What Makes a Good Book Cover!
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- čas přidán 25. 08. 2024
- A discussion on the important issues.
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Judging books by their covers is my favourite activity.
Minimalist, graphic/font based covers will always win the key to my heart.
Ps. That shelf tho
You know what sucks: when you get a new book in the series that you really love but then...the covers don't match and it sucks so hard so you then just rage and order your book shelf by colour after that
I get you. The struggle is real!
When there's texture on the book that feels nice, I immediatly want to buy it? Eh? :D
YES! :D
are you canadian? ;)
Ashley Brown No, I am Turkish :D
The other day I saw a book that was printed with purple ink!!!!! I honestly thought it was the coolest most creative thing like P U R P L E I N K
Couldn't stop laughing when I saw the coloured pages 😂 So hilarious, I'm from Germany ✌ 🎉
Btw gorgeous video like everytime :DD
I love how both of Cassandra Clare's series look good together and follow the same theme
Plus the spines are just as gorgeous and fitting.
They're all seemingly going to follow the same theme, and that will be soooo satisfying to see on the shelves.
I'm back!! Maybe. I've been in such a crazy reading slump but I'm determined to read my current book by the end of the week. It will happen.
Connor O'Brien good.
My favourite book covers are the lux series. Especially the new bind up editions.
KIDDING! Guys seriously I was kidding
Phewph XD I was a bit worried there haha
You like actually made me cringe with this comment HAHAHA I'm so glad you're kidding
I judge a book by it's description on the back
I love the covers on the Penguin English Library books. I like that they all fit within the same design scheme but they are all unique at the same time plus they are just really beautiful. Same with the Penguin Clothbound classics.
I agree with everything you said in this video, Reagen. Those are all important attributes for books. The cover is what draws a reader to buy a book, even without knowledge of the premise.
We all love the gorgeous dust jackets but I really love when the author/publisher adds flare to the book itself whether it be on the inside or engravings on the outside. I have so many books on my shelves that are boring black under the dust jacket.
I couldn't agree more! A good cover makes the whole experience so much more enjoyable. Personally, for the most part, I'm always willing to drop more on a decent cover. Which is why I'm in love with the UK Brandon Sanderson covers and the penguin drop cap editions. Gorgeous!!
it may just be that i love the whole photoshoot that the covers were picked from, but the mara dyer series. i like the deep blues and the underwater couple and i want to display them forever
So true!! You know your videos are the most addictive everrr for some reason! And your new shelf just made it more awesome haha.
I completely agree with you there! I am also a fan of more or less minmalistic covers with bright colours, like Fangirl or Eleanor & Park for example, I think they're really beautiful.
I love the pastel bookshelf behind you! so pretty
I loved the lost hero cover. I feel like it doesn't get much love compared to the other heroes of olympus books. The green/blue back ground with the gold (bronze?) Festus is just so beautiful.
I agree with everything that you said! I also really love it when the book has a really great spine because that is the part that you mostly see when it is sitting on my book case.
Yes! I have to buy matching covers especially if they're in a series!
I love touchy feely book covers...sounds weird, but I mean the ones where the dust jacket is so soft you want to hug the book :)
Agree with all your points, just needed to add this!
I HATE with a passion, faces on books, I feel like they look bad, and they ruin character image. Such as under the never sky or delirium or (especially) the vampire academy and bloodlines books. every one just looks pissed off, or is so far off from character description its horrible. Don't get me wrong, I like silhouettes and pretty dresses, but actual faces ruin covers... Am I the only one that thinks this?
Kayla Malmgren I agree
Typography is one of my favourite parts of a book cover along with colour scheme and simplicity
I absolutely adore sci-fi book covers 😍 especially These Broken Stars, that has to be my absolute favourite cover ever
I'm attracted to simplicity and dark colors. Dark Red, Blue, Purple, and of course Black with Typography. I also love something simple that represents what the book might give you. For example, Fallen by Lauren Kate. Dark Cover, semi creepy font, and a crying girl in a black dress in the woods with ravens in the background. Simple. Dark. It gives insight that maybe this book will take a dark turn. (Too bad it doesn't).
