Wow Hardback books are HUGE!!

=X= · 11-29-2010, 07:38 PM

Well it's been close to three years now since I've last picked up a hardback book and actually read one.
Just recently returned from a week cruise down to Mexico, where it is a common site to see folks by the pool or in the lounge sitting down with their nose stuck in a book.

on the cruise I'd often see folks lugging their books around and some struggle with the weight as the carried several items in addition to the book. My aunt, who came with us, quit caring her book to the beach because of the weight the book added to her beach bag. I had forgotten how big hardback books are!

Meanwhile here I am just shoving my K2 in my back pocket or side pocket and pulling it out when it's time for a read. At no time was the K2(eReader) an inconvenience to me, in fact it proved to be an indispensable traveling companion as it was the only source of internet access as well as a traveling library.

=X=

SensualPoet · 11-29-2010, 07:44 PM

Yup. and the K2 works just fine on the advanced Mexican 3G network, even in bus rides through the mountains.

leebase · 11-29-2010, 07:45 PM

I agree. I don't even know how "big" a lot of the books I read are. I was at the library and saw the Honor Harrington series hard backs -- they are HUGE.

Lee

snipenekkid · 11-29-2010, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by =X=

Well it's been close to three years now since I've last picked up a hardback book and actually read one.
Just recently returned from a week cruise down to Mexico, where it is a common site to see folks by the pool or in the lounge sitting down with their nose stuck in a book.

on the cruise I'd often see folks lugging their books around and some struggle with the weight as the carried several items in addition to the book. My aunt, who came with us, quit caring her book to the beach because of the weight the book added to her beach bag. I had forgotten how big hardback books are!

Meanwhile here I am just shoving my K2 in my back pocket or side pocket and pulling it out when it's time for a read. At no time was the K2(eReader) an inconvenience to me, in fact it proved to be an indispensable traveling companion as it was the only source of internet access as well as a traveling library.

=X=

That is so funny as just the other day I tripped over my copy of The Java Script Bible, and it HURT.

Funny how all of a sudden the real effect of ebooks comes to front and center of your awareness.

wallcraft · 11-29-2010, 08:30 PM

There has been a trend in Science Fiction and in Fantasy for long novels, and even trilogies of long parts. In some cases these cry out for tighter editing, but if an author is good I don't mind the length. I would mind more if I was still reading in paper.

dwig · 11-29-2010, 08:41 PM

Hardbacks have gotten significantly larger in recent years (decades?). My more recent HBs are thicker and have larger pages than older tomes of similar word count.

My copy of Sacred Clowns by Tony Hillerman and 2061 Odessey Three by Clark (both first editions) are easily twice the volume of my early copies of The Ebb Tide (printed in 1894, second printing) and The Wrong Box (1889) by Stevenson. Both of the Stevensons, like many of my books through the 1950's, are about the same size as a Kindle 2, though thicker of course. I must say, though, that my beautifully printed copy of The Wrong Box, in half-leather binding, weighs as much as Sacred Clowns.

Doug Huffman · 11-29-2010, 08:43 PM

A short good book is not. A long bad book can be very short.

SeaBookGuy · 11-29-2010, 08:58 PM

Hell -- I recently paid $10 for the e-version of a 550-page paperback on my TBR pile!

wvcherrybomb · 11-29-2010, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by =X=

on the cruise I'd often see folks lugging their books around and some struggle with the weight as the carried several items in addition to the book.

I spent a week on Freedom of the Seas in July and I was one of those people lugging around heavy books.

Then my sister, who I don't see very often, whips out this cute little red case and I got my first look at a Kindle. It was love at first sight.

ardeegee · 11-29-2010, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by =X=

Meanwhile here I am just shoving my K2 in my back pocket or side pocket and pulling it out when it's time for a read. At no time was the K2(eReader) an inconvenience to me, in fact it proved to be an indispensable traveling companion as it was the only source of internet access as well as a traveling library.

Wow, I don't know how you lug around that Kindle 2-- those things are HUGE!

(Says the guy with the svelte PRS-350.)

Kralik · 11-29-2010, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ardeegee

(Says the guy with the svelte PRS-350.)

=X= · 11-30-2010, 12:46 PM

@dwig/wallcraft: Good points, it does make sense hardbacks and novels getting bigger. The bigger a volume is the more they can charge for it. Even though the real value is the content, I think intrinsically people can't help but evaluate worth by size.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wvcherrybomb

I spent a week on Freedom of the Seas in July and I was one of those people lugging around heavy books.

Then my sister, who I don't see very often, whips out this cute little red case and I got my first look at a Kindle. It was love at first sight.

That's all it takes for most. When I first saw the kindle add, I was typically lugging around 2 hardbacks and 2 paperback books. When I saw the kindle I thought wow that is convent... I never looked back.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ardeegee

Wow, I don't know how you lug around that Kindle 2-- those things are HUGE!

(Says the guy with the svelte PRS-350.)

