Judge a book by its cover [Archive]

Michelle

1st August 2005, 12:55

How do you choose your books? Do you have particular authors you look for, or will you try anything new? And if new, do you go on recomendations, the story line, or a nice looking cover?!

I will try anything by Stephen King, James Herbert or Stephen Laws. I'm following the series from Jean M Auel, and read every J D Robb book. There are other authors I like, but won't automatically read everything of theirs.

I have been trying to broaden my horizons, and so am always on the lookout. I like the reviews on Amazon, because they're both good and bad, and will sometimes follow recomendations from friends. There has to be a good description on the back of the book, to grab me.. and I must admit, I do like a nice cover too! :wink:

Debbie

1st August 2005, 13:15

I too have been trying to broaden my horizons, and I will read recommendations or just something that catches my eye and the jacket blurb sounds interesting.

I have also recently worked through the Richard and Judy book list, and really enjoyed most of them!

Debbie

Freewheeling Andy

1st August 2005, 14:47

My favourite of the Richard and Judy ones so far (although, to be fair, it's the only Richard and Judy one I've read - I do have the Time Traveller's Wife sitting in my pile-of-books-waiting-to-be-read) is David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas, which I think is extremely wonderful and lovely, and that everyone should read it.

Freewheeling Andy

1st August 2005, 14:55

Oh. I forgot the main bit, didn't I?

I choose books on all kinds of basises (bases?). Primarily on recommendations, and on whether I know the author. Sometimes, Daunts' style, topographically - if I know a book is about a region, or by an author from a region, that I'm fascinated by at that period, I may tend towards it, and then read the first page, look at the blurb, and decide.

Sometimes I decide on genre, but I mainly read "proper" novels, along with some history and travel stuff, so the genre isn't a very good way of defining things.

But the recommendations of friends I trust (and particularly my mum) seem to be the best way.

Except when I go for things almost at random. See them in a shop, or mentioned in the paper, and think "That sounds good". That happened with Haruki Murukami, Ismael Kadare, and most recently David Mitchell.

Michelle

1st August 2005, 15:20

I do have the Time Traveller's Wife sitting in my pile-of-books-waiting-to-be-read

I started that one last night.. will let you know how it goes. :)

Louise

2nd August 2005, 11:39

I normally like to stick to the same author or at least the same genre but more recently I have been trying new books and to be honest its more to do with recommendations and nice covers than anything else.

If the plate at the back grabs my attention I will buy a book too!!!

tidypijin

2nd August 2005, 20:15

:coffee: I've been a lover of crime, thriller and forensic books for years. I've ploughed my way through Patricia Cornwell Scarpetta collection and 15 books later it has to be said the earlier books are best - Elizabeth George's Inspector Linley set are growing - 14 at the last count - the books and the characterisations are lost on the BBC series. I found David Lindsey in the early 90's and his hero Stuart Houston is OK but many of his books are stand alone thrillers some in the police procedural genre. I moved onto Kathy Reichs, Tess Gerritsen and Mo Hayder having met some fellow genre lovers at another book site on the internet and a recent find has been Peter Robinson's Inspector Banks and most recently I've been dipping into Ian Rankin's Rebus. My love of the genre has developed from pinching my dad's crime thrillers as a teenager and as the years go by my tastes just get darker and more involved. I'm fascinated by the science behind the CSI type stuff and police or military procedural.

I read a lot of psychology books as background to my job as human resources management trainer. If anyone wants some recommendations feel free to ask. I also have a fondness for WWII stories and WWI Poets like Wilfred Owen. This stems from 'O' & 'A' level studies which sadly have left me cold towards Dickens and with an irrational dislike of Shakespeare's "Midsummer Night's Dream" although I do like some of his other works. Who can resist revisiting childrens classics like Winnie the Pooh, The Chronicles of Narnia, Beatrix Potter and Enid Blyton boarding school series Malory Towers and St. Clare's?

I'm open to recommendations from girlfriends and colleagues on many subjects; tend to shy away from the hype surrounding bestsellers for ages - I confess I've not read Harry Potter (although the first 5 books were bought for me for Xmas 2004); and can spend hours browsing in bookstores making choices on the strength of covers blurb or by reading a few pages and getting a feel for the writer's style and narrative flow.

Acesare*

3rd August 2005, 11:52

Like I've said before, I used to only read books by Steven King so if I see one of his it's mine. On a bored day I borrowed Popcorn by Ben Elton from my Dad and now I own all of his, and it was through liking Elton that I tried David Badiel and Robert Llwellyn (I found those 2 funny on TV, so thought their books might be too).

Most of the books I've enjoyed in the last 3/4 years were from my former partner's massive book collection. I knew I needed some new material to read so he started chosing books I might like for me.

