Aussie Readers discussion

So I'm one of those people who needs his books to look nice. Especially series. If a series has different book sizes, or if the spines are different, or if the publisher's logo is at the top instead of the bottom in one out of nine volumes, it irks me something shocking. Here are some examples of things that make my BOCD sad, and happy, and talk a bit about the series that I'm berating/praising. Also I'll probably use this thread to talk about books I'm reading/have read if anybody is interested. Whatever. Onwards!

Click on images for larger versions. If you have any BOCD images that will enrage/delight me, please by all means post them!

David J. Williams' Autumn Rain Trilogy



This one is just all over the place. And as far as I can gather, this is the only way these books come. There haven't been any more editions to fix this. Why. Just why. The worst thing is that if there are any new editions, they'll most likely have new coverart, which I don't want. I really like this coverart. I just hate how the spines are all over the bloody place. Great trilogy, though.


Rei Hiroe's Black Lagoon Manga



So overall this one is fine, sudden publisher change notwithstanding. This doesn't really bother me that much, since the publisher logo is still at the top and it doesn't effect rest of the spine. The astute among you will notice Volume 008, however. Why. Why would you do that. They didn't even stick with it, they went straight back to the former one right after! Oh god its making me angry just thinking about it.


T.C. McCarthy's Subterrene War Trilogy



This one is admittedly sort of my fault; there is a Germline edition that comes in the same format as Exogene and Chimera. But from every copy I've seen, it only comes in this sort of ultra-polished shiny-paper, whereas my copies are all regular paper. So if I was to replace it, I would have to replace all of them. SIGH.


Robin Hobb - All Series



This is one that does it very right indeed. Not only keeping the same format for each trilogy, but keeping it the same across all the trilogies. It makes for a fantastic shelf. A bit irksome that the Dragon Keeper/Dragon Haven/City of Dragons books are all large-paperback format, but nevertheless. Every single one of these books is one of my favourite books, also.


Matthew Reilly - Most Books



Another good one, although this is an older edition and the new books aren't being produced in this format anymore - just means I have to buy them all again! Great action-suspense books written by a great Aussie author.


China Miéville - All Books



I really need to actually read these. I keep buying them because they look so nice. I mean look at this.



Mmmm. Neat.


James S.A. Corey - The Expanse



Only two books in, but I hope its a sign of good things to come, James S.A. Corey's "The Expanse" series is going to be at least six books long and I hope to god they all look as nice as this. Please. Please god let them all be as nice as this please. Fantastic space opera, too, highly recommended.

I've got to ask - are you in to reading or aesthetics:-o)

Both :p if I buy a book/series, I want it to look good

My hubby prefers all his books to be original release hard cover books.

You're missing a China Miéville. I have a love/hate relationship with him; but I did love The City and the City

I've only read Embassytown, but I really enjoyed that.

I really enjoyed The City and the City but I haven't tried anything else of his yet.
I used to be a librarian some years ago and as a result all my books are shelved in alphabetical order of author. Plus they are all neatly pulled towards the front of the shelves in a smooth line with each other. And there are NEVER any books lying on their sides on top!!!

I'm a librarian too, I just have very limited shelf space :C putting a new shelf up this weekend though xD

My lounge room is lined with book cases, floor to ceiling plus there are more in the bedrooms. Having trouble fitting any more in so it's a good thing I use my kindle a lot now.

Liam wrote: "I've only read Embassytown, but I really enjoyed that."

LOVED

one of my very fave books!

I started Perdido and sort of got bored and wandered off. Keep meaning to go back to it, I really liked what I did read.

Phrynne wrote: "I really enjoyed The City and the City but I haven't tried anything else of his yet.
I used to be a librarian some years ago and as a result all my books are shelved in alphabetical order of author..."

I help out at my daughter’s school library a few days a term and one of my jobs is go over the shelves and ensure the books are in alphabetical order and to bring the books forward to create a smooth line effect.

And I remember one day when I finished this task in the morning, the shelves was so nice and neat before I went to lunch. When I came back, I noticed that the books didn’t have a smooth line effect any more but a wave! One of the students decided to create a wave effect Lol! I was so peeved; I had to redo them again.

Mish wrote: "Phrynne wrote: "I really enjoyed The City and the City but I haven't tried anything else of his yet.
I used to be a librarian some years ago and as a result all my books are shelved in alphabetical..."

Haha! That student probably thought they were "helping"!!

Brenda wrote: "Mish wrote: "Phrynne wrote: "I really enjoyed The City and the City but I haven't tried anything else of his yet.
I used to be a librarian some years ago and as a result all my books are shelved in..."

it's help that I could have done without lol!

Yes, that would be true! But they also could have been stirring too, as they would have known the work you'd just done (probably!)

I need all the books on this list in my life.

But there are only 8 books there Liam;)

And they look so PRETTY.

The Expanse continues to look pretty.

Why would they why :C I can only hope the spines remain the same.

Don't you absolutely HATE that! I hate size changes too!!

Liam wrote: "

Why would they why :C I can only hope the spines remain the same."

just to mess with your OCD. Also I see James S.A. Corey become popular

Liam wrote: "

Why would they why :C I can only hope the spines remain the same."

Hahahaha, I bet they've done that just to annoy those who crave consistency :-)

It's like this



The show is ABOUT a guy with obsessive compulsive disorder.. WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT!

Michael wrote: "Liam wrote: "

Why would they why :C I can only hope the spines remain the same."

just to mess with your OCD. Also I see James S.A. Corey become popular"

Apparently so. I love The Expanse. :)

Turn the last one upside down Liam!! ;)

For me, in books, size does matter. I buy all my books in the 24cm size. If I cant get that immediately, I'll buy the smaller one to read and then hunt down the larger one. As a result I often have two copies of various novels, but I store the smaller ones in a different 'extras' bookshelf.

I'm not fond of mass-market paperbacks either, Bette.