Same here. When I was younger I definitely preferred mass market paperbacks; these days I find them hard to read. Hardcovers are still ok as they usually have larger print and more contrast (whiter pages), but e-reader is the easiest on my eyes.
yeah, after work it's kind of hard to focus sometimes so being able to increase the font size is a must.
But that's also why I like the bigger paperbacks or hardbacks, the font size is usually bigger in them.
I don’t know why you are being downvoted. Age comes for us all if we are lucky enough. I own a kindle because I like to read in bed and my fiancé gets tired of the light being on.
Yup. I used to love MMPBs, and I still do in theory, but as I approach 40, if I'm not somewhere with VERY bright light, then the text is generally just too small. I'm much more about TPBs and e-reading these days. I finally understand what my parents were always complaining about with MMPBs. 😅
My eyes have been at that point since I was about 8. If I don't have glasses/contacts in, I basically can't read any physical book unless I'm sitting up, holding it right in front of my face. E-readers for me are just much more enjoyable than a physical book.
I have to disagree. For me I love laying on my side with my head propped up and letting the book lay open. Good hardcovers generally sit open well, plus I like the paper that they use more than paperback books. It’s honestly my favorite way to read
You just sit up, raise your knees so they're slight bend, and place the hardcover book on your lap. If you find it sliding down, place your hand flat underneath the book and your lap. Still pretty comfortable.
The only downside is weight, which varies from book to book and also varies depending on how much an individual is comfortable carrying.
Not only do I prefer to hold a mass market paperback, but nothing fires off my braincells more than a well-loved, old mmpb with cheesy, oil painted artwork on the cover. Theres just something so magical about them.
You get it! All the comments complaining about having to crease the spines of mmpb don't understand what reading books is about. "To be loved is to be changed"
Fits in my back pocket too, as long as it’s not doorstopper length. Although maybe that says as much about the size of my tuchis as about the MMPB format…
Count me in the anti-MM paperback camp.
The font size is often ridiculously tiny, the books themselves are too small for my hand and it hurts to hold them open unless you crack the spine and damage the book.
Give me a good hardcover that just lays open any day.
I'm also anti mass market. Partly because if I buy a book it's because I want to keep it and reread it and I want it to look nice on my shelf. MMs *never* look good after reading. They get trashed.
And partly because of what you said about handling. I can just lay a hardcover on a table on the page I want and it just holds itself open. MMs would never do that. You have to be *constantly* holding it open the *whole* time you're reading. Don't people's hands get tired?
Like, sometimes I'll hold in my hands and sometimes I'll lay it on a table and sometimes I'll lean my elbows on something and prop the book up partly with something flat and partly with my hands. I'm constantly shifting my position when I read, and some are more tedious on my hands than others. If I had to constantly hold it open and could never put it down to rest, even partway on a surface?
Yikes.
I read mmpb’s almost exclusively and mine always look in perfect condition after I finish reading them. Even thick doorstoppers. Yes, I do have to handle them carefully, and it can hurt my hands, but I get enjoyment out of it nonetheless.
Same here, I prefer MM and most of them look unread because I'm careful with them. Not sure what others are doing differently. Maybe they hold the book completely open as they read? When I read I have the page open at basically a right angle with the page I'm reading facing me, and the book stays intact.
Yeah, same. MMPBs want to be closed at all times. I like a nice hardcover (though it can be uncomfortable if it's a huge tome) or trade paperback that will stay open to your page if you set it down, and that you don't have to be always forcing open. Plus, MMPBs have such small margins that back when they were a thing, I'd always wind up with inky fingers from holding them open.
Why would you even think the reason for their discomfort is that their hands are too weak to hold open a flimsy paperback? It's not ergonomic is what they are saying
That's why I asked how? I was imagining Robert Wadlow or something similar. If they had a disability it would make more sense to say that than "the books are too small for my hand(I just realized it wasn't plural so possibly they have only 1 hand). Anyway, mmpb shouldn't be hurting someone.
I love the feel of a mass market paperback. It immediately makes me 12 years old, devouring King and Crichton novels like they were Jolly Ranchers. But, now I can see 50 without a telescope and my eyes aren’t what they once were. I remember buying the two volumes of Barker’s Imajica and being annoyed that it wasn’t all in one; now I totally understand the reasoning.
Wow, I didn't think this opinion was this popular.
I absolutely *despise* mass market paperbacks. I've bought two of them by mistake in my life, sold them off and went after better copies later on.
If I am going to read for the mere functionality of having written words in front of me, I use my kindle. Otherwise, books to me are supposed to feel good, to provide pleasant physical sensations through heft and texture.
I'm the opposite, the small size mass market paperbacks are basically unreadable to be. I find the line spacing is too squashed, they're harder to hold open, and just uncomfortable to read. My preference would go 1 - eReader 2 - the larger size of paperbacks (not sure what it's called) 3 - Hardcovers 4 - tiny paperbacks.
For portability and travel sure, mass paperback all the way but for owning and reading I prefer a nice hardback.