I haven't actually bought any new books for a long time - I keep getting the desire to re-read this book, then that book, etc, but I guess I either choose because I know the author, or if the cover is attractive and the blurb sounds good.

I don't read books if they're really popular - I'm odd like that!

Jo xx

Maureen

22nd October 2005, 16:44

:coffee: I've been a lover of crime, thriller and forensic books for years. I've ploughed my way through Patricia Cornwell Scarpetta collection ..... Kathy Reichs, Tess Gerritsen..

Hurrah! Someone who likes my kind of fix!!

I will definately try out the other authors you mentioned, when I am looking for my next books. :D ...you may also want to try out Val McDermid and Jeffery Deaver.

Kell

22nd October 2005, 18:10

There are certain author's who I eagerly await for the publication of their next book (Pratchett, Christopher Brookmyre, Kelley Armstrong) & I snap them up as soon as possible after they hit the shelves.

There are other authors I don't buy every single one, trust to offer up something pretty good & I know there's an excellent chance I'll like what they've got, so i'll gravitate towards their section (Stephen King, Dean Koontz, James Herbert).

There are genres I tend towards, so I'll also head in their direction (fantasy, horror, thriller).

Other than that, I'll sometimes go for something that's been recommended to me, or I'll wander round the shelves looking for a cover or title that grabs my attention. Then I'll read the blurb on the back. If it still looks interesting, I'll buy it (or borrow it from the library, if that's where I am, but mostly buy).

I'll admit there are some covers which I find particularly off-putting - the original covers on the Pratchett Discworld series are hideous (I can't stand those horrid, gnomish-looking creatures on the front - they're just ugly to look at), but his later covers are much more attractive & either way, I know the content will send my heart & mind soaring (so I just don't look at the nasty covers - LOL!).

Our branch of Ottacker's is particularly good as they seem to actively encourage their customers to spend time flicking through books while in a comfy seat or having a coffee, so I can spend an entire Saturday morning or afternoon in there, taking my time over my purchases.There's also always someone on hand to help if you need to do a search for something specific, but they'll never bother you needlessly - they just let you get on with it - bliss!

sf1818

23rd October 2005, 14:54

I love forums like this one. You can get tons of really specific information across a wide variety of genres. Fantastic resource. So the descriptions and the reviews that I read on forums are my reason for buying a book.

Mamacita

24th October 2005, 00:33

I have authors that I really like.

Anne Perry--I'll read just about anything by her.

Robin Paige(pseudonym for husband and wife writing team Susan Wittig Albert and Bill Albert)-- I love their series.

Haywood Smith--A dear, dear friend and wonderful writer who started out writing these incredibly detailed historicals and has recently launched into mainstream women's fiction (she calls it "anti-romance")

But occasionally, I'll see a book cover that intrigues me, so I'll flip it over and read the back cover blurb. If I'm still interested, I'll buy it.

I got interested in Debbie Macomber simply because she's a knitter, like me, and wrote a 2 part series about a woman who opens a yarn store.

Also, as a writer, I read the market. Since I'm writing mainstream women's fiction with (I hope) strong alpha-type females, I like to read about them. So, I'll often go on recommendation to read this book or that.

Inanna

5th January 2006, 14:29

If its an author I love I'll get my hands on the book as soon as its released.
Sometimes I read what the blurb on the back says, other times I'll read what reviews there are, though I find that that generally makes me more and more confused as people have such different and often conflicting opinions :?

One of the genres I do enjoy are romance books, but not the slushy, sugary sweet kind (as in Danielle Steele), but ones with a really good story line in them, sort of like Nora Roberts & Sandra Brown (her latest ones anyhow), but one thing that drives me mad is when they have awful covers on them.

At the moment I have read my way through the 'Highlander' series by Karen Marie Moning which, whilst is a romantic (think sizzling rather than slushy) book, also incorporates time-travelling, Druidism and the Tuath De Dannan in its story which I love, but the covers are just too awful for words. Think Mills & Boon, big beefy man etc :shock:

If I hadn't already read one of hers, the covers probably would have sent me running, so I do think that a good cover sells the book as well!

Leah

5th January 2006, 22:08

I typically stick to the authors I know and love. Every once in a while I'll pick up something new that's on a discount rack, but other than that I don't tend to stray from the authors I like. Every once in a while someone can convince me to try someone new. That's how I got hooked on Diana Gabaldon. I got hooked on Stephenie Laurens because the cover caught my eye and I was looking for a really good historical romance author at the time. I got hooked and slowly managed to get all but one or two of her books. My mom turned me on to V.C. Andrews and even if I don't like the book I still end up with them and I will read it from cover to cover just because of reading everything that has ever been written under her name.

Now I did pick up a book recently based on the cover and the inside flap sounding really good. I picked up Hades' Daughter by Sara Douglass. Not sure if it'll be any good but I'm hoping, but of course I also have to find time to read it and as I seem to be reading slower and slower lately it'll be a while. Grr...

