What's the deal with the new paperback format?

[aynrandgirl]

I've seen a number of mass market paperbacks in a new format. They're the same width as regular paperbacks, but about 3/4" taller. In addition to not fitting nicely on the shelf with the rest of your collection, they cost $2 more than regular paperbacks ($9.99) and seem to have no better quality paper or binding.

[movielib]

I've seen a number of mass market paperbacks in a new format. They're the same width as regular paperbacks, but about 3/4" taller. In addition to not fitting nicely on the shelf with the rest of your collection, they cost $2 more than regular paperbacks ($9.99) and seem to have no better quality paper or binding.
It's not that new and you answered your own question.

[Wolf359]

Yeah, its not new. Been going for at least two years, probably more. I hate them and refuse to buy them except from Half Price Books.

[Geofferson]

Also not a fan of the taller format paperbacks. If only the core reader audience were younger w/ better vision, we wouldn't have these. ;)

[movieking]

As mentioned, there have been a couple of threads already:

http://forum.dvdtalk.com/book-talk/526060-whats-new-tall-skinny-paperpack-books.html

http://forum.dvdtalk.com/book-talk/456972-tall-format-paperbacks-when-did-start.html

I really hate them, and it makes me that much more happy with my purchase of the e-reader so I don't have to try to find space for the odd-shaped books.

[Sean O'Hara]

There are two kinds of paperbacks, mass-market and trade.

MMPBs are the normal sized ones, and retailers can "return" them if they don't sell. Since it's expensive to ship books around, publishers accept "stripped" returns -- that is, the retailer tears the covers off and sends them to the publisher, then throws out the book. This is why you'll sometimes see a notice in the front of the book that if it's sold without a cover, it's stolen merchandise.

Trade-paperbacks are anything other than the standard size, and they're treated like hardcovers, meaning they're non-returnable. It's a format often used for non-fiction and novels that won't have a wide-audience.

For obvious reasons, publishers prefer trade-paperbacks, and in recent years they've shifted even popular novels to the format. The new trades are slightly larger than MMPBs, just enough that it's easy to tell them apart.

[aynrandgirl]

It's not that new and you answered your own question.
Sorry, I just didn't notice them before in regular bookstores. I saw some in airport bookshops, but I figured they were special format versions of regular-sized paperbacks to rip off captive travelers. I'm with the other posts, I don't like them.

[aynrandgirl]

There are two kinds of paperbacks, mass-market and trade.
These are considered trade paperbacks? Because they don't have the higher quality of art, cover, binding, and paper I usually see in trade paperbacks.

[Dean Kousoulas]

Thanks for the info Sean!

Also, like the OP, i'm almost ashamed to say I didn't know the new...ok not so new taller paperbacks until just recently when I saw an endcap of popular titles at Barnes & Noble.

[djmont]

These slightly larger mass market paperbacks are not trade paperbacks. They are "premium mass market." Also, trade pbs and hardcovers are both returnable. Not sure where that poster got his info, but it's incorrect.