I don't see any issue with the new icons. They're bright, big and they work. You can't please everyone, but they please me, so I thought I should say something in defence of the new interface.
I really liked the recycle (delete) button - it was perfectly clear to me what it was. It's the same symbol on the recycle bin on my windows desktop. Hardly inconsistent. And if you move the cross to the middle of the 'add books' button, I'll confuse it with the British Red Cross. So what ever you do, someone-somewhere is going to see something else. A flag; a symbol; a phallic image
It's a book. With an 'add' sign. Go figure.
I don't consider the look of a program irrelevant. I like pretty. I just don't see the current icons as unattractive :-s They are not completely boring/tiny/samey/grey/Microsoft.