Cerridwen

6th January 2006, 09:52

I tend to find a good author and want to read everything by them, also on Amazon I have picked up books from recommendations etc

One book I bought purely because I loved the cover so much was Daughter of the Forest (seem to be raving loads over this book)!

Maureen

6th January 2006, 19:08

I used to stick to tried and tested authors, BUT since joining here I have tried new ones. :D Ones which I would have never dreamed of trying before.

Anonymous

6th January 2006, 19:16

I usually decide from prior books of the author, or through recommendations from others - I see this is going to be my downfall here, LOL

Angel

6th January 2006, 19:28

Maureen wrote

I used to stick to tried and tested authors, BUT since joining here I have tried new ones.

Great to hear Maureen

I love a wide variety of authors and so keeps me open to ideas and styles

Tash

6th January 2006, 20:01

I buy all my favourite authors books as a priority. I don't think I've ever bought a book based just on its cover.

When I find an author I like, I try to get hold of all their work. This is an expensive method as I find more authors all the time!! Author recommendations are something I go on alot also.

Having read some reviews here today, I think my author list could be expanding somewhat....I'll blame you lot when the bank statement comes in LOL

Wraith*

7th June 2007, 07:08

Do you? I know you're not meant to but I always do. The cover of the book is the one thing that attracts me to it if I don't know the author.

So would you read a book with a dull cover?

I should add that as soon as I get anu hardback books home I throw the dust covers away anyway so it just ends up plain lol.

kitty_kitty

7th June 2007, 07:11

i would but i do tend to pick up books by differnt authors on the strength of their title or cover

aromaannie

7th June 2007, 10:20

I have discovered a few new authors that I'd never heard of before by the book cover & title

Kell

7th June 2007, 12:06

Bonny book covers attract me, but if it's a book by an author I already know I like, I'm less likely to be put off by a crummy cover (although I may wish it looked nicer than it does). For example - I hate the Josh Kirby covers on the Terry Pratchett books, but all the earlier ones had those horridly grotesque, bulbous little beings sprawled all over the covers - ick! It didn't stop me buying them though.

If it's an author I've never heard of, I'm more likely to pick it up and read the back cover blurb is it's nice to look at in the first place.

Icecream

7th June 2007, 13:11

I will read books I know or have had recommended as well despite the cover. For books I do not know I do have a tendancy to skan the shelves for an appealing cover. There is often a certain amount of judging one can do by looking at a cover, but I think I should do a bit more than skan the shelves as I am probably missing out on a lot and there is only one way to tell if a book is good or not.

Fiona

7th June 2007, 16:08

That saying is true and false. You shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but with the hundreds of available books out there the cover is important now. When I'm just browsing with no purpose or intent, then I go for covers that attract me and I avoid covers which represent books I wouldn't like to read.

Womensy books with hand bags and shoes and flowers and y'know - womensy books I avoid like the plague. I simply don't like those books. I get annoyed when the re-fashion books like Pride and Prejudice into insipid womensy covers because I'd never have anything like that.

I wanted to buy the Princess Diaries the other day actually, but the front cover was so incredibly girly with make-up and stuff all over it etc, I was considering buying and ripping the front cover off. I'm vain. Wouldn't be seen dead reading a pink book.

So it's a yeah but no but - I do select books possibly because of their cover. I have to make decisions, I cannot look at EVERY book in the bookshop so obviously I go for the ones with covers that attract me. I'll look at the blurb then and if that interests me, I'll take a peek inside and choose.

It isn't the deciding factor, but because I'm more likely to pick up books with interesting covers then those which I do not find appealing, then I'm more likely to buy them.

Good titles are also attractive but again, when I'm browsing I don't always read every title. So it has to stick out at me for me to actually read it. Again, cover is important.

Also, things that effect my book buying choices -

I rarely look at the top shelf because well, I'm lazy and it'd give me neck ache. I look at books eye level, maybe one row above and a row or two below. I very rarely look at the top shelf or very bottom shelf because I'm lazy. I might do a quick glance but that's it.

Also, if the books are packed too tightly into the shelf and I can't get it out - I'm lazy. I won't bother because I know I won't bother to put it back in. So unless I'm looking for that book/author in particular, I won't pick it up.

I wish bookshops would only have books kinda... in the middle section of the wall. Because I really don't look upwards - especially if I can't reach up there anyway! Maybe that's why I don't read authors with surnames beginning with A so much? :roll:

lovesreading06

7th June 2007, 16:09

when i was yonger i used to get books with fancy covers out. now i don't care what the cover looks like.

wrathofkublakhan

7th June 2007, 17:01

Pam Anderson looks interesting until you look under the cover.

supergran71

7th June 2007, 17:54

The size of a book attracts me. I like em BIG!!:lol:

Karen

7th June 2007, 18:23

I try not to judge a book by it's cover, but with books by authors not known to me, then it's ultimately the cover that usually gets my attention initially so the cover is important.

