To quote Rita, who was talking about See Jane Score ( A | BN | K | S ), “My copy is worn to the point that the cover is completely frayed.”
YES. Exactly. When a book has been re-read so many times, the cover has fallen apart, and perhaps you've had to buy another copy because the book is that good, that's a 100% honest Frayed Cover Recommendation. The books don't lie!
I've posted pictures of a few of my Frayed Cover books, like Julie Garwood's The Bride, which is held together with duct tape, and my copy of Judith McNaught's Perfect ( A | BN | K | S) , which is the pinnacle of Frayed Cover: it has none:
Kingdom of Dreams ( A | BN | K | S) is in a similar state, as you can see.
And this is my replacement copy of Midsummer Magic ( A | BN | K | S), the first romance I ever read — replaced because, you guessed it, the cover fell off the first one. And this one is plenty frayed, too. (I had to order the original cover, because this to me is the PINNACLE of old Skool cover art: there is a swan freaking the fuck out behind him, her eyeshadow is a strange shade, and she's a redhead wearing orange – To say nothing of the SURPRISE BUTTSECKS position.) I reviewed this book in 2007 to see if it held up after all those years, and it surely did – I gave it a B, with much sentimental influence.
I have a lot of Frayed Recommendations on my shelf, more than I can count. Most of my paperbacks that I've kept are frayed from multiple re-reads, and by “multiple” I am probably up to counting in exponential numbers.
After posting about Frayed Cover Recommendations on Twitter, a flood of similar recommendations appeared:
Frayed Cover Recommendations
These are the books with covers that are falling off (or close to it) because you’ve re-read them so many times. You might even be on your second or third copy! Below are the Frayed Cover books from Twitter responses!
Storified by Sarah Wendell · Mon, Jun 11 2012 13:40:30
New term: “Frayed Cover recommendation.” You’ve read this book so many times, it’s fallen apart, and maybe you bought another, it’s so good.Sarah Wendell
@SmartBitches My “Frayed Cover Recommendation” is Warprize by Elizabeth Vaughan. Such an amazing series – so well imagined and romantic!KatiB
RT @KatiD: @SmartBitches My “Frayed Cover Recommendation” is Warprize by Elizabeth Vaughan. Such an amazing series – so well imagined and romantic!Sarah Wendell
@SmartBitches I like… But what’s the eBook equivalent?Jean Kaplansky
“@JeanKaplansky: what’s the eBook equivalent?” Hm. “Never leaves the reader.” “Always in the queue?” Not as visual, alas!Sarah Wendell
@SmartBitches Love it! mine would be “Good Omens” by Pratchett and Gaiman, definitely.Julie Leir VanSickle
@SmartBitches One of my ultimate Frayed Cover Recommendations is “The Last Arrow” by Marsha Canham. I love everything about this book. :))MsTypo
RT @DancinJulesJLVS: @SmartBitches Love it! mine would be “Good Omens” by Pratchett and Gaiman, definitely.Sarah Wendell
RT @Typo_eh: @SmartBitches One of my ultimate Frayed Cover Recommendations is “The Last Arrow” by Marsha Canham. I love everything about this book. :))Sarah Wendell
The Shadow and The Star @SmartBitchesMolly O’Keefe
@SmartBitches My Frayed Covers are: SEP’s Dream a Little Dream & Ain’t She Sweet. Those bks are actually falling apart–need to tape soon.Elyssa Patrick
@SmartBitches My Frayed Cover is See Jane Score. Pages are loose. When it falls apart, I’ll replace it.Julia Broadbooks
@SmartBitches linda howard’s mackenzie’s pleasure. i, um, may have owned four copies at one point to try to avoid frayed cover syndromeKatie Dunneback
@SmartBitches also Elda Minger’s The Fling. I <3 <3 <3 that bk so much.Elyssa Patrick
@SmartBitches I own three copies of The Windflower – One to loan, one to read and one to keep. #FrayedCoverRecommendationKatiB
I second Dream a Little Dream!! @ElyssaPatrick @SmartBitchesMolly O’Keefe
@SmartBitches Dark Desire and Dark Fire by Christine Feehan-sadly I had to buy new copies-never read/never touchedSandy