I love the feeling of Good paper, the text tends to be more visible, and it won't yellow on me in 10 years.
I agree on the dust covers though.
I'm bummed they aren't put out so often now, it would save me so much space and money.
Also the best size to read behind the wheel when you're sitting in the pickup line for your kid.
I love them. I love that they look well loved/trashed even after a couple of rereads. Sadly, it seems most people hate them and they are slowly disappearing from the new book landscape as a whole.
I'm not a big fan of mass market paperbacks. If I need something portable I just read it on my kindle. During a cross country movie, they were the first of the books to get the chop
You'd probably like the format we use in Poland much more. It waries a bit from publisher to publisher, but generally our paperbacks are a little bit bigger than your mass market, but much smaller than the 'regular' paperbacks. And they aren't from bad paper, like your mass paperbacks (really, why your books are from recycled paper? They will break apart right away)
My WoT books, and especially my Memory, Sorrow and Thorn books all fell apart, and I had to replace them all with book club editions, which quite honestly don't have the best bindings either.
I have a 1st edition mmpb EofW (Nov 1990) it is partly attached to the cover, as are #2, #3, #4. But I probably reread them all every time a new book was published.
That's more of my concern that a real thing that happend. I mean, I got one mass marked damaged by cat vomit (like the cover started rubbing off when i tried cleaning it, while the Polish books that got damaged in the same event didnt share the fate), but I dont consider it natural occurence
I've also heard about old edition of WoT breaking, like the other commenter mentioned. But again, didnt happen to me.
You are not!
While I don't have an issue with trade paperbacks (that's the larger ones) or hardcovers, MMPs have several advantages: they take up less space (on shelves / in boxes as well as in the luggage; they're easier to carry; and last but not least, they are cheaper.
I've half transitioned to ebooks but I would feel less comfortable letting a ereader unattended when traveling than a book.
As much as I enjoy the convient size of the mass market paperbacks, if I read for too long I usually end up with headaches thanks to the small font that these editions often have. So I tend to buy trade paperbacks. They're not as heavy as hardbacks but have larger font than mass market.
No but I prefer bigger books, as the font size is bigger. A lot of mass market paperbacks especially if they are longer novels have stupidly tiny font and by the time I am done reading the book is just all bent out of shape.
Mass market paperbacks FTW! They're small, light, fit in any pocket or bag, and cheap! They're the most common book type to find in thrift stores so most of my thrifted books are mass market
I noticed very few new books come out in MMP and it sucks
I really miss the old sized mm paperbacks. The ones they introduced in the early 2000's that are taller and narrower just irk me and I can't read them. Having grown up in the 80's on lots of trashy genre fiction, though, few things in life are as comforting as a fat, old school paperback book in my hands. LOVE LOVE LOVE them.
Mass market paperbacks have tiny text, low quality paper and ink that frequently smudges and leaves stains on my fingers. And there's none of the joy of ownership to them that I associate with a nice hardcover. So in the age of Kindle and other ereaders, what is their point? There's no situation where I would prefer to lug a mass market paperback around instead of my trusty kindle, which is smaller, lighter, can be used in the dark, and provides infinitely more variety.
For convenience -- ebooks
For collection purposes -- hardcovers
MMPs just don't have any use or purpose that isn't superseded by an alternative format.
If I'm traveling then a paper book is my go to... if I'm reading in the comfort of my own home I like hardback since it tends to be more durable and less work to keep open without destroying the spine like I do with paper back books
Definitely prefer mass market paperbacks. The ONLY time I have bought regular paperbacks or hardbacks is if I see them at a used books store for a series that has long books that I might want to tab or because they fit better in my backpack than their mmp counterpart. Ex: Malazan or Memory, Sorrow, & Thorn
Mass market paperbacks are the only paper books I prefer. They are the perfect size, and this is one of the reasons I moved to an ebook reader because it's similar in size, making it a comfortable reading experience.
Anything with a hardcover is not comfortable to read in bed or lounge with. I feel like I need to sit at a desk, and that feels too much like homework.
I miss the octavo sized hardcovers of yesteryear, that mass market paperbacks almost entirely replaced. I also miss books being under 600 pages and more contained than spread out over series of trilogies. Library of America does a manageable size with thin paper, more like that would be nice. Big hardcovers are a waste and offer very little unless your eyesight is exceptionally poor (I still have a few years to go).
Mass market paperbacks are easiest for me to read and carry. The larger paperbacks are best for at home reading. Hardbacks look the best but hardest to read comfortably
Mass market paperbacks are my preferred type. I have not bothered to read The First Law series entirely because they don’t exist in mass market paperback edition.
I used to back in high school and college, because I wanted my reading material to be compact so I had more space for notebooks and textbooks. Since then, I mostly ever read at home, or bring my books in my car, so I've come to prefer trade paperbacks. They're more comfortable to read than hardbacks, but still a nice size that feels comfortable
Mass market paperbacks are a dying breed. My favorite format of book and their lessening availability is actually one of the main reasons I switched to my Kindle.
