Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by jeff herman on May 16, 2012 at 1:42pm

I believe everyone  is influenced by the cover on a visceral level. I may not buy a particular book, but I'll at least pick it up if the cover intrigues me, which makes it more likely that I will buy it. 

Permalink Reply by Haseena Patel on May 18, 2012 at 10:22am

I've grown up with the teaching that one shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but when I wrote my first book, I wouldn't accept anything less than the best for my cover!  I'm also drawn to books whose covers interest me.

Permalink Reply by Jeanne Alford on May 16, 2012 at 1:50pm

I'm with Jeff. A book cover is one of the first steps in differentiating it from all the other books.  You may be too young to remember all the Fabio book covers in women's romance books. They were just short of porno shots but got a lot of ladies to pick up the books and read them.  On the other hand, an astute reader looks at more than the pretty pictures.  ;)

Permalink Reply by Janet Starr Hull on May 16, 2012 at 3:33pm

I always study the cover, and it does influence my opinion of the book. If I don't really like the cover, yet still want to read the book, each time I pick the book up to read, I see that cover. So, it is a constant reinforcement.

Permalink Reply by Haseena Patel on May 18, 2012 at 12:04pm

It's such an interesting point about the reinforcement, Janet.  I do believe that book covers have their own energy, so to speak...or perhaps it's the energy we get from book covers based on our own life experiences.

Permalink Reply by Haseena Patel on May 18, 2012 at 11:54am

Jeanne, I had to go Google Fabio books to get an idea of what you're talking about, lol!  I don't know if I was too young to remember - I grew up in Apartheid South Africa, and with the censorship that the government imposed together with the sanctions imposed on S.A. by other countries, there are definitely some things that I missed along the way!

Permalink Reply by Sangay Glass on May 16, 2012 at 6:34pm

The cover first, then the title, then the back blurb. Unless it's horror, then it only takes the cover:) I've read a ton of really bad horror, but it's a secret indulgence, better than chocolate, and to me way better than Fabio.

Permalink Reply by Haseena Patel on May 18, 2012 at 11:56am

Horror is something I don't even dare to sample - way too creepy for me! 

Permalink Reply by Janet Starr Hull on May 18, 2012 at 12:18pm

I'm with you, Haseena, on the horror-thing. I keep the visualization in my mind for far too long, and I even start dreaming differently. That's a powerful influence using the written word, though. I guess horror effectively uses a book for its vehicle if it affects me that much.

Sangay, horror over Fabio? Let me think about that one. Definitely changes the dreams!! LOL