Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Tiara Talk: Covers

Let's talk about book covers. 

I've had it drilled into my head from such a young age I can't even recall the first time that you're not supposed to judge a book by its cover. I know this. I understand this. And in theory I put it into practice. Except for when it comes to books. Ironic, yes?

I'm sure because of this I've passed up on tons of amazing reads simply because the cover was bland, tacky or simply a turn-off. I know this because there have been several books I've rejected from their covers only to pick up later because of some rave reviews. [Behold the power of the rave review, people!] I try not to do this. I try to do my research. I try to pick up random titles, skim the summary on the back of the book and maybe even flip through a few pages. But seldom do I do this if the cover hasn't attracted me first. I'm a visual person. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred you could show me a book with a boring cover and I'll pass by it, but give it revamp and it'll earn a second look. 

The way covers look also tend to judge what books I get for my Kindle versus physical copies. If it's a gorgeous book I want it front and center on my shelves where I [and anyone else who dares to venture into my room] can admire it...otherwise I get it for my Kindle. 

I know, I know. Bad Ash, bad!

But I'm sure I'm not the only one guilty of cover lust, I've seen tons of memes where people choose between the multiple editions of a single book or even IMMs where people rave about the gorgeousness of so-and-so's cover.

So, who is with me? Do covers dictate your book choices too? Are you like me with the whole physical versus ebook thing when it comes to covers? Let me know how covers impact your reading!

6 comments:

  1. Covers do dictate my book choices, especially when I enter giveaways.. But I also give it a chance by reading the book's blurb... I've been wrong... For example, the Double Clutch book by Liz Reinhardt, the cover is not attractive in the least, but the story is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. by the way, go and read that book haha :)

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  2. I try to give books a chance by reading the blurbs but it doesn't always happen.

    I'll add the book to the mile long list of books I need to check out. xD

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  3. I have always liked book covers, but honestly ever since I have started blogging I have been even worse about judging a book by its cover. When you see so many beautiful covers it is easy to write off a book with a less than stellar cover.

    I'm not proud of it, but I am guilty of it.

    p.s. i'm not sure if I have told you this yet or not, but I LOVE your new blog design!! :)

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  4. I kind of get what you mean. When I see covers in posts if it catches my attention I almost always add it to my wish list immediately and then go back to actually see what it's about.

    You have but it's always great to hear it again. Thank you! :D

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  5. Before I was on goodreads covers dictated my book choice more than they do now. When I go to the library it still plays into my decision. Right now there's two varieties of way it leads me

    1. Book I read because the cover is SOOOOO pretty despite my normal tastes

    2. Books that I don't want to read because the cover is like every cover out there (right now that's how I feel about the girl in pretty dress covers. I just don't want to touch those books because I want to kill that trend now)

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  6. Goodreads does change things a bit, doesn't it? Now I pay more attention to what my friends are reading, and what books come up on the homepage though a lot of that is still "cover lust" I suppose. What catches my eye. Though I really look for those rare people that post comments on the book as they read through, if one of those catches my attention I'll typically give the book a look.

    I haven't found one that pretty yet. Or at least not one I can think of off the top of my head.

    And I think that's just about every cover out there right now. The trend will die down sooner or later...maybe. Some of them I don't mind but others...it's just being trendy and that bugs me.

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