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This Week's Question
Do you read hardcovers with
the dust jacket on or off?
Why or why not?
(Submitted by Maria @
My Answer
This week's answer will definitely be a "short" one! Lol.
Those bloggers who already know that I want to keep my books in pristine condition, to the best of my ability, might already have guessed what I would prefer. Lol.
I do LOVE hardcovers, even though I realize that they're a bigger drain on the pocket than paperbacks (whether the trade or mass-market variety). Of course, paperbacks are much more comfortable to read, as hardcovers do tend to be heavier. Still, I enjoy the hardcovers. I have collected a LOT of them throughout the years, and they look SO pretty, sitting on my bookshelves! :)
Some collectible hardcovers -- like the Barnes & Noble leather-bound editions -- have no dust jackets, as the covers themselves are decorated. So these are not a problem at all. I am especially careful when handling them, too. Regular hardcovers, of course, do come with dust jackets.
So yes, I read hardcovers with the dust jacket off. Keeping it on while I'm reading means that the edges -- especially the bottom ones -- will inevitably start to get worn. That's especially the case if I'm reading the book with the lower edge of it resting against my chest. That's how I read if I'm in bed.
There's another reason, though; if I keep the dust jacket on, it slides around as I'm reading, and this just annoys me. I don't want to be distracted by such a silly little detail as I'm suspending my disbelief (in the case of fiction), or taking in an author's viewpoint (in the case of nonfiction).
So I prefer to take off the DJ before I plunge into a hardcover book. It's just more comfortable for me, and keeps my treasured book in great condition! Oh, and I laminate my dust jackets, too, whenever possible! :) As this can get pretty expensive, I only do this with my absolutely favorite hardcovers, though.
Those bloggers who already know that I want to keep my books in pristine condition, to the best of my ability, might already have guessed what I would prefer. Lol.
I do LOVE hardcovers, even though I realize that they're a bigger drain on the pocket than paperbacks (whether the trade or mass-market variety). Of course, paperbacks are much more comfortable to read, as hardcovers do tend to be heavier. Still, I enjoy the hardcovers. I have collected a LOT of them throughout the years, and they look SO pretty, sitting on my bookshelves! :)
Some collectible hardcovers -- like the Barnes & Noble leather-bound editions -- have no dust jackets, as the covers themselves are decorated. So these are not a problem at all. I am especially careful when handling them, too. Regular hardcovers, of course, do come with dust jackets.
So yes, I read hardcovers with the dust jacket off. Keeping it on while I'm reading means that the edges -- especially the bottom ones -- will inevitably start to get worn. That's especially the case if I'm reading the book with the lower edge of it resting against my chest. That's how I read if I'm in bed.
There's another reason, though; if I keep the dust jacket on, it slides around as I'm reading, and this just annoys me. I don't want to be distracted by such a silly little detail as I'm suspending my disbelief (in the case of fiction), or taking in an author's viewpoint (in the case of nonfiction).
So I prefer to take off the DJ before I plunge into a hardcover book. It's just more comfortable for me, and keeps my treasured book in great condition! Oh, and I laminate my dust jackets, too, whenever possible! :) As this can get pretty expensive, I only do this with my absolutely favorite hardcovers, though.
What are your thoughts on
this topic?
If you're participating in this hop,
I'll go comment on your
own BBH post.
If not, I will then comment on one
of your blog posts!
Thanks for visiting!!!
I think most answers have been "take it off." I agree with you and all those others who want to keep their book jackets like new.
ReplyDeleteIt is much prettier with the cover on, but not practical.
Thanks for a great question, Maria, and for a great answer as always.
Hi, Elizabeth!
DeleteYeah, it looks that way! :)
Of course a DJ will stay looking new longer if a reader takes it off a hardcover before reading the hardcover. Dust jackets tend to get quite a bit of edge wear if this is not done.
They do look prettier with the covers on, but no, it's not practical. A lost of us agree on that!