@SmartBitches Love that! My favorite books are usually ones I no longer own because I keep giving them away, or the covers have fallen off.Deborah Nemeth
@SmartBitches My Frayed Cover Recommendation has gotta be Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. I go back and reread that one at least once a year.Book girl 215
@SmartBitches I guess mine would be these. I was word perfect on Gone With The Wind aged 16. It’s 70% Sellotape now. http://pic.twitter.com/ucy77qiLKate Johnson
@SmartBitches My frayed cover recommendation is Pride & Prejudice.TweetWeekUSA/Shanda
@SmartBitches the Lady by Anne McCaffrey. It’s got sooooooo many problems, but I’m on my third copy anyway.Redheadedgirl
@SmartBitches my “frayed cover rec” is The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters. Gorgeous prose and brilliantly plottedAmy Taylor
@SmartBitches frayed cover recs: Chesapeake bays series, Nora Roberts, stardoc by SL Viehl & the JD Robb booksshiloh walker
RT @KatiD: @SmartBitches My “Frayed Cover Recommendation” is Warprize by Elizabeth Vaughan. Such an amazing series – so well imagined and romantic!Denise Pattison
RT @Typo_eh: @SmartBitches One of my ultimate Frayed Cover Recommendations is “The Last Arrow” by Marsha Canham. I love everything about this book. :))Joanna Novins
@SmartBitches Magic Bleeds @ilona_andrews. I love the way Curran and Kate finally get together.Vickie the Blunt
@SmartBitches A White Merc with Fins, the Stories of Eva Luna and Thud! – this year’s frayed cover recommendations – love the ideaPortia
@SmartBitches Frayed Cover Recommendation: “Cordelia’s Honor” by Lois McMaster Bujold. I never, ever get tired of it.Elizabeth DeHoff
@SmartBitches My Frayed Cover Rec: Night Shield by Nora Roberts. I’m on my 2nd copy b/c the middle fell out of the 1st. Fantastic dialogue!Holly
@smartbitches My frayed cover is Monica McCarty’s HIGHLAND WARRIOR. I’ve been through 3 copies!highland hussy
@SmartBitches my frayed book covers are SEP’s This Heart of Mine & Judith McNaught’s Once & Always & Paradise.Kelli Carter
@SmartBitches Sandra Boynton’s Doggies and Philadelphia Chickens is my frayed cover rec. (It’s not all romance you know)Vassiliki Veros
@SmartBitches My Frayed cover rec is the 7 Brides for 7 Brothers series by Leigh Greenwood. Moved many, many times with meslphilli
@SmartBitches Jean M Auel. First three books fell apart; Mom looked for the pieces to have her sign them last year. I was ten and obsessed.Catherine Krahe
@smartbitches my Frayed Cover reccomendation is Naked in Death by J.D.Robb. Read more than 10 times!Ren Puspita
@SmartBitches My rec: Pride & Prejudice. 5 copies incl ebook. Also, 4 copies of BBC adaptation (VHS, 2 DVD, digital). Wow. Lol.Lisa Jimenez
@SmartBitches Also, Night Watch, by Terry Pratchett.Lisa Jimenez
@SmartBitches My Frayed Cover recs: After The Night (Linda Howard), Garden Spells (Sarah Addison Allen), Blue Moon (Laurell K Hamilton) contJennifer
@SmartBitches please tell me someone’s Frayed Cover Rec’d Pride & Prejudice? (Or Witch of Blackbird Pond – YA romance! SWOON!)Kelly
@SmartBitches Magician by Raymond E Feist, and Hogfather by Terry Pratchett.Shell C
@SmartBitches Frayed Cover recs cont: Kiss of Fire (Deborah Cooke), Brides Series (Catherine Coulter), LoTR series (Tolkien), Dune (Herbert)Jennifer
@SmartBitches Frayed Cover Recommendation: Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Night Play. Held together with hope and promises of book tape.Ms. Lily Anderson
@SmartBitches: Frayed Cover recs: Judith McNaught’s first 10 novels (minus Tender Triumph). LaVyrle Spencer’s Separate Beds.Farrah Rochon
@SmartBitches My Frayed Cover Rec: Improper English by Katie MacAlister. Every time I read it I have to tuck pages back in.Julie
@SmartBitches My #frayedcoverrecommendation is @LisaKleypas “Wallflower” series. Love them so much! Romance, humor & great stories.rayvyn2k
@SmartBitches Frayed Cover recommendation: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. The spines creased & some pages are loose.Michelle?
