Book Covers

I find book covers almost as fascinating as the words inside. I guess it's my background in art and marketing. I've have numerous conversations about the headless or faceless women on covers that we've seen over the last five years or so. Apparently, the latest trend (in chick lit, anyway) is to put tea cups on the cover. I know I've seen this in a couple of editions of Jane Austen novels.

What do you think? Have you noticed tea cups? http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2011/11/29/teacups_on_post_recession_chick_...

Have you noticed any other trends in cover art?

After the success of The Night Circus, I'm fully expecting a plethora of black and white illustrations to hit the bookshops...

I tend to not be conscious of any trends in cover art, although I am buying up a lot of the Vintage Classics range based on their covers (I finally bought myself a complete Jane Austen set!). Penguins have better notes though, so I stick with them for any serious reads. :)

Interesting link, thanks Joyce!

I agree that Vintage Classics have some very nice covers! Too bad they're so lacking in the notes area.

I've seen a lot of dark, vaguely Gothic covers recently. Probably because you can't walk into a bookstore without tripping over the Stephenie Meyer copycats. Can the paranormal trend just be over now?

Wookiebender, I really hope black and white covers don't become the fad of the minute. I don't want anyone looking at my book and saying, "pal-ese, sooo 2012!"

I am fascinated with cover art, be it the really beautiful ones that take your breath away as well as the interesting marketing trends Joyce has posted about teacups or an examination when different books have the same or similar themed cover art (http://readingthepast.com/gallery/reusable-covers.htm as an example)

Curious to see what other members post to the this discussion thread.

#4> "Oh, that's so last week." ;)

#5> Oh, that's a great site! I own a few of those books with reused covers, too.

#5 - oh, I love that! They certainly went into a lot of work. There's another thread here at LT about reused book covers. I must see if I can remember where it was and post the link for you.

They missed one though:

Death of the Hearth, by Elizabeth Bowen:


and

Effi Brest, by Theodor Fontane

Joyce, there was a comment that they have to be historical novels, and I don't think either of those would count. I guess due to the flavour of the website? Well spotted, though!

I just found this: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/books/cover-versions-a-tribute-to-strong-sto...

It's a fundraiser for the Sydney Story Factory, a non-profit creative writing centre for children and teenagers. They took a vote of our favourite 50 books (what Jeffrey Archer is doing at 49 is beyond me; I don't know how this poll was done, they're a bit vague on the details), and then artists did book cover designs. (Some of which look terribly impractical, but still rather lovely.)

It's a bit off topic, but I thought it was rather funny that I should stumble across that the same day we were discussing book covers here. :) And the reworked cover for "The Time Traveller's Wife" is lovely, one of my faves.

Joyce, there was a comment that they have to be historical novels, and I don't think either of those would count.

You're right! I even saw that, but it just floated over my head. I think when you get to Penguin classics and other printers classics, there are a lot of pictures that are reused. When you read the artist/title, sometimes they are very disconnected from the novel they are used to sell. Anyway, it all fascinates me.

Your link is really interesting. I don't like all the covers; some are fantastic. I think it helps to have read the book so you understand what they're doing.

I decided I'm going to discuss book covers on my personal reading thread in 2012. We'll see how it goes. But book covers are interesting to me.

Fascinating topic! My art history education was, for a time, largely guided by the selections Penguin used on its editions. I also enjoy the relatively new addition to books (usually hardcover) that provide some info about the font and book design.

I admit that I always feel slightly ashamed to buy a book with the book-to-movie actors on the cover. As if the clerk will think I'm reading this book only b/c some dishy actor was in the film. I presume putting the movie scene on the cover sells more books or the publisher wouldn't do it, but I doubt I'm the only one who might have this response.

I also feel somewhat ashamed to buy books with a tarted-up cover featuring, say, embossed or metallic type, which associate with bodice rippers and adventure novels.

I admit that I always feel slightly ashamed to buy a book with the book-to-movie actors on the cover. As if the clerk will think I'm reading this book only b/c some dishy actor was in the film.

In most cases, I completely agree. There are exceptions though: 1. if the movie art is actually art and is beautiful in its own right, and 2. if Colin Firth is one of the actors. I bought The Hours with Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman and Julianne Moore on the cover and I am okay with that one too, but generally I'll go out of my way to avoid the movie tie-in.

An article on the iconic cover of Greer's Female Eunich: http://bitchmagazine.org/post/in-the-frame-john-holmes-iconic-cover-for-the-fema...

