Various people have always admonished me for disregarding such sage old advice. Fact is, I’ve always found that with both books and people, the process is generally fairly intuitive. It isn’t just the visual appearance of the “cover”, but the feeling I get. Whenever I’ve gone against that feeling, tested it, the idea has been reinforced.
With particular regard for literature, every single book I have so far felt repelled by on the strength of its external appearance, and gone on to read, I have disliked. I wonder if this is because I have gone into the book with a particular mindset, or if I just wouldn’t have liked it anyway.
On a less extreme note, there are book covers that simply lead to a book being either passed over in the shop for other, more attractive or appealing ones. I, Claudius would be a good example here. No judgement really passed, they just don’t appeal. Then, there are the books that make it to the reading pile, but keep getting bumped down because others are more inviting. A good example of this would be Neil Gaiman’s Fragile Things, which has been sitting on the shelf since I got it. Why? I have the UK hardcover, which has a much less appealing cover than the US release. I fully intend to read the book, and I’m pretty sure I will enjoy it thoroughly, I just have a stack of other, more persuasively packaged books.
I suppose that what I’m trying to say is that appearances do make a difference and that isn’t necessarily wrong. And also that I wonder if it is true that we can get a sense of a book before even opening it. What do you think?
Now a challenge of sorts. I have always loathed Lorna Doone, I wonder if in part this has something to do with the fact that I have always been completely repelled by the covers that I have seen. It might be interesting to test this, if anyone can find a cover that I do like. If such a beast exists.
Other thoughts:
Via Chris I came across Literary-chic’s blog, where I found myself nodding along with this interesting post on audiobooks.
Having read the book, I am able to listen to the book; I can not listen to a book I have not read.
Same here – I have tried several times, and failed miserably. I think this may also have a great deal to do with why I don’t get along particularly well with radio.
While covers do, most definitely, have a lot to do with my first impressions of a book I don’t think I’ve ever disliked a book based on its cover.
Although some I look at and do put off reading in public
I don’t know if I dislike books based on their covers, really. I somehow doubt that. They probably do contribute greatly to the “feeling” you get about a book though. I’m not sure if in the past I have been so negatively influenced by the cover that I have disliked the contents as a result, or if the cover has in some way communicated accurately to me that the book isn’t for me. If that makes sense.
I almost always judge books by their covers, at least until I am addicted to an author and then I will buy their latest even if I don’t like the cover.
As far as I, Claudius goes, and its sequel, I love the covers of both books (at least the trade versions that I have). They look great.
Hi! I followed Chris’s link to your post! I like your thoughts on covers. Personally, I like to collect cover art. I have many volumes of some titles simply because I find the contrast in “packaging” interesting & fun! I love that Chris Van Allsburg illustrated the covers to one edition of the Chronicles of Narnia, for example, and I have found international cover art for those as well. Looking forward to reading more!
Carl – if you could point me at the I, Claudius cover you have, that would be great!
Hey Literary-chic, thanks for dropping in! I tend to collect different editions and cover art of my favourites.
I’m not sure I’ve seen the Chris Van Allsburg illustrated edition, may have to go and look it up!
Well, I’ve definitely disliked covers enough to be put off a book – though not to dislike it once I’d read it. Our school library had this edition of Howl’s Moving Castle, and I didn’t read it for ages because it looked bleak and scary. (I wasn’t so keen on bleak and scary when I was 13.)
Howl is a summer book: the action takes place from May Day to Midsummer, and warmth and heat leak out of the pages. Does the cover represent this? No. Mind you, once Howl had become one of my favourite books, I bought this version, and rapidly had to re-cover it (red handmade paper with cut-out gothic lettering – I can’t do elaborate!) because the characters didn’t match my mental image and I found the artwork garish. So it’s probably me!
Heya K!
Neither of those editions appeal to me, I have to say. I haven’t actually read any of Diana Wynne Jones’ work, although I do keep meaning to. Perhaps I’ll read that one first, soon, so I can then watch the film!
I found this edition on Amazon and the art is more appealing to me. Of course, I have no idea how fitting it is for the book.
It’s really hard not to judge a book by its cover – especially genre books. For example, if I were not already a fan of Steven Erikson, there is almost no way I’d start reading the series based on how bad the US covers are.
I’ve ranted about similar thoughts here.
Oh, I like that cover much better – although I don’t know if I would have when I was 13! The first time I read the book, I thought “What a pity I didn’t read it when I was a bit younger. I like it, but I’m a bit old for fairytales now.” Gradually I came to realise what a clever (and deep) book it is, and how many layers of meaning there are in the story. Definitely worth having a look.
DWJ is quite possibly my favourite fantasy author. Even counting Neil Gaiman.