Cover art preferences and hardcover/paperback?

Submitted by LifeInThePages t3_10pgbrd in books

Do you prefer original cover art, or do you like the most recently released editions? For example, both the Harry Potter series and the Percy Jackson series had the original cover art from when each series released, but they have also had different illustrated cover art released for newer printed editions.

Also, do you prefer hardcover with a dust jacket, paperback, or even mass-market paperback, and why?

I love original cover art, as I always consider original art being how the book was first presented to the public. Whatever the first impression the book could give, that's usually what I want.

That being said, as beautiful and sturdy as a new hardcover is, I find my hardcovers tend to get worn corners, especially the more I have to carry it around with me. Dust jackets, as well, are beautiful but finicky; I hate the anxiety of tearing it, so if I'm ever reading a hardcover, the dustjacket is going on my shelf until I finish the book.

I love a good large paperback. But not a mass-market paperback, those always feel clumsy to hold, and they're always difficult to read while not damaging the spine.

What are your preferences, and why?

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Adjective-Noun-012 t1_j6kay1i wrote

Unless the original art was really tacky, I'd prefer the original art. There are several used books selling for more than a hundred dollars, out there, even though the newer versions are inexpensive, and I think it's partially because the older art was so iconic or at least loved.

I prefer paperbacks of the "pocket book" size, though of course I would prefer they be well-made and durable even though I'll be gentle with them. I like to be able to hold and read the book with one hand, if it's possible.

If I have a hardback, I feel like I have even more of a responsibility to "rehome it responsibly" and if it doesn't have the dust jacket, it's harder to do that. But other than that, the dust jacket is almost an annoyance; they're so fragile!

Most important of all, though; if the book is of a series? It should not vary drastically in shape or appearance from the others. I was more than a little frustrated when I owned the three (extremely good) Barry Hughart books but one was an inch taller and a half inch longer than the other two. Frustrating. But, alas, his stuff isn't as well known as it deserves.

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zsreport t1_j6kbebm wrote

I do like vintage cover art on books originally published decades ago.

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InvisibleSpaceVamp t1_j6kduww wrote

I prefer the best looking cover. I hate movie / tv-show editions and I hate it when they put all these advertisement things on the cover, like quotes and "stickers" that are printed on.

Which means I often prefer original art from the time before the book became a movie or a "TikTok sensation".

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xojan t1_j6kqk9c wrote

I despise hardcovers simply because I find it too fidgetdy to hold while reading. I have like 2 books that I have not finished because they are hardcover.

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parasolofdoom t1_j6l8o0c wrote

Original art vs newer is pretty broad-- things released simultaneously in US/UK for example can have different covers. And even your example of HP -- the original UK or original US? And classics, sheesh! What even is the original art for some of those?? I don't feel like this preference question is quite answerable, I sometimes see different artwork on formats for newer stuff!

I don't often read paper books anymore, I prefer a slightly larger font on kindle because I hate using reading glasses. But back before I was all eReader, I preferred Mass Market as those were easiest for me to handle and didn't have a weird texture I hate like some trade paperbacks. I hate dust covers sliding around and mostly lost those anyway for hardcovers.

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juggernautism t1_j6ms56m wrote

I really like the art on some of the hardbacks of Dan Brown books. Especially Inferno.

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ChrisDigressesBooks t1_j6oj9c8 wrote

This is all very subjective, at least for me. It's kinda like asking me if I prefer wall art to have a landscape or portrait orientation.

I used to really dislike mass market paperbacks, but certain books seem to really work with that format. That dislike probably came from seeing so mass markets with terrible covers while growing up. If I really enjoy a book or it's something I'm almost certain to enjoy, I prefer to get the hardcover assuming it has the same cover as the paperback. For my favorite books, I have multiple editions and I typically get the newer ones first, then seek out the original covers later just to have them.

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