As I’m sure most readers do, I prefer the more comfortable reading experience that a hardback version of a novel can bring. Aside from anything else I’m so particular about my books staying in as pristine a condition as possible, that I barely open the pages of a paperback when I’m reading it, through fear of creasing the spine. Crazy, but true!
Often however, cash-flow and budget means I have to go for a paperback version of a book, but once added to my shelves it doesn’t stop me keeping my eyes open should a hardback bargain turn up – which it often does. This results in me owning both a hardback and a paperback version of a book, and pictured are my copies of both formats of Life of Pi by Yann Martell (published by Canongate Books). I bought the paperback version in the summer of last year (2008), and I stumbled across a 2nd-hand copy of the hardback version a couple of weeks ago, and quickly snapped it up.
This shot actually brings about a timely opportunity to remind people about Canongate Book’s summer reading campaign, to get the world joining in on a mass readalong of Life of Pi during the month of August. They’ve set up a special website for the event (which at the time of writing shows a signed-up reader count of 161), and they’re adding a bit more incentive to join by running a couple of ‘free copy’ campaigns. They’ve already ran a giveaway campaign on Twitter (which has now sadly ended), but one has just started on Goodreads, where anyone entering will be put into a draw to win one of ten copies of the book. Entries for this ‘giveaway’ ends on June 15th.
So I’ve already signed up for this event. Who else so far?
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