Mark Stueve studies the evolution of the paperback book: where it came from, why we love it, why we hate it, and how to start collecting it. Read more >>

Bern and Margot are back this month with ten book lovers commandments, applicable to books of all bindings and paper components, but which are especially pertinent to the survival of fragile paperbounds. Read more >>

A quick companion to paperback types:

• Paperbacks are generally sorted into two categories: mass market paperbacks or trade paperbacks.
• Mass Market: a small, usually non-illustrated, and inexpensive bookbinding format. They are commonly released after the hardback edition.
• Trade (or Trade Paper Edition): a standard-sized or large-sized paperback book. If it is a softcover edition of a previous hardcover edition, and if published by the same publishing house as the hardcover, the text pages are normally identical to the text pages in the hardcover edition, and the book is usually the same size as the hardcover edition.
• Mass market books are less expensive, but trade paperbacks are printed on higher-quality paper, or acid-free paper for better preservation.
• "A Format" paperbacks are 110mm x 178mm (4.33" x 7.01") in size, "B Format" paperbacks are 130mm x 198mm (5.12" x 7.8"), while "C Format" (trade paperbacks) are 135mm x 216mm (5.32" x 8.51").

Do you need the exact opposite of a certain title or author? Or maybe a suggestion to ease you into a certain genre? Check out our "love/hate" staff recommendations. Read more >>

Book Town: A book town is a small city or village with a large number of antiquarian and second-hand bookstores. These towns attract bibliophiles and/or host numerous literary festivals.

Becherel, France

• Called the "village of the books" because there are fifteen bookstores for around 800 inhabitants
• Events and performances taking place at Becherel include: the European Festival of Ancient Greek and Latin, in March, for the national "Spring of Poets" weekend
• The "Fete du Livre", each Easter week-end, the Night of Books (August), "Lire en Fete" (October), Treasures of Becherel (December)

Murder in the Executive Mansion by Elliott Roosevelt
Reviewed by: barsu
I've only recently found the Elloitt Roosevelt mystery books and I love them! This is one of the best ones I've read so far. The writing is great and the historical aspect of the setting. I feel like I have a front seat to history being made. It's very exciting! Read more >>