You can't judge a book by its cover, but do you? - Page 2

theducks · 03-14-2021, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwalker8

Certainly, back in the days of going to book stores, the cover was the primary thing that attracted me to a book by an author I didn't know. It's the same thing when I try to scroll through the new books in an eBook store. Of course, word of mouth means that I might take a chance on a new author where the cover doesn't do much. A bad cover pretty much says amateur to me.

Right. The purpose of a cover (dust jacket) is to catch your eye and make you get closer.

Rave Blurbs and other puffery

I've even seen ones from dead authors (at the time the book was published), that were not Vampires

A relevant synopsis

Absurd characters depicted (Guy in furs and the Gal in barely anything)

haertig · 03-14-2021, 11:51 AM

I posted the cover shot below in a different thread, the "If you purchased this book without a cover..." one. But it is a great illustration of what I personally consider hideous book covers. I like to have a consistent theme for all covers for books in a series. So I can easily tell the group of books are related. For this particular series, the only cover theme I could find that had a cover for all the books was this nauseating one. I'll tell you, it was tough for me to intentionally choose the ugliest covers on Earth just so the books would look like a related group. My mind was so conflicted on that one! And a few of the books in this large series (70+ books) have some pretty neat covers available. But I chose the homely ones for consistency.

Sometimes it is so difficult being a nerd.

Tarana · 03-14-2021, 12:52 PM

I won't refuse a book because of a cover, but I have selected books based on the cover. Seems that if there is a lot of $$ put into scifi illustration, it nearly always turns out to be a pretty good book. FWIW, the current cover on the Dune series isn't terrible, but it is not as inviting to read as the original. I can only guess that the deal with the illustrator did not extend to ebooks.

Tarana · 03-14-2021, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by haertig

I posted the cover shot below in a different thread, the "If you purchased this book without a cover..." one. But it is a great illustration of what I personally consider hideous book covers. I like to have a consistent theme for all covers for books in a series. So I can easily tell the group of books are related. For this particular series, the only cover theme I could find that had a cover for all the books was this nauseating one. I'll tell you, it was tough for me to intentionally choose the ugliest covers on Earth just so the books would look like a related group. My mind was so conflicted on that one! And a few of the books in this large series (70+ books) have some pretty neat covers available. But I chose the homely ones for consistency.

Sometimes it is so difficult being a nerd.

yes but still better than some of those old scifi with the woman with the boobs falling out (and there is no woman featured in the book).

Dr. Drib · 03-14-2021, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tarana

yes but still better than some of those old scifi with the woman with the boobs falling out (and there is no woman featured in the book).

That's why the aliens/monsters are called BEMs [Bug-Eyed Monsters].

But wait! There's more:

https://www.amazon.com/But-Youre-Hor...qid=1428015793

https://www.businessinsider.com/hila...-into-a-blog-2

The answer to the OP's question: YES! I can judge a book by its cover! YES! YES!

DiapDealer · 03-14-2021, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by issybird

It was a pun and a relation in one sense. But I agree that wouldn’t necessarily have been apparent to the casual looker.

Missed that entirely, didn't I?

issybird · 03-14-2021, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Missed that entirely, didn't I?

I’m the more humiliated; my comment wasn’t directed at you - but of course it came across as if it were.

DiapDealer · 03-14-2021, 02:42 PM

No worries. I didn't take it as recrimination.

John F · 03-14-2021, 04:08 PM

I tend to browse the library, mainly overdrive, for new arrivals. I tend to look for authors I'm familiar with, and by browsing covers, I can quickly skip through a lot of titles.

j.p.s · 03-14-2021, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by issybird

I’m the more humiliated; my comment wasn’t directed at you - but of course it came across as if it were.

But even though the presence of a pun has been announced, I am not seeing it.

issybird · 03-14-2021, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j.p.s

But even though the presence of a pun has been announced, I am not seeing it.

It’s about a naval surgeon whose assistant is the surgeon’s mate, and he gets married at the end.

crossi · 03-15-2021, 08:42 PM

A good cover adds to my enjoyment of a book sometimes. Also when looking through my books for something to reread I find I remember the book better by the cover than by the title.

03-14-2021, 11:51 AM	#17
haertig Wizard Posts: 1,897 Karma: 31522252 Join Date: Sep 2017 Device: PW3, Fire HD8 Gen7, Moto G7, Sansa Clip v2, Ruizu X26	I posted the cover shot below in a different thread, the "If you purchased this book without a cover..." one. But it is a great illustration of what I personally consider hideous book covers. I like to have a consistent theme for all covers for books in a series. So I can easily tell the group of books are related. For this particular series, the only cover theme I could find that had a cover for all the books was this nauseating one. I'll tell you, it was tough for me to intentionally choose the ugliest covers on Earth just so the books would look like a related group. My mind was so conflicted on that one! And a few of the books in this large series (70+ books) have some pretty neat covers available. But I chose the homely ones for consistency. Sometimes it is so difficult being a nerd. Attached Thumbnails

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03-14-2021, 12:52 PM	#18
Tarana Wizard Posts: 4,038 Karma: 38840460 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Minneapolis Device: PWSE, Voyage, K3, HDX, KBasic 7 & 8, Nook Glo3, Echos, Nanos	I won't refuse a book because of a cover, but I have selected books based on the cover. Seems that if there is a lot of $$ put into scifi illustration, it nearly always turns out to be a pretty good book. FWIW, the current cover on the Dune series isn't terrible, but it is not as inviting to read as the original. I can only guess that the deal with the illustrator did not extend to ebooks.

03-14-2021, 02:42 PM	#23
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 28,574 Karma: 204127028 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	No worries. I didn't take it as recrimination.

03-14-2021, 04:08 PM	#24
John F Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,942 Karma: 70766125 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Kobo Clara 2E	I tend to browse the library, mainly overdrive, for new arrivals. I tend to look for authors I'm familiar with, and by browsing covers, I can quickly skip through a lot of titles.

03-15-2021, 08:42 PM	#27
crossi Guru Posts: 997 Karma: 12000001 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Seattle Wahington U.S. Device: kindle	A good cover adds to my enjoyment of a book sometimes. Also when looking through my books for something to reread I find I remember the book better by the cover than by the title.

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