@SmartBitches Frayed Cover recommendation: nothing’s more battered than The Complete Works of Jane Austen.Julia Tew
@SmartBitches Son of the Morning Linda Howard. I’ve gone through four copies.Marty Mathews
@SmartBitches Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K Hamilton for me. Back when that series was still amazing.Sierra Dean
@SmartBitches other frayed covers: The Duke And I by Julia Quinn. Capital. and The Bargain by Mary Jo Putney.Julia Tew
@SmartBitches My Frayed cover rec: The Flame and The Flower K. Woodiwess. original 1976 copy, in pieces, wouldn’t trade it for the world!Natalie Nutting
@SmartBitches My frayed cover books are Pride & Prejudice, Orlando by Virginia Woolf, and The Ordinary Princess by M M Kaye.Mrs. Mystery Brewing
@SmartBitches most of my #frayedcover books are from when i was a kid, specifically Little House on the Prairie and Charlotte’s WebLusty Reader
@SmartBitches The Oracle Glass by Judith Merkle Riley. I don’t loan it out, I’m that attached to it. I think every page is dog-eared.Kate Ahern Loveric
@Smartbitches Frayed cover Rec: Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. Recently replaced Dragonfly, it was losing pages. http://pic.twitter.com/D1Jpo67RJurisha
@SmartBitches Heartless by Mary Balogh. Luke! It’s all about Luke.Phyl
@SmartBitches my adult #frayedcover books are Jane Eyre, Nora Roberts’ Born in Ice and V. Dahl’s Lead Me OnLusty Reader
@SmartBitches My dust jacket of Slightly Dangerous by Mary Balogh is horribly frayed. #FrayedHardcover.Mandi Schreiner
@SmartBitches My frayed cover books are Pride & Prejudice, Orlando by Virginia Woolf, and The Ordinary Princess by M M Kaye.Mrs. Mystery Brewing
@SmartBitches My Frayed Cover Rec: “The Talisman” by Stephen King & Peter Straub. 1st book to lose its cover & really make me want to write.slod
@SmartBitches my #frayedcover is Ellen Kushner’s SwordspointMaria
@SmartBitches Dude, @lucymonroe’s The Greek’s Christmas Baby & my cover on her “The Italian’s Suitable Wife” has completely fallen off.DeeTenorio
@SmartBitches Goodnight Mister Tom,on the inside of book cover I have written the date for every re-read since the first read in 4th grade:)Annika
oh my god! Yes – Goodnight MR. Tom! Love that book – need to find my copy @AnnikaEinarsson @SmartBitchesMolly O’Keefe
@AnnikaEinarsson I’ve never met anyone else who’s read that book! @SmartBitchesLu@RegularRumination
@SmartBitches Midnight Warrior by Iris Johannsen. I’ve owned 3 copies.B303tilly
@SmartBitches My Frayed Cover: Jennifer Crusie’s Bet and all Suzanne Brockmann’s..esp Into the Night.Ryann Murphy
@SmartBitches “A string in the harp” by Nancy Bond. It was a gift when I was 10 or 11 from a teacher. It’s still one of my favourites.Janne
@SmartBitches my copy of ‘the madness of lord Ian Mackenzie’ looks like it’s been through a threshing machine. #frayedbindingandcoverstacey agdern
@SmartBitches #frayedcover recommendation: Over the Edge by Suzanne Brockmann. Start of a lifelong love for Sam Starrett & Team Sixteen.Anne
@SmartBitches Jane Eyre. The pages are like soft cloth they are so worn, and the corners are all rounded. #frayedcovermidnightblooms
@SmartBitches Howl’s Moving Castle which wore out in about six months my family and I reread it so much. #frayedcovermidnightblooms
@SmartBitches Beauty by Robin McKinley. Isle of Glass by Judith Tarr. Arrows of the queen by Mercedes Lackey #frayedcoverwyvernfriend
@SmartBitches Strands of Starlight by Gael Baudino Infinity Concerto by Greg Bear; winds of darkover by MZ Bradley #frayedcoverwyvernfriend
@SmartBitches i have a collection of Saint and Baron novels that are in complete bits #frayedcoverwyvernfriend
@SmartBitches my #frayedcover – Conflict of Honors by Steve Miller and Sharon Lee – has been my comfort read since HS http://pic.twitter.com/Rl6UU11wKelli
@SmartBitches My #frayedcover is Peter S. Beagle’s The Last Unicorn.Cindy
@SmartBitches #frayedcover reccs: The Duke’s Wager, Windflower, The Temporary Bride, The Grand Sophy, Lord of Scoundrels, Shards of Honor.Darlene Marshall
@SmartBitches Again by Seidel. Notorious Rake by Balogh. A couple of old Burchell categories. #frayedcoverSunita
@SmartBitches Carnal Innocence by Nora Roberts and Shades of Twilight by Linda Howard #frayedcoverBrie (RAroundCorner)
@SmartBitches My #frayedcover would be my Christopher Pike. I collected and read them literally apart. Except Pepper. Hated that one.DeAubreyDigest
@SmartBitches Frayed Covers: Gerald Durrell’s My family and other animals,Terry Pratchett’s Guards Guards.Genoveva London
My Frayed Cover Recommendation: Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie @SmartBitches #frayedcoverRita Oberlies
Guilty pleasures by Laurell k Hamilton is my frayed cover. @SmartBitches #frayedcoverDena De Paulo
DARK LEGEND by Christine Feehan is my frayed cover. #frayedcover @smartbitchesPenny Watson
So many #FrayedCover. Daddy’s Little Dividend by Elda Minger, Dark Desire by Feehan, Guarding Jeannie by Beverly Barton @SmartBitchesLillie
I’ve rebought all of Garwood’s historicals because of #FrayedCovers @SmartBitchesLillie
@SmartBitches Not romance… Mickey Zucker Reichert’s Legend of Nightfall, CS Friedman’s Black Sun Rising, & Mercedes Lackey’s Magic’s PawnLisa Rodgers
@SmartBitches My #frayedcover recommendation is Black Beauty. My copy literally fell apart, so I replaced with an ebook.Linda Taggart
@SmartBitches Mine are “Eye of the world by Robert Jordan and Sheepfarmer’s daughter by Elizabeth MoonPatrick Doris
@SmartBitches Frayed cover rec. I can only read MacHugh now if I hold him Very Carefully (which I do 🙂 http://twitpic.com/9vdq6cSusanna Kearsley
What about you? What are your frayed cover books? Want to share a pic?