Maureen

7th June 2007, 19:03

I think the cover is important. Not the most important thing, but important.

angerball

7th June 2007, 20:27

For authors that I know I will enjoy, covers don't matter at all to me. Covers count more when trying to choose a book at random, or by an author whose work I'm not familiar with.

Nici76

7th June 2007, 20:28

I will always look at the cover first and if i like the look of it i will then read the blurb on the back.

madcow

7th June 2007, 21:41

The size of a book attracts me. I like em BIG!!:lol:
Ditto, need to know I'm getting my moneys worth :lol:

But if it is an author I know the cover is not important, if I am just browsing I tend to pay more attention to the blurb rather than the cover.

JudyB

8th June 2007, 18:52

Often it's covers that catch my eye - very often they do reflect their genre so it's an effective way of sifting through a wide choice of books. Once a cover's caught my eye then I'll check the blurb.

Oh another thing to consider - the title - how much does that influence anyone?

Kell

8th June 2007, 19:17

Oh another thing to consider - the title - how much does that influence anyone?An unusual title will usually catch my attention. I love Christopher Brookmyre's titles, such as A Big Boy Did it and Ran Away and One Fine Day in the Middle of the Night - they reflect his kind of humour quite well.

Another title I loved was Bimbos of the Death Sun - I just thought it sounded so absurd I had to try it. The cover looked very sci-fi trashy (a blonde bimbo, a geeky guy and a computer), but it was very fitting to the book which was set at a sci-fi convention. And yes, it was pretty funny too (if anyone's interested, it's by Sharyn McCrumb).

It must be difficult to get the cover and title right sometimes - they need to reflect the story and the style without giving too much away, but with enough to grab your attention - it's a fine line.

JudyB

8th June 2007, 19:29

The title The Secret of Crickley Hall captured my imagination - I think it harks back to my Enid Blyton reading days! :lol:

Fiona

8th June 2007, 20:12

Oh another thing to consider - the title - how much does that influence anyone?

I'd say it's the thing I notice after the cover (or the spine design) I suppose. It is rather important too I suppose, it has to intrigue. I prefer shorter titles and I don't like weird ones. I can't really say actually, hmm. I guess, because I don't like comedic books I wouldn't find

A Big Boy Did it and Ran Away and One Fine Day in the Middle of the Night very interesting. In fact, if I read that I'd turn away. It's too long and I'm too lazy to read it. I like a title you can recall, not one where you can't even remember the book you're reading's called!

Bimbos of the Death Sun - And to me that just sounds stupid. I don't like comedy thingies. So I guess I just like a straight descriptive title - or at least that is what makes me pick it up to take a further look.

Essexgirl

8th June 2007, 23:05

The cover usually catches my eye first, and then the title, I have been known to be put off what is probably a very good book by a trashy cover or weird title

Kell

9th June 2007, 06:45

I thought I'd merge these threads as they're the same subject. :)

Maureen

9th June 2007, 20:10

An unusual title will usually catch my attention. I love Christopher Brookmyre's titles, such as A Big Boy Did it and Ran Away and One Fine Day in the Middle of the Night - they reflect his kind of humour quite well.

Actually that's what I was thinking about today - and was going to ask the question here. I am currently reading country of the blind, and on the cover there is a reference to his book called quite ugly one morning. His titles are all "funny" such as boiling a frog and the covers are childishly colourful - quite unlike the subject matter. They do make you pick them up though - in fact they are quite eye - catching.

24th August 2007, 21:54

JudyB

24th August 2007, 22:09

Thanks for that ii. I work in a library so am seeing a large amount of books during the time that I am there. Since working there I have realised how much I pick up on clues from the cover - as I'm working I'm unable to browse the books as such, but have seen many a cover that has caught my eye enough to make me quickly flip the book over to scan the blurb. I do have expectations of the book from seeing the cover. It's amazing how so many books have nearly the same covers. As well as giving clues to the book's genre etc some covers are just so attractive that they draw you in and that was the reason why I read The Ladies' Detective Agency series.

scottishbookworm

24th August 2007, 22:24

When I get a book I don't Just go for it because of it's fancy cover.

I go for it because I'm a fan of the writer and allso that I'm looking forward to their next piece of work.

:readingtwo:

fireball

24th August 2007, 23:58

Couldn't agree with you more SBW.

