# Bitchin 'bout Books Part Deux **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 23, 2003, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitchin-bout-books-part-deux/214795 "2003-11-23T04:13:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2003, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitchin-bout-books-part-deux/214795/1 "2003-11-23T04:13:06Z")
blasted hamsters… I just returned from my local Barnes & Noble and I’m pissed. Not at B&N but at the bastids that make books. I’ve noticed a trend with publishers in the last year or so to not trim the open (right) edge of the paper on hardback books. Back in the day, the only copies of books with the ragged edge were the cheaper, book club versions. Now it seems that $29.95 is not enough money to pay for a book and have trimmed edges. I know this is lame for the pit, but I detest raggedy edges on my books. There’s nothing like the feel of a book in my hands. How much could that one last trim of the paper cost, ferchrissakes? Greedy bastids. ---
**Author:** ![Phelan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Phelan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phelan)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2003, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitchin-bout-books-part-deux/214795/2 "2003-11-23T12:04:05Z")
I don’t know what the deal with that is. If they save money doing it this way, or if it’s just a stylish new way to make books. But either way, I don’t like it. ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2003, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitchin-bout-books-part-deux/214795/3 "2003-11-23T19:11:20Z")
I’d guess it’s done as a stylistic thing. Most book publishers have trimmers that cut all three sides at once so there’s no labor difference. ---
**Author:** ![MonkeyMule](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc348/32.png) [@MonkeyMule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMule)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitchin-bout-books-part-deux/214795/4 "2003-11-24T10:33:54Z")
Since I interned At Time Warner Book Group, I can tell answer this question. What you are refering to is known as a rough cut, and it 100% syle choice. It is suposed to add a older aged quality to the books. From my own ex[erinace, its mostly been used with more literay books (stuff you’d find from Little Brown and Co.) but it does show up in the more comerical stuff too. ---
**Author:** ![NicePete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ee7513/32.png) [@NicePete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NicePete)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitchin-bout-books-part-deux/214795/5 "2003-11-24T15:08:39Z")
I like the ragged look better. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitchin-bout-books-part-deux/214795/6 "2003-11-24T20:51:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MonkeyMule \* > \*\*Since I interned At Time Warner Book Group, I can tell answer this question. > > What you are refering to is known as a rough cut, and it 100% syle choice. It is suposed to add a older aged quality to the books. From my own ex[erinace, its mostly been used with more literay books (stuff you’d find from Little Brown and Co.) but it does show up in the more comerical stuff too. \*\* You weren’t a proof-reader were you? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitchin-bout-books-part-deux/214795/7 "2003-11-24T21:10:11Z")
**Quicksilver** by Neal Stephenson has rough cut edges, it took me a few minutes to get used to it but I quickly forgot about it. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitchin-bout-books-part-deux/214795/8 "2003-11-24T21:10:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Chefguy \* > \*\*You weren’t a proof-reader were you? 😛 \*\* Hells yes, those are the ones that deserve the pit rant. Errors happen. They shouldn’t, but they do. And some I can forgive. If a character has a weird name, and it’s spelled incorrectly once, that’s tolerable. But how in the **flaming fucking pits of hell** can the word “teh” slip by? I mean, fuck, it’s not like a spell checker wouldn’t catch that! -Joe, will proof books for free product ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitchin-bout-books-part-deux/214795/9 "2003-11-24T21:16:56Z")
I find it harder to turn pages with the ragged edges. ---
**Author:** ![FisherQueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@FisherQueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FisherQueen)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitchin-bout-books-part-deux/214795/10 "2003-11-24T23:32:52Z")
Hate the ragged edges. Very pretty, looks very nice sitting on the shelf, and way less pleasant to read. ---
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitchin-bout-books-part-deux/214795/11 "2003-11-25T00:14:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by FisherQueen \* > \*\*Hate the ragged edges. Very pretty, _looks very nice sitting on the shelf_, and way less pleasant to read. \*\* So you store your books with the spine facing the back of the shelf? Are you hiding something, or am I missing something? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitchin-bout-books-part-deux/214795/12 "2003-11-25T00:49:16Z")
What I hate is the shitty-ass binding on a lot of books now. My Spanish dictionary is in about twelve pieces right now. ---