One thing I think is important is the SPINES! During this video my eyes kept shifting focus to your Heroes of Olympus books...the spines are SO incredibly gorgeous!
Yessss Brandon Sanderson's UK covers are SO dang pretty. I love white books. I also really like simple typography. I mostly bought All The Light We Cannot See because it's RIDICULOUSLY beautiful (but I also knew it's supposed to be a really great book, so that helped). And I really love all the new Anna/Lola/Isla covers, they're gorgeous.
Deckled edges. I know some people hate them, but I like them so much. And since I buy most of my books online, it's always a pleasant surprise.
The penguin modern classics covers are amazing :)
Right at the end of the video I was looking at your shelves and spotted the Harry Potter and Percy Jackson boxsets and spines that make a picture are pretty rad too! It would totally make me want this boxset/edition of the book series more!
I'm kind of a fan of simple or borderline cartoony covers, like The Fault in Our Stars or that one edition of My Sister Lives on The Mantelpiece. I just really dig them for their bright colours and easy-going typography. Also texture. Textured covers are amazing. I once had a book about dreams that had a strip of velvet on the cover. It was fantastic, but I lent it to someone in high school and never got it back. I'm still not over it.
The Heroes of Olympus series have the most gorgeous covers and spines. Might be my all time favourites!
This is so interesting to watch because what catches my eye is completely different from yours. For example what really caught my eye was the cover of The Falconer. I love the red, gold and tealish blue so I guess I love vibrant colors as well but in a different way, lol.
YES ALL OF THIS. Especially the typography one, like I feel like that's not mentioned a lot! I always rave about the cover of Mr. Penumbra's and how gorgeous it is and everyone's just like: "What are you talking about, it's just font with some yellow and white in the background" and I'm like I KNOOOOOOWWW ISN'T IT GLORIOUS? I'm glad to see that you get me.
When a book cover is awesome I get so much more inspired to read a book, and unless I'm going from a recommendation, is always the reason I pick up a book (note: spine is very important, more so than the front cover for me as that's how it sits on my shelves and looks pretty.) Agree with everything you said. Re-organised my bookshelf today and wanted to rip my hair out at all the series that changed sizes and cover types.
ANOTHER WEIRD THING, that you don't see often in book covers; when they're _nice_ underneath the book jacket! Like with The Glass Sentence! I can't read books with the jacket on, and if the actual hardcover is nice and shiny underneath, it just makes me more likely to keep picking it up!
You're so right!!
Lov you, Regan!
This was great! I agree with everything you said! I hate cover changes and I hate it close up faces on books. I love it when a book has really nice typography. :)
I agree with a lot of what you said. The best book covers for me have nice color schemes, are simplistic or minimalist and with good fonts. Some of my favorites...The new Stephanie Perkins covers, all Rainbow Rowell and John Green books, Gone Girl, Where Things Come Back, Mara Dyer, The Ocean at the End of the Lane, those UK covers of the Mistborn books, Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock, a majority of historical fiction covers, and anything else like that. The only non-simplistic covers I really, really love are the PJO, Heroes of Olympus, and HP (all editions) ones.
The Heroes of Olympus covers are SO epic. I love them. Can't think of any others that are like my favorites. I've never really thought about my favorite book covers.
I'm a sucker for all the things you've already stated. My top 5 favourite (UK) covers:
1. Beautiful Creatures (The whole series not only has gorgeous covers, but the typography is outstanding!)
2. The 5th Wave
3. Angelfall
4. If I Stay (Movie Tie-In)
5. Maybe Someday
I cannot deal with dust jackets, they are a book pet peeve I just can't. So the part of making THE ACTUAL hardcover with texture or metallics and such UGH I love it.