Mine would have to be my first Nora Roberts, “Irish Born” [the three-in-one book of her Born In trilogy]. My copy’s cover is dangerously close to tearing off, and my pages are a bit bent. Soon I’ll be buying a new copy, I reread this book at least once a year—love it! 🙂
A Coal Miner’s Bride (a Dear America book)—-I have it in hardcover (finally). Read it for the first time in fifth grade (very child appropriate) but I still love it. The romance is really adorable and pretty important in the story, as far as kids books go. I still re-read it at least once a year. Oh Leon and Anetka—-probably my first taste of romance.
I’m another who keeps her books in fairly good condition; frayed covers probably came that way from the UBS. I recently gave my copy of “To Kill a Mockingbird” to a friend whose high school freshman pulled the “I need this book tomorrow” and no copies could be found. Even 30 years after I read that copy as a freshman myself, it was just a bit yellowed.
That said, I’ve got a few that look rode hard and put up wet because of much love. I was able to track down a favorite “one of my first romance novels” category (Superromance #49, “The Forever Spell” by Robyn Anzelon) some years back and have to pull that ancient thing out every now and then to re-read. Spunky career girl (and not a virgin! oohh scandalous!), hot Highland millionaire, Edinburgh travelogue, and sex on a bearskin rug…imprinted with awesome!
I have the first printing (and signed by the author during a later book tour) of SEP’s “It Had to Be You.” I read it often and it shows. But one must, you know? I just wish I had my original copy of “Glitter Baby,” bought at the university bookstore on my parents’ credit account, but that book made its way through every room in the sorority house and on several Spring Breaks, and who knows who had it by graduation.
I have an edition of the complete works of Jane Austen in a single volume. Before the days of e-books, I used to read the whole thing (minus Lady Susan, which I just never could get into) in the car while my family drove from New York to Mexico every summer. I’ve retired the book now, but it sits in a place of honor, tape and all.
Anne of Green Gables Series – LMM…all are falling apart- the most tattered of all is Rilla of Ingleside. I have a new set somewhere, but refuse to read any but the old. When I moved countries, they came with me.
Pride and Prejudice – Austen…I have 4 paper copies total, and none are in perfect condition- the first one I bought in 5th grade at a book fair is in two pieces and yet is still the one I automatically pick up to read
Ender’s Game – ever since 9 year old me found this in my much-older brother’s bookcase and repurposed it for a life in my own, I have read it every year. The cover is held on with tape.
digital reading is great for the voracious reader in me, but there is just something so wonderful about rereading that same frayed book over again.
Mine is “Good Omens” by Pratchett and Gaiman. I’m on my second copy. The first ebook edition I buy for my new Kindle will probably be this book.
My copies of “Venetia” and “These Old Shades” by Georgette Heyer are getting there, as are the softcover copies I have of “Anyone but You” and “Bet Me” by Jennifer Crusie. However, these days, when I want to read them I go for the hardcovers. The softcovers are now reserved for reading when travelling.
Many of my Georgette Heyers – a number of which are my mother’s copies published in the 50’s. I think the most frauds is False Collude which is an edition from the mid 70’s. Of my newer books its my Jennifer Crusie’s.
Oh yes blue castle, the current copy is pristine, but it replaces a pretty torn one. We are in the process of chucking most of our physical books ( if you live in Brisbane and you want books, talk to me) but when my husband queried that one, he was told in no uncertain terms that it was a keeper.
My other ones are Deep Secret by Diana Wynne Jones and A Civil Campaign by Bujold. My husband and I are both fans of the mad scientist club, but it is his copy that has survived in the collection. Mary Stewart books are available in ebook but at 12.99 or so, way more than I am willing to pay ( not to mention I am not buying Hachette on general irritation grounds). My first second hand copy of 9 coaches was snaffled by my grandma and I had to find another ( not easy), but neither cost that much.
Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold. Let’s see, I have a copy in South Africa and another in the US. My husband has another copy that he takes on deployment with him and we both have Cordelia’s Honor (which includes Shards) loaded onto our Kindles. I’m not sure how many copies we’ve given out to friends. All the paperback copies in our possession are showing much love (err… wear and tear).
My copy of McNaught’s Paradise is also falling apart.
And then there are the Belgariad and Mallorian (David Eddings) that are being held together by the Will and the Word and nothing much else.
Many of my Heyers and Mary Stewarts are frayed, worn and falling apart. Held together by rubber bands are: Again the Magic by Lee Damon (she only wrote 4 romances and they are all wonderful), Greek Wedding by Jane Aiken Hodge, Cordelia’s Honor by Lois Bujold (autographed copy) and Manalacor of Veltakin by Cristabel (1970 SF/Fantasy/Romance that is my go to crack—read it every year).
