Mar 27, 2008

Meme: Cover-up

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I really wasn't going to make three posts today; but I didn't realize it was thursday until I saw some other blog posts about Booking Through Thursday. I haven't been there in a while and really wanted to participate, so maybe I'll just take a break tomorrow since I've overdone it today!

Today's question comes from Julie:

While acknowledging that we can’t judge books by their covers, how much does the design of a book affect your reading enjoyment? Hardcover vs. softcover? Trade paperback vs. mass market paperback? Font? Illustrations? Etc.?

If I already have plans to read a certain book, designs won't make much of a difference to me. But the quality of cover art definitely influences my shelf browsing. I'm much more likely to pick up a book that has attractive art or jacket designs. Great interior illustrations can sometimes be a plus, as well. Good paper quality and easily readable type makes the reading experience a real pleasure. I've already discussed the issue with choosing hardbound books over paperbacks or trade sizes here.

When it comes to my personal library collection, I'm much pickier about how the book looks or feels. If I find cover designs absent, uninteresting or distasteful, I'll even create my own out of scrap magazine clippings. If I own a book, I like it to have an interesting or beautiful face!

15 comments:

  1. Anonymous3/27/2008

    It's interesting how many people are picking up on paper quality. It suggests that it has been an issue in the recent past, but that enough publishers are now doing something about it for us to notice the change. If this suggests that publishers are again being to recognise that reading can be an aesthetic as well as an intellectual experience the so much to the good.

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  2. Ah ha ha ha! I forgot that you make your own cover art. I don't think I left a comment on that post, but I do like your designs!

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  3. I love that you make your own covers! LOL... but, truly, IMHO covers to matter.

    Thanks for visiting!

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  4. Anonymous3/27/2008

    I think that's great that you make your own covers! I wish you could make some for me...

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  5. I'm the same, really...a cover will only influence me if the book is one I'm not familiar with.

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  6. I also like to make my own covers for books with uninteresting ones. My husband thinks it's crazy. The ones I make are usually removable, in case I want to unload the book later on. It's a great way to use up some of those magazine clippings that seem to build up around here at an alarming rate.

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  7. Anonymous3/27/2008

    i'm so amazed that you make your own covers - how clever and creative of you!

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  8. Like others, I'm both amazed and impressed that you make your own covers! I think covers do say something about the books, but it'd be a real pity if a good book has a bad cover!

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  9. I love the idea of making your own cover!!!!

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  10. As you say, it certainly makes a difference whether or not one is building a collection or simply planning on reading a book. I would certainly take a lot less time choosing an edition from a library than a bookstore!

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  11. What a great idea, making your own covers for books whose covers aren't up to snuff. I wish I was so crafty, but my creations would probably be even worse. :-)

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  12. I love your book designs and actually thought about them when I saw a "naked" hardcover at the used bookstore the other day. I'm about the same--pick books up because I want to read them, but once they are in my library I'm a little more particular.

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  13. Wow, that's so cool that you make your own covers!

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  14. Anonymous3/29/2008

    Making your own covers is an excellent idea!

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  15. Anonymous4/03/2008

    I never thought about paper quality but a font has to be readable. If it is too small, I won't be able to read it without getting a headache or having my eyes start to blur, in which case, I won't enjoy it. I never thought about designing my own covers but I bet my best friend would love that idea!

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