Thursday, May 8, 2014

Discussion Post: All-Time Favorite Covers

Thursday, May 8, 2014 8:09 PM with 11 comments





Discussion Post
Book Covers That Could Double as Art



It's been quite awhile since I've participated in Top Ten Tuesdays. It's a fun meme, but I wanted to cut down on the memes I participate in, and that was the causality. So, I didn't know that this week's post was the Top ten covers you would hang on your wall as art until I saw a couple of posts in my BL feed. Regardless, there is NO way I could ever just chose 10. I know you aren't supposed to judge a book by its cover, but I so very rarely pick up a book whose cover I dislike. I'm all about the cover art. Instead of just showing my favorite 10 covers, I've decided to do something similar to Kara's post from Great Imaginations in which she organized some of her favorite covers into themes or groups. So without further adieu, here are some of my all-time favorite covers that I would tots hang on my wall.

Circus Themes
I'm just so drawn to books about the circus. I seriously don't know why. Here are my favorite circus covers.

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Seriously, look at the warmth of this cover. I would totally join that circus, too. 
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
I know this book was hit or miss for some, but I absolutely adored it, and this cover is so appropriate to the story.
Girl on a Wire by Gwenda Bond
This book whose synopsis reads like Romeo and Juliet: Circus Edition comes out in October of this year.

Love in the Stars
There is just something about covers that feature stars in some way

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For Darkness Shows Its Stars  by Diana Peterfreund
I'm a bit embarrassed to admit that I've STILL not read this one despite my many claims that it is next on my TBR. I do love that cover, though.
These Broken Stars by Amy Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
This cover is breath-taking. That is all.
Alienated by Melissa Lander
The colors on this cover are just so rich. Love.

Spooky Covers
I'm a huge fan of scary books/movies. These are some of my favorite eerie covers

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The Replacement by Breena Yovanoff
Reason #128 I'm happy I don't have kids. Look out, Baby! I love everything about this cover from the font treatment to the muted colors.
Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
I'll be honest: I didn't really like this book, but that cover is stunning--and I LOVED that the type inside was a deep red instead of black.
What's the big deal? It's just an old black and white photo of a girl. OMG, she's levitating! 

Illustrated Covers
You know, actual art

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Vicious by V.E. Schwab
From the moment I saw this awesome graphic novel-y cover, I knew I had to read this. It didn't disappoint. This book was easily the best book of 2013 for me.
*PETS* SOOOO PRETTY!
Splintered by AG Howard
So, I feel kind of weird about this one because, as a friend pointed out, I have more than a passing resemblance to this girl. BUT it's really more the green and the vines and the butterflies...
Bitter Greens by Kate Forsyth
I've been dying to read this Rapunzel retelling and was THRILLED when my buddy Mands told me it was being released in the US this fall. Yay! 


Flowers 
I love flowers and stuff

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Shine by Lauren Myracle
I've never read this one, but I'm drawn to that cover every time I see it.
Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge
I love this cover. The way the staircase and rose intertwine is so gorgeous.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Of all the covers of this book, this one is my favorite.

I Would Like to Go There
Self-explanatory, I hope

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This is What Happy Looks Like  by Jennifer E. Smith
This cover makes me want to go fishing so badly.
Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter
This is my favorite cover of all time. If I win the lottery, I'm so moving there.
Between the Spark and the Burn by April Genevieve Tucholke
My second house (of several) if I win the lottery is this gorgeous house at the base of a mountain. This book comes out August 14th.

Pretty Girls in Pretty Dresses (or with pretty hair)
I'm a sucker for a pretty dress (or gorgeous hair)

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Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare
I've not read this book, or any for that matter, by Cassandra Clare, but that cover is so pretty. The lighting is gorgeous. I should carry around a warm-glowing book and bask in the compliments how my skin looks go good...
The Shoemaker's Wife by Adriana Trigiani
I'm not exactly sure what this is about, but I'm so in love with this cover. IN LOVE.
Cress by Marissa Meyer
I haven't read this series yet either (I know, I know), but this is by far the best cover. That hair! 
Impossible by Nancy Werlin
The mountains and lake in the background, her hair, her dress, it's all awesome.

Underwater
I love the way underwater covers look

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The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
I've only read the first book of this series--and I liked it well enough--but that cover! 
Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma
Everything about this is gorgeous. The ribbon, the color of the water, her hair. Perfection. (They totally changed it for the PB, too. WHY???)
This cover reminds me of the first Nightmare on Elm Street (the original) when Nancy falls asleep in the bathtub and gets pulled underwater by Freddy.

