Familiarise yourself with the terminology used in describing the anatomy of a book and write some brief notes in your learning log on how the various structural elements could be modified to reflect the book’s function.
The following componenets are listed: head, spine, tail, pages/leaves, book block, board and cover. As I am currently reading Book Design by Andrew Haslam, this is where I turn to first for an expansion on these terms.
head top edge of the book.
spine section of book cover that covers the bound edge.
tail the bottom of the book.
pages/leaves printed pages are usually folded into signatures and this makes the book block. It is also worth mentioning the fly leaf and endpaper. One half of the endpaper is usually pasted onto the inside of a hardback cover while the other sits free and is known as the fly leaf.
book block the sum of the parts of the pages/leaves. Usually glued or sewn together.
board the hard cover material that covers hardback books.
cover thick paper or board that protects protects the book block.
Looking at the head of a book the most obvious sign of customisation would be the headband. The headband is usually found on hardcover books and is a cord that is attached near the spine for extra strength as well as decoration. On the tail of the book this is known as a tailband and they are both collectively known as the endband. The colour of the endband could reflect the colour scheme found on the cover of a book.
Spines will consist of the same materials used for the cover. A book that is designed with durability in mind will have a rigid spine whereas one that is cheaper and usually paperback will be more flexible. A larger spine also allows the designer more room for creative possibilities such as horizontal text.
The pages of a book can be made of differing materials of varying thickness and strength. A glossy type of paper is preferred for books with photographs, thinner paper is better suited for novels with lots of page turning, picture books for children have thicker pages which are tougher and more suited towards rough handling. The size of pages can vary from small for a pocket book to enormous for an atlas.
A book block is usually either sewn or glued together. Gluing is a cheaper option and sewing can add a touch of refinement to the look of a book.
Hardback books have covers made from board which is very secure and durable but ultimately more expensive to manufacture. Hardback books often look more decorative and can contain more visual refinement with additions such as being leather bound or having gold foil. Paperback books can also feature extra decorative elements such as embossing which adds an extra textural dimension to the book design. Covers can also come with dust covers which provide extra protection, especially for collectible books.
References
Haslam, A., 2006. Book Design. 1st ed. London: Laurence King Publishing Ltd.
Daniel's OCA Blog: Book Design 1 