MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - You can't judge a book by its cover, but do you?

Pulpmeister · 03-14-2021, 07:35 AM

I know at least once I did just that.

For years I'd seen Dick Francis paperbacks, thought "horse-racing books, nah" until the Pan paperback of REFLEX passed before my eyes. The cover had a picture of a damaged camera. Now, I've been a photographer since I was about 11, so I snapped it up, and yes it was about horse racing, and also about photography; I've since read every one of Dick Francis's novels.

So yeah, covers work... sometimes. But now they're mostly stock photos, very repetitive and meaningless, and no longer catch my eye at all. How many thrillers have you seen with covers of a blurry silhouette of a man in a trench coat?

(I actually have an authentic trench coat! Bought on London back in the 90s. All I need is the snap brim hat with the pale band, and the straight-leg baggy pants, and I'm almost Sam Spade...)

03-14-2021, 07:35 AM	#7
Pulpmeister Wizard Posts: 2,838 Karma: 29145056 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Perth Western Australia Device: kindle	I know at least once I did just that. For years I'd seen Dick Francis paperbacks, thought "horse-racing books, nah" until the Pan paperback of REFLEX passed before my eyes. The cover had a picture of a damaged camera. Now, I've been a photographer since I was about 11, so I snapped it up, and yes it was about horse racing, and also about photography; I've since read every one of Dick Francis's novels. So yeah, covers work... sometimes. But now they're mostly stock photos, very repetitive and meaningless, and no longer catch my eye at all. How many thrillers have you seen with covers of a blurry silhouette of a man in a trench coat? (I actually have an authentic trench coat! Bought on London back in the 90s. All I need is the snap brim hat with the pale band, and the straight-leg baggy pants, and I'm almost Sam Spade...)