What do you think of books with artistic or anime-style covers? - Page 3

Ginwen · 01-29-2013, 01:01 PM

It would probably make me less likely to try it. If it's a writer I like, I don't care, otherwise the cover is one of the factors that goes into my decision of what to purchase. If it's really cheesy and unprofessional, I expect the book to be the same.

Atunah · 01-29-2013, 05:59 PM

I would scroll right on by. A cover like the examples would suggest cartoons to me. I don't know anything about Anime or Manga, so to me its all the same, cartoons. I don't read or watch cartoons, kids or adult type. Just not my thing. So I wouldn't be interested if a book had a cover like that as that is what I would expect.

And if a cover like that is on a book with a total different genre, I would also not be inclined to look further. That means the author didn't represent the genre and so I wouldn't really trust the story either.

Reader expectations.

Other covers I despise are those that look like Sims characters. I see some of those on romance and other genres. Those tell me usually one thing, bad, really bad.

teh603 · 01-29-2013, 06:25 PM

I wonder if this is the generation gap showing, because I wouldn't mind an Anime-esque cover on a book I'm reading. There's no real difference in the quality of the artist, just a different style.

Then again, in sci-fi and fantasy, the cover usually has nothing to do with the book, so who really cares?

Elfwreck · 01-29-2013, 06:31 PM

I'd expect the contents to have anime tropes or storylines. I read some of those, so those kinds of covers would be fine.

Modern fantasy? Check.
Mythic/supernatural? Check.
Space opera? Check.
Superhero adventure? Check.
Naked elf-boys abducted by aliens and drugged with aphrodisiac tea and forced to perform for their captors? Check, and gimme links.

Lemurion · 01-29-2013, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teh603

I wonder if this is the generation gap showing, because I wouldn't mind an Anime-esque cover on a book I'm reading. There's no real difference in the quality of the artist, just a different style.

Then again, in sci-fi and fantasy, the cover usually has nothing to do with the book, so who really cares?

You have a point, it might be generational, at least in part, though I would hesitate to place all of it on that one factor. I think a bigger part of it is simply association.

Most people in the industry can recognize a "bodice ripper" by the cover alone. Many urban fantasy covers are stylistically similar, as are many SF covers. Each of these styles of cover sends a message about the contents, which either attracts or repels certain readers based on their tastes or possibly their preconceptions. Anime covers are going to work exactly the same way. They will appeal to some, and not appeal to others.

Yapyap · 01-31-2013, 10:03 AM

If it's a book I have heard about it, that has been recced and that sounds interesting, I don't care (much) what the cover looks like. (Apart from Baen covers, which are dreadful even for ebooks where cover shouldn't matter a lot as far as book enjoyment goes.)

If I am just browsing, covers matter - unprofessional-looking covers indicate that this may be a book by a self-published author or small publisher who doesn't put a lot of effort into other parts of the book either; professional-looking covers tend to give me some expectations of genre (e.g. naked male torso on cover - romance, don't buy; semi-naked male in leather pants on a fantasy-ish looking cover - probably paranormal romance, don't buy; young woman in leather clothes, holding a weapon - probably urban fantasy, worth a closer look; dragons on cover - traditional fantasy, don't buy).

A cover featuring anime style art, if I'm just browsing (either in a physical bookshop or a general "new releases" page online) tells me that this is probably a manga / anime / comic book thing, which I'm not interested in, so I'd move on without taking a closer look at the back of the book / the book's page.

DuskyRose · 01-31-2013, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lemurion

Most people in the industry can recognize a "bodice ripper" by the cover alone. Many urban fantasy covers are stylistically similar, as are many SF covers. Each of these styles of cover sends a message about the contents, which either attracts or repels certain readers based on their tastes or possibly their preconceptions.

I think this is very true.

I was talking to someone about a favorite Fantasy series of mine, and trying to get someone interested since they were looking for a new series. They seemed interested, and went to have a peek. Then I got the reply...

"Sorry, but I'm not looking for something with a lot of porn in it."

I knew right away that they'd taken the covers as representing some sort of porn/sexual/romantic storyline. I had originally been expecting something of the sort myself when I started the series, then forgot about it as I continued on. Did bug me a bit that the cover really seemed to promise something that didn't have anything to do with the series.

Now I have to remember to recommend it with a "Not as sexy as it looks" warning about the covers. Otherwise, it'll turn some people off or leave others disappointed when it doesn't 'go there'.

WordCountess · 02-04-2013, 07:44 PM

I prefer books with really simple covers. Just the title in pretty font will catch my eye. A Manga-Style cover wouldn't necessarily turn me away, but it maybe wouldn't fit all book genres. I could see it fitting for a sci-fi or fantasy/fairytale genre. Even a children's book would look nice with a Manga cover. I don't think a drama or non-fiction would really fit with that cover though.

ebooklovers · 02-08-2013, 04:05 AM

Im not a fan of animes but I dont see anything wrong with having it as a cover of a book. Of course I understand that many can perceive it as porn or childish so I guess it would depend on how the characters were drawn.

