Exhibit A:
*drops jaw*
In case you haven't read the first two installments in the FALLEN series, here's a look:
Books #1 and #2
These lovely babies got me thinking about the power of book covers. That's why, for today's Fess Up Friday, I want to know: do book covers sway you to buy the book?
Confession: nope. I love staring at book covers, but it's the story that sells me. If both cover and story rock my world, it is destined to be in my hands.
What about you? Is the power of book covers strong enough to tempt you???
HA, I actually did a huge long speech about this in my speech group once. A book cover definitely draws me to the book, but if the story doesn't intrigue me past that...then I'm done. Sometimes I just walk through Barnes & Noble with a drink and stare at book titles and covers then start aimlessly reading them. It's how I found the Jessica Darling Series almost Ten years ago and it seems to work!
ReplyDeleteI get cranky if I buy a book for a fabulous cover and the story doesn't live up to the art. And I know that's silly of me, because the two things are connected only by a thin thread. On the other hand, it's sad when a great book gets stuck with a boring or crappy cover, because covers do promote sales. I confess I've bought lots of books due to cover love, but I'm getting more careful after being burned a couple of times.
ReplyDeleteYes, if a book cover really catches my attention, I'll pick it up and read the back. If the story sounds amazing, it's got me. =)
ReplyDeleteYes. Fallen series is a perfect example. While I liked the story, it didn't wow me in the same way other books with lesser covers did. But the cover! Ooh. I will be keeping my copy just for the beauty of it.
ReplyDeleteArt is art, and the Fallen series covers are ART! Book covers are as legitimate a reason to buy a book as a book recommendation from a random blogger, right?
The covers for Hush Hush and Fallen were so beautiful, but I was underwhelmed by both books. In that case, I think the cover set this expectation the book didn't meet (obviously, a lot of folks will disagree with me!). Because I usually buy on Kindle, I don't think the cover sways me as much, but sometimes my eyes do get snagged on them, and it at least gets me to read the blurb.
ReplyDeleteOoh, yes. The Hush Hush cover was Uh-may-zing! Good taste, Sarah.
ReplyDeleteVery rarely do I look at a cover and think it doesn't work--- Paranormalacy was a beautiful cover but didn't match the tone of the book. There's lots of times I've picked up a book because I loved the cover. The Ghost and the Goth and The Half life of Planets were two books I picked up only because I loved the covers. They weren't flash or stripped down and simple.
ReplyDeleteI think covers are extremely important...that is what I see first and prompts me to pick it up to read the blurb. If it's a boring cover, or if it's too busy, or even if the colors don't appeal to me, I usually don't pick it up. A cover should represent the story and that's what gives the possible reader their first glimpse of what the book is about. But also, the story has to grab me...the best cover ever does nothing if the story is just not good or if the cover misrepresents it. Many books I've gotten (usually from the library) I got 20 pages in, and just can't go on.
ReplyDeleteYes!!! I'm so drawn to book covers!!! I won't necessarily buy if the blurb doesn't catch me - but that's how I zoom in on them in the first place! These are gorgeous book covers!! Take care
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Book covers totally sway me! I feel totally vain admitting that but it's true.
ReplyDeleteBook covers are sexy things, but if the words don't match up, I don't pick 'em up. ;)
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
Covers sway me but I have been led astray many times. I try not to do that too much anymore and read a bit in the beginning.
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