The only way I would keep a DJ on a book as I'm reading the book would be if I borrowed a book from the library. Those covers are covered with Mylar, and then taped to the book, so there's no way they can come off! Lol. But, since the DJ is protected by the Mylar, this is not a problem at all! Lol.
You're very welcome for the question and the answer, Elizabeth!! And thanks to YOU for ALWAYS complimenting both!! You're SO SWEET!! HUGS!!! <3 <3 <3 :) :) :)
Love the dust jackets.
DeleteA few folks have mentioned that some of the books have embossed or engraved pictures or words underneath the cover. I forgot about that. That is always a treat. I have to check all of my books again to see what is underneath. :)
Thanks for the reply, and have a great rest of the week.
Hey Maria.,
ReplyDeleteI also like to keep my books in as good a condition as possible. I never thought to remove dust covers before. On top of preserving the book, I agree that they can be annoying as they slide around. I think that I will adapt coverless reading when I do read hardcovers. With that, I find myself reading hardcovers less and less as I read more ebooks.
Hey, Brian!
DeleteI think most of us book lovers agree on this! :) I just HATE to see a book that has DJs with a lot of wear, or paperbacks with tilted, creased spines, dog-eared pages, etc.
I'm glad you agree on taking off the DJs. Doing this will DEFINITELY keep them looking pretty much BRAND NEW.
You're reading more ebooks now? I can't bring myself to read that many of them, although I DO have quite a collection on my Android phone. I might have to get a Kindle Paper White for the ones I already have, because the light on my phone is now bothering my eyes. I still prefer printed books, though!
Thanks for the nice comment!! <3 :)
Hi, María! ♥
ReplyDeleteI figured you were going to be on my team ahaha This is actually an easy one for me, too. Though I have to say, as soon as I read the question, another one came to mind: are there people out there who read with the dust jacket ON? ahaha In my case, I always read hardcovers with the dust jacket off. Books are made to be read, I know, but for bookworms like us, they also look beautiful on our bookshelves, and that means keeping the dust jackets in perfect conditions so that they continue looking beautiful. Plus, I hear you! I once tried to read a book with the dust jacket on, and it's so uncomfortable to follow the story if I have to worry for something as silly as the dust jacket moving, sliding, falling or folding! That's why I always take them off :)
As for the hardcover editions with no dust jacket... I only have one leather-bound edition from B&N, an edition of Alice's adventures in Wonderland + Through the looking glass, and to be honest, I'm scared to read it, because there is no dust jacket to take off, and I don't want the edges to get worn or something - it's one of the most beautiful books I own!
Such an interesting topic to discuss, and I'll definitely check back the comment section to see if anybody actually reads with the dust jacket on lol
Hope you're having a great week, my friend ♥ ♥ ¡Un abrazo gigante desde este lado del mundo, y espero que estés muy bien! :)
Hi, Anto!
DeleteI'm SO glad you agree that the DJ should be OFF, and not ON, when one reads a hardcover!! It does contribute to keeping it as new as possible! And, as you say, we do want them looking BEAUTIFUL on our shelves!!
I'm also glad you agree on how very annoying it is to have a DJ sliding around when one is reading. It can also be VERY distracting!
I have a couple of the B&N collectors' editions, and am also afraid to read them....Lol. They also have gilded pages,so one has to be extra careful when handling these beautiful books!
Some readers do leave the DJ on. The majority, though, prefer to take it off, from what I've read here. :)
Hope you're having a great week, too, Anto!!
¡Un abrazo gigante para tí, también, y espero que todo te vaya bien por allá! ¡¡Saludos desde Miami, Florida!! ♥♥♥♥
Is there anyone who keeps it on? Yes. Me. I rarely buy hardcovers unless they’re on special and when I borrow th m from the library, they are covered with plastic, so quite safe. What’s the point of having a dust jacket if you take it off? It’s there to protect the book. Unless, like Maria, you buy hardcovers to look pretty on your shelves when they have been read. :)
ReplyDeleteHi, Sue!