Ive seen a lot of animes (thanks to my brother who have a collection of them) but there are some of it that are pretty decent and ok to have as book covers.

View Poll Results: Will you check out or buy a book with an anime-style or similarly stylistic cover?
Yes	19	33.93%
No	37	66.07%
Voters: 56. You may not vote on this poll

01-29-2013, 01:01 PM	#31
Ginwen Addict Posts: 261 Karma: 777376 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Kent, WA Device: Kindle Touch/IPad	It would probably make me less likely to try it. If it's a writer I like, I don't care, otherwise the cover is one of the factors that goes into my decision of what to purchase. If it's really cheesy and unprofessional, I expect the book to be the same. Last edited by Ginwen; 01-29-2013 at 02:01 PM.

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01-29-2013, 05:59 PM	#32
Atunah Wizard Posts: 1,817 Karma: 23400001 Join Date: May 2012 Location: USA Device: K1/K3/BasicK Voyage/Oasis1/Oasis3	I would scroll right on by. A cover like the examples would suggest cartoons to me. I don't know anything about Anime or Manga, so to me its all the same, cartoons. I don't read or watch cartoons, kids or adult type. Just not my thing. So I wouldn't be interested if a book had a cover like that as that is what I would expect. And if a cover like that is on a book with a total different genre, I would also not be inclined to look further. That means the author didn't represent the genre and so I wouldn't really trust the story either. Reader expectations. Other covers I despise are those that look like Sims characters. I see some of those on romance and other genres. Those tell me usually one thing, bad, really bad.

01-29-2013, 06:25 PM	#33
teh603 Autism Spectrum Disorder Posts: 1,212 Karma: 6244877 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Coastal Texas Device: Android Phone	I wonder if this is the generation gap showing, because I wouldn't mind an Anime-esque cover on a book I'm reading. There's no real difference in the quality of the artist, just a different style. Then again, in sci-fi and fantasy, the cover usually has nothing to do with the book, so who really cares?

01-29-2013, 06:31 PM	#34
Elfwreck Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,187 Karma: 25133758 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: SF Bay Area, California, USA Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3 (Past: Kobo Mini, PEZ, PRS-505, Clié)	I'd expect the contents to have anime tropes or storylines. I read some of those, so those kinds of covers would be fine. Modern fantasy? Check. Mythic/supernatural? Check. Space opera? Check. Superhero adventure? Check. Naked elf-boys abducted by aliens and drugged with aphrodisiac tea and forced to perform for their captors? Check, and gimme links.

01-31-2013, 10:03 AM	#36
Yapyap Guru Posts: 861 Karma: 3543721 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Estonia Device: Kindle Paperwhite, iPad 3, Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge	If it's a book I have heard about it, that has been recced and that sounds interesting, I don't care (much) what the cover looks like. (Apart from Baen covers, which are dreadful even for ebooks where cover shouldn't matter a lot as far as book enjoyment goes.) If I am just browsing, covers matter - unprofessional-looking covers indicate that this may be a book by a self-published author or small publisher who doesn't put a lot of effort into other parts of the book either; professional-looking covers tend to give me some expectations of genre (e.g. naked male torso on cover - romance, don't buy; semi-naked male in leather pants on a fantasy-ish looking cover - probably paranormal romance, don't buy; young woman in leather clothes, holding a weapon - probably urban fantasy, worth a closer look; dragons on cover - traditional fantasy, don't buy). A cover featuring anime style art, if I'm just browsing (either in a physical bookshop or a general "new releases" page online) tells me that this is probably a manga / anime / comic book thing, which I'm not interested in, so I'd move on without taking a closer look at the back of the book / the book's page.

02-04-2013, 07:44 PM	#38
WordCountess Member Posts: 24 Karma: 582992 Join Date: Feb 2013 Device: none	I prefer books with really simple covers. Just the title in pretty font will catch my eye. A Manga-Style cover wouldn't necessarily turn me away, but it maybe wouldn't fit all book genres. I could see it fitting for a sci-fi or fantasy/fairytale genre. Even a children's book would look nice with a Manga cover. I don't think a drama or non-fiction would really fit with that cover though.

02-08-2013, 04:05 AM	#39
ebooklovers Member Posts: 10 Karma: 481558 Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Texas Device: Android	Im not a fan of animes but I dont see anything wrong with having it as a cover of a book. Of course I understand that many can perceive it as porn or childish so I guess it would depend on how the characters were drawn. Ive seen a lot of animes (thanks to my brother who have a collection of them) but there are some of it that are pretty decent and ok to have as book covers.

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