Paperback Book Day is celebrated yearly on July 30.
Back in the 1930s, the only paperback books were cheap pulp novels. Popular novels were in hardback. These hard cover books were attractive and more durable than the paperbacks we know today, but they were also very heavy and quite expensive.
In 1935, Allen Lane, owner of the English publishing house, Penguin, was in financial straits. Even though he published very good authors, such as Agatha Christie, his publishing business was going broke due to the Depression.
One day, while waiting for his train, he was browsing through a station stall for something to read. Finding nothing good except for magazines and low-quality paperback fiction, he suddenly realized that he could publish his authors' good novels in high-quality paperbacks. This would automatically raise profits because more people could access good fiction at lower prices.
Thus, Paperback Book Day is observed as the anniversary of the date that the first Penguin paperbacks were published in England in 1935. The first paperback published and released in the United States was titled “The Good Earth” by Pearl S. Buck.
Reasons for Reading Paperbacks vs. Hardbacks
- Easy to carry them with you anywhere
- Lightweight and portable
- Inexpensive
- Many of your favorite books, including the most recent best sellers, are now available in paperback.
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But, there’s still just nothing quite as satisfying as holding a book in your hands. A small lightweight paperback allows you to curl up on the couch on a rainy afternoon, or laze in a backyard hammock on a soft summer day. It is still a relaxing way to spend an afternoon. So pick up a new paperback today for just such a moment of relaxation. It's a good way to spend Paperback Book Day!
Paperback Book Day
July 30
Recommended Links
If you need help choosing your next 'read' in paperback, ReviewThisBooks.com has a collection of excellent book reviews for you to peruse to help you with your selections.