**Author:** ![7\_up\_yours](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/7/919ad9/32.png) [@7\_up\_yours](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/7_up_yours)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitchin-bout-books-part-deux/214795/13 "2003-11-25T00:53:09Z")
Um. I probably look like a fool for this… but I have no friggin clue what you’re all talking about!! ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitchin-bout-books-part-deux/214795/14 "2003-11-25T02:17:55Z")
If you look at a hardback book, the edge of the pages opposite the spine, normally where you actually touch the paper to turn the page. A fine book will have trimmed, smooth edges on the paper on all three visible edges. The expensive classics can also be gilded in gold on the edges. The crappy books I’m bitching about are trimmed on the top and bottom edges but are left ragged on the right edge. Like I said in the OP, my experience is that only the cheaper, book club versions have historically been printed this way. I detest paying full price for a “sub-standard” product. ---
**Author:** ![NightRabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbce88/32.png) [@NightRabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NightRabbit)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitchin-bout-books-part-deux/214795/15 "2003-11-25T06:14:01Z")
Aughhh the Fagles translation of Odyssey and Iliad both have the rough edges and the difficulty of smoothly turning the pages was driving me nuts! Note: I’m one of those who sort of bends the book in a slight arc and, instead of grasping a page with my hand and “turning it”, I simply slide my thumb slightly down, releasing the page and allowing it to float gently over to the other side. The torn edges make this impossible. Gah. ---
**Author:** ![MonkeyMule](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc348/32.png) [@MonkeyMule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMule)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitchin-bout-books-part-deux/214795/16 "2003-12-15T00:57:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Chefguy \* > \*\*You weren’t a proof-reader were you? 😛 \*\* Here I am a month late but ::ahem:: Bite me. Thank you 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![\_possum\_stalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/b77776/32.png) [@\_possum\_stalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_possum_stalker)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitchin-bout-books-part-deux/214795/17 "2003-12-15T01:16:26Z")
BTW the reason for the Rough Edges= Old Timey Look thing is that many old books originally came with the pages uncut- the pages were sewn into the binding as one LONG sheet of paper folded again and again. There is a certain movie- I’m trying to remember the damn’d title- that shows a character in the 1890’s reading a book and cutting each page open with a knife as he goes. ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitchin-bout-books-part-deux/214795/18 "2003-12-15T02:00:30Z")
This might be relevant: > [@](#): > > A stout, middle-aged man, with enormous owl-eyed spectacles, was > sitting somewhat drunk on the edge of a great table, staring with > unsteady concentration at the shelves of books. As we entered he > wheeled excitedly around and examined Jordan from head to foot. > > “What do you think?” he demanded impetuously. > > “About what?” He waved his hand toward the book-shelves. > > “About that. As a matter of fact you needn’t bother to ascertain. I > ascertained. They’re real.” > > “The books?” > > He nodded. > > “Absolutely real–have pages and everything. I thought they’d be a nice > durable cardboard. Matter of fact, they’re absolutely real. Pages > and–Here! Lemme show you.” > > Taking our scepticism for granted, he rushed to the bookcases and > returned with Volume One of the “Stoddard Lectures.” > > “See!” he cried triumphantly. “It’s a bona-fide piece of printed matter. > It fooled me. This fella’s a regular Belasco. It’s a triumph. What > thoroughness! What realism! Knew when to stop, too–didn’t cut the pages. > But what do you want? What do you expect?” > > –F. Scott Fitzgerald, _The Great Gatsby_ (1925) On a side note, seeing “teh” in a manuscript warms my little heart in a way, because it tells me that the _correctly_ spelled words in the text were spelled by hand, by a good speller (writer or proofer). You know they didn’t use spellcheck. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitchin-bout-books-part-deux/214795/19 "2003-12-15T03:15:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by 'possum stalker \* > \*\*BTW the reason for the Rough Edges= Old Timey Look thing is that many old books originally came with the pages uncut- the pages were sewn into the binding as one LONG sheet of paper folded again and again. > > There is a certain movie- I’m trying to remember the damn’d title- that shows a character in the 1890’s reading a book and cutting each page open with a knife as he goes. \*\* Now that explains something-when I was back in college, I found some old books in the library-I mean really old. Some of them had pages stuck together at the top like that! ---
**Author:** ![DeaganTheWolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@DeaganTheWolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeaganTheWolf)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitchin-bout-books-part-deux/214795/20 "2003-12-15T03:58:59Z")
_Hijack_ While we are complaining about books; IS IT TOO MUCH TO ASK TO GET A BOOK THAT IS NOT PART ONE OF THE “NEW BESTSELLING SERIES OF IT’S KIND”?! Back in my day, even serial novels ended a damn story-arc within one novel. Oh and I hate the ragged pages too. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitchin-bout-books-part-deux/214795.md?page=2)