How do you all go about reading & keeping your books in as good of shape as possible? I collect both hardbacks and paperbacks, but I prefer reading paperbacks when I can. My collecting has gotten a bit obsessive so I have multiple copies of most books.. I usually try and read the worst copy of a book that I have, in order to avoid these worries lol. Sometimes it doesn't work out like that though.
For a long time I would never open a book up very far to read, unless I had to or unless it was already a goner. Sometimes, especially with paperbacks, this cannot be avoided because the first words on every line are printed so far in, you have to open it wide in order to see them. Eventually being this obsessive combined with not having as much light as I thought I had began to mess with my eyes, so I had to realize I was hurting my eyes by trying to save every spine I possibly could lol. I just switched from reading my new paperback of Lisey's Story to an extra hardback I have that's in rough shape because of this.
Obviously this isn't a big deal. You can always just buy another or buy a cheap worn out reading copy if it's that big of a deal to you. I have read before about people who have been like me and didn't like to open their books up all the way and crack the spine if they could help it. I never read any complaints about eye trouble so I always thought it was ok as long as I could see good enough. I guess sometimes what you think of as good enough isn't good enough. I've improved my lighting as well so that has helped and I haven't had any more trouble so far.
I hope that doesn't sound ridiculous, and I hope I don't sound like Annie Wilkes LOL. I just have to learn to not be so obsessive I guess, and slowly transform into one of those who believe a well read, worn book, is the best kind of book, lol.
For a long time I would never open a book up very far to read, unless I had to or unless it was already a goner. Sometimes, especially with paperbacks, this cannot be avoided because the first words on every line are printed so far in, you have to open it wide in order to see them. Eventually being this obsessive combined with not having as much light as I thought I had began to mess with my eyes, so I had to realize I was hurting my eyes by trying to save every spine I possibly could lol. I just switched from reading my new paperback of Lisey's Story to an extra hardback I have that's in rough shape because of this.
Obviously this isn't a big deal. You can always just buy another or buy a cheap worn out reading copy if it's that big of a deal to you. I have read before about people who have been like me and didn't like to open their books up all the way and crack the spine if they could help it. I never read any complaints about eye trouble so I always thought it was ok as long as I could see good enough. I guess sometimes what you think of as good enough isn't good enough. I've improved my lighting as well so that has helped and I haven't had any more trouble so far.
I hope that doesn't sound ridiculous, and I hope I don't sound like Annie Wilkes LOL. I just have to learn to not be so obsessive I guess, and slowly transform into one of those who believe a well read, worn book, is the best kind of book, lol.