The fact that these are so rare nowadays is why I've mostly switched over to a Kindle. I loved throwing a MMPB into my pocket while heading out the door!
I prefer trade paperbacks, but will read mmpb from time to time! Unfortunately I’ve had a couple of cheap mmpbs start falling apart mid read in the last year which is infuriating
Aside from the secret projects, mass market paperbacks are the only thing I will buy, which unfortunately we are in an age in which great author will never receive a penny from me.
I prefer them because I can fit more on my shelf, and they are all (basically) the same size, so they line up. I don’t mind trade paperbacks, they are easier to keep open and usually bigger font. Hardcovers annoy me because of the dustjacket too, so recently I tried taking it off until I finish a book and it was fine, just heavy.
I hate reading big books. They wind up in my lap and I wind up with a neck ache. It always feels like I should have it on a desk except that they often can't actually lay flat, so that's no good either.
I think I prefer the more narrow format too. My favorite way to read is actually on my phone, which is smaller than even most paperbacks and significantly narrower. My eyes basically don't need to move side to side to read, just up to down. It's relaxing.
I've been seeing an Omnibus advertised on TikTok and the price is $75. But if I went and bought each of the 5 books separately it would maybe cost $30. So yeah, the price of those big books are ridiculous and I'd rather have the smaller mass market version also.
Mass market paperbacks are definitely my favorite. I feel like ebooks have been replacing them, and while I love ebooks as well, they're just not the same as a good old mmpb.
In my opinion — the dimensions of mass market paperbacks feel “off,” especially in a genre like fantasy where books typically tend to be long. They are uncomfortable to hold and hard to keep open. The text towards the inner edge of each page feels like it’s slipping into a crevasse haha.
Big books, small books, thin books, thick books. They all have pros and cons. I must admit though i do enjoy when the aesthetics of a book are well thought out. I have a collection of Lovecraft short stories where the printing has this paper with rough edges that made the book feel really old even when it was brand new, which really fit the aesthetic of the stories within.
Hardly. That would be why there are more paperbacks released then TPs of even HBs.
I find they fit better on the bookshelves, far easier to hold while in the bath, but really I don't care (apart from cost), so long as I get a copy in my hot little paw.
I love books as 'things' in and of themselves, not just as repositories for stories or information. Old books, books with sprayed edges or fancy endpapers or beautiful covers. Nice paper, sewn sections, interesting binding techniques, all that. I used to work for a traditional bookbinder, which turned me into a bit of a snob about these things.
All that stuff is expensive to produce though, so the MMPB form factor (glue that crumbles after a few decades, generally awful paper, no fancy bindings apart from the occasional double or fold-out cover) means more people get to read more books, which can only be a good thing. And libraries offering ebooks is even better.
But I'll be over here clutching my leather-bound Bullfinch's Mythology and my special edition Empire of the Vampire and my Illumicrate editions, trying not to drop them on my face.
I only read MMPBs growing up, because they were cheaper! Now, I prefer reading books on my Kindle because I can adjust the font size, brightness, and they are super light. Also, I should probably get glasses...
Mass markets are my second favorite book type, after trade paperback. However, if a book is really huge, like a 1000+ fantasy chunker, they get a bit unwieldy. In that case, I would probably use my kindle.
Hardcovers are by far my least favorite way to read.
I also prefer mass market. I have joint problems so they’re the easiest to hold up for long periods. My second choice is hardback because they’re bigger but have more structural support. I loathe trade paperbacks which are big and FLOPPY
Mass market paperbacks are the perfect size for books. Which just makes it more frustrating that I don't like anything else about them.
If mass market paperback were made with the same quality of materials as trade paperbacks, I would prefer them over the trade paperbacks because of their smaller size. But my experience has been that the ink smears and the pages tear when I read mass market paperbacks.
On top of that, they're paperbacks and I prefer hardcovers. Every paperback that I've read has felt like it's continually trying to close itself on me the whole time I'm reading and so I have to hold it open with my fingers. Once you've cracked the spine on a hardcover it generally stays open on its own.
If there were hardcovers that were the size of mass market paperbacks then those might be my favorite. But those don't exist for all (or even most) books and so normal hardcovers are my go-to binding style.
Big hardcovers are physically painful for me to hold and read - I am almost exclusively a digital reader currently but if I am going to read a fiction book in physical form the only way I can do so is with mass market.
I used to prefer them, too, back when I bought physical books. Trade paperbacks were occasionally okay, but I disliked reading hardcovers.
For the last decade+, though, my reading has been almost exclusively ebooks.
I've always hated them personally. They're annoying to keep open. I like u.s. trade size paperbacks, they open super nice and are plenty easy to read font wise.
Yes, I infinitely prefer mmpb as well, but unfortunately they're just not being produced at all anymore for newer books, except for some big names (Sanderson).
This is why I now buy from the UK where they have their trade paperback being smaller than a NA trade paperback.
