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Topic for June 24, 2014 is Top Ten Book Cover Trends
This is definitely going to be an interesting topic as I haven’t really spent a whole lot of time thinking about this. I know if they have my favorite colors, or are shiny, I find I’m attracted to them, but I haven’t really looked at the trends covers are taking. This list is going to include trends I like, and those I’m not especially fond of.
I am conflicted on my first trend. You see a lot of books where the cover is just an item. Like Fifty Shades is just the tie or Twilight is just the apple.
But there are other covers that I do like that just contain an item that kickstart my interest. Like the Charley Davidson series. Now these covers do include Charley in some of them, but you always see an item with a skull on it. Plus most of them also show the scythe. I do like these because I’m always looking to see what item is going to have the skull on it. That could be the part of the cover that appeals to me more. It’s that the item is the same and I’m always on the look out for it. Plus, I find they relate more to the contents of the book. Now I’m also thinking of some of Sherrilyn Kenyon’s where it is just the symbol, like Acheron’s symbol. I am conflicted on this one.
Another trend I am not a fan of, is the full person shot. Don’t get me wrong, I love the body shots, I just don’t like it when the faces are included. When I’m reading a book, I like my mind to form the view of the person. Scars, eye color, things like that I like to bring together in my own mind, not fed to me on the cover. So either show me from the neck down or have their faces turned away. Sometimes when I see that person on the cover, I find I compare with the descriptions of the person in the book so I can find discrepancies.
Next on my list is cartoony covers. I find I don’t really relate to them and they don’t draw me to the book. The first ones that come to mind when I think of these are the Sookie Stackhouse books. The ones with the original covers, not the ones they re-released after True Blood. I don’t think they say “adult content”, and maybe that is the point, they are trying to bring in a larger audience. I’m just not a fan of it.
One type of cover I really love, are the ones that have kind of a faded background, but have pops of color to get your attention. I’m thinking of the Gena Showalter covers for the Otherworld Assassin series.
I like colorful covers, with interesting imagery. Like this cover for Blood and Mistletoe, who wouldn’t want to know what is going on there and have to pick up the book!
I also like the covers that include some of the geography the story is based on. I know the picture on the book probably isn’t a real place, but it gives me a start to map out what the landscape looks like in the story. A sort of point of reference.
Also, please, please, have something interesting on the cover, not just the title! If it wasn’t for recommendations, I probably wouldn’t have started the Stephanie Plum series at all. Those covers just don’t cause a spark at all.
Ok, I guess 7 is my limit today. I am sure once I see everyone else’s I’m going to think of something I missed! What is your favorite kind of cover trend?
