Cover Art

[Lord DragonsWing]

Does the cover art of a book influence what you buy? I am an old romantic but will not buy a romance novel with the man who has rippling muscles, long hair and ripped clohes. Those covers strike me as what Mom use to read.
So, does the cover of a book influence you to buy it or not? What are your thoughts?

 

[Lucifer_Carroll]

I've only once been influenced by title and cover art alone, but I ended up really enjoying both the book and the author, even though she only has two works out. For the most part I rely on the advice of friends, a quick shufti at a random chapter and the explanation.

And for those who want a dragon fantasy book that does not fall into the traditional dragon traps and mixes romance and action well together, I heartily reccomend Joanne Bertin's The Last Dragonlord and Dragon and Phoenix.

[end shameless plug]

 

[Boota]

A cover and title can only get my attention. I need more to make a purchase.

The cover of my book is just plain black with the title and my name in bright green, underlined in red spray paint. I did it that way so it would stand out on bookshelves amid the highly detailed, multi-colored covers that are out there. (I also liked the idea of comedy with a black cover.) Sometimes when I'm looking for a specific book it seems more difficult to find because of the outright gaudiness of color on the shelves.

 

[Lord DragonsWing]

A cover and title can only get my attention. I need more to make a purchase.

The cover of my book is just plain black with the title and my name in bright green, underlined in red spray paint. I did it that way so it would stand out on bookshelves amid the highly detailed, multi-colored covers that are out there. (I also liked the idea of comedy with a black cover.) Sometimes when I'm looking for a specific book it seems more difficult to find because of the outright gaudiness of color on the shelves.

That is a cover that would get my attention. Not the gaudiness of many. Many times, I'll pick up a book and look at the cover and set it back in the shelf. The cover has to intrigue me. It has to want me to read more. A plain black cover with red spray paint will make me open the cover and read on. It's drawing me into the mystery. I like that idea.

 

[Weird Harold]

So, does the cover of a book influence you to buy it or not? What are your thoughts?

Sad to say, I have let my fascination with the cover art influnce a purchase or two. I've usually been disappointed when It happens, though.

Mostly, cover art only influences me to pick a book up and evaluate it -- whether it's a lack of images, like Boota's book, or an especially eye-catching painting -- it usually takes something out of the ordinary to attract my attention to a new author. Author's I already know and like, can put plain coverless books out and I'll check them out, but NEW authors need something that stands out and catches the eye and interest.

 

[Guest]

I appreciate good cover art but neve confuse it with the book inside. I have on occasion bought a book for its cover though, knowing there is nothing worthwhile inside it. I frame the cover and toss the text.

Perdita

 

[Lord DragonsWing]

I appreciate good cover art but neve confuse it with the book inside. I have on occasion bought a book for its cover though, knowing there is nothing worthwhile inside it. I frame the cover and toss the text.

Perdita

One series I read was the DragonLance series that had excellent cover art on most of the books. But I couldn't bring myself to rip the covers off and frame them. Instead, I passed the books onto patients who enjoyed the genre.
To me the love of a book is not outside, but inside. I could never imagine ripping a cover off to frame it and throw the rest the away. That is throwing away the work of the author, their creation. I just won't buy it. What catches my attention is the art. Or lack of. Then I'll pick up the book and read reviews. If it catch my interest I'll buy it. But to just buy a book for the cover to frame? What about the 300 or so pages between the cover? If it was a commission work I'd say go for it. Buy all you want. Otherwise, I think you'd agree. Read what I've worked at. Judge my abilities by my work and not the art. And please, don't throw it in the trash.

 

[doormouse]

I appreciate good cover art but neve confuse it with the book inside. I have on occasion bought a book for its cover though, knowing there is nothing worthwhile inside it. I frame the cover and toss the text.

Perdita

LOL

I've done that with the kids books.

Some of the art work is brilliant!!

 

[Guest]

ldw, I'm not sure what you think I'd agree on or not. I have several thousand books and never "rip" covers off any. The ones I frame are worthy of hanging up for display. Books I've thrown away (very few) were not worth passing on to anyone. There really are "bad" books, no matter that they were written by a human being.

Perdita

 

[Lord DragonsWing]

ldw, I'm not sure what you think I'd agree on or not. I have several thousand books and never "rip" covers off any. The ones I frame are worthy of hanging up for display. Books I've thrown away (very few) were not worth passing on to anyone. There really are "bad" books, no matter that they were written by a human being.

Perdita

Sorry Perdita. I've known people who have few books and rip the covers of those they have to be fashionable. Nothing against you.