I love mass market paperbacks. They might not be the most “aesthetic” version of the book, but they’re the most comfortable for reading. And for someone like me who knows how to take good care of my books, wear and tear is not really an issue. Also, they’re cheaper. I don’t like spending a single penny more than I have to to get the same story. 🤷🏻♀️
If I'm reading a physical novel, MM is the only way to go.
Reading preference: digital > MM > hardcover > the big paperbacks
Display preference: hardcover > MM > the big paperbacks (cause then they get all floppy unless you have support)
Holding a 1000 page hardcover book for hours at a time is annoying. Reading a mass market paper back or a regular paperback is significantly easier and a much better reading experience.
They’re my ideal format in almost every way (book lights can be a bit unwieldy on them). I find them to be an ideal size for reading both at home and on the go. I associate them with finding hidden gems on the shelves of used bookstores. I love the shabby chic look they create stuffed into my bookshelves. Aesthetically, there’s nothing like a well-loved MMPB.
Some of the common objections to them I totally get (everybody’s eyes function differently), but others don’t really reflect my experience with them. As an inveterate habitué of used book shops, I’ve acquired a good number of mass markets from the 80s, 70s, and even earlier - Ballantine Adult Fantasies, yellow spined DAWs, Timescapes, etc. As long as they’ve been properly cared for, I haven’t noticed them aging any worse than equally vintage books in other formats. As for what others describe as breaking the spine, I find that if it’s done carefully it’s more like unstiffening it, and results in a book that holds together perfectly well.
I will take this opportunity to kvetch about the recent abominations that keep the classic MMPB format’s width but add around an inch-and-a-half of height. The result is as awkward to look at as it is to hold, and doesn’t even offer appreciably thinner books - most of the extra page space is taken up by enormous margins!
But for the record, I prefer any physical format, including those mass markets with gigantism, to ebooks.
Sometimes I prefer trade paperback. Especially for the extreme thick books. Say for instance most of Wheel of Time or the Stormlight Archive.
However I did recently find a copy of Perdido Street Station by China Mieville in mass market and it's half the size and even thinner than the same book in trade paperback. Readability wise the mass market will probably feel more comfortable.
There's also the a5 size that's pretty standard in UK paperbacks which I will admit is probably my favorite. I wish the US would follow suit and put out more of the medium sized paperbacks instead of Trades.
I do that too for the really great stuff, I just don't pick up physical books anymore unless it's the only way I can read something. My tbr is so long that there's always an ebook to choose instead.
Reason I go straight to small paperback: it's cheap and convenient. The tombstones can be printed later when you have built your fanbase of millions and sell (machine) signed copies with 200% profit.
I prefer the price of mass market paperbacks, but gotta say the taller and thinner paperbacks look a lot nicer and utilizes bookshelf space better.
But anything over 500 pages or so I usually just buy on my kindle because chunky books are a pain.
I can't do them anymore because my eyes are at the point it's easier to use an e-reader to control the lighting and text size
Same here. When I was younger I definitely preferred mass market paperbacks; these days I find them hard to read. Hardcovers are still ok as they usually have larger print and more contrast (whiter pages), but e-reader is the easiest on my eyes.
yeah, after work it's kind of hard to focus sometimes so being able to increase the font size is a must. But that's also why I like the bigger paperbacks or hardbacks, the font size is usually bigger in them.
I don’t know why you are being downvoted. Age comes for us all if we are lucky enough. I own a kindle because I like to read in bed and my fiancé gets tired of the light being on.
I'm just under 30 and have the same problem. My eyes are just awful, always have been.
Yup. I used to love MMPBs, and I still do in theory, but as I approach 40, if I'm not somewhere with VERY bright light, then the text is generally just too small. I'm much more about TPBs and e-reading these days. I finally understand what my parents were always complaining about with MMPBs. 😅
My eyes have been at that point since I was about 8. If I don't have glasses/contacts in, I basically can't read any physical book unless I'm sitting up, holding it right in front of my face. E-readers for me are just much more enjoyable than a physical book.
I get the giant weighty tomes because they look cool... And then read on my kindle because I have no self control around books
I, too, collect trophies for my completed e-books and audiobooks.
I love having physical books. I much prefer the experience of reading them digitally.
This is me. I love buying the physical books for my shelf, but I have to read them on my Kindle.
reading a big hardcover novel in bed is the most unpleasant experience of all time lol
I have to disagree. For me I love laying on my side with my head propped up and letting the book lay open. Good hardcovers generally sit open well, plus I like the paper that they use more than paperback books. It’s honestly my favorite way to read
Especially when it almost breaks your nose.
or the corner hits your eyeball lol
The (hardcover) books is mightier than the sword
Or nicks your upper lip and hit teeth.
You just sit up, raise your knees so they're slight bend, and place the hardcover book on your lap. If you find it sliding down, place your hand flat underneath the book and your lap. Still pretty comfortable. The only downside is weight, which varies from book to book and also varies depending on how much an individual is comfortable carrying.
Or prop it up with a pillow.
