Life

Fine For Macchiatos, Not So Much For Books

Last Updated on February 6, 2022

I didn’t realize that they actually had their own name, but those skyscraper paperbacks that have begun appearing in book stores seem to. They’re referred to as “venti,” the same name given to a “supersized” selection at Starbucks.

I’m not a fan of these venti paperbacks. They’re about an inch taller than those traditional paperbacks we all know and love. And they cost about two bucks more. The cost by itself is enough to turn me off. I am still old-fashioned — or is it cheap — enough to think that $7.99 is too much to pay for a paperback as it is. I remember when a five-dollar bill could get you at least one, sometimes two paperbacks. Though I doubt dime novels were still around when I was born, I’m sure it was during my lifetime that five bucks could buy five paperbacks.

Ten bucks for a paperback? I can get a hardcover from my book club for that!!

As I get older, I might one day hope for larger type in books. But despite the size, there’s no real difference in font size. The difference in these books seems to be a little more white space on the pages. So we’re upping the price and wasting paper at the same time! Nice.

Tess Gerritsen and Bookseller Chick also have mentioned these ventis recently. Tess says that a book store employee explained that they’re all on the top shelf — and getting some nice exposure — because “that’s the only place where the damn things fit.” Bookseller Chick adds that the larger size forces her to adjust her shelving which means that she loses valuable space.

And for aspiring novelists like me, that is a concern: less book shelf space means that someone’s books are going to lose out. And who do you expect would lose out: an established author with lots of fans or newer authors who are battling for every single sale?

But wait…it gets better! Gerritsen adds that even for the established authors who get the prime real estate in the book stores, all is not well:

“Sure, it’s nice to be on the top row for a week or two. But what happens when the next shipment of titles comes in? Where do bookstores and drugstores and supermarkets put those ventis, if they can’t fit them on a lower row, where older releases usually go?”They return them. That’s right. They don’t get the prolonged stay of execution a normal-sized mass market may enjoy, sitting on a lower rack for a few weeks beyond its pull date. If the store doesn’t have room on the lower rack, those ventis are kicked out. Or they’re laid on their sides, spine out. They may have had their time in the sun, but it’s a briefer moment of glory.”

I’m sure the publishers have their marketing research to conclude that people will buy these books and be thrilled with them; perhaps they have marketing research that also indicates that this “briefer moment of glory” will be enough to make up for any lost sales that will result when those awkward-sized books lose their top-shelf position.

But I think I’ll stick with the normal mass-market paperback size…the size that fits on my bookshelves.

the authorPatrick
Patrick is a Christian with more than 30 years experience in professional writing, producing and marketing. His professional background also includes social media, reporting for broadcast television and the web, directing, videography and photography. He enjoys getting to know people over coffee and spending time with his dog.

4 Comments

  • Actually, depending on the amount of pages and the type of paper used, etc, I’ve been reading trade pbs that weigh about the same as many mass market pbs. I didn’t like them because I can shelve more of the smaller pbs in my bookcases, but over the years, I’ve grown fond of them, probably because 25 years ago, I joined the Quality Paperback Book Club which pretty much offers books only in trade pb and at least half of the fiction I read now is trade pb. I read no more than 1-2 novels a year in hardcover.

    And those easier to read pbs do have larger fonts than most of the mass market pbs and hardcovers I’ve seen. It’s not a big difference, but it’s there. There is also more space between lines, which makes it so much easier to keep my place when I read, especially when I’m on the treadmill. They’re not for everyone and I didn’t like the idea much because they’re a bit awkward to hold (I dropped the one I had twice while on the treadmill), but reading it was a pleasure. It’s one of those things where until you try it, or need it, you might not know if you’ll like it or not.

  • …I have been lamenting the advent of the ‘trade paperback’ for a long time. I don’t understand who’s buying them.

    I buy a trade paperback when there’s no mass market version available. But given a choice between the two, I think I’d still prefer the smaller size just because it’s a little easier to carry around.

    I haven’t seen any trade paperbacks yet that are as expensive as hardcovers; I’d have a hard time justifying that purchase.

    And the better quality paper, which I believe is the main reason for the cost, provides wonderful contrast, which I find very helpful given my cataracts (another ‘gift’ of middle-age).

    Well, I’m certainly glad to know that their readability is still better despite the absence of a larger font size. That does make them worth more consideration.

  • I bought one because I wanted to read the book. It was hard to hold at the gym due to the balance being off, but I have to admit, it was easier to read. The font might not be that much bigger, but for aging eyes, it can be just enough. And the better quality paper, which I believe is the main reason for the cost, provides wonderful contrast, which I find very helpful given my cataracts (another ‘gift’ of middle-age). They’ve been selling fairly well, from what I’ve read, so I guess we’ll be seeing more of them.

    And I love trade pbs too, especially with soft covers, not the stiffer stock some have. They work great at the gym. Trade pbs cost about half of what hardcovers go for undiscounted and mass market pbs in any version are still cheaper than that. Paper is very expensive.

  • I haven’t seen those ‘venti’ paperbacks yet, but I have been lamenting the advent of the ‘trade paperback’ for a long time. You know the ones. They are about the same size as a hardcover, but without the, you know, hard cover. And they cost almost as much as the hardcover versions as well. I don’t understand who’s buying them.

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