Sometimes a book cover can be nice, gives you a "flavour" so to speak, of any given novel, but most times there more flashy and not any substance...And ****** all to do with what's in the book.:motz:

They've recently redone and reissued Stephen Booth's books with so-called new covers to them, I've the original ones myself :) and really they should have left well enough alone.! :lol::lurker:

wrathofkublakhan

25th August 2007, 00:17

I'll confess to buying The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency for it's cover and great title.
It was almost haunting me - I'd see it everywhere!

Good book too!

fireball

25th August 2007, 00:38

Many thanks for that ii. Interesting article that.

It also reminds me of the saying : all that glitters is not gold.

Covers should, to my way of thinking, at least give one a 'flavour' of the novel and what context the picture displays, as more times than not, semi nude women a bare behind or a barely covered breast, does nothing for me, but move on.

Covers to books should at least have some correspondence to the books 'calling', the link you kindly gave us showed us what NOT to do with covers as in :

http://www.avclub.com/content/files/images/davidson.jpg

or this :

http://www.avclub.com/content/files/images/wolf.jpg

I've a few authors that I follow, so I'm always, well sometimes

put off by a smartypants cover person doing something "smart" with
my writers book that's nawt to do with his/her story, not even peripherally. :motz: Not a good or cleaver thing eh?

Kell

25th August 2007, 07:12

I was surfing my bookmarks of literary sites, and came across this article (http://www.avclub.com/content/blog/judging_books_by_their_covers?utm_source=avclub_rs s_daily). It's rather interesting, don't you think? Do you think he's right? What do your books and their covers say?I do agree - many book covers these days are very similar when on a similar theme. For example, when I was in the airport a couple of weeks back, there were a whole slew of identikit covers:

- White/pale background
- Small child/children with/without an adult hand holding theirs (washed-out colours)
- Title in black/red in a font that looks like handwriting

They were ALL child-abuse or touch childhood stories.

ETA: I merged this thread with a previous one on the same subject, but left the redirect link in place in case anyone wondered

JudyB

25th August 2007, 21:21

They were ALL child-abuse or touch childhood stories.

I've found I can spot that particular genre a mile away because of those covers.

The cover isn't my only reason for choosing a book but it's useful to be able to pick up on clues when working and therefore not having time to browse (for too long).

I read today that Penguin are publishing a number of recently published books in the original Penguin style of covers - it's a promotion called Penguin Celebrations.

Oblomov

26th August 2007, 09:48

I think a lot of us do occasionally judge a book by its cover. Not for planned, serious reading of course, but for spontaneous, instinctive purchases.

Just picture yourself in an airport lounge before a long flight but without a book; unless you find something that is specifically in your interest in the lounge's WH Smith, there is a chance that you'll pick up a book by the front cover picture and the synopsis at the back ;).

beef

26th August 2007, 14:20

It usually tends to be the Title of a book that grabs my interest, then its onto the blurb with the cover coming in last (there is still no excuse for half effort covers). Although if it has pirates on the cover id probably buy it based on cover :smile2:

Ratna

28th August 2007, 08:20

I look for books by author or good reviews..but I always browse around the bookstore for something new. The cover & title always catch my eye first, then I have to read the blurb..if it doesn't seem interesting I would probably pass.

Princess Orchid

28th August 2007, 08:28

I have to admit, there's something nice about a matte, tasteful cover, with an intriguing title. It's usually the title that gets me tho, probably as that's the first thing you see (the spine) when browsing shelf after shelf in a bookshop.

nicnic

28th August 2007, 12:57

I wouldn't say I choose what to read by the covers of books, but I do choose what NOT to read by them. Anything too brash or overly pink and girly puts me off and in general I'm correct in my guess that it's something I wouldn't want to read if I look at the blurb.

LittleLijah

29th August 2007, 07:39

I think initially it's the cover that grabs your attention but after checking out the title and blurb I wouldn't dismiss the book because of the cover.

29th August 2007, 10:07

I know this is going to sound terribly shalow, but I usually don't even pick up books that look like these tacky/trashy novels you see on sale at gas stations. I don't get interested in a book unless it looks like something I wouldn't mind reading in public. Of course there are exceptions, sometimes the author is familiar or the title is just too good to pass up. Then they get to closer inspection.

I guess in general the cover doesn't matter if you're looking for something specific, a certain book or even a certain author. But if you're just looking for something interesting and new, just browsing, then the cover needs to look tempting.

Have you noticed how there's rarely a detective/crime story with a pale/light cover? They're always dark and gloomy.

wrathofkublakhan

29th August 2007, 13:49

I know this is going to sound terribly shallow, but I usually don't even pick up books that look like these tacky/trashy novels you see on sale at gas stations. I don't get interested in a book unless it looks like something I wouldn't mind reading in public. Of course there are exceptions, sometimes the author is familiar or the title is just too good to pass up. Then they get to closer inspection.

