The Librarian's Husband's Book Club discussion

Print vs. Pixels!
Sprayed edges and exclusive covers are calling... but are you answering? 🤔

Does a stunning physical edition make you ditch digital reading, or is it just a marketing gimmick you ignore?

I might look twice at a beautiful cover but not buy. However, if the artwork is stellar, within the book, then yes. Example: Song of Achilles sold by Folio has beautiful artwork within the edition. I do audio, digital, and print reading.

I'm not swayed by collectible items. It won't persuade me to buy over an e-book or an audiobook. Although, a printed copy is my preference.

I don't collect or save books anymore - although if you saw my bookcases you'd call me a collector.
It's just that I'm really far behind on reading, having accumulated a ton of books when I was traveling for work and visiting bookstores.
A real impulse buyer.

After I finish a book, I give them to friends (unless I feel like I have to read a book more than once, which happens occasionally).

A lot of the collectible covers are a genre I don't really read (fantasy) and as far as classics go, if I already have it in paperback, I'm not going to get a new copy of it because of the cover. I do have a bookshelf dedicated to some old and antique books, though, because the bookshelf itself is an antique.

Only one novel I own has sprayed edges; that's my copy of The Ghostwriter. I could have done without.

No, doesn't sway me much at all.

I have never been a book collector so it would make no difference to me.
Growing up, my mother was in the Double Day Book Club (remember them 😀). She had hard bound books everywhere, more than we could read. While that started my love of reading, they all ended up being donated. I am not one to read a book twice, so collection isn’t my thing.

After getting a library card Ive become more of a digital diva. It pains me now to think of buying a book before starting it to know if i will even like it. I dont collect them but i would like to start collecting nice editions or even just a copy of my 5 star reads/recommendations. (2026 goals for a mini book shelf/display of my favorites).

I never made the jump to digital books. I would rather make a bad purchase of a beautiful book I ended up not liking for my shelves, usually because of other features of the book such as artwork or intros by an author I read.

But some of these glittery modern books are lightweight and don't feel very good holding them.

EDIT: Do I regret buying the "glittery" B&N hardcover special edition of The Outsiders? No. It is a book I didn't like in HS, but I've reread it many times over the...decades and have a better appreciation for what I now consider a masterpiece.

Yes If I loved reading the book and it is a beautiful book I will buy it . I buy hardback books if I find them at a half price book store and I know I will read them again. I usually always buy Therapy hardback or physical books books for my work. I do prefer ebooks though because I have them with me and they are easier to read.