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Never judge a book by it's cover, or should you?

Ruzi

Ruzi

New Member
So many books out there, while yes, being filled with wonderful stories, information, and ideas, also have fitting art, both in and outside of the books, covers, character sketches, maps, and so on, what books have art that grabbed your attention?

For me, I love the art on "The Free Bards," "The Broken Crown" "Through Wolf's Eyes" and "Ruby Slippers, Golden Tears", each are very beautiful in my opinion, and each interesting to look at.
 
I admit, I have judged book by their cover. *looks down sheepishly* I say mainly sci-fi and fantasy novels either grab me with their cover art or deter me. I know Tad Williams' books have fabulous art (I think all by Michael Whelan) and I started reading Kate Elliott's Jaran series because the picture on the front looked neat.
 
I think it is quite impossible not to judge a book by its cover to an extent. I know that I have done it often. However, I always read the back of the book to see if it appeals to me.
 
Some books have very nice covers, too.

Take the cover of Johnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo as an example.

It shows a doughboy of World War I walking over a hill and a peace sign in the background. It fits with the novel's pacifist tone.
 
I must admit, I do sometimes just a book by its cover. Some books I will not touch because the cover turns me off. However, I always thought Maeve Binchy's covers were about the ugliest going until I got into reading her books, and I love them! Books with lake views, or cottages or Muskoka chairs or pretty scenery grab my attention but sometimes those book have proven to be a snore. However, it is still the visual that grabs me in the book store.
 
Ruzi,

What an intriguing question! And you're absolutely right about the captivating art and appearance and how they grab and hold. Strangely, and just because of that, I was grabbed by the stark simplicity of BAMBOO by David Namerow while standing in the library checkout line: Solid black cover with the word BAMBOO imprinted in white dead center. The artful simplicity belies a great story about a sailor falling in love with a bar girl in 1960's Subic and the adventures and intrigues he endures. Can't put it down.

Collin Bly
 
I think it's okay to judge a book by its cover! I'm not ashamed to admit it!

The publishers know shoppers check out the covers and invest a lot of money into making the cover a strong statement to try and make a great first impression. Book wholesalers buy books based on the cover, usually without even cracking the thing open!
 
A quickie for Collin,

Trying to find any other books by BAMBOO author Namerow. You're right about this strange story. Just turned an ex-army buddy on to it. Any help appreciated. Just email me.

Fly
 
From working in the book industry, I have developed a sort of code based on cover design. I will always look at a book published by Vintage, and they use a universal size and set up so they are always easy to spot. A certain nuance in cover design is all it takes for me to put the book back on the shelf. But I've also developed an analytical system based on the cover blurb. For instance, I will never read anything that refers to "The Bridges of Madison County." And I almost never got into Alice Borchardt, b/c all her quotes on the back are from her sister (Anne Rice.)
 
I do try not to let the cover art deter me, but it can catch my eye. Recently, I ran across an old book of George RR Martin's in the library-- just the spine. I really liked what I had read of him, so I pulled it off the shelf, and the cover looked pretty cheesy. Not wanting to judge the book by the cover, I borrowed it-- only to find that many of the stories *were* cheesy, and that his writing had greatly improved over 25 years.
 
I have to say that cover illustrations rarely have a great effect on me, but editions, however, do. Whenever considering buying a sci-fi book now, I always choose one from either the SF Masterworks or Voyager Classics ranges, knowing that I am more or less guaranteed a worthwhile read from them. I then select by reading the blurb and author comments, taking into note who made such comments (if a more erudite reviewer offers a complement, or especially an author whose work I appreciate, then it's all to the good). Cover does affect which addition I choose; I have decided to collate a library of the Voyager Classics and Penguin Classics (the black-bound ones with a white strip), and therefore try to avoid buying books available from them in other editions.
 
Great cover art will draw me, but I don't, and would never decide to buy based on what the cover looks like. The cover will get my attention and I'll read the back of the book to see what it's about.
 
Serene, I have to know if on the cover of "The Violet Hour", that is Robert Sean Leonard. It looks exactly like him. Is it?
 
::: drive-by post :::

Liv--- you're right, that's Robert Sean Leonard. He was in the cast of The Violet Hour at the Biltmore Theatre.
 
Ruzi said:
So many books out there, while yes, being filled with wonderful stories, information, and ideas, also have fitting art, both in and outside of the books, covers, character sketches, maps, and so on, what books have art that grabbed your attention?

For me, I love the art on "The Free Bards," "The Broken Crown" "Through Wolf's Eyes" and "Ruby Slippers, Golden Tears", each are very beautiful in my opinion, and each interesting to look at.
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I never judge a book by its cover, I always read the back of the book to see the plot. If it sounds intresting I buy it. If it doesn't inspire me then I don't buy it, unless I think it sounds intresting and I buy it then it turns out to not be the book I expected it to be then I have wasted my money! :p
 
I never read the blurb on the back. Call me odd, call me stupid.

I read the first few pages instead. At least that way I get to see what the style of writing is and can tell whether I'll loathe it. I never really get anything from the blurb.
 
Freya said:
Call me odd, call me stupid.
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You're odd. You're stupid.

I was only following orders.

If a book doesn't have a fancy cover, or an interesting title then it won't catch my attention enough to get me to pick it up and read the blurb.
 
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