Why Do Book Covers Suck So Hard

Why Do Book Covers Suck So Hard

 

Ever notice how boring book covers tend to be? I believe that a novel’s image is also part of the novel, it’s essential to the overall work of art, so I find it strange that book covers are so often neglected. A good cover can add so much to the experience of reading (physical copies, that is), they can help set the tone, give a sense of setting, give us a hint of the story inside.

The cover is an opportunity to advertise, for goodness sake, you’d think book publishers would want to take full advantage of that. And yet the majority of cover art out there looks as if it was made by the same shiftless, lazy intern at some big publisher. Which is a shame, because it’s a missed marketing opportunity for them, and a diminished reading experience for us.

This doesn’t seem to be a new problem, a lot of classic novels came right out the gate looking like garbage:

Whoa duuude

Whoa duuude

ROCKETS AND SHIT

ROCKETS AND SHIT

Is that a coffee stain or just the cover?

Is that a coffee stain or just the cover?

The Great Gatsby is an interesting case, because it’s been re-printed so many times it’s had a fair share of great covers…

The original, of course

The original, of course

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As well as terrible ones…

Not sooo bad…

Not sooo bad…

Eww…

Eww…

Why even have a cover at this point?

Why even have a cover at this point?

I’m not really sure where to put this one…

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And this is just… I mean… oh my god…

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As for modern literature, check out this bangin’ lineup of best sellers:

Wow…

Wow…

Such impress…

Such impress…

So book…

So book…

Much novel.

Much novel.

Like, I find it hard to believe that these were the best designs that the artists could come up with. And I also find it hard to believe that these covers actually sell better than more artistic covers would. I get that they’re going for ‘mass appeal’, which means trying not to do anything that provokes strong emotions, but I believe their theory is flawed. Novels are works of art, not brands of toothpaste. Generic cover art undercuts the overall experience, which makes it a weaker product (not that I like describing books with that word).

Check out the difference between Harry Potter, and the Hunger Games. Which one would you rather read?

The_Hunger_Games.jpg
harry-potter-and-the-sorcerers-stone-jacket-mary-grandpre.jpg

Sometimes fans of great novels have to take matters in their own hands, to make sure that they get the artwork they deserve. Take Blood Meridian’s first edition:

CormacMcCarthy_BloodMeridian.jpg

Mmmkay, pretty nothingy. Here’s the edition that I read, and whose cover I was often annoyed by:

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Could be worse I guess, it’s just boring as hell. But now look at just a few fan-made covers I found online:

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See how big the difference is? When artists are allowed to actually try they can create something that will enhance the value of the novel, something that enhances the whole experience for the reader.

So come on publishers! Get your shit together! Hire some proper artists, and stop ruining it for all of us who like to sit around staring at our books when we’re not reading them.

Alrighty-roo, that’ll do! What about you? Do bad book covers bother you? Do you have a favorite cover? Least favorite? Do you make your own fan-covers? Let me know in the comments!

Thanks for reading!

Peace,

Gobsin

 
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