How do you read your hardcovers?

[Adhityani]

Do you read hardcovers? How do you read them? Do you take the sleeves off or keep them on? Do you take extra care or just read them like you would any of your other books? Do you put a protective plastic cover?

I am just asking because I haven't purchased one in a while (the only hardcovers I read were borrowed from the library) but will be treating myself this week to the hardcover version of 1Q84 (Haruki Murakami) and aim to read it over my Easter break (semester break for 2 weeks, woohoo!). It's a fairly big book (900 pages! book 1,2 &3 in one edition) and would love to get ideas as to how to "handle" it properly... Cheers!

In case you couldn't tell already - Haruki Murakami is one of my favorite authors :-)

[Mish]

Dhitri, I don’t really like reading hardcover books. I try to avoid buying them if possible and wait till the paperback copy is released.

I can’t seem to get in a comfortable position with a hardcover and that’s probably because I tend to open the book wide while reading (which usually marks the spine….tsk tsk…I know :)

But if I’ve no choice I will remove the protective covering because it gets in the way

['Aussie Rick']

I only ever buy & read hardcovers, I have my own library, a few thousand books and all or 99% are hardcovers. I use to place protective plastic over the covers but now don't have time so I take the cover off when I read the book, I love hard backs :)

[Sherri]

I've got a mixed opinion lol. I loveboth types but get upset if someone in my family borrows one of my hardback books then gives it back witj marks in the spine and the binding for the pages messed up. My brother takes the cover off of them but I usually don't unless it is ripped. :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I always take the cover off Dhitri! I don't buy many hardcover nowadays, but have a lot of them in my 'library', and they are all in excellent condition. We gave our son the same book you are getting, for Christmas, and he took the cover off to read it:)

[★ Jess]

I usually prefer to buy paper backs (more convenient, cheaper), though I do own some hardbacks. Though I only like to have them if they're really special, for example the matching hardback first editions of The Regulators and Desperation. And I've got every intention of getting The Hunger Games trilogy in its American hardcovers, purely because they look stunning, compared to the awful paperbacks I've got. When reading hardcover, I definitely take the cover off so it doesnt get ruined. Unfortunately I learnt that trick after Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, so my cover is absolutely shredded.

[Sherri]

Oh Jess! The Hunger Games trilogy in American hardback is beautiful! lol, I have the trilogy in hardback for it :)

[Michael]

I like hardbacks but I don't get them often, I have a signed hardback copy of The Fault in Our Stars and so many other beautiful ones including Frankenstein, Dracula and Inferno but I prefer to read the books in ebook format and keep the hardbacks on the shelf

['Aussie Rick']

Nice having signed copies!

:)

[Sherri]

I have yet to get a signed copy of anything, so you are very lucky :)

And Rick you have a ton of books on your lists!

['Aussie Rick']

I know, and that is only 1/2 of them :)

[Sherri]

Goodness! lol, I have so many books that I've read but can't remember because it was from years ago xD

[Adhityani]

Thank you for all the replies - so I guess I'll opt for the hardback and will just take the cover off to read...

And no plastic cover (too tedious and might get it wrong anyway, had a case once when I wrapped the book too tight etc).

I want a signed hardback, too!!!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Dhitri wrote: "Thank you for all the replies - so I guess I'll opt for the hardback and will just take the cover off to read...

And no plastic cover (too tedious and might get it wrong anyway, had a case once wh..."

I think taking the cover off is the safest, Dhitri! I've got Scarecrow and the Army of Thieves in hardback, signed by Matthew Reilly :D