What about the cover of a book attracts you to it?

Question

And what is your favorite genre?

Answer 1

Suspense and legal thrillers are my favorite types of books.
And I don't really pay too much attention to the cover, seeing as the author's name and the book's title takes up the majority of the cover space. I suppose vague pictures and dark colors catch my eye.
For example, right now I'm reading The Chamber by John Grisham. His name is half the cover, and The Chamber is the bottom half of the cover. The only thing in the background is some dark red and black clouds. That somewhat interests me.
But when I'm reading a book, the synopsis on the back cover is what determines if I want to read it or not.

Answer 2

As an author, I know exactly what attracts me. A hardcover book with a shiny embossed dust jacket with some gold on it somewhere. I spent 8 years in the printing business when I was younger and really learned it inside and out. I started out as a receptionist and ended up as an assistant production manager. I know what goes into printing a dust jacket like that. It takes a lot of work and costs a lot of money to print. It goes through the press at least 3 times to get the gold and the embossing. So to me now as an author, a cover like that says YOU MADE IT! It shows me that the publisher has big plans for this book and has gone to the expense of giving it a beautiful cover. They don't waste covers like that on crap books.

By the way - just so the novices here know - the publisher decides on the cover. The author really has no say in it. You kind of lose that right when you sign a contract.

My favorite genre is murder mysteries. It is what I write. Pax - C

Answer 3

Romance is my first favorite, but I like it better combined with other genres like historical fiction, fantasy (especially this one), and pretty much anything except for mystery, because it bores me to death.

I'm a young artist, so book covers attract me in different ways:

1. Interesting illustrations, not just good ones. Interesting and different photo shots of models representing the characters and shots of a place that is important to the story are included, as well as (and mostly) a simple object on the cover.

2. The right color combinations and styles. I almost always stay away from books covered in pink; they're usually Meg Cabot books, and I definitely always stay away from those and other books having to do with that sort of thing; high school romances, cliques, etc.... drama most definitely.

3. The title. But it doesn't always mean the book is that great. There was once a book I tried called JustIn Case. But it was typed so that it was both "Justin Case" like a name and "Just In Case" like just a title. But it was a terrible book. Not what I expected, even though the summary made it interesting.

I mostly like simple covers, though. Like Stephenie Meyer's covers and Trickster's Choice and Trickster's Queen by Tamora Pierce.

Answer 4

I'm not normally bothered by covers - unless publishers make drastic changes part-way through a series.

Right now I'm reading Jasper Fforde, and our UK editions have a wonderful 'tattered' effect cover, so they look like 1930's pulp fiction novels. Those really DO attract me!


I don't really have a favourite genre - though I do like {original} werewolf fiction and some crime fiction.



I like a book to look smart. I collected the re-printed Famous Five series, for when I have kids, but all the other Enid Blyton reprints have apalling 'tweenager' style covers, and I just will NOT buy books that look so cheap!

Answer 5

The title sometimes attracts me to a book. Good interesting art and an unusual font normally makes me want to pick up a book as well.

But as you know, you shouldn't judge a book by its cover.

Answer 6

i think the cover of a book does attract a reader-thats y when i write book, there going to have good covers. My ( or at least one of my favorites) genres is western- call me crazy but they have great adventers and stuff.
thats my answer

Answer 7

Usually the title. My favourite genre, well, I like many different genres. At the moment I'm into classics, especially Jane Austen.

Answer 8

I, unfortunately, fall for both the pictures and title. If there's an interesting picture, I'll pick it up and read the back to see if it's any good. Same with the titles.

Me? I like Paranormal Romance and Science Fiction.

Answer 9

Simpleness. like Twilight, New Moon, and Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer. I like Fantasy. like those books i just mentioned.

Answer 10

well it can be the uniqueness of it is what catches my eye or plainly anything doesnt have to be fancy...i love drama true-life stories, romance, and anything that i can relate to in my life at the moment.
=)