Wow, this thread has some great recs! Unlike most people in these comments, though, I don’t take very good care of my personal paperbacks; I go through them like a wrecking ball, just destroying everything in my path. I find a weird sort of satisfaction in really breaking a book in while I’m reading it and leaving my mark on it. Don’t know why, lol.
Anyway, the most destroyed of my books would have to be: The French Lieutenant’s Woman by John Fowles, Bliss by Judy Cuevas (a.k.a Judith Ivory), Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, Devil’s Cub by Georgette Heyer and Here Be Dragons by Sharon Kay Penman.
Well, I have two books from my childhood that are definitely in the “Frayed Cover” category: “Moccasin Trail” by Eloise Jarvis McGraw and “The Black Stallion’s Filly” by Walter Farley. They both have chunks of pages falling out, covers taped back on, etc. In the romance genre, I haven’t read enough to have any like that, but I can forsee “Lord of Scoundrels” and “Unclaimed” being on that list.
Those Jan Cox Speas covers give me such a wonderful feeling of nostalgia. Not because ive read those books (I haven’t), but the cover art is so indicative of 1970s covers when i discovered romance. I frayed Tears of Gold by Laurie McBain.
LOL! Awesome topic! I would say, in the romance category, my Frayed Cover Recommendations would be Linda Howard’s Mackenzie’s Mountain (I wore out the library copy and right before I moved to college I asked the librarian if I could buy it. I had borrowed it so often that she just gave it to me). Shirlee Busbee’s Deceive Not the Heart was my first romance novel ever and I wore that the Hell out (cover lost and it ended up bound in rubberbands). I eventually replaced it with a used copy with the original cover art. Then there is Julie Garwood’s The Gift and Laura Kinsale’s Flowers from the Storm. Yep. I’d say those are fair.
A quick check of the shelves closest to me: Guy Gavriel Kay: they are all worn, but we’ve replaged Tigana four times, so it wins. Patricia McKillip: The Riddlemaster of Hed. Frayed that baby in hardcover, that’s how much I love it. M.M. Kaye: The Far Pavilions. Keith Roberts: Pavane Roger Zelazny: Nine Princes in Amber Frank Herbert: Dune Marion Zimmer Bradley: The Mists of Avalon Gail Baudino: Strands of Starlight Robin McKinley: Deerskin
I’ve added The Blue Castle and Shards of Honor to my TBR list, thanks to everybody for the recommendations. Believe it or not, I’ve never heard of The Blue Castle until now, but so many bitches can’t be wrong! I’ve got an old taped up hardcover of the complete works of Jane Austen, and very worn copies of Mackenzie’s Pleasure by Linda Howard and Busman’s Honeymoon by Dorothy Sayers. Devil’s Cub by Heyer has been replaced by a new edition and The Duke’s Wager by Edith Layton I now have online, so the ratty originals are gone. I’ve replaced A Far Cry From Kensington by Muriel Spark, which is wicked good, a couple of times. And for some reason, I keep rereading an old hardcover I picked up at a used book sale, The Wedding Bargain by Agnes Sligh Turnbull. She’s one of those old time writers like D.E. Stevenson. Several old Patricia Wentworth romantic mysteries are also on my most re-read list. Great story about the librarian, Libby!
Thinking on it, my copy of Louise Cooper’s ‘Our Lady of the Snow’ is pretty well thumbed. Though, it’s not quite at Frayed Cover level yet.
A suggestion for another book category- “Dagnamit, who did I lend it to!”.
You know, for those books that you love but you never manage to keep hold of. My parents could never keep a copy of Ulysses or LOTR in the house; for me it’s Wen Spencer’s Tinker. (My copy of MacAlister’s Corset diaries is also AWOL, but as I prefer her regency I’ll let that one slide.)
BEST THREAD EVAHH! I have added so many books to my Amazon basket—lots of old favourites I’d read, loved, but never owned (Diana Wynn Jones’ Deep Secret as top choice), some books by people who had, Oh My God The SAME book taste (reading twins surely), so I’m buying everything they loved that I’d not read yet… And so many people with fantastic taste. Can I second (or fifth) LMM’s The Blue Castle, Chase’s Captives of the Night, Willis’ To Say Nothing of the Dog, Heyer’s The Grand Sophy, Mary Stewart’s This Rough Magic, La Roberts’ Face the Fire, and DLS’ Gaudy Night. All books I love, my mother loves, and my husband loves too (and he’s a snob with highbrow tastes—bitches, They Won Him Over.)
Under Gemini by Rosamunde Pilcher —I’ve not only worn the book out 2 times, but also 2 copies of the audiobook on cassette.
Starbridge by AC Crispin—not categorized as Romance, but it does have a strong first-romance sub plot to go along with the alien first contact adventures.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by shaffer & barrows—I own two copies, one for home & one for everywhere else, and have given away 2 copies. I am thrilled & worries about Kenneth Branagh’s film version with kate winslet. time will tell.
I bought replacements for that trilogy, but not because of anything I did. It was the last time I ever lent anyone a book of mine, and this was in 6th grade or so.
