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Original poster

AIBU to think that these are the ugliest book covers ever?

87 replies

TowelMouse · 08/09/2021 19:10

Can you beat them?

Also, what do you hate about book covers and what physical book features do you hate? I can't bear deckled edges. They give me the shivers.

AIBU to think that these are the ugliest book covers ever?
AIBU to think that these are the ugliest book covers ever?
AIBU to think that these are the ugliest book covers ever?
OP posts:
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Original poster
TowelMouse · 08/09/2021 19:18

I also hate this trend for not putting the blurb on the back of the book. It's very frustrating. I love a nice cover as much as anyone but I'm unlikely to buy it on that basis alone. I want to know what the book is about or I'm not buying it.

OP posts:
citygirlinwellies · 08/09/2021 20:24

My goodness they are bad! It looks like the results of reception class self-portrait session. I agree about the lack of blurb, I've noticed it a lot lately. So annoying having to Google just to find out what they could so easily just print on the back!

elkiedee · 08/09/2021 21:13

Interesting. I received a survey about a cover that I really dislike of a book which I've actually read recently as I heard a radio abridgement and it sounded interesting. The book is Re-Educated by Lucy Kellaway, and I most dislike the orange colour and, yes, I know this is pedantic, the full stop at the end of the subtitle. (No! to full stops in subtitles!)

Reading this, I think I tend to choose books through information either online or on the radio, mostly - I buy physical books in charity shops and often even with those I look at known authors, publishers/imprints which specialise in a particular type of book. But I wish the blurb was easier to find on Amazon than silly pretend subtitles and writer/reviewer puffs that don't actually tell me what it's about, so I suppose this is similar to the lack of proper editorial blurb on the back cover (or just inside the front cover with many hardbacks and some posh paperback editions).

Flamglimglubberty · 08/09/2021 21:18

I really can't stand book covers that change theme half way through a series and then don't match!

FindMeInTheSunshine · 08/09/2021 21:24

Oh, agre about the change part way through a series. Even more annoying when they changed the size of just about all the paperbacks and I've got several series where the second half no longer fit my bookshelvesAngry

EarringsandLipstick · 08/09/2021 21:30

Oh this brings back memories! When I was small I was sleeping in my Grandma's house & there was a pile of Agatha Christie's on the nightstand. All in the vein you shared. I was petrified.

EarringsandLipstick · 08/09/2021 21:32

I agree about Re-educated & the orange colour. It put me off too.

I am quite interested in the book but read the first chapter & she just sounded so smug & self-satisfied with her Big Life Changes I just didn't buy it. I probably will tho!

IDontDrinkTea · 08/09/2021 21:32

Given a choice, I’ll always buy an illustrated cover over a cover that shows the tv/film adaptation actors.

PenCreed · 08/09/2021 21:33

I opened this thread thinking "it can't be worse than the 70s Christie covers". And there they are, in all their weirdness.

SpittinKitten · 08/09/2021 21:33

I see your Christies and raise you a Greer...

EarringsandLipstick · 08/09/2021 21:35

@IDontDrinkTea

Given a choice, I’ll always buy an illustrated cover over a cover that shows the tv/film adaptation actors.
Yes! I can't buy a book with the TV adaptation photos on it.
Fabbydabbydoozey · 08/09/2021 21:36

I remember those! This has made me laugh.

EarringsandLipstick · 08/09/2021 21:38

I'm not sure how to explain it but I hate 'floppy' book covers. I want them quite, um, firm 🙈 but also I don't like when the spine is too thick & you can't properly fold back pages.

doorornottodoor · 08/09/2021 21:39

I love Agatha Christie and the covers are usually fantastic . Those ones are weird though- I’ve not seen them before.

Tlollj · 08/09/2021 21:42

I not seen those covers before. My copies are quite mundane in comparison.

trulyconfuseddotcom · 08/09/2021 21:43

Genuinely disturbing, especially Third Girl - very weird!!!

StCharlotte · 08/09/2021 21:56

I couldn't finish this book because the cover felt icky. Sort of clammy?

AIBU to think that these are the ugliest book covers ever?
SquitMcJit · 08/09/2021 22:01

I hate it when the illustration on the book cover actually gives away the actual plot.

I can’t give a real example as I’d be passing on the pain - but e.g. if a thriller plot line turned out to feature secret twins - and there they are on the cover…

SquitMcJit · 08/09/2021 22:03

Also my copy of the Oliver Sachs book on migraines features a graphic illustration of a distorted stripy face - that makes my eyes go funny and like I’m going to have a migraine.

babybythesea · 08/09/2021 22:30

@IDontDrinkTea

Given a choice, I’ll always buy an illustrated cover over a cover that shows the tv/film adaptation actors.
Me too!

Also, when they did the Harry Potter in adult covers (ok, that makes it sound as though it's 'Harry does porn' but you know what I mean), I kept buying the children's version. a) It matched my others and b) Everyone knew what it was about, and that it was aimed at kids. If you don't want to read it, fine, don't. If you do, no-one is fooled by a black and white cover. It was hardly a secret series of books...

Flamglimglubberty · 08/09/2021 22:39

Also, when they did the Harry Potter in adult covers

Ugh, to this day this still annoys me. My collection is half and half as I asked my mum to pick up my preorders of the last 3 books as it was next to her office. Every time when asked by the shop if she wanted the kid or adult cover she said adult!

Also, I always try to get the illustrated rather than TV/film covers. Not sure why, and it's very snobby but I just feel really judgey about the TV/film covers even though it's the exact same book.

SquirryTheSquirrel · 08/09/2021 22:43

My pick would be Irine Welsh's 'Porno'. I was going to upload a pic but I won't inflict it on the unsuspecting!

SquirryTheSquirrel · 08/09/2021 22:44

^Irvine

TheDistortion · 08/09/2021 22:49

I hate it when the illustration on the book cover actually gives away the actual plot. There is a crime series that does just this - putting the murder weapon on the front for example when that is a key plot element. I also remember a young adult sci fi book showing the
main character on the front cover when what she looked like was a major twist in the plot.

elkiedee · 08/09/2021 23:41

Earrings, I confess I didn't actually buy Re-Educated - I read a review copy through Netgalley. Thinking about it, I think I could knock out a reasonable and fair review of this quite well, and will try to do so in the next couple of days. I used to write lots of reviews and have been really lax about actually doing this recently.

I do recommend books I've read this way, and I quite often actually buy books as well when they come up on Kindle deals - this doesn't happen for everything but it is quite common as I think some publishers must negotiate the Kindle special offers on many of the same books that they offer for review through Netgalley.

She is obviously a very opinionated woman but she's quite good at self deprecation - if anything her book was much less smug than I thought it might be based on hearing her on the radio and other things I've read by her. I read a previous book by her, a novel, and didn't like it much whereas I think this is worth giving a go.