Musing Mondays - July 13

Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about book covers…

We all know the old adage about not judging a book by it’s cover, but just how much sway does a book cover have when it comes to your choice of book – whether buying or borrowing? Are there any books you’ve bought based on the cover alone?

I admit that a cover can make or break a book for me. I shouldn't admit that but it's true. I was scanning the shelves at Borders the other day looking for a book that starts with the letter "J". I wasn't looking for anything in particular. As I scanned, I noticed that my eyes would immediately drift to the books with the lighter, brighter covers. Most would be classified as "chick-lit" or women's fiction. Interestingly, that's what I prefer to read.

A gorgeous cover will draw me in. It will at least get me to pick up a book and take a look at the subject, see if it's anything I want to read. I'm more apt to skip over a cover that is darker because that traditionally is a book that I'm not apt to want to read. That's not a hard fast rule of course but that's where my mind goes. I also seem to be able to spot books by authors that I am familiar with. I can pick out a Nora Roberts book from a mile away. (Ok, not a mile, but several feet. If I'm wearing my glasses or contacts.)

I don't think that judging a book by a cover is a bad thing in most cases. Publishers try very hard to get the cover right. It can make or break a book in my opinion. Look at the old bodice ripper romances . . . It's rare to see them anymore. People are still reading the books, but the covers are very different.

Interesting topic today!