I love your unapologetic love for books as desirable objects. I've bought books solely because of how they look, how they feel in my hands, or even because there's some gimmick intrinsic to the cover, and like you I refuse to apologize for it.
I loved you instantly! You know how to entertain people! I'm fascinated, and this is your first video I'm watching. Thanks for this and I'm happy that you uploaded this video, helped me a lot.
I had to rewatch the first minute or so because I got completely distracted by all the gorgeous Brandon Sanderson books behind you... Which I guess kind of proves your point. Aesthetics are important!
Love your new shelves so much!
Patrick Ness favourited my tweet the other day about More Than This - I was so happy. Completely agree with your video. We're not supposed to judge books by their covers, but honestly, deep-down we all do it:)
Right before you said typography I was thinking: typography. she's gonna say it.
hahah same
Haha. How cool, the German flag! By the way, love your new book shelves, especially the pastel-coloured one with landline and so on. It looks so freaking cool!
I have a serious thing for those middle grade hardcover series with deckled edges. The ones where each new book has a different colored cover that kind of frames the illustration. And the typography, wow! I can not resist those. Spiderwick Chronicles, a Series of Unfortunate Events. Stuff like that. I recently found one called the Sisters Grimm and immediately ordered the first book.
I agree with you completely! Publishers need to really take the time and effort to make beautiful book covers to attract a wider readership.
And who ever came up with Brandon Sanderson's marketing scheme here in England is a pure genius, because anybody who likes to have matching covers WILL fork out more money for them =)
I agree with the typography and vibrant color one! There's one book cover that I love, which I'm not sure fall under which category. My guess is the typography one, but I'm not sure. The book is Fangirl, I love the cover for it.
I love when the cover matches the story of the book! It doesn't have to be pretty, but i think it's SO cool when the designer is especially made for the book (like fangirl or rick riordan's books)
I'm really drawn in my bright books. Eyes are just naturally drawn to that. And also! If a book can use a thing on their cover that is normally not effective but use it effectively I like those. Like if someone puts a person on the cover but it looks good then I'm drawn to it!
I really like it when the covers are drawn (kind of). Like when a the picture fron the cover is a drawing of the characters or a scene in the book (ex: Throne of Glass, Percy Jackson, Harry Potter)
But I also like dark covers, or covers with a really interesting colour theme (ex: Love Letters to the Dead)
Abd I preatty much adore everything you said in this video.
Oooh my favorite book covers are Sarah Dessen's covers, because they are so simple, but very prettty and I like to display them on my shelves. I also love the new Percy Jackson books because they make a picture, and the new Harry Potter. I love patterns, and pictures with books.
cool story: the hair on The Girl Who Played with Fire is the cover artist's daughter's hair. #themoreyouknow
i'm french and today my teacher shows your video to my class.
me too
me too
mdr
i love These Broken Stars by Amy Kaufman & Meagan Spooner book cover. i think it's just beautiful:3
Simplicity in cover!! And nice graphics that have to do with the story!
Coloured pages: look at the UK editions of the GONE series by Michael Grant. Simply wowzers!
Actually, some people are shallow. I'm not shallow. I care I about is the story; if the cover is quote-unquote nice, a happy little accident.
The most disappointing thing is a beautifully designed book with a crappy story within.
I really love geeky looking covers like Rainbow Rowels books like "Elinor and Park" and "Fangirl"
+Andrew McClenning I was about to comment about how simple yet eye catching the whole series is!
More ideas for my book cover, awesome!
The spine is a huge factor in what sells me on a book. Of course I want a beautiful or interesting cover, but some books' spines are bland or messy. It's such a small detail, but it's the first thing you'll see when you look at your bookshelf! Add a little decal and a crisp font, maybe make it an extension of the cover art, I'm not asking much.
Thanks for an amazing video! Book cover design is so important, but many indie authors don't have the funds or the design know-how to create amazing covers.
