It may be cliche, but sometimes the cover makes the book better. And a great cover might persuade us to buy a book we might not otherwise. For instance, I bought the YA, Children of Blood and Bone because it had sprayed edges and was a special edition. And I’m not a YA reader. When have you been wooed by a cover?
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While I can’t think of one specific title, I have recognized design patterns. If one examines the current trend in fantasy, there’s a distinctive emblem or shield and perhaps font. It seems some publishers use similar illustrations or photos for the current releases. Just an observation…
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Gosh, that’s a question that makes one think. I’m usually not a cover/label buyer although I did buy a bottle wine once because it had a beautiful label. Worst wine I ever tasted! Back to book covers, I can’t think of a book I’ve bought or read because I liked the cover, but there are plenty I’ve avoided because of the covers. I abhor the cartoonish looking covers that are used on so many books, especially romance, right now. And I am beyond tired of the “woman(en) walking away” covers.
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I avoid lots of books because of the cover. I will not buy or even read a book that has the movie cover on it. One book I dearly love the cover of The Dutch House. Ann Patchett had the painting made and has it hanging in her home.
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@Paula_Walters that’s a really good point; like you, there are books I wouldn’t buy because of the cover. Anything with a long-haired, bare-chested man (Fabio clone) or a couple in a passionate embrace is a hard pass for me for sure!
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I will buy almost anything with a parrot or some other beautiful bird on the cover. Funny, because I have a strict policy about not keeping creatures that can fly in cages. The last book I purchased because of the cover was Weyward. I did like the story.
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That is awesome! I am a sucker for a bird on the cover too. Have you seen Sigrid Nunez’s cover for The Vulnerables?
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Oh my, Kim. I can “hear” the dialogue already. “He looked at me and…”
@NanK Too funny!
Oddly enough I was drawn to The Overstory by Richard Powers by the cover, and then when I realized it was a Pulitzer winner I bought it.
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I had not seen it, so I looked it up. I am not buying any books right now because we are planning a cross-country move, but will look for it at my county library. Thanks for the tip.
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The Overstory is such a good book! The circle rings design is a catchy one and if you think about it, aligns to the idea of tree rings.
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I 1000% agree!! For some reason I am always drawn to true crime covers.
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Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day
My first Persephone book, bought in London, because I fell hard for the amazing binding.
Persephone Books reprints neglected fiction and non-fiction, mostly by women writers and mostly dating from the mid-twentieth century. All of our 152 titles are intelligent, thought-provoking and beautifully written. As well as novels we publish short stories, diaries, memoirs, poetry, gardening books and cookery books; each title has an elegant grey jacket and a patterned endpaper, along with a matching bookmark.
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Those printings sound beautiful! And a matching bookmark—what a treat!
I detest movie covers and often will not buy a book if that is all that is available but will look for used,original editions online. I especially hate movie covers when I have read the book and seen the film adaptation and thought the casting was wrong for what I had envisioned - on top of just generally being a so-so movie.
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