We have long admired Jennifer Crusie both personally and professionally, and were elated to discover that one of her early novels, Anyone But You, was being re-released. Of course, as discussed here earlier this month, HQN chose to release this book as a hardcover. Sure we questioned the wisdom of paying hardcover (well, closer to trade paperback) prices for this book, but we were hypocritical, typing with one hand, ordering the book with the other. We want you to make your own decisions before plunking down cash (what does a plunk sound like anyway?), so we bring to you a helpful, lengthy, brilliant discussion we had with Wendy Duren over at Paperback Reader about Anyone But You.
Gently Steering You Elsewhere, Again
January 18th, 2006 · 3 Comments
by Booksquare
File Under: Books/Mags/Blogs
3 responses so far ↓
Tara // Jan 19, 2006 at 9:53 am
I have to agree. We all may blanch at paying 9.99 for an “easy to read” paperback… PLEASE explain what is wasier to read about it?!?! It’s much worse because I’m so ticked off that there’s a whole acid reflux stress thing that’s triggered!
I don’t believe in just complaining though… so if they can do it for music (Napster) and movies (Netflix) who says we can’t do it for romance novels.
http://www.luvlibrary.com
Please take a look and let me know what you think
SusanGable // Jan 19, 2006 at 12:06 pm
Okay, you convinced me. I bought my hardcover copy today. (I didn’t buy the ebook, nope, I bought the hardcover that was cheaper.)
Can’t wait to read it. I do love Crusie and her attitude. (s)
Booksquare // Jan 20, 2006 at 11:55 am
I hate to see anyone pay hardcover prices for this book — it seems wrong on so many levels (especially considering that it’s going to be re-released in paperback, of that I’m sure), but darn it, this is what good category romance (good romance, even) should aspire to. This is almost a textbook, but in a good way.
Tara — the luvlibrary thing is interesting, but I’m not seeing how authors benefit. This could lead to reduced royalties for many authors as fewer copies of their books are sold. While I haven’t looked at the deal NetFlix has with studios, presumably, there is either some sort of revenue sharing or premium pricing in place to ensure that the copyright holders (and their contractual obligants) receive compensation.
As for Napster, while it could be argued that it ultimately benefitted sales (and the new Napster model is certainly a wonder to behold — you lose your music if you stop your subscription), the artists involved did not receive compensation for the works being traded. Again, this might have worked to the benefit of some in the form of increased exposure and higher concert attendance, but I am firmly in the camp of paying for works whenever practicable (I don’t always pay for books received for review, for example).
It’s an interesting business model, but I’d like to see how artists benefit. Publishing, like all businesses, is a numbers game, and if sales are siphoned off, there’s a real impact.
That being said, the new upperbacks are no easier to read than any other book and they require a bigger purse to carry them. Not that I don’t have an industrial-sized bag to begin with…