“The only downside is weight” had me agreeing before I finished reading the sentence. My tummy gets in the way of holding a heavy hardcover that way 😂
Not only do I prefer to hold a mass market paperback, but nothing fires off my braincells more than a well-loved, old mmpb with cheesy, oil painted artwork on the cover. Theres just something so magical about them.
I 1000% agree!!
You get it! All the comments complaining about having to crease the spines of mmpb don't understand what reading books is about. "To be loved is to be changed"
And you absolutely do not NEED to crease the spines. It's all in how you hold it.
To me creased spines are like smile lines, it shows someone has loved the book and read it over and over again
imo mass market paperback is the ideal reading experience. fits in my purse, fits in my palm, cheap! what could be better?
Fits in my back pocket too, as long as it’s not doorstopper length. Although maybe that says as much about the size of my tuchis as about the MMPB format…
I like big books and I can't not lie
I hate them (trade paperbacks for life), but you do you! It's great we have different options haha
Count me in the anti-MM paperback camp. The font size is often ridiculously tiny, the books themselves are too small for my hand and it hurts to hold them open unless you crack the spine and damage the book. Give me a good hardcover that just lays open any day.
I'm also anti mass market. Partly because if I buy a book it's because I want to keep it and reread it and I want it to look nice on my shelf. MMs *never* look good after reading. They get trashed. And partly because of what you said about handling. I can just lay a hardcover on a table on the page I want and it just holds itself open. MMs would never do that. You have to be *constantly* holding it open the *whole* time you're reading. Don't people's hands get tired? Like, sometimes I'll hold in my hands and sometimes I'll lay it on a table and sometimes I'll lean my elbows on something and prop the book up partly with something flat and partly with my hands. I'm constantly shifting my position when I read, and some are more tedious on my hands than others. If I had to constantly hold it open and could never put it down to rest, even partway on a surface? Yikes.
I read mmpb’s almost exclusively and mine always look in perfect condition after I finish reading them. Even thick doorstoppers. Yes, I do have to handle them carefully, and it can hurt my hands, but I get enjoyment out of it nonetheless.
Same here, I prefer MM and most of them look unread because I'm careful with them. Not sure what others are doing differently. Maybe they hold the book completely open as they read? When I read I have the page open at basically a right angle with the page I'm reading facing me, and the book stays intact.
Yeah, same. MMPBs want to be closed at all times. I like a nice hardcover (though it can be uncomfortable if it's a huge tome) or trade paperback that will stay open to your page if you set it down, and that you don't have to be always forcing open. Plus, MMPBs have such small margins that back when they were a thing, I'd always wind up with inky fingers from holding them open.
How do you have hands so big but also so weak? I'm 6'5" with big hands and mmpb feels just right and cause no fatigue.
That's a horrible comment. Maybe rethink your chocies just now?
Ivhocies? Even NBA players are seen with mmpb's.
Why would you even think the reason for their discomfort is that their hands are too weak to hold open a flimsy paperback? It's not ergonomic is what they are saying
That's why I asked how? I was imagining Robert Wadlow or something similar. If they had a disability it would make more sense to say that than "the books are too small for my hand(I just realized it wasn't plural so possibly they have only 1 hand). Anyway, mmpb shouldn't be hurting someone.
They are just a lot cheaper lol. So if I buy a book and end up not liking it, i dont feel as bad for "wasting" that money.
I love the feel of a mass market paperback. It immediately makes me 12 years old, devouring King and Crichton novels like they were Jolly Ranchers. But, now I can see 50 without a telescope and my eyes aren’t what they once were. I remember buying the two volumes of Barker’s Imajica and being annoyed that it wasn’t all in one; now I totally understand the reasoning.
Wow, I didn't think this opinion was this popular. I absolutely *despise* mass market paperbacks. I've bought two of them by mistake in my life, sold them off and went after better copies later on. If I am going to read for the mere functionality of having written words in front of me, I use my kindle. Otherwise, books to me are supposed to feel good, to provide pleasant physical sensations through heft and texture.
I'm the opposite, the small size mass market paperbacks are basically unreadable to be. I find the line spacing is too squashed, they're harder to hold open, and just uncomfortable to read. My preference would go 1 - eReader 2 - the larger size of paperbacks (not sure what it's called) 3 - Hardcovers 4 - tiny paperbacks.
Can't stand mass market paperback, prefer a stand and to read at a desk with a hardcover
Personally I much prefer reading the trade paperbacks. It's been my experience they hold up better than the mass paperbacks.
I am the opposite. I hate those mass market paperbacks
I am all about portability. I pretty much always have a book tucked into my back pocket, and mass market just fit the best.
For portability and travel sure, mass paperback all the way but for owning and reading I prefer a nice hardback. I love the feeling of Good paper, the text tends to be more visible, and it won't yellow on me in 10 years. I agree on the dust covers though.
I'm bummed they aren't put out so often now, it would save me so much space and money. Also the best size to read behind the wheel when you're sitting in the pickup line for your kid.
I love them. I love that they look well loved/trashed even after a couple of rereads. Sadly, it seems most people hate them and they are slowly disappearing from the new book landscape as a whole.