Lol!

=X=

SCION · 11-30-2010, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snipenekkid

That is so funny as just the other day I tripped over my copy of The Java Script Bible, and it HURT.

...

Freeshadow · 11-30-2010, 03:12 PM

Exactly what I always say as to why I always had/have to wait until PB was out
HCs have inconveniences too

FatDog · 11-30-2010, 03:51 PM

Well... part of my love of books is seeing what everyone else is reading at the BART station or the "Summer beach reads" - large tomes that can be used as a door stop or to squash bugs.

An e-reader is a bit less personal because you cannot see what everyone else is reading. And the last two times I took my Sony to someplace where I had to wait, I kept getting interrupted by people asking me about my eReader.

So it seems to be:

- Hardbacks : See what everyone else is reading
- EReader : People ask you what you are reading

11-29-2010, 07:38 PM	#1
=X= Wizard Posts: 3,671 Karma: 12205348 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: Galaxy S, Nook w/CM7	Wow Hardback books are HUGE!! Well it's been close to three years now since I've last picked up a hardback book and actually read one. Just recently returned from a week cruise down to Mexico, where it is a common site to see folks by the pool or in the lounge sitting down with their nose stuck in a book. on the cruise I'd often see folks lugging their books around and some struggle with the weight as the carried several items in addition to the book. My aunt, who came with us, quit caring her book to the beach because of the weight the book added to her beach bag. I had forgotten how big hardback books are! Meanwhile here I am just shoving my K2 in my back pocket or side pocket and pulling it out when it's time for a read. At no time was the K2(eReader) an inconvenience to me, in fact it proved to be an indispensable traveling companion as it was the only source of internet access as well as a traveling library. =X=

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11-29-2010, 07:44 PM	#2
SensualPoet Wizard Posts: 2,302 Karma: 2607151 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Toronto Device: Kobo Aura HD, Kindle Paperwhite, Asus ZenPad 3, Kobo Glo	Yup. and the K2 works just fine on the advanced Mexican 3G network, even in bus rides through the mountains.

11-29-2010, 07:45 PM	#3
leebase Karma Kameleon Posts: 2,960 Karma: 26738313 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: iPad Mini, iPhone X, Kindle Fire Tab HD 8, Walmart Onn	I agree. I don't even know how "big" a lot of the books I read are. I was at the library and saw the Honor Harrington series hard backs -- they are HUGE. Lee

11-29-2010, 08:30 PM	#5
wallcraft reader Posts: 6,977 Karma: 5183568 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Glo HD	There has been a trend in Science Fiction and in Fantasy for long novels, and even trilogies of long parts. In some cases these cry out for tighter editing, but if an author is good I don't mind the length. I would mind more if I was still reading in paper.

11-29-2010, 08:41 PM	#6
dwig Wizard Posts: 1,613 Karma: 6718541 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Paradise (Key West, FL) Device: Current:Surface Go & Kindle 3 - Retired: DellV8p, Clie UX50, ...	Hardbacks have gotten significantly larger in recent years (decades?). My more recent HBs are thicker and have larger pages than older tomes of similar word count. My copy of Sacred Clowns by Tony Hillerman and 2061 Odessey Three by Clark (both first editions) are easily twice the volume of my early copies of The Ebb Tide (printed in 1894, second printing) and The Wrong Box (1889) by Stevenson. Both of the Stevensons, like many of my books through the 1950's, are about the same size as a Kindle 2, though thicker of course. I must say, though, that my beautifully printed copy of The Wrong Box, in half-leather binding, weighs as much as Sacred Clowns.

11-29-2010, 08:43 PM	#7
Doug Huffman Banned Posts: 102 Karma: 7860 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Washington Island, across Death's Door, Wisconsin, USA Device: KINDLE 3 WiFi	A short good book is not. A long bad book can be very short.

11-29-2010, 08:58 PM	#8
SeaBookGuy Can one read too much? Posts: 2,029 Karma: 2487799 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Naples, FL Device: Kindle PW 3, Sony 350 and 650	Hell -- I recently paid $10 for the e-version of a 550-page paperback on my TBR pile!

11-30-2010, 03:12 PM	#14
Freeshadow temp. out of service Posts: 2,815 Karma: 24285242 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Duisburg (DE) Device: PB 623	Exactly what I always say as to why I always had/have to wait until PB was out HCs have inconveniences too

11-30-2010, 03:51 PM	#15
FatDog Witless protection Agent Posts: 290 Karma: 1002898 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Los Angeles Device: Kindle	Well... part of my love of books is seeing what everyone else is reading at the BART station or the "Summer beach reads" - large tomes that can be used as a door stop or to squash bugs. An e-reader is a bit less personal because you cannot see what everyone else is reading. And the last two times I took my Sony to someplace where I had to wait, I kept getting interrupted by people asking me about my eReader. So it seems to be: - Hardbacks : See what everyone else is reading - EReader : People ask you what you are reading