Like this one?
I read this book (and I rarely read King) because of it's awesome and kind of trashy vintage cover.

http://www.calarts.edu/%7Edk/tut/king.jpg

Kell

29th August 2007, 16:58

I was in Waterstones last Saturday and saw three different covers for The Colorado Kid - none of them the one you've just posted! There must be a variety of different ones to choose from, which I think is a nice ploy,. as you're more likely to get a cover you like to look at. :)

Oblomov

29th August 2007, 18:37

I usually don't even pick up books that look like these tacky/trashy novels you see on sale at gas stations.. I am like-minded for new books, but I am a fan of the older (60s or earlier) sexist, politically incorrect "trashy covers" and have picked up several such books at random in Hay-on-Wye. Many of them were quite good reads, actually.

That "trashy" cover of The Colorado Kid is excellent.

carguy

29th August 2007, 18:52

Admin Edit: As your post was totally unrelated to this thread, I assume that you're promoting the book you linked too. Details therefore removed.

Adam

10th October 2007, 08:48

It is a classic saying and it has a good meaning if you apply it to people. However, when it comes to books do you judge? What makes you pick up the book and what makes you want to read it. Everyone has a favorite author and they tend to lean towards their new books just based on name, but I'm talking browsing through aisles of the book stores what makes you pick up the book?

fireball

10th October 2007, 09:57

Damn, now that's a question and a half isn't it.?

Myself...partly the writers I follow, and partly what the synopsis is like.
And lastly if, say like, Amazon.co.uk reviewers give mixed views, and I'm lucky enough to have choice between hardback and paperback, I'll buy the paperback as a cautionary, and IF I like it a lot I'll buy the hardback later.

But to your question: Do You Judge Books By Their Cover.? absolutely NOT.

nicnic

10th October 2007, 10:50

To be honest, yes I do. When it comes to fiction I find that books with certain types of covers seem to indicate it is something I would not enjoy, therefore, I avoid it. However, if the blurb or a recommendation indicated that it was something I'd enjoy, I'd give it a go.

samgrosser

10th October 2007, 16:51

Good question. If I've read a review and think I'd like it, then the cover will make no difference. But it definitely influences the books I pick up in a bookshop, though it's the blurb and ultimately the first page that makes me decide whether or not to buy it.

Laramie

10th October 2007, 17:03

I start by looking at the cover and the title, and if something catches my eye I'll look at the blurb and maybe read a page or two.

So basically, I originally judge it by its cover, but I also read a bit to look at font size and stuff; if the font is too big it tends to be a book for younger kids.

Kell

10th October 2007, 17:05

I tend to go for specific books that I've heard about from others, or that I'm expecting to be out (with certain authors I eagerly await new releases). I do, however, browse when I have nothing specific in mind and do find myself drawn to books with interesting covers. If a cover grabs my attention, I'll have a read of the blurb on the back. If the blurb interests me, I'll buy it.

I suppose covers do play a part in my choices, but then again, if I'm after a book, the cover doesn't matter much. For example, I HATE the Josh Kirby covers on the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett (I think them particularly grotesque and sickening to look at with those hideous, bulbous little creatures tumbling all over the place), but I still have the entire collection on my shelves. (I adore the Paul Kidby covers though - they're just gorgeous!).

Mia

10th October 2007, 18:49

I HATE the Josh Kirby covers on the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett (I think them particularly grotesque and sickening to look at with those hideous, bulbous little creatures tumbling all over the place), but I still have the entire collection on my shelves. (I adore the Paul Kidby covers though - they're just gorgeous!).

Lol - I'm exactly the opposite Kell! I don't much care for the Kidby ones, but I love the Josh Kirby ones! To me they're colourful, frenetic and fun, just like Discworld and its inhabitants. :)

supergran71

10th October 2007, 21:24

If its a by an author that I like or am familiar with I read the blurb and if thats ok, I will buy it. The cover just doesnt come into it with me. With hard backs, though, I do try to find the author, usually inside the backflap to look at the photo if there is one, or to read their biography.

Adam

10th October 2007, 22:31

I have to admit I am guilty. I judge books by their covers unless it is an author I know. Titles also play a big role for me to :)

michael

11th October 2007, 12:10

i'm a photographer so i always look at the cover first. If i like it, I'm much more likely to open it and read the first page. If I don't like it, I get hung up on how I would have done the cover differently, and I forget to read it!

Liz

11th October 2007, 17:03

Lol - I'm exactly the opposite Kell! I don't much care for the Kidby ones, but I love the Josh Kirby ones! To me they're colourful, frenetic and fun, just like Discworld and its inhabitants. :)

I'm the same as you, Mia. I also love the Kirby cartoon covers. The Kidby ones are nice as well, but I prefer the original Discworld style.

