This week, Booking Through Thursday asks:
While acknowledging that we can’t judge books by their covers, how much does the design of a book affect your reading enjoyment? Hardcover vs. softcover? Trade paperback vs. mass market paperback? Font? Illustrations? Etc.?
To be honest, I think the only design element that typically has an effect on whether I enjoy a book or not would be the font. If I am having trouble reading the text, I get frustrated and am more likely to dislike the book. On the other hand, when the font is used in an original way, like Jodi Picoult's My Sister's Keeper, where each character's narration had a different font, I found this added to my enjoyment of the story itself. Few of my books have illustrations at this point and the cover rarely makes any difference in whether I like the story or not.
That being said, I must admit that while the cover and format may not affect whether I like the story, it often has an effect on whether I pick it up in the first place. If the cover interests me enough, in form or artwork, I am more likely to read the book, even if it is not the sort of book I would usually choose. Does anyone else do this? I know it is dangerously close to "judging a book by its cover," but there it is.
What do you think?
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Cover-Up - BTT
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14 comments:
Yep, I'm a cover-judger. :) I'm often disappointed by books that were so pretty on the outside but didn't appeal on the inside.
I've never had problems with fonts, although that is probably the first thing I notice when I open a book.
I share the same views. If the font size is too small, it takes away my reading pleasure. There were times that I didn't pick up a book because of this, so I've to pick up another edition.
I didn't even give font a thought until I started teaching young children and then you realise in a big way how important it is. This is not just because of size but also because children are so aware of unusual use and pick it up sometimes when adults don't. They made me look more carefully.
I agree - the content is more important to me than the cover, but I do find small font difficult. A cover may attract my attention but if the content doesn't appeal I don't read a book.
I'd forgotten that about My Sister's Keeper. I found it distracting.
I'll pick up a book sometimes if the cover art is particularly beautiful or intriguing, but it doesn't always follow that I'll read the book. :)
I haven't found a font that has affected my reading but I did have to stop reading War and Peace because it was too small.
I think covers are designed specifically to target a particular audience. So judging a book by its cover is useful, if you're a niche reader. Otherwise, well, this is why I'm glad the internet exists. I can easily find reviews and buzz about books regardless of cover.
Good cover art can definitely make me pick up a book I'd usually overlook, when browsing shelves. I'd forgotten about ones that change text for different characters, like you mentioned. Or for when time frames change. It does make it more interesting, and easier to keep track whose eyes you're reading through!
I definitely judge a book by its cover and feel no shame! There are so many books out there we have to have a way to judge them, and you want to know what? We will probably hear buzz about the books that are really good without the great covers and read them anyway!
I have picked up a few books by covers and have been hugely disappointed.
Booking through cover
me too, bad covers can really put me off a book.
Yes, I judge books by their covers. :)
Happy BTT.
I agree. I think a good cover can help spur a new author on to sell more books faster, but established authors probably don't have to worry quite as much, because they already have a loyal following. Maybe my logic is backwards, I don't know. :-)
Jennifer and gautami tripathy- There has been some disappointments but picking up books with nice covers has also helped me to find books that would have otherwise remained on the shelf.
Melody and Jaimie- If I have to strain my eyes further to read the book because of a small font, I will either find a different edition or give up on the book to avoid the headache that is sure to come.
TableTalk- I wouldn't have thought that they would notice the font but then, I suppose children are often more observant than adults.
BooksPlease- Exactly. A cover grabs my attention and gets me to pick it up but the author has to have content in their writing or the book won't get read.
Maree- I thought the fonts in My Sister's Keeper added to the story. It seemed to give you a feel of who the characters were...
Sya- I haven't been looking for books on the internet for a long time but in the short time I have been doing so, I have already been introduced to several books that I would have never picked up before. It is definitely a positive thing.
Jeane- When an author uses the font in an unusual way, it can add a lot to the book. You don’t see it often but I do like some of the creativity I have seen there.
Megan and pussreboots- I am glad to know I am not the only one!
Alix- A bad cover will make it easier to look past what might be a really great book. At least until I hear someone gush about it and then I end up picking it up because of what I heard.
Trish- I think your logic is probably spot-on. An established author doesn’t need anything on the cover other than their name, as many people will buy the book if they liked what the author has written before.
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