And I really want Love Letters to the Dead because the cover is absolutely beautiful and tumblr... And the concept is so unique, WANT
I really like the German book cover of "Wolkenschloss" by Kerstin Gier. It's like a hidden object gameplay. You will find all of the characters on the cover (it's drawn) and the colors are just so pretty.
Here's the link to the book on Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/book/show/35141443-wolkenschloss?ac=1&from_search=true
I never hear anyone complain about this but it personally gives me heartache...
when a book I own and love gets an award and gets a beautiful shiny new seal on the cover.... great now I gotta re buy it >.<
This video is such a good idea!! It should be made into a TAG :)
I agree with everything you say, also i looooove when a book feels soft in my hands :)
love letters to the dead is probably my favorite book cover!
I've definitely bought books because of their covers, too. :) The Night Circus is one of them (I haven't read it yet, but plan to soon). My favorite covers use original artwork instead of photography--covers like the ones of Life Of Pi, The Night Circus, Wicked, or The Amazing Adventures of Kavilier & Clay tend to spark my imagination more than covers with photos or realistic designs on them.
I'm loving your shelves so muchhhhhhhhhh
When it comes down to vibrant colors one of my favorites is Incarnate by Jodi meadows :)
And indeed, I would rather have mediocre covers that match than pretty ones who don't!
The last Art assignment is about books you Have to do it!
5:03 - Madame Bovary from the Penguin Drop Caps series, one of the best ever ploys to separate me from my money!
I've always thought A Constellation of Vital Phenomena has one of the most beautiful covers I've ever seen.
At the beginning of the year, somebody brought me the Hunger Games Trilogy. I freaking love the covers so much, that may only be because I enjoyed the books so much. :)
I don't think book covers are shallow at all (but then I would say that as an illustrator...). A lot goes into covers, though! Artists usually try to take the essence of the book and really turn the book's exterior into a summary of the book (same as the blurb!). But because it's visual and 'pretty' people see it as less intellectual or less "deep" than words.. which I feel is a bit of a shame. ANYWAY, I'm glad you've done a cover video! Covers are there to be appreciated! WOOP WOOP! : )
I love typography, too! I don't why but I love a beautiful solid colored book with interesting font. My favorite in that category is probably "Me Before You" by Jojo Moyes. I adore covers that have glowing colors on them anywhere. I'm like a moth drawn to light with those (ex. "My Name Is Memory" by Ann Brashares). I also love a simple or complex graphic design (ex. "Firecracker" by David Iserson, "Tell The Wolves I'm Home" by Carol Rifka Brunt, "A Tale For The Time Being" by Ruth Ozeki).
I really don't like books with photos of people on the cover. Well, specifically, I don't like their faces being prominent or the people striking cheesy poses (a couple being mushy, a character looking too fierce, or the character just looks nothing like how they're described). That story will have to be really interesting for me to buy it lol. I do have plenty of exceptions on my shelf, but there are some covers I just can't get past. Lol.
Love the new shelves.
1. I’m Trying To Get Clean Unbroken Plastic To Get My Book Cover 2. I’m Trying To Have Lots A Details 3. I Don’t Like When I Mess Up.
I love shatter me and love litter from the dead covers just amazing!
I finished Code Name Verity and it was amazing, I can't stop thinking about Maddie and Queenie!! AHH!
Totally agree with your choices. Typography really pulls me, for sure. Vibrant colors too, i love different and bright colors. And cool illustrations. Not pictures, some art makes the difference.
So, some of my favorite covers are The Merciless by Danielle Vega and Conversion by Katherine Howe (color, hello!!!) Everything Leads to You by Nina LaCour (Loved how they worked with the font) and finally Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews and The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick (great illustrated covers).
For the record, i dont own any of this books, what is very sad, for sure. Need them all here, right now. :)
I feel you. Wise words.
I loved the Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan. I must admit I checked it out of the library because of the cover design. I picked it up and read the blurb and then had to read the book. I read it pretty quickly, only a few days. In general, I love most book covers, though I like more bright colors than dark colors. I have recently begun to pick up darker books thanks to Booktuber recommendations.
