books Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chimera Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 (edited) So books really do have a distinctive smell? Even new books? Random paperbacks ?? I have hardly any sense of smell so wouldn't notice anyway but I always thought it was some sort of exageration, a 'poetic' way of saying you enjoy books... I just can't fathom an object such as a book having a proper smell *laughs* I feel like I'm missing out on something now Edited February 27, 2009 by Chimera huge typo... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bethany725 Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 There's definitely a certain smell in bookstores filled with new books... It's heavenly! I don't even know what about all the books gives the scent, but it's loooveeely.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BattyOldMaid Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 I love the smell of new books, I don't know whether it's the ink in it that what makes it smell so. I only collect hard backs from Dean Koontz collection, as I know I would want to read them again at some point, we are moving sometime so right now, it's soft back books I'm reading. After the move I hope to collect James Herberts books again, along with other authors like Agatha Christie. batty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDR124 Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 Sniffing books and feeling the paper consistency under your fiingertips is wonderful...did you ever bought a book you already had just because a particular commemorative edition, finely bounded and deliciously smelling had been released? I did a couple of times for books really worth it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devi Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 I prefer paperbacks as they fit better in my bag, and I don't feel so bad if they get a bit worn and torn, to me, that shows its a much loved book anyway. I also find them easier to hold in my arthritic hands by being more flexible. Dust covers often annoy me on hardbacks, and I usually end up taking them off because I am afraid they will get damaged, torn or bent. In saying that, some of my favourite childhood books are hardcovers though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willoyd Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 (edited) Interesting thread to revive Devi. Interesting, not least because I wonder how much e-books would be likely to influence such a discussion a couple of years on from the bulk of this thread: up to a couple of years ago I would have said that the arguments in favour of hardbacks included type size (an increasing issue with paperbacks and my over-50 eyesight), pleasure to handle, attractiveness, durability etc, whilst paperbacks were better for portability and convenience. Nowadays, I'd say that I tend not to buy paperbacks if I can, but buy an e-book, whilst my buying of hardbacks is largely unaffected. BTW, quite a lot of my hardbacks are Folio Society books (which can be very reasonably priced secondhand!) - they have slipcases rather than dustcovers, which I much prefer! Edited February 15, 2012 by willoyd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 eBooks has also influenced a change in my preference too. Anything I would have bought as a paperback, I would now try to source an eBook version instead. I've only ever bought hardbacks for books I was so desperate to read that I couldn't wait for the paperback version to come out so my preference always used to be paperback, but now, I would either borrow the hardback from the library or wait for the price of the ebook version to come down. I've just gone back through my book records, and I've actually only bought 3 books since I got my Kindle. I've borrowed from the library, borrowed from friends and been given books as gifts (a total of 26 in that same period), but nearly everything I've bought myself has been in eBook format. I've also found that if I do read a paper book, I now prefer a hardback, as it's much easier to get a "handsfree" reading position, the same as I would be able to achieve with an eBook, and I find it quite distracting having to read a paperback. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 To the original question: hardback. I love having a neat row of books with proper hard covers on my bookshelf. I do own quite a few paperbacks as well, they're usually cheaper so if I have doubts whether I'll like a book or not, I'll buy a paperback version. Paperbacks are of course lighter to carry with you, which is definitely a plus in this situation of mine: I travel a lot between two cities and have everything from clothes to laptop with me, so my bags are heavy enough without a couple of hardback books... So I basically like both, but prefer hardbacks when it comes to owning a book. eBooks, then, aren't very familiar to me. I don't have anything to read them with and I can't focus if I have to read a long text from the computer screen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willoyd Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 eBooks, then, aren't very familiar to me. I don't have anything to read them with and I can't focus if I have to read a long text from the computer screen. Yes, reading off a computer screen as opposed to an e-ink screen is very tiring, I agree. Interesting that you have a preference for paperbacks because of travelling: my Kindle really came into