Kylie

12th October 2007, 01:52

I'm not really one for browsing random books. There are so many books I know of that I want to get that I don't have any inclination to browse other books. I usually head straight to the classics section and look at the different editions, which can vary in price a lot. I often go for the cheaper edition (if there is one!), although if the cheaper book has a really hideous cover, I don't mind paying extra to get a nicer one. I can't really think of any instances where that has happened though.

Icecream

12th October 2007, 10:20

Covers attract me, as do titles. You can tell a lot about a book by its cover but I always read the blurb to find out if I'll like it. I don't have a good attention span at times so i think I would never have looked at different sorts of books if I had never come on this forum.

Janet

12th October 2007, 17:09

I suppose covers do play a part in my choices, but then again, if I'm after a book, the cover doesn't matter much. For example, I HATE the Josh Kirby covers on the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett (I think them particularly grotesque and sickening to look at with those hideous, bulbous little creatures tumbling all over the place), but I still have the entire collection on my shelves. (I adore the Paul Kidby covers though - they're just gorgeous!).
Any chance of an example of both type of cover - for the uninitiated amongst us! :)

I guess I do judge books by their covers - it's what draws me to books if I'm browsing with nothing in mind.

Also, when I order a book I look for the one that to me is the most aesthetically pleasing. I bought Huck Finn recently and ordered the one with a pretty watercolour on the front - they had one with a plain green cover, and despite the fact that the content was the same, I just didn't fancy the plain one, despite it being cheaper!

Kell

12th October 2007, 17:52

Any chance of an example of both type of cover - for the uninitiated amongst us! :)
Your wish is my command!

Kidby Cover for Going Postal (http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l124/kell_smurthwaite/KidbyCover.jpg)

Kirby Cover for Lords and Ladies (http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l124/kell_smurthwaite/KirbyCover.jpg)

New Photography Cover for Colour of Magic (http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l124/kell_smurthwaite/Photographycovers.jpg)

I love the Kidby covers and the photography ones, but HATE the Kirby ones.

Galactic Space Hamster

12th October 2007, 18:05

There are so many factors involved in my picking a new book. I love bookshops and everything they mean. It's wonderful to wander slowly through the book shop waiting for a book to jump out at you and surprise you. Normally it's the cover or the name that makes me pick up the book and read the back cover to see if I like it! Sometimes I just randomly choose a book and read the back cover. I think that most of my reading picks are down to serendipity.

Other factors include and are not limited to: new works by favourite authors, recommendations by friends, reading reviews, seeing books mentioned on a forum such as this, browsing book web sites such as Amazon, listamania on Amazon, and books as presents.

Mia

12th October 2007, 19:05

That photographic cover for The Colour of Magic looks very stylish, but I don't know... it just seems wrong somehow for Pratchett. I think the cartoony style of Kirby fits so well with Discworld.

Janet

12th October 2007, 20:26

Your wish is my command!

I love the Kidby covers and the photography ones, but HATE the Kirby ones.
Thanks Kell. :)

I'd agree with your assessment - although I don't think I've ever seen any 'Kidby' ones in the flesh, so to speak. There are always loads of the 'Kirby' (how confusing!) ones in charity shops.

Liz

12th October 2007, 21:14

There are always loads of the 'Kirby' (how confusing!) ones in charity shops.

What are the chances, eh, of Pratchett having two illustrators whose surnames are only different by one letter? Very freaky. I bet that doesn't happen very often.

purplegrape

12th October 2007, 21:28

i actually do judge books by their covers, to start with at least. i'll go to the library and glance over the titles and choose, at first, my book by that. once the title has got my attention, i look at the cover, if that holds my intrest, i'll read the inside flap, or back. if the book sounds good, i get it.:readingtwo:

Liz

12th October 2007, 21:40

I do tend to judge a book by its cover when I am just browsing in a bookshop, especially large shops such as Waterstones. There are so many books that I usually just pick up the books with covers or titles that look or sound interesting and a bit different from most books. A bad cover would not put me off buying a book if it seemed to be a good read - but I will always look around just to see if there is a different and better cover, though.

13th October 2007, 04:50

I do judge by the cover. I want my classics to look smart, and chick-lit girly, and so on. I think the funnies example about random judging is a girlfriend of mine, who drops a book, any book, no matter how good, if someone in it is wearing a navy blue suit. She just hates them, so she refuses to read about them. That's hilarious!

Adam

13th October 2007, 10:39

13th October 2007, 11:34

I dunno, a navy blue suit can look pretty sharp. Just add color to it. Maybe some yellows or layer with a vest of a matching color :D

Well, for guys, maybe. And it's not me, it's her. Oh and just a side note, the Finn in me refuses to mix dark(-ish) blue with yellow. Too Swedish.

Mbwun_Lily

13th October 2007, 15:49

Unless I'm looking for a specific book that has been recommended to me, the cover has everything to do with whether I pick a book up and check it out. It's only after the cover has attracted me to it that I'll even bother looking at what it's about, and what kind of comments have been made about it on the book jacket.