Wow! I remember that cover. My mother found it highly offensive--that was sorta the point--and told me not to leave it lying around. If anyone is interested in browsing international book covers here's an interesting site:

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/04/14/excellent-book-covers-and-paperbacks/

With no redeeming social value, but lots of fun...
http://www.goodgirlart.com/

SisterSapphist, these are great! "Hillbilly in High Heels!" I bet that's a great read! That and "Swamp Girls"!

Joyce, I started this book for my bookgroup today, and the cover instantly made me think of you:



:)

Have you come to any conclusions why faces are missing? I actually don't mind no faces in photos on book covers, because I feel a bit awkward with someone I don't know looking at me! I prefer art covers, or still lives, etc. (And I'd rather not have a movie tie-in cover, because I'm a snob, and I've bought the book to read it, not to look like I'm only reading it because some hot young thing is in the movie adaptation. ;)

12> That cover is incredible. The one from which I read the book is totally boring:

http://pics.librarything.com/picsizes/c1/1e/c11eef17f0b071f5937394252674141414c3...

Okay, here's one that I really like that is a movie tie-in, and also shows a woman's face.

Tania - no, I don't know what to make of all the missing faces. It doesn't exactly bother me, except I think it's become a cliche. Years from now we'll look back at the faceless or headless women and immediately know the edition was from the early 21st century.

If I was an author and my book got published with one of those covers, I'd be disappointed.

I just looked through my library, and I probably have more books where men's faces are obliterated. However, the art work covers a vast range of styles and angles, whereas the one's with missing women's faces are all similar. So it's definitely the clicheness of it that bothers me. Let's get a little more creative, book designers!

I always presumed that the faces were turned into the book, inviting you to see what the cover lady saw (or read). Plus putting faces on people presets you to imagine that face.

I had a copy of Persuasion from the mid 1960s where the heroine was dressed up in a Gibson Girl outfit with Barbra Streisand type eye-liner. I looked, but can't find a copy of it.

I found a really fun one enroute, but I don't know how to upload photos.

I had a copy of Persuasion from the mid 1960s where the heroine was dressed up in a Gibson Girl outfit with Barbra Streisand type eye-liner. I looked, but can't find a copy of it.

That's funny! Reminds me of historical movies from the 60s where all the women have that look.

I found a really fun one enroute, but I don't know how to upload photos.

This is what I do: I type the pointy brackets which I'm not sure how to make show up in type, but I'll demonstrate with regular brackets:

(img src="IMAGELOCATION"Height=160px/)

Instead of the round brackets, use the pointy ones.

Replace IMAGELOCATION inside the quotation marks with the image's location. To get this, I right-click on the picture and click on Copy Image Location and then paste it in the correct spot.

Have to go, but I'll edit this later to make sure it makes sense.

Joyce, the < and > are done by:

&lt; - ampersand + lt + ;
&gt; - ampersane + gt + ;

The ampersand is a special character which says that the next bit is code; lt = less than & gt = greater than; then a semicolon to wrap it up.

OK, I'll try after I get home and take my medication ...

OK, anyone see the cover? I like the Edward Gorey look!

Hey, it works! Thanks girl friends! Yes, you CAN learn something new when you're old.

That's the most fun Austen cover I've ever seen.

Well done, Nohrt4me! Glad I don't have to rewrite my instructions (half way through I realized I had to leave for my 11 yr old's Christmas concert so I wasn't sure I was coherent!)

I LOVE this cover. So much so that I bought it last month, even though I don't need another copy of Persuasion. I hadn't thought of it as Gorey-like, but of course it is! I'm actually still trying to get my head around what it has to do with the novel, but as a piece of art, I just love it.

Tania - thanks for the advanced class. I never would have guessed that! Not sure I'm talented enough to carry that off, but I'll make note of it and try it when I'm feeling intellectually brave.

That's the most fun Austen cover I've ever seen.

I took a browse through some Austen covers just to prove you wrong, but nope, I couldn't find one that's more fun! There are some really lovely editions out there, but that's one of the better ones. And most definitely fun!

(I'm still looking for an edition of Pride and Prejudice with a photo-montage of Colin Firth doing his various smoldering looks and assorted shots of the famous Pemberly lake scene.)

#24> Congratulations! And it is a great cover, I like it.

#26> Hey, this is what I do every day, generate HTML. When I start dreaming in HTML, then I know it's time for a break. :)

#26, I think the vine thing represents all of poor Anne Elliot's woes and constraints that tie her in that ladylike position with gloves on. She is contemplating a way out. And, of course, she finds it, even without youth, beauty, and money. She is my favorite Austen heroine.