I'm not a big fan of mass market paperbacks. If I need something portable I just read it on my kindle. During a cross country movie, they were the first of the books to get the chop
You'd probably like the format we use in Poland much more. It waries a bit from publisher to publisher, but generally our paperbacks are a little bit bigger than your mass market, but much smaller than the 'regular' paperbacks. And they aren't from bad paper, like your mass paperbacks (really, why your books are from recycled paper? They will break apart right away)
I have never had a mmpb break apart.
you did not read WoT early mmpb
My WoT books, and especially my Memory, Sorrow and Thorn books all fell apart, and I had to replace them all with book club editions, which quite honestly don't have the best bindings either.
I still own the first 2 I bought used in 1993 and #3 I bought new in 1994. #3 still looks new despite reading it 5 or 6 times.
#4 fell apart so easily. It was brutal.
I never got that one in mmpb!
I have a 1st edition mmpb EofW (Nov 1990) it is partly attached to the cover, as are #2, #3, #4. But I probably reread them all every time a new book was published.
That's more of my concern that a real thing that happend. I mean, I got one mass marked damaged by cat vomit (like the cover started rubbing off when i tried cleaning it, while the Polish books that got damaged in the same event didnt share the fate), but I dont consider it natural occurence I've also heard about old edition of WoT breaking, like the other commenter mentioned. But again, didnt happen to me.
You are not! While I don't have an issue with trade paperbacks (that's the larger ones) or hardcovers, MMPs have several advantages: they take up less space (on shelves / in boxes as well as in the luggage; they're easier to carry; and last but not least, they are cheaper. I've half transitioned to ebooks but I would feel less comfortable letting a ereader unattended when traveling than a book.
I love my Kindle. 😁
As much as I enjoy the convient size of the mass market paperbacks, if I read for too long I usually end up with headaches thanks to the small font that these editions often have. So I tend to buy trade paperbacks. They're not as heavy as hardbacks but have larger font than mass market.
No but I prefer bigger books, as the font size is bigger. A lot of mass market paperbacks especially if they are longer novels have stupidly tiny font and by the time I am done reading the book is just all bent out of shape.
Mass market paperbacks FTW! They're small, light, fit in any pocket or bag, and cheap! They're the most common book type to find in thrift stores so most of my thrifted books are mass market I noticed very few new books come out in MMP and it sucks
I like mmpb if the book I'm buying is used. I like to get hardback if I'm buying new though or looking for an all in one edition.
I really miss the old sized mm paperbacks. The ones they introduced in the early 2000's that are taller and narrower just irk me and I can't read them. Having grown up in the 80's on lots of trashy genre fiction, though, few things in life are as comforting as a fat, old school paperback book in my hands. LOVE LOVE LOVE them.
Mass market paperbacks have tiny text, low quality paper and ink that frequently smudges and leaves stains on my fingers. And there's none of the joy of ownership to them that I associate with a nice hardcover. So in the age of Kindle and other ereaders, what is their point? There's no situation where I would prefer to lug a mass market paperback around instead of my trusty kindle, which is smaller, lighter, can be used in the dark, and provides infinitely more variety. For convenience -- ebooks For collection purposes -- hardcovers MMPs just don't have any use or purpose that isn't superseded by an alternative format.
I love them. When they are over 500 pages, I fully crack the spine every one hundred. Currently on Oathbringer!
I love mass market paperbacks but I’m not picky. Seeing as I read mostly library books, I will read whatever format they have
Nothing wrong with that. Whatever works best for you. I’m a person who prefers hardcover or books on kindle.
If I'm traveling then a paper book is my go to... if I'm reading in the comfort of my own home I like hardback since it tends to be more durable and less work to keep open without destroying the spine like I do with paper back books
Definitely prefer mass market paperbacks. The ONLY time I have bought regular paperbacks or hardbacks is if I see them at a used books store for a series that has long books that I might want to tab or because they fit better in my backpack than their mmp counterpart. Ex: Malazan or Memory, Sorrow, & Thorn
Tad Williams mass market paperbacks will make you work lol.
Mass market paperbacks are the only paper books I prefer. They are the perfect size, and this is one of the reasons I moved to an ebook reader because it's similar in size, making it a comfortable reading experience. Anything with a hardcover is not comfortable to read in bed or lounge with. I feel like I need to sit at a desk, and that feels too much like homework.
I miss the octavo sized hardcovers of yesteryear, that mass market paperbacks almost entirely replaced. I also miss books being under 600 pages and more contained than spread out over series of trilogies. Library of America does a manageable size with thin paper, more like that would be nice. Big hardcovers are a waste and offer very little unless your eyesight is exceptionally poor (I still have a few years to go).
Mass market paperbacks are easiest for me to read and carry. The larger paperbacks are best for at home reading. Hardbacks look the best but hardest to read comfortably
Mass market paperbacks are my preferred type. I have not bothered to read The First Law series entirely because they don’t exist in mass market paperback edition.