The title of a book is pretty darned important too.

If that doesn't compel me to purchase it then and there, I'll go home and check what people are saying about it on the 'net. Sometimes that clinches the purchase, and sometimes it makes me decide to give it a pass.

Mia

13th October 2007, 19:56

The title of a book is pretty darned important too.

I agree - if I'm browsing for books by unfamiliar authors, it's the title that catches my eye first. Reading the blurb and then looking at a random page or two to gauge writing style will decide whether I buy or not. To be honest, the cover doesn't really come into it. Whilst a nice cover is good to have, a terrible one won't stop me from buying.

Icecream

14th October 2007, 20:28

As for the Pratchett covers, I prefer the Kirby ones, yet when it comes to Harry Potter I must have the adult ones..

Kylie

15th October 2007, 00:48

Echo

15th October 2007, 02:16

I sometimes find myself attracted by an interesting cover, and repelled by something gaudy or ugly. But my choice when buying a book really depends on if I think I'll like reading it. I always read the blurbs and figure it out that way.

fireball

15th October 2007, 08:08

Another question to ask too is, "Have covers given wrong impressions" of book/s, never mind about the actually story.!

Just How many of you were put off by covers, and when it's reprinted in paperback, you vaguely remember the book's title but pick the book up and read the blurb and bells start ringing in your head, and you think damn this is good read, and then the penny drops you HAVE heard of it, you've just looked inside the page that gives it's printing history bit. :doh:

I mentioned on this thread, that I DON'T judge a book by it's cover, which is true, as too is it not the deciding factor in purchasing said.
The thing I liked about the Harry Potter books the 'childrens' cover version, was it DID have scene from one or other of the chapters in the book, and seeing 'adult' version didn't HAVE of sorts, the same, well, clout! really.

So I was wondering WHY in adult books don't they do the same on adult books. Either have painting or photo on front&back cover depicting a scene from anyone of the chapters in the book.

At least it WOULD be a change from seeing a woman with clothes she nearly has on.! :lol: Whether you know the author/ess or not.

Adam

15th October 2007, 08:22

As I've already said, I always know what books I'm looking for so I never have any need to just browse and look at covers, but after reading this thread, I feel like going out and browsing for random books and buying one by an unheard-of author based solely on the cover! I think I'll wait until I get my TBR pile down a bit first. :smile2:

LOL I love browsing for random books. I take a good hour going through all the shelves and looking at books. I love discovering new authors and I have found some really good gems. You should try it. Just grab a coffee and explore :D

KAY

13th January 2008, 21:10

Do you judge a book by its cover? If i like a book i buy the same book but in different versions of the front cover(only if they are nice though) Some front covers do put me off buying the book but something like catcher in the rye is very plain but i didnt let it put me off. I am trying to fin d the oldest version of the front cover of "catcher in the rye"
One of my favourite front covers is the pink version of fight club. i'll have a think of somme more.

megan

14th January 2008, 18:17

I am so guilty of judging a book by it's cover, but I have noticed that my judging hasn't failed me yet. I have not picked up one book that I have not enjoyed. I grab books that look "southern" to me or look "antebellum" or I don't know just different. I picked up a book titled Cover the Butter and sped through it in about 2 1/2 days. I've been having a good time scavaging through the library for new tresures. The last time I left I checked out 11 books...next one I finish I'll post a review on it...

kateleopald

16th January 2008, 10:20

i remember being in Borders one day and suddenly 'being aware' of book cover colours on the shelves. Surprising how many reds, blues and blacks. Was aware that while browsing i'm often drawn to yellow because it seems to leap out from the shelf. Does the colour of the cover influence anyone else?!!!

!!Ann!!

16th January 2008, 14:52

I don't purposly judge a book by its cover, but I'm just drawn to some covers. I also love to browse. When you're looking at shelf after shelf of books, you can't help but notice the covers.

pickwick

24th January 2008, 09:37

I love to browse the shelves and table stacks of books and am often drawn to a cover, read the blurb and find that I don't really want it! What a let down :irked:

March

30th January 2008, 16:26

Unless the books are highly recommended by friends, I am totally drawn to covers. Before deciding to buy it, I'll read a few pages or even a chapter to see if its interesting enough. If it's too expensive, I'll try to find it in the library.

Jules2

18th August 2008, 10:49

I don't know if this has already been discussed, but I wondered how much you are influenced by the cover of a book. It occurred to me that I was maybe a bit shallow as I tend to be very swayed by a nice cover - for example, I only bought my latest read as I loved the pretty cover and now I can't wait to finish the book so I can get onto something else.

I also bought a second copy of Tess of the D'Urbervilles because I didn't like the cover on the first one. The second one definitely made me want to read more.

Jules