I loved Honest Illusion (Nora Roberts) so much that it frayed, the back cover fell off and I taped it back together a number of times. Nothing wrong with that at all.
Most of my books don’t look all that frayed as I tend to treat them well (or at least try to 😉 ). However, there are books I reread on a regular basis:
1. The Ayla books 1-4 by Jean M. Auel—My Absolute Favourites Ever! Last year I replaced my old copies, I had gotten them used, so they did fall apart. I found that I couldn’t read them any more, because I virtually knew them by heart -LOL.
2. Romances
Midnight Warrior by Iris Johansen and Dark Paradise by Tami Hoag—these two were (nearly) my first romances, so they hold a special place in my heart. Mistress by Amanda Quick Girl from Mars by Julie Cohen See Jane Score by Rachel Gibson
3. Not Romances
Smilla’s Sense of Snow by Peter Hoeg Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann—a mystery featuring sheep as sleuths! Great Stuff! The White Goddess by Robert Graves—non-fiction Deep Secret by Diana Wynne Jones—fantasy Time Enough For Love by Robert A. Heinlein—scifi most of the Discworld books by Terry Pratchett, notably Men at Arms and The Fifth Elephant and … and … well, you get the picture. The Cassie Palmer and Dorina Basarab series by Karen Chance—paranormal
Probably quite a few of my newer friends will end up on that list, like Thea Harrison, Kresley Cole or Zoe Archer. Thanks to the recommendations here, it doesn’t look like my bookshelves will be empty any time soon 🙂
I’m terribly OCD about my books, but I’m also a big re-reader so there are a bunch of books that could fit into this category. Sheer age qualifies some of them (don’t we all start to fray a bit as we age?). I’ll limit this to just a couple: Red Adam’s Lady by Grace Ingram (which I could never afford to replace), and The Fortune Hunter by Ira J. Morris. (Morris’s The Troika Belle is also excellent.)
Love seeing people’s frayed books like this! 🙂
Mine would have to be my first Nora Roberts, “Irish Born” [the three-in-one book of her Born In trilogy]. My copy’s cover is dangerously close to tearing off, and my pages are a bit bent. Soon I’ll be buying a new copy, I reread this book at least once a year—love it! 🙂
Enjoy!
TBQ
I love super-worn books! Now that’s some good book lovin’.
A Coal Miner’s Bride (a Dear America book)—-I have it in hardcover (finally). Read it for the first time in fifth grade (very child appropriate) but I still love it. The romance is really adorable and pretty important in the story, as far as kids books go. I still re-read it at least once a year. Oh Leon and Anetka—-probably my first taste of romance.
I’m another who keeps her books in fairly good condition; frayed covers probably came that way from the UBS. I recently gave my copy of “To Kill a Mockingbird” to a friend whose high school freshman pulled the “I need this book tomorrow” and no copies could be found. Even 30 years after I read that copy as a freshman myself, it was just a bit yellowed.
That said, I’ve got a few that look rode hard and put up wet because of much love. I was able to track down a favorite “one of my first romance novels” category (Superromance #49, “The Forever Spell” by Robyn Anzelon) some years back and have to pull that ancient thing out every now and then to re-read. Spunky career girl (and not a virgin! oohh scandalous!), hot Highland millionaire, Edinburgh travelogue, and sex on a bearskin rug…imprinted with awesome!
I have the first printing (and signed by the author during a later book tour) of SEP’s “It Had to Be You.” I read it often and it shows. But one must, you know? I just wish I had my original copy of “Glitter Baby,” bought at the university bookstore on my parents’ credit account, but that book made its way through every room in the sorority house and on several Spring Breaks, and who knows who had it by graduation.
I have an edition of the complete works of Jane Austen in a single volume. Before the days of e-books, I used to read the whole thing (minus Lady Susan, which I just never could get into) in the car while my family drove from New York to Mexico every summer. I’ve retired the book now, but it sits in a place of honor, tape and all.
Anne of Green Gables Series – LMM…all are falling apart- the most tattered of all is Rilla of Ingleside. I have a new set somewhere, but refuse to read any but the old. When I moved countries, they came with me.
Pride and Prejudice – Austen…I have 4 paper copies total, and none are in perfect condition- the first one I bought in 5th grade at a book fair is in two pieces and yet is still the one I automatically pick up to read
Ender’s Game – ever since 9 year old me found this in my much-older brother’s bookcase and repurposed it for a life in my own, I have read it every year. The cover is held on with tape.
digital reading is great for the voracious reader in me, but there is just something so wonderful about rereading that same frayed book over again.
Mine is “Good Omens” by Pratchett and Gaiman. I’m on my second copy. The first ebook edition I buy for my new Kindle will probably be this book.
My copies of “Venetia” and “These Old Shades” by Georgette Heyer are getting there, as are the softcover copies I have of “Anyone but You” and “Bet Me” by Jennifer Crusie. However, these days, when I want to read them I go for the hardcovers. The softcovers are now reserved for reading when travelling.