Girlfriends
I love books that feature friendships and wish there were more

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While I didn't love this as much as I wanted to, I still adore this cover.
Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson
I can't wait to read this one. It definitely reminds me of summers with my best friend.
Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
I love this cover version of the book. The bikes on the wall the planes in the sky. The color scheme. It's all perfect.

That's it I think. These are the themes and covers I'm most drawn to in a cover, and I wouldn't hesitate to put ANY of these on my wall as art. 

As always, I'd love to hear from you. What draws you to a cover. Is your favorite cover on this list? If not, what is your all-time favorite cover? Let me know!


11 comments:

  1. I love all of these too! Except flowers, that doesn't really draw me in as much, but the rest, yes!
    Missie @ A Flurry of Ponderings

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  2. I'm a huge fan of minimalistic covers, so the less graphics, the better. I especially love the typographies of Douglas Copeland's books. Have you seen those? It's literally white all over and just the title of the book in simple text. :)

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  3. I LOVE YOUR PICKS. I can't even choose out of yours which ones are my favourite. And I totally agree that These Broken Stars is just breathtaking. It only missed my post because it always manages to wriggle onto my TTT posts, so I was trying to be a bit more original. ;) Haha! I love those creepy ones too. *shivers* Absolutely NEED those books in my life.

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  4. Haha, I had a really tough time choosing ten as well! I went four over but I think I have to make it a regular-ish thing because there are just so many gorgeous covers I need to share! I definitely agree with The Night Circus and anything circus-themed. I think circuses are just very interesting and mysterious and I love seeing them in books! I love illustrated and under water covers as well!

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  5. See, I'm not that into circus ones, but I do want to read The Night Circus, love the cover. I'd definitely frame These Broken Stars, probably one of my favourite covers. I actually do paint my favourite covers, and have them hung on my wall, but argh, I'm afraid to mess that one up.

    Reason #128 I'm happy I don't have kids. Look out, Baby! HAHA! Haven't read The Replacement yet (though I've read all her others so far, so I really should get to that one)

    AHHHH! You didn't like Anna Dressed in Blood? :( Shame, my favourite paranormal hunter one ever, I mean, I used to read loads of them that weren't that good (The Demon Trappers Daughter, ugh.) But, the cover is gorgeous (I've done a layout of it, but haven't painted it because damn that would take a whole lot of white oil).

    Splintered! YES. I mean, I'd read it for the cover alone, but I love it anyway. The same with Cruel Beauty (is it bad to say that's the only reason I wanted to read it in the first place? And then I found out Greek Mythology, which is an automatic I'll read you.)

    I LOVE the Imaginary Girls cover, the paperbacks the one with the face and boat, right? Yeah, don't like that one. (Now, the 17 & Gone cover is gorgeous, even if it looks like they went a little overboard on the burn.)

    The Museum of Intangible Things (haven't read it yet) but yeah, I'd frame that, even though I hate pink. But still, pretty. Great picks! :)

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  6. So many wonderful covers and themes, where to start!? Firstly, I too love starry or space covers, and illustrated covers, too! yay Bitter Greens, I can't wait for you to get a copy ;) And underwater covers always look awesome :)

    Mands @ The Bookish Manicurist

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  7. I don't do TTT any more but I participated this week because I am such a cover lover and I really could not pass up the chance of showing off my ten favourites. It was really hard to pick but I also thought a bout the topic of them being pieces of art.
    But anyway WOW you have excellent taste in covers because I legitimately love every single one of these! I had never seen that cover for Bitter Greens before and I must say I am in love.

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  8. What an amazing collection of covers! I am a huge fan of illustrated covers and trees and flowers too.

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  9. I love books with stars on the covers too, so those are my favorites. And Clockwork Princess…there's just something about that cover (and it's one of my favorite series so you should read it!) The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, love that cover and those books are amazing! I can't believe you haven't read the second one, you really should. They mess with your mind, in such a good way. Great post! ~Pam

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  10. I LOVE the cover for Cress, Anna Dressed in Blood and Imaginary Girls. I totally agree with you about underwater covers. They just plain ROCK.

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  11. Oh, I love how you compiled this post! I rarely pick up a book if I don't like the cover either, even though I know it's what's inside that counts. :P My favorites always tend to be the ones with stars on them...I have always just been completely entranced by those glowing balls of gas. :D

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Hello, there! Thanks for taking the time to comment. I read each and every one and will do my best to respond--usually on your blog instead of on mine. I will, however, always answer direct questions. Due to serious time restraints, this blog is now an award free zone, but I appreciate the thought!