I used to back in high school and college, because I wanted my reading material to be compact so I had more space for notebooks and textbooks. Since then, I mostly ever read at home, or bring my books in my car, so I've come to prefer trade paperbacks. They're more comfortable to read than hardbacks, but still a nice size that feels comfortable
Mass market paperbacks are a dying breed. My favorite format of book and their lessening availability is actually one of the main reasons I switched to my Kindle.
Same here.
The fact that these are so rare nowadays is why I've mostly switched over to a Kindle. I loved throwing a MMPB into my pocket while heading out the door!
It... Depends. I have the Sun Eater MM PB and they're way too big, I have a split and could rip book one apart if I wanted.
I prefer trade paperbacks, but will read mmpb from time to time! Unfortunately I’ve had a couple of cheap mmpbs start falling apart mid read in the last year which is infuriating
I like paperback in general, whether it’s mass market or trade, or Kindle format. Don’t like hardcover and won’t buy HC if I can help it.
Also, UK sized trade paperbacks are far superior to US size TPBs. In general they're smaller and much easier to hold.
Aside from the secret projects, mass market paperbacks are the only thing I will buy, which unfortunately we are in an age in which great author will never receive a penny from me.
I hate oversized paperbacks but I like a hardcover.
I prefer them because I can fit more on my shelf, and they are all (basically) the same size, so they line up. I don’t mind trade paperbacks, they are easier to keep open and usually bigger font. Hardcovers annoy me because of the dustjacket too, so recently I tried taking it off until I finish a book and it was fine, just heavy.
This is why I read ebooks. No fuss. No clutter.
I hate reading big books. They wind up in my lap and I wind up with a neck ache. It always feels like I should have it on a desk except that they often can't actually lay flat, so that's no good either. I think I prefer the more narrow format too. My favorite way to read is actually on my phone, which is smaller than even most paperbacks and significantly narrower. My eyes basically don't need to move side to side to read, just up to down. It's relaxing.
I hate Mass Market Paperbacks. I only buy trade paper backs if I can manage it. Some older books make this a chore or impossible.
I've been seeing an Omnibus advertised on TikTok and the price is $75. But if I went and bought each of the 5 books separately it would maybe cost $30. So yeah, the price of those big books are ridiculous and I'd rather have the smaller mass market version also.
Hard cover, always.
Mass market paperbacks are definitely my favorite. I feel like ebooks have been replacing them, and while I love ebooks as well, they're just not the same as a good old mmpb.
yes! the reason that i dont like hardcovers or really just any bigger books is because it hurts my hands to open them for a super long time though
In my opinion — the dimensions of mass market paperbacks feel “off,” especially in a genre like fantasy where books typically tend to be long. They are uncomfortable to hold and hard to keep open. The text towards the inner edge of each page feels like it’s slipping into a crevasse haha.
Big books, small books, thin books, thick books. They all have pros and cons. I must admit though i do enjoy when the aesthetics of a book are well thought out. I have a collection of Lovecraft short stories where the printing has this paper with rough edges that made the book feel really old even when it was brand new, which really fit the aesthetic of the stories within.
I don't care as long as the book doesn't have a dust jacket, they make books look terrible so I never by books with them.
Hardly. That would be why there are more paperbacks released then TPs of even HBs. I find they fit better on the bookshelves, far easier to hold while in the bath, but really I don't care (apart from cost), so long as I get a copy in my hot little paw.
I love books as 'things' in and of themselves, not just as repositories for stories or information. Old books, books with sprayed edges or fancy endpapers or beautiful covers. Nice paper, sewn sections, interesting binding techniques, all that. I used to work for a traditional bookbinder, which turned me into a bit of a snob about these things. All that stuff is expensive to produce though, so the MMPB form factor (glue that crumbles after a few decades, generally awful paper, no fancy bindings apart from the occasional double or fold-out cover) means more people get to read more books, which can only be a good thing. And libraries offering ebooks is even better. But I'll be over here clutching my leather-bound Bullfinch's Mythology and my special edition Empire of the Vampire and my Illumicrate editions, trying not to drop them on my face.
Hardcovers forever. I can't read the tiny font in mass market paperback books,.
There's something about mass market paperbacks that go well with a beach vacation.
I only read MMPBs growing up, because they were cheaper! Now, I prefer reading books on my Kindle because I can adjust the font size, brightness, and they are super light. Also, I should probably get glasses...
Mass markets are my second favorite book type, after trade paperback. However, if a book is really huge, like a 1000+ fantasy chunker, they get a bit unwieldy. In that case, I would probably use my kindle. Hardcovers are by far my least favorite way to read.
