Books FAQs
Why is there so much variety in book pricing?
Book pricing depends on a number of factors: the edition of the book, whether it is new or not, its type (hardback or paperback; mass market paperback or trade), its condition, as well as other factors put into play by individual retailers. Thus, it is inevitable that there will be fluctuation in prices. However, generally speaking, new books are more expensive than used ones (among the exceptions being rare editions and limited editions), and hardcover books are more expensive than paperbacks.
What is the importance of the “best seller” label?
“Best seller” shows that a book is being widely purchased and, presumably, read. The best seller tag indicates contemporary relevance, which may be important when organizing a book group or trying to stay plugged in to mass culture. “Best seller” is not, however, an assessment of a book’s quality or content.
What does it mean when a book is called “literary”? Aren’t all books literary simply by being books?
The most basic, technical definition of “literature” is simply a body of written works. However, the term “literary” has picked up additional connotations, especially in academia. Typically when there is scholarly discussion of a book’s “literary merits,” what is being discussed is the book’s overall quality and sometimes timelessness. What this means is subjective, but “literary” tends to connote a more complex, advanced writing style and form that relies on more than merely plot.
What are the advantages of downloaded books?
The main advantages of downloaded books are accessibility and portability. However, there are still those who contest that the best reading experience can be had only with a tangible, perhaps musty book. At the same time, the words in both versions are identical, and others argue the experience to be approximately the same. To some extent this comes down to personal preference. For a technologically-savvy person in a small apartment with no room to store books, a portable electronic device might be the most preferable way to read. For a lifetime librarian in a house, there is probably a different point-of-view.
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