My internal voice has had a workout...

[notalwaysright]

You have no idea how many fabric store customers say the same thing about my store. "I'd spend my entire paycheck on fabric / yarn / scrapbooking!" Trust me, you wouldn't. You get tired of the sight of the merchandise rather quickly. Especially when the store's been trashed by hordes of thoughtless customers and you have to tidy up for the millionth time.

That was exactly what I thought. Most employees at a craft store get their gentle "It'll be like getting paid to do my hobbies" ideas shattered pretty darn fast. I'm sure working at a bookstore would be the same.

I still like crafting, but wow do I get tired of trends fast. Can we say burlap, chevron, grey for babies, infinity scarves, Pintrest. Not that any are inherently bad (though, burlap...) just the overload and general attitude of many of the people ruins these things for me.

Mooncat, it's easy to not know if you don't see any media. Most news and social media makes me upset, so I just don't use any of those outlets. I know, being aware of world events is important... But right now I'm putting my mental health first. Nobody was talking about it, face to face. I do pop onto the local news sites sometimes. BC has a bazillion wildfires, and that makes me sad.

[EricKei]

I had a few people tell me once that they never read the same book twice because now they know what happens. I was like, what are you?! That's blasphemy.

Same thought here -- I would never buy a book I do not intend to read and re-read. Hell, many get better the more often I read them, as I pick up on things I missed on prior perusals.

[XCashier]

I've often entertained the thought of working at a book store, but then I realize I'd never make any money since I'd spend my entire paycheck on books.

You have no idea how many fabric store customers say the same thing about my store. "I'd spend my entire paycheck on fabric / yarn / scrapbooking!" Trust me, you wouldn't. You get tired of the sight of the merchandise rather quickly. Especially when the store's been trashed by hordes of thoughtless customers and you have to tidy up for the millionth time.

[AnaKhouri]

I get asked if brand-new books come out in paperback a lot. I don't mind answering because people probably wouldn't know unless they are big readers. Usually new releases come out in hardcover (not always, some smaller titles and genre works are often paperback originals) and stay in hardcover for a year before being released in paperback. Some books stay in hardcover forever because they continue to sell well in that format, and the publishers want All the Money. I remember my poor customers couldn't get The Da Vinci Code or The Hunger Games in paperback for literally 2-3 years.

[earl colby pottinger]

Hard cover, paperback

I forgot about this book coming because I mostly read SF, but the joke still stands.

If the publisher thinks a book will sell in hard cover (more money, more profit) I consider myself lucky if it comes out in paperback in 6-9 months after the hard cover version.

And there is a reason they hold out for a year or even more, I have ton of hard cover books I bought because I just could not wait until the paperback was available. And the publishers know there are a ton of suckers readers just like me out there.

[MoonCat]

I knew what you were talking about, so I thoroughly enjoyed your tale. No shame in having one's life revolve around books. I've often entertained the thought of working at a book store, but then I realize I'd never make any money since I'd spend my entire paycheck on books. Then I'd probably get fired for hiding in the stacks and reading. I love books. Books are awesome. My dream home has the library from Beauty and the Beast. Who needs friends when you have books? I had a few people tell me once that they never read the same book twice because now they know what happens. I was like, what are you?! That's blasphemy.

Oooo, a kindred spirit!

Re: the OP, though, I suspect most people have no idea that books don't generally come out in paperback on the first release. Honestly, I thought the punchline of the story was going to be somebody asking, "What's all the hype about?" And I only say that because literally every form of media I use has been agog with it for days. I don't understand how people can not know it's happening, even if they aren't likely to read it.

[wolfie]

Ceilings dripped US flags and birds sprung up all over the place.

Just curious, but were the birds you mentioned Mockingbirds or Finches?

[Ironclad Alibi]

I too knew which book was the subject of the OP. All I can say is I never read the first one, never saw the movie, and will never read the second one. I have too many other books/movies to read/watch first. Speaking of which, I need to go pick a movie to watch tonight.

[jedimaster91]

Yet again the bookish MiniMammoth is reminded that just because her life revolves around books not everyone else has a bloody clue what she's on about Damn and I was trying so hard to spin a good yarn and all

I knew what you were talking about, so I thoroughly enjoyed your tale. No shame in having one's life revolve around books. I've often entertained the thought of working at a book store, but then I realize I'd never make any money since I'd spend my entire paycheck on books. Then I'd probably get fired for hiding in the stacks and reading. I love books. Books are awesome. My dream home has the library from Beauty and the Beast. Who needs friends when you have books? I had a few people tell me once that they never read the same book twice because now they know what happens. I was like, what are you?! That's blasphemy.

[AnaKhouri]

My store had a midnight release for it. I have yet to learn how that went- I can't imagine the adults turning out in droves to snatch it up and go home to read under the covers (as happened with Harry Potter). They had a cake walk, Pin the Tie on Atticus...kid games for the release of a decidedly adult book.

Supposedly this was written first and rejected; the publisher suggested Lee write about her character as a child, and thus a classic was born.

[Mini Mammoth]

Maybe I've just been overly saturated in it? Still, considering it was pretty much blanket coverage on the morning of the release and was pretty much the only thing mentioned on the Beeb's and Guardian's Culture webpages I kinda figured people would know about it and that if all we've got are hardbacks, it's not likely we've got a Super Secret Stash of paperbacks Out The Back or anything...

Yet again the bookish MiniMammoth is reminded that just because her life revolves around books not everyone else has a bloody clue what she's on about Damn and I was trying so hard to spin a good yarn and all

[Jay 2K Winger]

For those who aren't aware, I'll spoiler-text it:

[A sequel to To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, titled Go Set a Watchman, was released this week.]

It's been getting a lot of controversy over the characterization of the principal characters. And that's all we'll say on the subject.

[notalwaysright]

Google, "Go Set a Watchman." Btw, the cover is orange in the UK and blue in the US. I also hadn't heard of this, but searched for "sequel book" in the news section, and poof!

But yeah, it's a dumb question to ask... I suppose some are not familiar with the way publishing works, in that hardcover comes first. I am a convert of the ebook era, somewhat begrudgingly, but it makes for easier moves. (less book-filled boxes)

[BamaBabe]

A book by Harper Lee supposed to be the sequel to her first novel.

Paperback on the day it's released? Bwhahahaha! In the word of Bobby Singer: idjit.

[WishfulSpirit]

/me lifts edge of rock, blinks in sudden glare of daylight.

What book? I usually read classics and Dickens hasn't published anything for a while.