Book covers
Reading is one of my hobbies. I read fiction, crime, thrillers, fantasy... all kinds of books. I read French authors and foreign authors, and I try to follow this rule : when the book was originally written in English, I read it in English.
So I do read in English the Harry Potter series, girly novels like Helen Fielding’s Bridget Jones or Sophie Kinsella’s Shopaholic series, Douglas Kennedy's novels, etc.
But there are exceptions, such as Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings.
I didn’t want to read it in English first because the trilogy is quite long ; but also because Fantasy implies :
1) an intricate story
2) many many many characters
3) comprehensive descriptions of scenery and battles.
So I felt I would be more comfortable reading it in French... And I was right, because even in French I didn’t finish the 3rd book. Sam & Frodo were walking, walking and walking endlessly in Mordor and the novel wasn’t gripping enough for me.
Anyway that is not what I wanted to talk about.
I want to talk about book covers.
As I read both French and Anglo/American books, I have noticed book covers are particularly different:
English books often have a fancy cover, with an embossed title, cute templates, nice colors and many critics and reviews mentioned on the back cover. Below are a few examples :
Now compare them to French book covers :
Don't you think the French covers are more common and ordinary? Less artistic ? I guess this is because in France books are being considered as “cultural goods” and not as a common product to sell, to market. Indeed the retail book market is particular in France. Book prices are regulated by the law of 10th August 1981 which states that publishers and importers are required to fix retail prices for the books which they publish or import. Retailers must charge an actual retail price between, 95 and 100% of that price. Paperback books ("livres de poche") are quite cheap in France : for instance, the books above cost 5-6 euros.
Above all I love the Harry Potter books : okay, the last ones are so big and heavy you feel like reading a dictionnary, but the covers are gorgeous... I am a fan !
posted by Sev @ 3:13 pm
2 comments
2 Comments:
A common saying I heard growing up was "You can't judge a book by it's cover". Yet, I have found that when a book cover really draws me in, I generally like the book. It's not how I pick my books, but if I am passing down a book aisle and something catches my eye.....I tend to end up enjoying the whole experience.
For me, the Harry Potter Series could have been bound with straw and sticky feathers and I would have still read them with vigor. It's those books on the fringe, the ones you're not sure about where you look hard at the cover and make your decision. Guess that's why I'm always reading book reviews.
Welcome to blogland by the way.
-buzz
Post a Comment
<< Home