They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. But, let’s be honest; we’re all guilty of doing that at least once. The book cover should convey the tone and subject of the book and entice the reader to pick it up and give it a read. Recently, book cover designing has gained momentum, giving rise to some interesting book covers around the world. Here are a few favourites….
Not only does the name suggest that the book is about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, but even the cover hints at the same. Rows of coloured beads, grouped neatly according to colour, gives the reader the idea that details play an important part in the story. Another interesting aspect of the cover is the last incomplete row which is sure to provoke those suffering from OCD. The cover is simple, yet impactful and successfully lures the reader towards the story.
Colourful, hand drawn and a hand written title make up the cover of this book. Although the book is about the journey to adulthood, its cartoonish cover quickly reassures the reader that the book is a light hearted look at the trials and tribulations of young adults. The book itself deviates from the standard black and white printed word and instead resorts to colourful images, hand drawn charts and tables that instantly attract the eye. The reader knows what to expect from the book and it delivers exactly that.
Although this is strictly a one dimensional cover, the positioning and perspective gives it a three dimensional feel. The hand drawn caricatures on a single lined paper, gives the reader an idea that this is the story of a young boy. Perhaps the most intriguing part of the cover is the raised pieces of paper that give it a refreshing 3D feel.
Featured on Buzzfeed’s Most Beautiful Covers list of 2014, Nobody is Ever Missing is the story of a woman’s struggle to find her life’s purpose. The cover depicts a woman slowly drowning in a pool of water revealing her struggle. The cover is divided into three parts, the first shows the woman floating on the surface, next showing the woman sinking lower and the final part showing the woman completely submerged in the water.
The cover is responsible for creating the first impression in the mind of the reader and is a prelude to what the reader can expect. Some book covers are very elaborate in terms of design and artwork, while some are minimalistic without revealing too much about the book. Either way, good book covers are crucial to the book’s marketing effort. What’s your favourite book cover?
For further reading on the topic of book covers…
Don’t miss Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Clothing of Books. It is a personal reflection about the art of the book jacket from the perspectives of both the reader and the writer….