Many of my Georgette Heyers – a number of which are my mother’s copies published in the 50’s. I think the most frauds is False Collude which is an edition from the mid 70’s. Of my newer books its my Jennifer Crusie’s.
Oh yes blue castle, the current copy is pristine, but it replaces a pretty torn one. We are in the process of chucking most of our physical books ( if you live in Brisbane and you want books, talk to me) but when my husband queried that one, he was told in no uncertain terms that it was a keeper.
My other ones are Deep Secret by Diana Wynne Jones and A Civil Campaign by Bujold.
My husband and I are both fans of the mad scientist club, but it is his copy that has survived in the collection.
Mary Stewart books are available in ebook but at 12.99 or so, way more than I am willing to pay ( not to mention I am not buying Hachette on general irritation grounds). My first second hand copy of 9 coaches was snaffled by my grandma and I had to find another ( not easy), but neither cost that much.
Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold. Let’s see, I have a copy in South Africa and another in the US. My husband has another copy that he takes on deployment with him and we both have Cordelia’s Honor (which includes Shards) loaded onto our Kindles. I’m not sure how many copies we’ve given out to friends. All the paperback copies in our possession are showing much love (err… wear and tear).
My copy of McNaught’s Paradise is also falling apart.
And then there are the Belgariad and Mallorian (David Eddings) that are being held together by the Will and the Word and nothing much else.
kiss an angel by susan elizabeth phillips. also my first true romance read (at the tender age of 13). i’m on my third copy.
Many of my Heyers and Mary Stewarts are frayed, worn and falling apart.
Held together by rubber bands are: Again the Magic by Lee Damon (she only wrote 4 romances and they are all wonderful), Greek Wedding by Jane Aiken Hodge, Cordelia’s Honor by Lois Bujold (autographed copy) and Manalacor of Veltakin by Cristabel (1970 SF/Fantasy/Romance that is my go to crack—read it every year).
Wow, this thread has some great recs! Unlike most people in these comments, though, I don’t take very good care of my personal paperbacks; I go through them like a wrecking ball, just destroying everything in my path. I find a weird sort of satisfaction in really breaking a book in while I’m reading it and leaving my mark on it. Don’t know why, lol.
Anyway, the most destroyed of my books would have to be: The French Lieutenant’s Woman by John Fowles, Bliss by Judy Cuevas (a.k.a Judith Ivory), Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, Devil’s Cub by Georgette Heyer and Here Be Dragons by Sharon Kay Penman.
Well, I have two books from my childhood that are definitely in the “Frayed Cover” category: “Moccasin Trail” by Eloise Jarvis McGraw and “The Black Stallion’s Filly” by Walter Farley. They both have chunks of pages falling out, covers taped back on, etc. In the romance genre, I haven’t read enough to have any like that, but I can forsee “Lord of Scoundrels” and “Unclaimed” being on that list.
Those Jan Cox Speas covers give me such a wonderful feeling of nostalgia. Not because ive read those books (I haven’t), but the cover art is so indicative of 1970s covers when i discovered romance. I frayed Tears of Gold by Laurie McBain.
Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett and Elizabeth Hoyt’s prince trilogy. I’ve got all in ebook form, but still…
Uh oh…I just killed half a tree by hitting the print button for this post. There are so many awesome recommendations I couldn’t resist 🙂
My mother has come to terms with the fact that she needs to replace all her Georgette Heyers.
I hope soon, I’d love to read them but I’m scared of losing pages.
LOL! Awesome topic! I would say, in the romance category, my Frayed Cover Recommendations would be Linda Howard’s Mackenzie’s Mountain (I wore out the library copy and right before I moved to college I asked the librarian if I could buy it. I had borrowed it so often that she just gave it to me). Shirlee Busbee’s Deceive Not the Heart was my first romance novel ever and I wore that the Hell out (cover lost and it ended up bound in rubberbands). I eventually replaced it with a used copy with the original cover art. Then there is Julie Garwood’s The Gift and Laura Kinsale’s Flowers from the Storm. Yep. I’d say those are fair.
A quick check of the shelves closest to me:
Guy Gavriel Kay: they are all worn, but we’ve replaged Tigana four times, so it wins.
Patricia McKillip: The Riddlemaster of Hed. Frayed that baby in hardcover, that’s how much I love it.
M.M. Kaye: The Far Pavilions.
Keith Roberts: Pavane
Roger Zelazny: Nine Princes in Amber
Frank Herbert: Dune
Marion Zimmer Bradley: The Mists of Avalon
Gail Baudino: Strands of Starlight
Robin McKinley: Deerskin
I’ve added The Blue Castle and Shards of Honor to my TBR list, thanks to everybody for the recommendations. Believe it or not, I’ve never heard of The Blue Castle until now, but so many bitches can’t be wrong! I’ve got an old taped up hardcover of the complete works of Jane Austen, and very worn copies of Mackenzie’s Pleasure by Linda Howard and Busman’s Honeymoon by Dorothy Sayers. Devil’s Cub by Heyer has been replaced by a new edition and The Duke’s Wager by Edith Layton I now have online, so the ratty originals are gone. I’ve replaced A Far Cry From Kensington by Muriel Spark, which is wicked good, a couple of times. And for some reason, I keep rereading an old hardcover I picked up at a used book sale, The Wedding Bargain by Agnes Sligh Turnbull. She’s one of those old time writers like D.E. Stevenson. Several old Patricia Wentworth romantic mysteries are also on my most re-read list.