 

[cantdog]

Goldsworthy, that's the fellow.

The man does sculpture with icicles, leaves, twigs, rocks. Many of them are of such ephemeral materials that the photo is the only thing that can last. Fascinating stuff.

That's the last book I can think of that I actually decided to get for the cover.

Opened it, the right way, looked at some of it, but I had already made up my mind; the thing would have had to disappoint me very strongly to have interrupted the impulse.

It is difficult to work in a bookstore. You wind up buying so many.

cantdog

 

[English Lady]

The cover will often entice me...but its the blurb on the back which will decide if I actually pick the book up to read or not

 

[cantdog]

Yeah, those blurbs are most people's biggest determinant, if they have to begin with just the book, with no prior reference or review or recommendation.

A lot of sales can hinge on what's in that blurb.

 

[doormouse]

Too true cd.

I don't buy many books unless they're for the kids, so when it comes to buying for me, it's not the cover but the back of the book that sells it for me.

I'm a huge Stephen King fan, so don't even bother reading the blurb on his books... I buy them anyway.

Dean Kuntz (?) LOL... can't remember his name, only ever read one of his and went straight back to S.K.

I love my erotic horror

 

[R. Richard]

My particular problem with cover art is when the cover has no connection with the text.

A cover with a blonde heroine depicted when the text indicates that the lady's hair was 'dark as a raven's wing' is a bit offputting. (Both the lack of a match and the driven into the ground cliche.)

 

[Lovepotion69]

Yes, I have to admit covers might attract my attention, but normally I read the back first and then skim a few pages in the book to see if I want to buy it. Some books I just have a gut instinct about though.

Did someone mention the Dragonlance series? I found the first book in my old Uni room. Someone had left it and I decided to read it. Fantasy isn't normally my thing, but I liked the book and have read quite a few by now.

 

[Marsipanne]

Cover art certainly affects my decision. If I'm buying a book, I usually decide what I'm going to buy beforehand. I look at reviews, extracts, writer's other books and so on, so I won't buy something I dislike. On the other hand, if I'm going to the library, I borrow books based on blurb or cover art (in certain genres). Sometimes this is good, sometimes not. The best example of this doing me good was with Terry Goodkind. Picked it up because the front cover (of Temple of the Winds) was really amazing. Chiseled man (okay, ignore the fact that Richard has dark BLOND hair--Keith Parkinson always, always gets it wrong) and just look at the clothes!! Black and gold, big sword, dramatic background, tortured expression, woman in skin-tight red leather. Caught me straight away. I read it even though it was the 4th in the series (the fact that the blurb included the word 'lover' also drew me).

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0812551486.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

 

[TheEarl]

Several times. Although I do have a large selection of favourite authors, I tend to find new ones by which book looks interesting. If the title or cover catches my attention, then I'll look at the blurb and that will decide if I buy the book.

The first ever Robert Rankin book I read was called 'The Brentford Chainstore Massacre.' I was perusing the shelves and read it out of the corner of my eye. It was such peripheral vision that I had to search the racks of books to find where I'd seen the words. The blurb wasn't 100% convincing (I am a student and therefore a dedicated tightwad) and I couldn't tell you what the cover art looks like apart from an impression of red and white, but I bought the book anyway. I now own a good few of Mr Rankin's books, simply due to that first title.

Kinda makes me wish I was better at thinking up titles myself.

The Earl

 

[Sabledrake]

I've never bought a book just because of the cover. I have bought books _despite_ the cover; some of them have been real stinkers when it comes to cover art. There have been covers I really like, but I am much more likely to go by the author (if it's someone I've read and liked before) or the back cover text.

Funny, though ... I hope to put together a themed anthology someday, solely beause of a piece of art that I think would make a fantastic book cover.

Sabledrake

 

[DirtyJJ]

Does the cover art of a book influence what you buy? I am an old romantic but will not buy a romance novel with the man who has rippling muscles, long hair and ripped clohes. Those covers strike me as what Mom use to read.
So, does the cover of a book influence you to buy it or not? What are your thoughts?

I admit I am very guilty of this; I scan book covers first because I usually know the "tone" of the book I want and if I see a great cover that reflects that I will pick it up. I love the ones that have an old-world style to them, or an historical/ romantic style - I can't describe it but I know it when I see it. Of course, I do then check out the rest of the cover to see if I actually like what the book is about. Conversely, I have passed over books if I don't think the cover is appealing to me. I am sure I could miss out on some good books but an artistic eye-catching cover is part of a book's appeal to me.
JJ