January 27, 2014

When Series on my Shelf are Mismatched

January 27, 2014

Once in a while thoughts cross my mind that I would like to put out there because I’m interested in others’ opinions or because I’m afraid that they’re so fleeting, I’ll forget them otherwise. Mostly bookish, maybe sometimes not so bookish, but no matter what, I value the input of anyone who is open to sharing their own opinions in response.

When it comes to my bookshelf, I separate my books according to language and whether they’re fiction or non-fiction. When it comes to fiction, I arrange my books according to author. At the same time, I want things to look neat, so one thing that annoys me more than anything else is mismatched covers.

Divergent series

Look at my Divergent series. I ordered Insurgent and Allegiant before deciding I wanted the complete series and buying Divergent as well. The problem was that while I got the international versions of Insurgent and Allegiant, there was none for Divergent. Even though the cover designs belong together, the sizes are off! And it makes me so sad! I know hardcovers somehow usually match each others while for paperbacks that isn’t always the case. Yet I keep looking for paperbacks because I prefer their feel in my hands when I read. They’re also a whole lot more portable than hardcovers since they’re less bulky. But then this keeps happening!

This is why I’ve been trying not to buy series anymore until all the books have been published, so I can match them all together. Take my beautiful Hunger Games series. When the UK special editions from Scholastic were published, I just had to have them.

Hunger Games series

I mean, this is how series should come together on a bookshelf. They should match! I don’t understand how books with matching covers come in different sizes. Why! Same publisher, same editor. What causes such a mess up in sizes?!

Under The Never Sky series

See Under the Never Sky. The height of this book is 203mm. When I looked at ordering the sequel, Through the Ever Night, I noticed that it’s 204mm. What’s one tiny measly millimetre? I thought. Then I looked at the third book of the trilogy, Into the Still Blue. That book in paperback is listed as 210mm! Now I’m having second thoughts about buying the second and third books in the series. Or maybe I’ll get the ebooks. I just can’t stand mismatched series. I get so sad and mad every time I look at my Divergent series books, I’m tempted to give those books away and buying them in hardcover. I don’t have that kind of money though, so I’m sucking it up. At the same time, I’ve become a whole lot more obsessive about checking sizes. It’s not just about matching cover designs anymore. Sigh.

Who else can relate? Am I being oversensitive? And what am I missing? Why do the paperback versions of series not match a lot of the time?

Comments

Chels says

January 29, 2014 at 17:58

Oh my gosh this drives me crazy! I’ve got so many series or books by the same author that are different sizes and it hurts my head trying to fit it on the bookshelf neatly. Both my Outlander series and Vampire Academy books are 2 different sizes through the books, and my biggest issue is that I can’t actually get them all in the same size. I tried – coz I’m weird like that. But I can’t decide which is worse – tiny or large differences.
As I read a lot on the move – commuting, or travelling (packing), I try to buy the smallest version of a book possible – paperback, small format. I don’t understand why publishers don’t use standardised book sizes!
Aaah, the life of a reader and (somewhat fussy) book hoarder. Sigh.
Chels recently posted Review: The Fault In Our Stars
- Joséphine @ Dudette Reads says
  
  January 30, 2014 at 00:31
  
  I knew I’m not alone in this! Tiny differences irk me but it’s the big differences that really make me mad. And believe me, I don’t think you’re weird. After my experience with differing sizes, I’ve made it a point to hunt down the same-sized books too. ALthough, I don’t really care about a standardized size per se. Different sizes gives character to books. But I don’t want that variation within a series. Then again, when it comes to paperbacks, I do like it very much when tradeback books are in the same size.
  Joséphine @ Dudette Reads recently posted THE RULES FOR DISAPPEARING by Ashley Elston
Dre @ Sporadic Reads says

January 29, 2014 at 03:45

When I had my brother-in-law order me the Chaos Walking trilogy by Patrick Ness in the US, I made sure that he gets 3 books in its matching set. But mostly the physical books I buy are standalone, so I don’t have this problem. I can understand your woes. I have issues with this, too.
Dre @ Sporadic Reads recently posted Blog Tour + Book Review 119 : Nogiku Series by SJ Pajonas
- Joséphine @ Dudette Reads says
  
  January 30, 2014 at 00:28
  
  Yeah, in the past I usually just bought standalones too. But last year I decided to buy a few series, and that’s when this discrepancy really started to get on my nerves. Good thinking on asking him to get the complete set! US versus UK covers are another matter altogether too.
  Joséphine @ Dudette Reads recently posted THE RULES FOR DISAPPEARING by Ashley Elston
Jenna @ Rather Be Reading YA says

January 28, 2014 at 04:41

I mainly just buy ebooks so I don’t have this problem, but if I did buy print books it would really bother me if my covers didn’t match. In fact, I have the first four (?) Harry Potter books in paperback and the final ones in hardcover. I hate it! I think I have a HC/PB split with the Twilight series, too. But I’m also frugal so I’m not going to go out and buy duplicates with the right binding unless I can find decent-looking copies at a used book sale sometime.

I do love those Hunger Games covers!
Jenna @ Rather Be Reading YA recently posted Audiobook Review: Deja Demon by Julie Kenner (Adult)
- Joséphine @ Dudette Reads says
  
  January 30, 2014 at 00:26
  
  Thankfully I don’t have a hardcover-paperback split among any of my series but it would definitely drive me up the wall too. Hmmm. Used book sale is actually a good idea! Just that I’ve not really come across any of late. All I can do now if make sure my future series book purchases match or go the ebooks route like you.
  
  Those Hunger Games covers are some of my favourites on my shelf :)
  Joséphine @ Dudette Reads recently posted THE RULES FOR DISAPPEARING by Ashley Elston