Totally Judging Books By Their Covers
May 12th, 2010 § 2 Comments
I bet you bookworms out there have accidentally bought books you already own because you forgot that not only do you already own them, you’ve read them cover to cover as well. Sometimes you’re fooled by a new edition with a new cover and you thought, “Ooooh, new book!“, right? Yeah, same here.
But not this time. This time I bought these two books knowing full well that I already have earlier editions of them (and have read them as well):
I couldn’t resist it. Look at them! Such striking imagery. Plus, they have that faux-retro look, like holding a mint copy of an edition published in the ’60s.
And these are the editions I have in my collection:
That Everyman Library edition of Nineteen Eighty-Four even has a stain on its top right corner. No idea where that came from. Now compare these two books with the ones I bought. No contest, right? These two are ‘blah’ compared to the new Penguin editions. Sometimes I don’t mind minimalism on my book covers but sometimes I want, nay, demand a Masonic eyeball staring out at me. And that Animal Farm cover? Too many pigs versus one pig giving me the evil eye.
These new editions will also look better on the shelf. Same cover design usually translates to same spine design and both are paperbacks. For years my hardcover Nineteen Eighty-Four looked awkward shelved next to a paperback Animal Farm. It just looked wrong.
I also think these books know they are being replaced. The Everyman tried to commit suicide last night. It fell from its shelf while I wasn’t looking. That was spooky weird. Either this book has achieved sentience (and acquired emotions) or I have a poltergeist in my house.
You’re a fashionista when it comes to books, retro is back in fashion and you cannot wait to join the bandwagon
You know me so well, it’s frightening.