Mass-Market Paperbacks Sales in Decline

[eileen_donovan]

A comprehensive survey released last month by the Association of American Publishers and the Book Industry Study Group revealed that while the publishing industry had expanded over all, publishers’ mass-market paperback sales had fallen 14 percent since 2008.

Mass-Market Paperbacks Sales in Decline - NYTimes.comPersonally, I stopped reading mass-

Comments

[bodleian]

I must admit that I now look for an e-book edition first. I do have a lot of books but not a lot of space in my house and e-books really suit me. I also was really appreciative of my e-book reader when travelling overseas recently.
I think that e-books are the way to go.

[eileen_donovan]

I have to agree, hon. You get the e-book immediately. Unless you're standing in the bookstore, the same can't be said for the paperback. Plus, like you say, they take up a lot of shelf space and eventually you're giving them away or trying to sell them ... at least some of them. You don't have to make those kind of choices with e-books. In fact, they're always there if you want to reread something! As for travel, well, obviously, they're much better! Still, I feel kind of nostalgic about those mass-market paperbacks. :)

[kitasangel]

I hate to see the death of the mass market paperback. I have thousands of them. That is a true amount. Lol. I have a terrible time giving up my books. MM books were a cheap item until a few years ago. It is hard to buy many if you are on a budget because prices are 8 to 10 dollars now. Romance,mystery and sci-fi were always the mainstays of the mm. Now more and more romance readers are choosing the convenience of a Kindle. Prices are very competitive plus you can start reading in seconds. Mysteries have transitioned well to the e-book format and now sci fi fans can buy a e-book version of a hardcover immediately at the lower price. In the war between mm and e-books the e-book wins. I of course will cling to my battered old copies of my favorite mm books. :)

[eileen_donovan]

I feel the same way about the mm paperback, Lyn. It's hard to think of them being replaced, because they were such a part of my life. I don't have that many in my collection, because I've been forced to downsize over the years. That doesn't mean that I don't value them, though, because I do. However, it's hard to resist the e-reader. Progress, huh? Things always change and there isn't a lot you can do about it, although I have a feeling mm paperbacks will be around for a long time!

[kitasangel]

I will always have my shelf of favorite mm books. They are the ones that open up to my favorite parts and even with me taking excellent care still have worn covers. There is Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire and Vampire Lestat and Marian Zimmer Bradley's Catch Trap and Nora Roberts,Linda Howard and Laurell K Hamilton. Also my favorite romance book of all time Laura London's Windflower. So many memories.

[eileen_donovan]

I know how you feel, even if my book selection was more sci-fi and fantasy than romance. Interestingly, I just bought Interview with a Vampire for my Kindle, because my copy disappeared during one move. :)

[ipitydaf00l]

While I'll admit that I have recently purchased mass market paperbooks over the e-book version (purely based on cost), I would have preferred to own the e-book version as then I wouldn't have to worry about where I'm going to store them later on. I don't regret buying them or saving at least $8 total...but I've really enjoyed the fact that instead of trading the book out of my purse I can just switch from one book to the other on the nook. (Yes, I know I'm an oddball for reading 2 to 3 different books at one time, but there's times I need a change of pace.)A lot of stores won't even consider mass markets in their buybacks, however a few will consider the trade paperbacks. With the way things have been going with the economy the city I'm in has gone from having three used bookstores to one. (Even then I'm not sure if he's still open.) The majority of their stock is mass market paperbacks...so that might have added to the reason why they slowly went out of business

[eileen_donovan]

You know, on the Kindle you can share books with another Kindle user. Not all books, because it depends on the publisher, but you can share some books: http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=200549320

I think that was a smart move on Amazon's part, because sharing books is something people like to do. I used to share books frequently, but I always let someone use them with the thought that I might never see that book again, because that's how it goes sometimes. I guess that's not a problem you'd have with an e-book!

[ipitydaf00l]

Nook is the same way though they call it "Lend Me". :) It's part of the reason why I got the Kindle app because either books I wanted were found via Kindle only or a friend wanted me to read a book they owned so they shared it with me. (And I didn't need to actually "own" a Kindle.)

It's just that while I do love sharing books and would willingly share any nook e-books that anyone wants to read that I own...there are some (like Nicole) who won't even so much as sully their hands with e-books. Different strokes for different folks and all of that. :)

But yes, with that option you never have to worry about never seeing the book again, but then again sometimes for some people 14 days isn't quite enough to read a book!

[eileen_donovan]

You can tell your friend Nicole that she's very much in danger of ending up as one of those old ladies who don't know how to turn on a computer, much less boot it up! I remember vividly talking to people like that, who hated the new technology and couldn't do the most fundamental things as a result. Things will change. Period. :)

The option of not losing your book is a good one, but there's also something lovely about handing the book over to a friend. That shouldn't be lost.

[mmmorpheusq]

I read a lot of mass market paperbacks. I think I might like a Kindle, but with fairly severe arthritis in my hands, plus carpal tunnel, I think a Kindle would be heavier and harder to hold than the average paperback book. Am I wrong? I am willing to be convinced.

I did try holding a Kindle at Best Buy, and it seemed pretty heavy and awkward....??

[eileen_donovan]

I had that concern too. I have carpal tunnel and arthritis; things slip out of my hands easily, because my grip is weak. When I bought my Kindle, I also bought this: http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Lighted-Leather-Display-Generation/dp/B003DZ165W/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1315101775&sr=8-3... )

[eileen_donovan]

BTW, the Kindle comes in two sizes. I'm wondering whether the one you saw was the larger size. The smaller unit isn't that heavy.

[mmmorpheusq]

Thanks for the Kindle info. Obviously I need to be more open minded about this techno wizardry!

E-books

[fansee]

I have a good friend who was in a bad accident and her arm was very badly broken. It took almost a year of operations and therapy to get her back to almost full function. For that whole time, she couldn't hold a book to read it, but she could manage an e-book. She said it saved her sanity. FanSee

Re: E-books

[eileen_donovan]

What a lovely story. I can see how an e-book would work so much better, not only because of her limited abilities, but because an e-book can hold many, many books at once. That's a crucial difference!