I do! I work in a library and constantly pick books based purely on the cover!
2006-10-20 10:12:05 · 41 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
Sadly yes. We are all visually influenced (food, people etc) and books are no exception to this.
I am certain that they have published books before than re done the cover and sales have increased.
2006-10-20 22:08:04 · answer #1 · answered by David 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Depends on whether I know the author or not. I work in a Children's Library and there was an award winning book called "Make Lemonade" published by Faber. At the time it came out in the UK Faber were doing very 'arty' sparse covers. The cover of this book was so bad that, even though the new cover is ok, I still cannot bring myself to read it. I blame Faber for putting a lot of children off some very good authors in the late 80s and early 90s with their execrable covers
2006-10-21 03:58:00 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I try not to but it is hard i once did a creative writing course and our tutor told us that what you write on the back of your book will make the diffrence to it being brought or not. Many people go for the back cover first I always do but also try and read some of the introduction and if in doubt I also go by recommended reads.
Does your library have a recommended read section as that would be good. I also find when Richard and Judy do their summer read I have found some fantastic books off that.
2006-10-20 10:24:56 · answer #3 · answered by momof3 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I do unless I know the author or the I have the time to read the jacket description. I usually look at the cover to see if I think it might be interesting, if it looks ok I'll read the blog inside. I used to work in a book shop and ended up going round all the sections with the head of that section telling me what I should read!!!! I couldn't do that with my section particularly, as it was the sheet music!
2006-10-20 10:21:43 · answer #4 · answered by Clare 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A good cover illustration helps, but so does the title and the summary on the back of the book. Sometimes, I read the first chapter or so to see if it really is interesting.
2006-10-20 15:51:36 · answer #5 · answered by mrsbrainiac314 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, I judge it by the first paragraph - maybe the first page, or page and a half at most. A skilled writer will have you hooked by the first paragraph. A writer who values the reader won't falter or annoy you in the first page and a half; they'll rope you in deeper. If I love the first page and a half, I buy the book.
(I've certainly been known to avoid books based on the cover, though)
2006-10-20 14:44:49 · answer #6 · answered by kbc10 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes sometimes I do because I tend to pick the ones with nice covers on them. However I usually read the blurb i.e. back of the book to know if it will be a good read or not. Sometimes even the blandest of covers can be a good story.
2006-10-20 10:16:26 · answer #7 · answered by Squirrel 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
If reading the blurb on the back of the book counts then yes I do. I don't trust photos, colour or layout because somehing that looks thrilling may be anything but - also the pictures may be misleading or inappropriate.
I often choose books by author or category e.g. detective fiction, and sometimes I take pot-luck so that I can make new discoveries.
2006-10-20 10:52:17 · answer #8 · answered by lianhua 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, I pick a book by the first paragraph. If I can't put it down, I check it out. I read lots of biographies, and the covers are usually a photo of the person, so it does help.
2006-10-20 10:28:59 · answer #9 · answered by Lottie W 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, an awful cover makes me refrain from grabbing the book. A nice edition works miracles.
2006-10-20 10:35:21 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