Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Hardcover vs. Paperback 11 (Paperback vs. Paperback)

Looking For Alaska by John Green                                         
 Hardcover and Paperback Original Cover - Paperback $7.99

New Paperback Cover $9.99


Before. Miles “Pudge” Halter’s whole life has been one big non-event. Then he heads off to the sometimes crazy, possibly unstable, and anything-butboring world of Culver Creek Boarding School, and his life becomes the opposite of safe. Because down the hall is Alaska Young. The gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, self-destructive, screwed-up, and utterly fascinating Alaska Young pulls Pudge into her world, launches him into a new life, and steals his heart. After. Nothing is ever the same.

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

Hardcover Original Cover - $16.99

Paperback Cover $3.99

Amazon.com Product Description

When it comes to relationships, Colin Singleton’s type happens to be girls named Katherine. And when it comes to girls named Katherine, Colin is always getting dumped. Nineteen times, to be exact. He’s also a washedup child prodigy with ten thousand dollars in his pocket, a passion for anagrams, and an overweight, Judge Judy-obsessed best friend. Colin’s on a mission to prove The Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability, which will predict the future of all relationships, transform him from a fading prodigy into a true genius, and finally win him the girl.

Letting expectations go and allowing love in are at the heart of Colin’s hilarious quest to find his missing piece and avenge dumpees everywhere.


A few interesting things happening here. First, with Looking For Alaska, the new edition is the size and shape of a mass market paperback but it's 2 dollars more than the original paperback. And secondly, An Abundance of Katherines doesn't seem to have gotten a normal paperback release like Looking For Alaska and went straight for the bargain $3.99 version (and this one is a normal trade paperback size). 

I like both of the Looking for Alaska covers, but that's based on not having read the book yet. I was never too fond of the original An Abundance of Katherines cover so I'll have to go with the new one!

So what do you prefer the new or old covers?

Thanks to Reviewer X for suggesting these two!

24 comments:

  1. Well, having read Waiting for Alaska... the first one was better (although I have that in a paperback format), it relates to the story perfectly.

    In regard to the Abundance of Katherines, I picked up the second one (only because it was dirt cheap). I've heard John Green speak and he really likes graphic covers because he can't ever get a photograph that captures the character right... and a lot of times goes against the philosophy of his books (which is kind of anti-appearance), but he doesn't really get to make those decisions.

    Sorry, long answer on that one.

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  2. I definitely prefer the first covers of both titles. I've always liked covers that don't have actual photos of people's faces because they never match how I picture them. Plus I like the creativity of graphical covers.

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  3. Anonymous6:54 AM

    On the second one, neither. With the top two, I like #1 the best.

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  4. I have both these books on my MP3 player. I'll get to them -- eventurally!

    I love, love, love the the black Alaska cover. And I don't really like any of the others. But that's just me.

    Nope, I just read J. Kaye's comment, apparently it's not just me!

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  5. The only cover I love from the batch is Looking For Alaska version 2. For some reason it makes me wanna read the book right away.

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  6. Anonymous7:33 AM

    I like the old one for both books. I may have to buy An Abundance of Katherines if it's only $3.99!

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  7. I much prefer the hardcover in both cases. I like the price of those new editions, though :P

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  8. I like the original Alaska cover better and the paperback Katherines cover! Luckiy those are the ones I have. :P

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  9. I definitely do not like the second cover of Looking for Alaska. I would have never picked up the book with that cover.

    I like or dislike the Katherine's covers equally. I think I have a general aversion to covers with photographs of people on the front, especially in my young adult selections.

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  10. I haven't read either yet, but I like the smoking candle better for looking for alaska.

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  11. I prefer the first Looking For Alaska, it's more interesting and the second one is kind of just 'meh'.

    As for the Abundance of Katherines... I believe actual photos trump multicolour silhouettes every time!


    Also, I've added you to my blogroll. Do you want to do a link exchange?

    http://lookatthatbook.blogspot.com

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  12. I like the second "Abundance of Katherines" best--it's so colorful and pretty. The 2nd looking for alaska is my favorite, but then again I've never read either book, so...

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  13. I like the first covers for both of them. But, I have the paperback copy of An Abundance of Katherine's.

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  14. I like the hard cover for LFA much better. Just, the picture is so pretty and interesting. I also like the paperback for aAoK, I don't really know why. I just do. :)

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  15. I have had Abundance of Katherines on my to read list forever-can't wait to get to it. I am def. liking the hardcover copy the best. I love the type and graphic, colorful figures.

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  16. I like the top Waiting for Alaska cover and none of the others. The cover of Abundance of Katherines never made me want to read the book (until I read Paper Towns--now I do!) I think John Green deserves better covers all around!

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  17. I definitely prefer the hardcover in both cases, although the Katherines paperback is not bad. It may be just based on familiarity, since I have the original cover on my copies of the books, but I really don't like the second Alaska cover - doesn't feel like it fits the story at all.

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  18. I haven't read either of these books, so at first glance, I'm going with the paperbacks.

    --Anna
    Diary of an Eccentric

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  19. Anonymous6:05 PM

    Is it me, or is the new Looking for Alaska cover the same model/photoshoot as the cover of Evermore and North of Beautiful?

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  20. I kind of like the new cover on Looking for Alaska and the old one for the Katherine book.

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  21. I much prefer the black cover for LFA (and it suits the book well). And although I was so very disappointed in Katherines, I quite like the second paperback cover (although it could have been SO much better). Paper Towns, on the other hand, has two great alternate covers!

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  22. The older titles are the best! They look edgy and interesting, and the new ones look OC, um, even 90210! Yuck! :P

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  23. Hi Alea, just found your blog referenced over at Sharon Loves Books and Cats.

    I like the hardcover versions of both books much better.

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  24. This was a great one everyone! Thanks for your input!

    LisaMay- Consider us link exchanged!

    Anon- I think it might just be you this time, but it is sort of similar with hair going over her face. :)

    Bookgeek- You are right, I show have added Paper Towns into the mix, another time!

    Dreamybee- Welcome, Sharon is awesome isn't she!

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