Great story about the librarian, Libby!
Thinking on it, my copy of Louise Cooper’s ‘Our Lady of the Snow’ is pretty well thumbed. Though, it’s not quite at Frayed Cover level yet.
A suggestion for another book category- “Dagnamit, who did I lend it to!”.
You know, for those books that you love but you never manage to keep hold of. My parents could never keep a copy of Ulysses or LOTR in the house; for me it’s Wen Spencer’s Tinker. (My copy of MacAlister’s Corset diaries is also AWOL, but as I prefer her regency I’ll let that one slide.)
BEST THREAD EVAHH! I have added so many books to my Amazon basket—lots of old favourites I’d read, loved, but never owned (Diana Wynn Jones’ Deep Secret as top choice), some books by people who had, Oh My God The SAME book taste (reading twins surely), so I’m buying everything they loved that I’d not read yet…
And so many people with fantastic taste. Can I second (or fifth) LMM’s The Blue Castle, Chase’s Captives of the Night, Willis’ To Say Nothing of the Dog, Heyer’s The Grand Sophy, Mary Stewart’s This Rough Magic, La Roberts’ Face the Fire, and DLS’ Gaudy Night.
All books I love, my mother loves, and my husband loves too (and he’s a snob with highbrow tastes—bitches, They Won Him Over.)
I’m on my 3rd sets of Eddings books! <3
Under Gemini by Rosamunde Pilcher —I’ve not only worn the book out 2 times, but also 2 copies of the audiobook on cassette.
Starbridge by AC Crispin—not categorized as Romance, but it does have a strong first-romance sub plot to go along with the alien first contact adventures.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by shaffer & barrows—I own two copies, one for home & one for everywhere else, and have given away 2 copies. I am thrilled & worries about Kenneth Branagh’s film version with kate winslet. time will tell.
Silver Lining by Maggie Osborne. And The Gamble by LaVyrle Spencer. Covers came off, so I bought new paperbacks and Kindle versions, just in case!
And my husband bought me a boxed set of “The Little House” books to replace the ones I’d had since 5th grade.
I bought replacements for that trilogy, but not because of anything I did. It was the last time I ever lent anyone a book of mine, and this was in 6th grade or so.
This is such an awesome thread—I just bought tons of new to me books. My frayed covers are The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley and Jane Erye.
Mine is outlander by Diana gabaldon, but in Australia the release was called cross stitch. I read it when I’m all stressed with life and stuff.
I loved Honest Illusion (Nora Roberts) so much that it frayed, the back cover fell off and I taped it back together a number of times. Nothing wrong with that at all.
Most of my books don’t look all that frayed as I tend to treat them well (or at least try to 😉 ).
However, there are books I reread on a regular basis:
1. The Ayla books 1-4 by Jean M. Auel—My Absolute Favourites Ever! Last year I replaced my old copies, I had gotten them used, so they did fall apart. I found that I couldn’t read them any more, because I virtually knew them by heart -LOL.
2. Romances
Midnight Warrior by Iris Johansen and Dark Paradise by Tami Hoag—these two were (nearly) my first romances, so they hold a special place in my heart.
Mistress by Amanda Quick
Girl from Mars by Julie Cohen
See Jane Score by Rachel Gibson
3. Not Romances
Smilla’s Sense of Snow by Peter Hoeg
Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann—a mystery featuring sheep as sleuths! Great Stuff!
The White Goddess by Robert Graves—non-fiction
Deep Secret by Diana Wynne Jones—fantasy
Time Enough For Love by Robert A. Heinlein—scifi
most of the Discworld books by Terry Pratchett, notably Men at Arms and The Fifth Elephant and … and … well, you get the picture.
The Cassie Palmer and Dorina Basarab series by Karen Chance—paranormal
Probably quite a few of my newer friends will end up on that list, like Thea Harrison, Kresley Cole or Zoe Archer.
Thanks to the recommendations here, it doesn’t look like my bookshelves will be empty any time soon 🙂
I’m terribly OCD about my books, but I’m also a big re-reader so there are a bunch of books that could fit into this category. Sheer age qualifies some of them (don’t we all start to fray a bit as we age?). I’ll limit this to just a couple: Red Adam’s Lady by Grace Ingram (which I could never afford to replace), and The Fortune Hunter by Ira J. Morris. (Morris’s The Troika Belle is also excellent.)
Great topic! I’ll toss in my top three most in danger of wear-and-tear fatality:
Crocodile on the Sandbank, Elizabeth Peters
Mr. Impossible, Loretta Chase
Forbidden Rose, Joanna Bourne
Have to go add to my TBR now