This week’s Top 5 Wednesday is all about book trends that we are tired of seeing in the publishing industry – and we could choose plot issues, character issues, book construction issues, etc. Since I would really like to do a discussion series on the book troupes, I decided to focus on issues with the actual physical books.
1. Cover changes mid-series: I like to my books to match. And, since buying books is for me as much about reading them as displaying them, it makes me super irritated when publishers change book covers in the middle of the series. Because I either have to rebuy new editions of books I already own, or look at a set of books that don’t match.
2. Non-floppy paperbacks: I hate breaking the spines on my paperback books because once I’m done reading them, I still want them to look nice on my shelves. However, that is really difficult to do if you can barely open the book because the binding is so tight. So I really, really love huge floppy paperback books.
3. Real people on book covers: I know, I know. You shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. But, still – covers don’t have to be ugly. And there is nothing wrong with wanting your books to be beautiful so that you can display them. So why in the world do publishers insist on putting actual people on the covers of books? Even if the book is amazing, people are going to pass it by because they assume the story inside the book will be as cheesy as the picture on the outside.
4. “Now a major motion picture”: I love when books are adapted into movies and TV shows. And, I totally understand the importance of advertising and getting the word out. But, I hate it when they print on the covers about adaptations. A sticker I can peel off? Totally cool. But please don’t ruin my beautiful cover with your advertising.
5. Books in a series not being numbered: I actively avoid spoilers for books series I want to read. So, I get really frustrated when I pick up a book, read the synopsis, and don’t realize that is actually book 3 instead of book 2 and spoil something for myself. If it was up to me, all series books would be numbered on the spine for easy identification.
So those are some of the issues i have with physical books – what about you? Are there certain trends in the publishing industry that put you off?
**Top 5 Wednesday was created by Lainey from gingerreadslainey on Youtube and is now hosted by Sam from Thoughts on Tomes. There is Goodreads group open to anyone who wants to join in on #T5W fun.
My coworker and I were just talking about the numbered series thing. She got a book and didn’t realize it was book 2.
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Oh, that’s such a bummer! Hopefully she was able to get her hands on the first one!
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Not yet, but soon hopefully.
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*fingers crossed*
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Hello! I saw your post on the Goodreads group š I’m new and wanted to see what people thought. I work at a library and your one about series not being numbered is a common thing I see at work. It’s annoying to not know what the next book is. I do find movie covers hilarious just to see what kind of picture they put on it. Great post š
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Welcome! š
Glad to know I’m not the only one who gets annoyed by these things! Haha.
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This is actually so relatable! Great top 5!
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Thank you! š
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I agree with all of these!!! I get so frustrated when there is a cover change mid-series and my books won’t match anymore š¦ And I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been spoiled, or even bought books in the wrong order because they’re not numbered.
Great answers! š
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I’m glad I’m not the only one who gets irritated by this stuff! Haha.
Its so frustrating to get the wrong book, right? I wanna start reading right away, and I definitely don’t want to be spoiled about stuff in future books.
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Exactly! Now I always check online if a book I’m interested in is the first or second or eight in a series haha š
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The cover change thing is killer, especially if the original covers are beautiful and they change it into something that isn’t as pretty cough cough (the Bone Season) cough cough. Great post!
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I was actually thinking about the Bone Season when I was writing this! I love the original covers – and was super bummed when I heard they were changing them.
Thank you! š
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These are all very annoying! The whole movie-tie in thing especially when they change the cover to the movie version. They’re so unattractive. Also, I think all my Mortal Instruments books have the “now a movie” or whatever label printed on the front. It’s so annoying, like the City of Bones movie sucked!
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Yes! I hate movie covers! Especially when the movie wasn’t good. Like, I don’t want to be reminded of a terrible movie every time I picked up a book I love. Haha.
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Hah exactly! š
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I agree with all of these especially when they change the book covers half way through a series. I have a few books like this and I drives me mad everytime I see them on my shelf.
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Yes! Me too!
Is it too much to ask to have all your books match? I certainly don’t think so! š
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Great post! all those things annoy me, except maybe the floppy paperback part. I usually read in bed so if a book is floppy it’s harder to hold, though i also dislike breaking the spines. Can’t really win on that one haha.
I really hate when they advertise that the book has become a movie on the cover. Like, I don’t care about a movie, i want a book! And covers that are specifically for the movie adaptation, like they have the actors on the cover – nope! Not gonna buy it. I will look for the original book cover before i buy the one with the movie book cover.
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Thank you! š
I totally agree with you as well. I will totally hunt for a non-movie cover or borrow from the library. No actors on my book covers please!
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I can definitely agree to all of those points! My book shelves have got to be beautiful š
And yep…*cough* don’t judge a book by its cover.
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Heck yeah – bookworms spend a lot of money on books, there’s no reason they can’t be beautiful too! š
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This is a great list, especially points 1 & 5! I hate it when I’m trying to figure out the order of a particular series and it’s not clear from the book itself (sometimes including the “more by this author” page inside). On the other hand, I disagree with you on #2: I do tend to break the spines on my books…controversial, I know, but I take my books everywhere (on public transportation, to the pool/beach, to the pub, to the doctor’s office) and they get pretty beat up, so I don’t worry about turned down corners or the occasional broken spine. Although of course I aim to keep them in good shape, I try to abide by the “books are meant to be read” mentality and not worry too much about wear and tear.
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Oh, I totally get that! Books should be loved, definitely. And I would rather see them read and a little beat up than sitting on a shelf and ignored! š
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