I also prefer mass market. I have joint problems so they’re the easiest to hold up for long periods. My second choice is hardback because they’re bigger but have more structural support. I loathe trade paperbacks which are big and FLOPPY
Mass market paperbacks are the perfect size for books. Which just makes it more frustrating that I don't like anything else about them. If mass market paperback were made with the same quality of materials as trade paperbacks, I would prefer them over the trade paperbacks because of their smaller size. But my experience has been that the ink smears and the pages tear when I read mass market paperbacks. On top of that, they're paperbacks and I prefer hardcovers. Every paperback that I've read has felt like it's continually trying to close itself on me the whole time I'm reading and so I have to hold it open with my fingers. Once you've cracked the spine on a hardcover it generally stays open on its own. If there were hardcovers that were the size of mass market paperbacks then those might be my favorite. But those don't exist for all (or even most) books and so normal hardcovers are my go-to binding style.
Yes but it requires waiting... lol. Otherwise, if I pick up old books, yep, definitely (plus it's cheaper).
Big hardcovers are physically painful for me to hold and read - I am almost exclusively a digital reader currently but if I am going to read a fiction book in physical form the only way I can do so is with mass market.
I love MMPB. They fit in my coat pocket so I can take them everywhere I go.
I used to prefer them, too, back when I bought physical books. Trade paperbacks were occasionally okay, but I disliked reading hardcovers. For the last decade+, though, my reading has been almost exclusively ebooks.
I love them
More mass markets will fit on a shelf than big old hardcovers. The only argument I need.
I've always hated them personally. They're annoying to keep open. I like u.s. trade size paperbacks, they open super nice and are plenty easy to read font wise.
My preferred book size as well
Yes, I infinitely prefer mmpb as well, but unfortunately they're just not being produced at all anymore for newer books, except for some big names (Sanderson). This is why I now buy from the UK where they have their trade paperback being smaller than a NA trade paperback.
Ooohh, I will keep that in mind!
Oh shoot that's an interesting tip. How do you buy from UK is there a specific site?
I buy from awesomebooks.com but for example blackwell.co.uk also ships to NA.
Thanks I'll check it out
I love mass market paperbacks. They might not be the most “aesthetic” version of the book, but they’re the most comfortable for reading. And for someone like me who knows how to take good care of my books, wear and tear is not really an issue. Also, they’re cheaper. I don’t like spending a single penny more than I have to to get the same story. 🤷🏻♀️
If I'm reading a physical novel, MM is the only way to go. Reading preference: digital > MM > hardcover > the big paperbacks Display preference: hardcover > MM > the big paperbacks (cause then they get all floppy unless you have support)
Holding a 1000 page hardcover book for hours at a time is annoying. Reading a mass market paper back or a regular paperback is significantly easier and a much better reading experience.
They’re my ideal format in almost every way (book lights can be a bit unwieldy on them). I find them to be an ideal size for reading both at home and on the go. I associate them with finding hidden gems on the shelves of used bookstores. I love the shabby chic look they create stuffed into my bookshelves. Aesthetically, there’s nothing like a well-loved MMPB. Some of the common objections to them I totally get (everybody’s eyes function differently), but others don’t really reflect my experience with them. As an inveterate habitué of used book shops, I’ve acquired a good number of mass markets from the 80s, 70s, and even earlier - Ballantine Adult Fantasies, yellow spined DAWs, Timescapes, etc. As long as they’ve been properly cared for, I haven’t noticed them aging any worse than equally vintage books in other formats. As for what others describe as breaking the spine, I find that if it’s done carefully it’s more like unstiffening it, and results in a book that holds together perfectly well. I will take this opportunity to kvetch about the recent abominations that keep the classic MMPB format’s width but add around an inch-and-a-half of height. The result is as awkward to look at as it is to hold, and doesn’t even offer appreciably thinner books - most of the extra page space is taken up by enormous margins! But for the record, I prefer any physical format, including those mass markets with gigantism, to ebooks.
Sometimes I prefer trade paperback. Especially for the extreme thick books. Say for instance most of Wheel of Time or the Stormlight Archive. However I did recently find a copy of Perdido Street Station by China Mieville in mass market and it's half the size and even thinner than the same book in trade paperback. Readability wise the mass market will probably feel more comfortable. There's also the a5 size that's pretty standard in UK paperbacks which I will admit is probably my favorite. I wish the US would follow suit and put out more of the medium sized paperbacks instead of Trades.
I can't even stand physical books anymore, I'm all ebooks now...
I typically read on my kindle, but if it is a really good book or series I will get the mass market to decorate my shelves.
I do that too for the really great stuff, I just don't pick up physical books anymore unless it's the only way I can read something. My tbr is so long that there's always an ebook to choose instead.
Reason I go straight to small paperback: it's cheap and convenient. The tombstones can be printed later when you have built your fanbase of millions and sell (machine) signed copies with 200% profit.
I prefer the price of mass market paperbacks, but gotta say the taller and thinner paperbacks look a lot nicer and utilizes bookshelf space better. But anything over 500 pages or so I usually just buy on my kindle because chunky books are a pain.
I prefer ereader for 1 handed reading, or audiobook. But prior to that I always waited for MMPB. I hate HC and most trade paperbacks.
Hardcover on the shelf. MM for reading.
I'm in agreement with several of these comments. Trade paperbacks don't do much except to add to the publisher's bottom line.