The 1995 movie version with Amanda Root and Ciaran Hinds is a good adaptation.

P.S., is the intro by Colm Toibin any good?

is the intro by Colm Toibin any good?

Sorry, I haven't read it yet.

Thanks for posting all the great covers. Frequently I don't even notice the cover unless it's exceptional, but I'll admit, I have on occasion bought a book because of its cover.

A very interesting article about one of my pet peeves -- the faceless woman cover:

http://www.adiosbarbie.com/2012/05/downcast-decapitated-and-dead/

"Whether dead, the obvious victim of violence, or simply downcast and passive, images of women who can’t stare back are part and parcel of a broader culture where women are expected to be objects rather than subjects, to be acted upon rather than act, to be dehumanized rather than fully functioning agents in charge of our own destinies. "

What do you think?

I think the faceless/headless woman image can be a bit of a double-edged sword. Am thinking of the cover of Citizen Girl, in which the headless body suggests Everywoman and is meant, I think, to symbolize the story's theme of the dehumanization of women, particularly young women, often by older women. (We Boomers know our younger sisters largely hate our guts.)

I think hiding women's faces wholly or partially in general is a rather modern thing. In medieval iconography, the Virgin is often looking down, but she is never faceless. Women saints often look directly at the viewer or are looking up to encourage the viewer to follow their examples. I don't want to posit that these were feminist representations, but there was certainly a sense of dignity and personality in these images.

Good article, Other Joyce. To me the women in the wombs for rent photo are appropriately faceless because they are not supposed to be real humans, they are merely wombs, as much of society would have women be. I like your analysis also, nohrt4me2, but I hate to think younger women hate my guts. I think most of youth think elders are irrelevant and unattractive, but hatred? I hope not.

"I think most of youth think elders are irrelevant and unattractive, but hatred? I hope not."

Think again, Joyce. I've been teaching college for 30 years, and the Millennials hate us as much as the GenXers. GenXers griped b/c we hogged all their jobs, and the Millennials see us as a great big tax burden in our retirement.

Students routinely say that the Boomers "are just living too long" (never mind that the oldest of us is only 66), and that we need to go back to the values of the 1950s (like Jim Crow, the Glass Ceiling, and Red baiting, I guess).

Time to remobilize the Gray Panthers, I think, before handing out Black Capsules to put us out of their misery gets traction.

Well, I am a Gen Y/Millennial and I don't feel any particular hatred to the entire set of Baby Boomers (or find them as a whole irrelevant or unattractive), but then again, I often don't fit into the stereotypes of Millennials....

That's pretty doggone depressing. But you say we need to go back to the values of the 1950s . Do you teach in a southern tea partyish kind of state?

No, I'm in Michigan.

My sense is that taking care of the Boomer generation in their old age is going to be one of the biggest issues on the table in the coming years, particularly since many Boomers did not save for retirement--and those of us who did wiped out our 401Ks to make it through times of unemployment. Boomers will be poorer than their parents, who had more stable pensions, and they will have to compete for resources at a when global warming and international instability will be at critical levels.

I paint with relative broad brushstrokes of doom here, but I don't see how we will be seen as anything more than one more problem.

Soylent green, anyone?

Boomers will be poorer than their parents, who had more stable pensions,

Part of that is certainly true for me, though so far my pension seems quite secure. My mother somehow amassed quite a bit of money in her time. No one knows how. Conspiracy theories abound.

I'm not sure where exactly I fit in the generational conversation (I'm 40-ish) and my thoughts on the boomers and the elders may be in the minority because of my career path, but I think youngsters who have hatred or even apathy towards the older generations are extremely uninformed. We wouldn't have anything that we enjoy today without those that have gone before us and paved the way. I sincerely hope that our society will one day treasure our experienced citizens and wake up to reality that the young folks know nothing!

I would be on board with Gray Panthers if I were invited :) I really wish we could send a contingent to Washington so someone would pay attention!!

Well, the children of the boomers should be grateful for Social Security, Medicare and what pensions are left, as it leaves them off the hook for directly supporting their parents (and grandparents, for that matter) -- and all of us should be fighting for reinstatement of pensions -- the kool-aid of stockmarket 401s and IRAs is poisonous and deadly. Corporations, employers and the government need to be as responsible to their employees as to their stockholders.

Ooops, my mistake!