Book Jackets

[Sara McClelland]

http://www.icoeye.com/images/JacketBookmark/Jackets_vertical_01.jpg

This made me smile- I got to thinking about what the book looks like, and if it influences your reading.

The pipe is just fantastic. :D

[Pat Floyd]

I like the three-dimensional concept, but its effect on my reading would depend on my prior knowledge of the titles. The pipe is fantastic, but if I didn't know Sherlock Holmes I would glance at the 1950s-looking man and think I probably don't want to read this book. About Robin Hood I would wonder Were they thinking of William Tell? and of Moby Dick, Is this a children's book?

[LindaU]

As a designer of course I have to say that book cover design is very important, as is all design for everything in our lives. A poorly-designed cover really is a detriment to the reading experience in many ways. It's important to leave the reader with enough space to recreate the storyline in the mind, so it's best to avoid specific details of the characters' appearance, in my opinion. I prefer covers that lend a sense of atmosphere and hint of the story's environment. The covers for Donna Leon's books about Venice's Commissario Brunetti, for example, are graced with a series of beautiful images of that fabulous city that really lend a wonderful ambiance to the book before you even open the cover.

The importance of book cover design is one big reason why e-books are not for me!

[Pat Floyd]

O Linda, as a former editor I love you already. I hate it when marketing people get the final say on covers and want to use some stereotypical image they think the public is looking for. That applies by no means to all marketing people. I really like the Donna Leon covers. The author's name provides the identity the buyers need; the images provide the atmosphere of the book; the variety, especially in color, shows that this is a new and different book.

[LindaU]

And they look wonderful together on the bookshelf. An important consideration.

[tangential1]

http://media.threadless.com//product/2277/zoom.gif

[LindaU]

Guess I might as well confess I've done some book cover design. One of which for a "surfing detective" in Hawaii. haha. This is the link: http://www.welcometotheislands.com/search?q=Wipeout&cat_id=6&page=1

[Pat Floyd]

Erin, a great laugh!

Linda, I like your cover. Do you work for a company? agency? freelance?

[LindaU]

Pat, I am freelance. You can see my portfolio on Facebook. I'm Linda Umstead there.

[pontalba]

http://www.icoeye.com/images/JacketBookmark/Jackets_vertical_01.jpg

This made me smile- I got to thinking about what the book looks like, and if it influences your reading.

The pipe is just fantastic. :D

Cute, but none of those covers would entice me into picking a book up at the bookstore. This could be only my impression, and incorrect, but they seem to be "talking down" to the consumer. JMO