The Quiet Concert: Ten Industry-Related Bookish Pet Peeves

Oct

2015

Ten Industry-Related Bookish Pet Peeves

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's Top Ten list is
"Ten Industry-Related Bookish Pet Peeves"

Nicole

1. When Publishers redesign covers mid-series and don't redesign earlier books in the series. I think this is a frustration for all of us who like our series to match. I get why covers are redesigned but it really gets my panties in a bunch when previous covers aren't. I think that should be a requirement. AND the covers should be redesigned IN ALL FORMATS. It doesn't help when the paperbacks all match if I am collecting hardcopies.

2. When a book store require you to purchase a specific book from their store to see an author at an event. It's bad enough when they require you to purchase any book (because I think they make money just by bringing in crowds) but it REALLY annoys me when they specify which book you have to purchase. Like I really want to see Leigh Bardugo on tour but Chester County Book Company is requiring that you buy Six of Crows from them to see her. I don't understand why it's not OK for me to purchase any book and bring my already-purchased copy of Six of Crows.

3. The fact that paperbacks aren't released until a year after the hardcopy. Why is this? I mean, I am a fan of hardcopies so it doesn't affect me THAT much but for the sake of options, it sucks that I'd have to wait a year just to get that format. And take Isla and the Happily Ever After as an example - that was the last book in Stephanie Perkins series but the FIRST book to be released as a Hardcover, so if I wanted it at the time of it's release (which I did) I had to buy a hardcover and now my books don't match and grrrr.

4. When stores put stickers on the covers. WHYYYYYYYYYYY. I'm sure there is an alternate solution for telling shoppers that a book is on sale or autographed or special edition. I don't know, maybe by putting a sign NEAR the books.

5. When release dates are changed. Now I know that this is just life and I'd rather wait for a book to be done right than get it when it's not ready but it still kills me to see that notification from Amazon telling me that my long awaited pre-order is going to be delayed.

Ashley

1. When I can only find the movie cover on a popular book at the bookstore. I have talked about this before on a Thoughts for Thursday. When I have a strong desire to own a book, especially a book-turned-movie I want the version with its original cover. As much as I may like the actors, I just want the non movie edition to the book.

2. Short stories in the paperback versions only. I am a hardback person all the way. The adding of short stories to the paperback editions really makes makes me contemplate buying that version too. I just do not have the shelf capacity :(

3. No sequel signed even though there are clearly loose ends. I totally get things happen and I am by no means in the publishing world but I am way less likely to pick up a series if I know it was intended to be more than one book but was cut short.

4. The need to extend a series/spinoff just because it is so popular even if the content is not really there. There is a series that comes to mind where I tried to read the spin-off/extra books and I just felt like there were the same as the main books with just the slightest addition of new details.

What are your top ten?

Comments (11)

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Bekka · 495 weeks ago

I totally agree with your last point, Ashley. There are soooo many YA trilogies out there that definitely didn't need to be trilogies. It would have been just fine as two books - or even one book!

The covers with Stephanie Perkins' books make so mad! I had them in paperback, but I went and bought them in hardcover so everything would match. I didn't want to wait a year or more for the Isla paperback because Perkins was signing at my local indie and I didn't know when she would be coming back. So frustrating.
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rhodak 41p · 495 weeks ago

I agree with so many of these! I particularly dislike stickers on books, especially when they are impossible to remove!

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Pat@TheBookshelves · 495 weeks ago

I totally agree with you Nicole, about changing covers! It really bugs me and hate it when they don't all match! And Ashley about the only movie cover book, they always seem to be doing this!

Happy Reading
Patrick @ The Bookshelves
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Nick · 495 weeks ago

The making you purchase a copy to attend an event would drive me insane as well. I really don't get it.
And yes to the paperbacks v/s hardcovers. I love hardcovers too, but truth be told, they are too expensive for me, and paperbacks are more affordable for me. So I would love it if they were released at the same time.
The no sequel signed thing also drives me crazy. If an author hasn't signed the sequel, I firmly believe that they should give readers some semblance of closure with the ending of the first book! There's one series that I absolutely love and the last book has STILL not been signed by the publisher and it doesn't look like the author is too keen on self publishing it either and book 2 ended on a HUGE cliffhanger. I might never know what happens now. :(
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mel1704 86p · 495 weeks ago

3. I hate this too. I simply want to buy that book in a paperback version, so why do we have to wait so long?
4. THIS IS TERRIBLE. At least make sure I can peal them off.

---

3. That is always so sad :( I have a few series I would love to continue.
4. YES, one of my biggest pet peeves. I get that everyone wants to earn money, but sometimes you just got to stop it.

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Pam@YA Escape · 495 weeks ago

Nicole: 1. Hate redesign too but yes, go back and do all of them.

Ashley: 3. HATE THIS SO MUCH. I know the authors are optimistic but why does the publisher let a book not be a complete story (or the second one not have a definitive ending) when they haven't signed up for more books? If the publisher hasn't signed, they need to say hey, you need to have a real ending here. Ugh!!

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Danielle D. · 495 weeks ago

Nicole's #2 drives me insane! I understand that the store needs to show the publisher that it's worth sending the author there, but it is SO annoying. There's a book fest where I live that requires that ALL of your books have to be bought there and you have to show a receipt in order to even get on the signing lines. It's really obnoxious since a lot of times I already own a copy of the book(s) or if I want to get a copy signed, but I have to choose between the autograph and the pre-order goodies. Ugh.

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vlangloisx3 116p · 495 weeks ago

YES YES YES TO NUMBER ONE. That is the worse, especially when I have been collecting early on. Also paperbacks aren't released until later because of MONEYYYY.

I also hate when there are only movie covers. Like why. They clearly aren't as good as the original...

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shannonmiz 83p · 495 weeks ago

These are just spot on! The last two especially fill me with rage. Like, I can think of several books with NO foreseeable sequels that just make me want to crawl into a hole and sob. And then the series that are just beating a dead horse because they can? It's like, stop making THOSE, and make the books that NEED sequels. All about the money, I am sure.

Also, I really do NOT like that bookstore thing! I don't think they should be allowed to say you HAVE to purchase a book to meet an author. Especially since it isn't the author OR the publisher making these demands, it's the store. And STICKERS. Who ever decided that THAT was a good idea?! I weep when I see them, for I know my book will never, ever be pristine. I agree SO MUCH with these, fabulous list!
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Kay · 494 weeks ago

A big huge YES to these. They drive me crazy. No, I don't want a movie adaption cover and I sure as heck don't want stickers on my brand new books. Those are the BIGGEST pain to get off. Seriously. Those two drive me the most crazy. Your post has me all riled up. lol ;)
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Brittany S · 493 weeks ago

I totally agree with the cover redesigns and WHY WITH THE STICKERS? Why would you do that!?!?
I also agree about which book you have to purchase for signings. I get WHY because they're out to promote that book and need to sell that book... but for people like us who pre-order or happen to have a copy, it's hard! I'm going to have two copies of WINTER... but i'll give one to my Secret Sister so that works out! (Then again, there is no Marissa Meyer book I could purchase that I don't already have for that event haha! I did want to do that for a Maggie Stiefvater event though and had to give the book away.)
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