Point of book etiquette

[owl]

For what length of time is it permissible to keep a borrowed book? The book in question is a mass market paperback of about 350 pages. I've had it for about 10 days already and I haven't had time to start it.

Ton that subject, is it just me, or are American mass market paperbacks of poorer quality than British ones? I've bought American editions of SF books off amazon, and nearly all of them have ink that smudges like newsprint (Baen Books, that's you I'm looking at), or text that is misaligned so that it's running down into the spine or off the edge of the page.

Somewhat to my surprise, it appears that the Assembly is actually going to assemble.

Comments

[ankaret.livejournal.com]

I've had much more trouble with American paperbacks falling apart despite being quite new, and with the ink problem you mention. Also, whilst some of the American covers paperback SF novels get are lovely (and some British ones are quite, quite vile), the vast majority of them strike me as quite overcrowded and ugly compared to the British versions. I don't think I've ever had a problem with misaligned text though.

I think if it was my book I'd get a bit worried after a couple of months - ten days is nothing.

[lilliburlero.livejournal.com]

American things in general, I think, often look old-fashioned from a British perspective. I buy a brand of wheatgerm in a marvellously retro-looking jar when I'm there. It's right out of the 1970s. See also: all the tatty awnings and signs on delis and bars in New York. If that was London (or even more so, Dublin) they'd be refitted every five minutes. Apparently, it's because New Yorkers tend to go into the bar and retail trade looking to make a steady but modest profit over a period of years, whereas over this side of the pond people feel a new bar has to make all its money on the opening weekend or fold. So someone told me. Obviously I'm talking about the sort of places I go to when I'm in New York, not trendy places.
Those paperbacks go yellow and fall to bits, but I covet them anyway. funnily, US literary hardbacks tend to be a lot better made, stitched not glued etc.

[owl]

It's not even oldfashioned, it's being poor quality. I don't think anyone wants ink coming off on them or having to crack the spine to see the edge of the text.

[owl]

Yes, some American cover art, bleh. Have you seen what they do for Terry Pratchett? Mind you, I don't like Kirby's style with the Jordan-like females and everyone with very noticeable feet.

[ankaret.livejournal.com]

I'm not a big fan of Kirby and his pneumatic people either. I much prefer the covers of the newer Pratchett books.

[owl]

Kirby was so difficult to explain to one's parent's. Kidby, on the other hand, does gorgeous work. I love the ones that are reminiscent of famous paintings.