Discussion: The Great Book Format Debate – Paperback, Hardcover or E-book?

This is a discussion post virtually every book blogger ever has added to.

I felt I should to.

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Hardcover:

Pros-

• Looks a lot nicer on a shelf.
• Tend to have nicer covers.
• Surprises under dust jackets.
• First to be released.
• More satisfying to possess/smell/feel/read usually.
• The classic form of a book.

Cons-

• Heavy
• Hard to carry around / hold up to read for extended periods.
• Dust jacket can get messed up or lost.
• Way more expensive usually.
• Take up a lot of space in one’s house/room.

Conclusion:

Hardcovers are preferable for looks but sometimes impracticable and expensive.

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Paperback:

Pros-

• Easy to read and carry than a hardback.
• Cheaper and still physical for display and collection.
• No dust jacket anxiety.
• Easier than hardback to read for extended periods.

Cons-

• They can take long to be released (over a year past the hardcover at times).
• Usually have worse covers.
• Get damaged easier (bent spines)
• Don’t look as nice on a shelf.

Conclusion:

Easier, cheaper, but not as pretty.

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E-books:

Pros-

• Easy to carry around.
• Doesn’t take up room/house/shelf space.
• Generally the cheapest.
• The modern book format.
• No worries about loss or damages.
• Don’t have to worry about being intimidated by book size.

Cons-

• E-books can be tricky, because depending on the reader you have ( as in iPad vs. kindle vs nook vs app vs desktop vs what ever else exists) can make a big difference on the experience.
•  Some books, especially image or formatting specific ones usually become unreadable in the best of times.
• Can’t be lent to friends.
• No physical shelf to be prideful of.
• Have to buy a device that can cost $80+

Conclusion:

I love reading on my kindle – when I have mobis, PDFs only work on the desktop and I never have time to read there. Adobe Digital Editions gets tedious.

I’ve been using e-books since early middle school, as its easier to carry around in a bookbag and on vacations, and long books seem less intimidating. Also, decreasing shelf space.

E-books as a preference or option varies greatly by device and by the person.

E-books are the cheapest, easiest, and least satisfying.

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Audiobooks:

Despite this discussion being ever popular, audiobooks are never included it seems. They always get a separate rave or rant. Its a book format like any other, only far it gets included. Hell, I made a rant about them in my first ever discussion.

Pros-

• Easy to read on the go/ when multitasking.
• Lets people who don’t usually have time to read, read.
• Can be inexpensive.
• Fun to listen to voices for the characters (on the better or full cast ones at least).

Cons-

• Can be hard to focus on.
• Can take longer to listen to than actually read.
• Quality of audiobooks in narration varies drastically.
• Makes it difficult to imagine characters for yourself.

Conclusion:

Audiobooks have less objective pros and cons, they mostly fall down to personal preference. I don’t abhor them or anything, but I prefer to read for myself. They I may have to listen to some that are full cast narrations, as those sound fun!

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Overall Conclusions:

I will continue to prefer hardcovers, and only buying paperbacks when I’m desperate for a physical copy/at a second hand store.

My e-reader will continue to be for arcs.

Really there is no conclusion to be reached in this sort of discussion, I just wanted to make my pros and cons lists.

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What do you think?

Which do you prefer?

Do you agree with what I said?

Let me know!