DeleteWell, of COURSE the DJ stays on a library book! It's covered in plastic, as you've said, and is also taped to the book. Lol. Since it's covered in plastic, there's no chance that the edges will get worn. This will indeed happen, though, to those books that don't have this protective covering on the DJ.
I think most of us bookworms want our hardcovers to look pretty on our shelves. Lol. And I do indeed keep my favorites, even after I've read them! :) :)
Thanks for commenting!! <3 <3 <3 :) :)
I agree. I hate seeing the bottom of dust jackets getting all torn up :( I know you can't even really notice it when looking at the book as a whole but I know it's there and it bums me out! Have a great weekend :)
ReplyDeleteMy Book Blogger Hop!
Hi, Heather!
DeleteYAAAAY!!! SO glad you agree!! The bottom of DJs is usually what gets a LOT of edge wear, and this happens precisely because the DJ was not taken off before the person read the book.
The bottom line for me is this: my books are my TREASURES, so I want to take care of them as much as possible! And that includes not letting their DJS get messed up. Lol!!
Thanks for the nice comment!! <3 <3 :) :) :)
Awesome answer! I also hated when the book slides around whenever a dust jacket is on!
ReplyDeleteHere’s my Book Blogger Hop!
Ronyell @ Rabbit Ears Book Blog
Hi, Ronyell!
DeleteThank you so much!! :) :)
Yeah, for me it's not only annoying when this happens, but also distracting!
Thanks for commenting!! <3 :)
I leave mine on as they don't bother me, but it would depend on how and where you're reading, for sure.
ReplyDeleteHi, Nicki!
DeleteOh, I agree -- it DOES depend on exactly WHERE one is reading! If you're sitting up in an armchair or on the sofa, it might not be as annoying to keep the cover on, and it might not get as damaged. But if you're reading in bed, with the book propped up on your chest or abdomen (depending on how far you sit up in bed), then there's a good chance that the bottom edge of the DJ will get edge wear, sooner or later.
Me, I prefer not to take a chance! Lol. So I do ALWAYS take off the DJ before starting to read a book.
Thanks for commenting !! :3 :)
I've done it both ways but I often take the dust jackets off, and for the same reason- they slide around and are a pain. Plus I want to keep them nice. :) So I agree!!
ReplyDeleteHi, Greg!
DeleteI'm glad you feel the same way most of us BBH partiipants this week do! Yeah, DJs stay nice if you remove them before reading hardcover books! I used to do this only sometimes, and finally stopped when I saw what was happening to the dust jacket, lol. Plus, definitely it was a pain having the DJ sliding around! It totally distracted me from the story!
Thanks for commenting!! <3 :)
I think we know that we're at completely opposite of the book-keeping spectrum (i.e. I'm a monster, lol) but I agree completely with removing the dust jacket if reading a hardback. :)
ReplyDeleteHi, Nicola!
DeleteSO glad you agree with taking off the DJ, even though you're a so-called "monster"!! Lol. Yeah, I don't want my DJs to get edge wear. Plus, I don't like them slipping and sliding around while I'm trying to fight the dragons in a book!! :) :)
Thanks for commenting!! <3 :)
I always keep them on but I've decided to start taking them off now. You laminate the dust jackets? That is dedication!
ReplyDeleteHi, Tizzy!
DeleteSo you've decided to join the "Naked Hardcovers Club"? YAAAAAAY!!! Welcome!! Lol.
Yeah, I do that, but only to my ABSOLUTE favorites, as this can get pretty expensive! Alternatively, I sometimes buy archival plastic covers. Lol. You can DEFINITELY say I'm dedicated!! :) :) :)
Thanks for commenting!! <3 :)
I leave the dust jacket on. The sliding doesn't really happen to me, and if it does it doesn't really bother me.
ReplyDeleteHi, Chrissy!
DeleteWell, if that floats your boat, go for it! I can't stand it myself! Lol. And how do you manage to keep the DJ from sliding around while you're trying to fight off Voldemort with one hand? LOL.
Thanks for commenting!! <3 :)