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Assimil: hardback vs. paperback, etc. | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : Language Programs, Books & Tapes |  | |
| kam1892 Newbie United States Joined 4930 days ago 10 posts - 12 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Greek | Message 1 of 13 05 August 2011 at 7:24pm | IP Logged | ||
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I'm interested in a future purchase of Assimil's New French with Ease, and later on Using French, Advanced Level, both for English speakers and with the CD set with workbook. In checking around for pricing and availability, I'm seeing differences in ISBNs, pricing, cover images/design, number of pages, and dates given for publishing.
One question I have is: Is there any reason that it would be preferable to use the hardcover version vs. a paperback version? Ideally I would like the hardcover for durability, but due to cost considerations I would accept the paperback version (unless there is a difference in physical ease of use, such as the book lays flat much better in hardcover, etc.). I expect both versions to have the same content. I ask because I find that all of the sellers are using either the ISBN-13 of 978-2700520132 (as given on the Assimil website), or the ISBN-10 of 2700520130, which appear to be the same New French with Ease + 4 CDs configuration. The description at Barnes and Noble shows the book in this set to be paperback. Yet on the Assimil website (with same ISBN), this product shows a hardback book. Given that the content would be the same, I am leaning toward using Barnes and Noble, as I 1) would use a gift card, and 2) am a member and can get a bit more of a discount To show what I meant about various differences, here are descriptions for the CD Pack (book + audio CDs) from various online vendors: B&N: Paperback, 591 pp., 4 CDs, July 1999 date Assimil.com: Hardback, 113 lessons, 608 pages and 4 CDs, (c) Assimil 1998 Amazon.fr: 591 pp., w/CD set through vendors only, or only Hardback, 608 pp., 13 Feb 2004 Amazon.com: Paperback?, 591 pp., 20 May 2008 Schoenhofs: 70 lessons, 712 pp. + audio europeanbook.com: 610 pp., 4 CD From other postings here, I gather that the most major recent revision was to New French with Ease in the late 1990's, so these other dates might be for minor reprintings, to update prices or other dated items in the content. But I also wonder about how many lessons it should have: 70? 113? The Barnes and Noble entry shows that Distribooks is the "publisher," whereas it is actually a North American distributor for Assimil. Would I therefore be getting the most recent version of the package (regardless of paperback or hardback) as provided to B&N from Distribooks? Could there be unique packaging for North America? Anyone have any ideas about any of this? Sorry to be so confused and obsessed about these minor details! Edited by kam1892 on 06 August 2011 at 8:41pm 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| James29 Diglot Senior Member United States Joined 5378 days ago 1265 posts - 2113 votes  Speaks: English*, Spanish Studies: French | Message 2 of 13 09 August 2011 at 1:25am | IP Logged | ||
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I don't know the answers with certainty, but since nobody else has responded yet I will tell you what I think.
I bought the "hardcover" Spanish and I think many people would refer to it as "paperback" because it was certainly not hard. It is bound together like a hardcover, but it is not hard. I think the 70 lesson course must be Using French. Amazon has the New French With Ease CD/book combo for about $34. That is the one I am considering buying. It looks like it is the equivalent of my Spanish. That is the one I would get. I hope someone can give you a better answer. 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| Faraday Senior Member United States Joined 6121 days ago 129 posts - 256 votes Speaks: German* | Message 3 of 13 09 August 2011 at 3:29am | IP Logged | ||
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Assimil hasn't published hardcover books since 1980s, to my knowledge. The hardback in your description refers to
a turtleback of sorts, somewhere between a paperback and a true hardback. It is flexible, but fairly thick with some stiffness. These turtlebacks were used by Assimil from ca. early 1990s to a few years ago, when they replaced them with softer, more flexible, and perhaps less durable covers. New French with Ease has 113 lessons. 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| kam1892 Newbie United States Joined 4930 days ago 10 posts - 12 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Greek | Message 4 of 13 09 August 2011 at 3:37am | IP Logged | ||
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Thank you James29. I appreciate your description of the "hardcover" Spanish book. And I think the description for the "with Ease" set at Shoenhofs was in error - I double-checked, and the cover image, size, price etc. were all different from their "Using French" offering, but the number of lessons and pages was off.
And thank you Faraday for the further elaboration - I guess I now know more about what to expect - some sort of paperback, with 113 lessons. The price on Amazon is almost exactly the same as at Barnes & Noble online. They show different cover images, but the ISBNs are the same, so 6 of one, a half dozen of the other. As I indicated earlier, I can shave a few more bucks off by getting it with B&N and a member discount + coupon, so will go for it there. These days saving a bit here and there helps. Edited by kam1892 on 09 August 2011 at 3:48am 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| Juаn Senior Member Colombia Joined 5348 days ago 727 posts - 1830 votes Speaks: Spanish* | Message 5 of 13 10 August 2011 at 2:52am | IP Logged | ||
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Assimil listings are very inconsistent and often ISBN numbers from one store or source do not match any other source. I ordered a few of their French-base language manuals recently from sites which showed them to be the hardcover versions, yet received the new, inferior paperback ones.
I think you should just order the listing which unmistakeably offers the New French with Ease course with CDs that is the most convenient and economical for you. And yes, my paperback copy of this course features 113 lessons. 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| kam1892 Newbie United States Joined 4930 days ago 10 posts - 12 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Greek | Message 6 of 13 10 August 2011 at 3:23am | IP Logged | ||
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Gracias, Juan!
1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| Cainntear Pentaglot Senior Member Scotland linguafrankly.blogsp Joined 6014 days ago 4399 posts - 7687 votes Speaks: Lowland Scots, English*, French, Spanish, Scottish Gaelic Studies: Catalan, Italian, German, Irish, Welsh | Message 7 of 13 10 August 2011 at 10:43am | IP Logged | ||
I know the pictures are often wrong, but if they send you a book with a different ISBN from the one you ordered, they're breaking the law.... 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| carlonove Senior Member United States Joined 5989 days ago 145 posts - 253 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Italian | Message 8 of 13 10 August 2011 at 5:54pm | IP Logged | ||
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I haven't seen the newer editions, but the older French without Toil is an excellent book, one of the best language books I've encountered. It's got 140 lessons, which includes some 15-20 songs, and you can still find hardcover copies second hand. If manage to find the recordings, they are also excellently produced.
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