I've missed you Regan. I love this.
I like books that are beautiful themselves without the dust jacket, like To all the boys i've loved before or Winger.
The kind of book covers I enjoy are ones that have: Colored pages, ex - The Last Werewolf, Tallulah Rising, and By Blood We Live. By Glen Duncan. Colored text, ex - Shiver, Linger, and Forever. By Maggie Stiefvater. Repeat of color scheme, ex - I Am Number Four, The Power of Six, The Rise of Nine, The Fall of Five, The Revenge of Seven, ... By Pittacus Lore. And effective use of background, ex - Divergent, Insurgent, Allegiant, and Four: A Divergent Collection. By Veronica Roth. The Maze Runner, The Scorch Trials, The Death Cure, and The Kill Order. By James Dashner. Fallen, Torment, Passion, Fallen in Love, and Rapture. By Lauren Kate.
I love illustrations on the cover (actually, illustrations that ARE the cover), but it does not always fit the book.
What I care the most about a cover is if it transmits the essence of the book. Violent fantasy with childish covers, thriller that show a romantic kiss... argh! It can only disappoint.
But when it actually looks like the book and then you look at them on the shelf and feel it all again.. *w* (and tiny easter eggs on the cover just make my day when I finish the book). For collections, though, I find it OK if the cover is 'neutral', if it doesn't transmit anything.
I am a person who will buy a book just on the cover. The spine is a big thing with me. If the spine is eye catching (along with an interesting title) I will probably pick it up to see what is inside.
My favourite cover currently has to be Bloodwitch by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes. The cover is even pretty in person!
My favorite cover is the one of The Forgotten Garden, and I don't realgly know whst versin it is. But when I say for the first time I was amazed.
haha I was watching this and going "oh oh I HAVE that!" the whole time. Clearly we both have good taste haha
Great video, I totally agree! When it comes to consistency, though, I care about both the cover itself and the height.. I hate it when they change that -.-
I absolutely LOVE the cover of "The Ocean At The End Of The Lane", it is the most beautiful book ever!
My biggest book pet peeve is books with people on the covers, especially photos of people in cheesy poses. It's such a huge turn off for me that I won't even bother with a book if it has a person on the cover. A really good example of this is the original cover of "Throne of Glass", which I had no interest in reading until the new covers came out!
Same. But I have to say The Infernal Devices covers are pretty stunning. I personally think TMI covers are pretty could do but TID are also pretty stunning(IMO.)
My favorite types are the really vintage looking ones, or the minimalist pastel ones like Fangirl... (PS What are those beautiful striped spine pastel books? The entire video I was like cooomme onnn bring out the pastel cooooome oooonnn)
Those are Huntley Fitzpatrick's books. I've only read My Life Next Door, but it was a really good not too sad but also not too fluffy contemporary read.
***** Oh, okay I'll try and find them ^_^ Thank you
Arillyss Herondale Oh it's my pleasure. You're welcome!
***** :) Planning on getting one now
yes yes yes and yes, all of these are like stupidly important to me when I go to buy books!
The cover of Noggin by John Corey Whaley is also pristine!
I've always preferred how books look on the edge of the bookshelf, not pushed back.
that's a great video, and I totally agree with everything you said. Especially the consistency thing, I hate it when my books are not the same in a series, so annoying. I mean take the throne of glass books - they changed the vocers (for the much much better) but they kept the spine the same, so they look nice on a shelf, even if the covers of the first and second don't exactly match. I can't wait for the day they have the new cover in hardcover, so i can switch mine...
One of my biggest pet peeves is when the name of the author is bigger than the title on a book cover.
My favorite book covers are the Penguin clothbound classics and the Wordcloud classics. (I'm not a fan of dustjackets)
I also really like the adult UK editions of the Harry Potter books. I bought them all even though they were more expensive.