its own when I started commuting and travelling more - I could carry several books on a machine less than the size and weight of many paperbacks. And they are much easier to read in more ways than one: adjustable typeface, no text disappearing into gutters, easy to read one-handed. I've also comfortably made back the money I spent on the Kindle by the money saved on books too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lauraloves Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 Out of the two I would say paperback, because hardbacks are always a lot more expensive and also they are mostly too bulky to carry about. however know I have my kindle most books go on there. I take my kindle out and about with me now and leave the books at home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankie Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 I like to sniff books too, does that make me weird? No. Some people I know like to lick them! I all for paperbacks, I much prefer them. They are easier to read, don't weigh me down () and if I'm moving to a new apartment, I'll notice the difference. However, that's with fiction. As for non-fiction, I don't mind hardbacks that much for some reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Interesting that you have a preference for paperbacks because of travelling: my Kindle really came into its own when I started commuting and travelling more - I could carry several books on a machine less than the size and weight of many paperbacks. And they are much easier to read in more ways than one: adjustable typeface, no text disappearing into gutters, easy to read one-handed. Provided that I had something with which to read ebooks, like that Kindle thing, I'd give it a shot I'll think about getting one when I have a bit more extra money in my hands. Of course it would be lovely to have a bit lighter bag to carry with me when travelling, so I'm willing to try out an ebook reader if I get the chance. But I think ebooks will never come even close to replacing "real" books for me. It's the same as with music: I want to own the cd or the vinyl, not just a bunch of mp3 files. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gad786 Posted March 8, 2012 Share Posted March 8, 2012 I prefer paper back cause they lighter and easyer to take around with you but I also like hardbacks cause they are more strong and you can almost throw the book against the wall sometimes and it will be a-o-k Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gad786 Posted March 8, 2012 Share Posted March 8, 2012 I like to sniff books too, does that make me weird? No that doesn't make you weird. Lots of other things make you weird, but not that. I kid, I kid. Don't kill me. I smell books:)I especially love the smeel of old,dusty ones and I know that is pretty weird,I even like the taste of blackseed oil,ITS DELICIOUS! There's definitely a certain smell in bookstores filled with new books... It's heavenly! I don't even know what about all the books gives the scent, but it's loooveeely.. Your right it is heavenly I love the smell of new books, I don't know whether it's the ink in it that what makes it smell so. I only collect hard backs from Dean Koontz collection, as I know I would want to read them again at some point, we are moving sometime so right now, it's soft back books I'm reading. After the move I hope to collect James Herberts books again, along with other authors like Agatha Christie. batty New books don't really have any smell.... Sniffing books and feeling the paper consistency under your fiingertips is wonderful...did you ever bought a book you already had just because a particular commemorative edition, finely bounded and deliciously smelling had been released? I did a couple of times for books really worth it... Yes,another fellow book sniffer,now here sniff these flowers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parenthesis Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 Hardbacks, paperbacks, I really don't have a preference. It usually expense, and to a lesser extent to which mark a book registers on my 'eagerly anticipating metre', that dictates which version of a book I purchase. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dori Posted May 23, 2012 Share Posted May 23, 2012 I prefer paperbacks, because they are lighter and cheaper - I find them to be overall more practical. They might get damaged quite easily, but this makes our "bond" stronger somehow, if this makes any sense. As for the smell of books, I love that, too! There's something really special about them, whether they are old or new. eBooks are not exactly my thing, but I read them faster than 'normal' books, which is handy... I wouldn't give up on the 3D versions, though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deborah Posted May 27, 2012 Share Posted May 27, 2012 Hardbacks all the way for me, it gives it that precious feel. I like to sniff books too, does that make me weird? Rawr, I share your obsession! I love sniffing books too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dex Posted May 27, 2012 Share Posted May 27, 2012 I prefer paperbacks especially when trying new authors, I don't own any hardbacks. I try to buy authors I like when they are on offer. Otherwise I tend to buy from charity shops or when they are cheap on P and A . I sometimes have trouble telling which are large format. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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