MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Don't Judge a Book by its Cover?? Why not?

PieOPah · 09-07-2009, 08:11 AM

I am usually very specific in what I read - this is a trait that I personally don't like (and something that I have been trying to avoid recently).

There are however times when I buck the trend and try something different. This is usually because of a cover...

Back in the days of PB, I would frequent charity shops to see whether they had anything interesting. On one such occasion I saw a book that just intrigued me. It was called Nymphomation. It was a very strange book unlike anything I had ever read before. I loved it and quickly discovered that it was the 3rd book of 3 (a prequel). I devoured the other books quite quickly. I wouldn't have read any of these books if the cover hadn't been so intriguing to me!

(I haven't been able to find a copy of the cover that I saw all those years ago, it was a yellowish colour with dominos all over it - no idea what it was that hooked me!)

Some time later, I was reading through a catalogue I had received from a Book Club I was a member of. In here I saw a book that again just hooked me from the cover alone (and perhaps the title!)

Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalyspe by Robert Rankin.

The title and the cover were so obscure that I ordered the book. I had never heard of this author before but I quickly collected every book he had written and continue to buy all his new work. One year I was fortunate enough to meet him at a book signing where I had the new book purchase signed along with my original Rankin book. (I was also sad enough to take the standee advertising the book signing and managed to get that autographed as well). It was also a great pleasure to be able to buy the man a pint in the pub afterwards.

I don't always make such random purchases - I like my money too much. But, I still enjoy the discovery of something new from a random purchase.

Most recently, I was stood at the train station. There is a girl I walk past who is reading everytime I see her. The first time I noticed her, she was reading a book by Tom Holt - one that I had very recently finished. A couple of days later she was reading something else that I had recently read. following that, I had no idea what she was reading. More recently, I saw a book which I thought I recognised so strained to read the title and author.

I had been mistaken - never heard of the author or the book (Jeff Somers - The Digital Plague). Still it intrigued me enough for me to want to read it. But first, I must finish my current book and then I need to find the first 'Avery Cates' book as 'The Digital Plague' is the second in what seems to be a series!)

Have you discovered any new favourite authors just by a chance viewing of a cover? Or any other random readings?

09-07-2009, 08:11 AM	#1
PieOPah Addict Posts: 398 Karma: 914 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: UK Device: Sony PRS-505	Don't Judge a Book by its Cover?? Why not? I am usually very specific in what I read - this is a trait that I personally don't like (and something that I have been trying to avoid recently). There are however times when I buck the trend and try something different. This is usually because of a cover... Back in the days of PB, I would frequent charity shops to see whether they had anything interesting. On one such occasion I saw a book that just intrigued me. It was called Nymphomation. It was a very strange book unlike anything I had ever read before. I loved it and quickly discovered that it was the 3rd book of 3 (a prequel). I devoured the other books quite quickly. I wouldn't have read any of these books if the cover hadn't been so intriguing to me! (I haven't been able to find a copy of the cover that I saw all those years ago, it was a yellowish colour with dominos all over it - no idea what it was that hooked me!) Some time later, I was reading through a catalogue I had received from a Book Club I was a member of. In here I saw a book that again just hooked me from the cover alone (and perhaps the title!) Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalyspe by Robert Rankin. The title and the cover were so obscure that I ordered the book. I had never heard of this author before but I quickly collected every book he had written and continue to buy all his new work. One year I was fortunate enough to meet him at a book signing where I had the new book purchase signed along with my original Rankin book. (I was also sad enough to take the standee advertising the book signing and managed to get that autographed as well). It was also a great pleasure to be able to buy the man a pint in the pub afterwards. I don't always make such random purchases - I like my money too much. But, I still enjoy the discovery of something new from a random purchase. Most recently, I was stood at the train station. There is a girl I walk past who is reading everytime I see her. The first time I noticed her, she was reading a book by Tom Holt - one that I had very recently finished. A couple of days later she was reading something else that I had recently read. following that, I had no idea what she was reading. More recently, I saw a book which I thought I recognised so strained to read the title and author. I had been mistaken - never heard of the author or the book (Jeff Somers - The Digital Plague). Still it intrigued me enough for me to want to read it. But first, I must finish my current book and then I need to find the first 'Avery Cates' book as 'The Digital Plague' is the second in what seems to be a series!) Have you discovered any new favourite authors just by a chance viewing of a cover? Or any other random readings?