Plain and simple, I'm a Harry Bosch fan. I fell in love with Michael Connelly's character from the first book, and I've never looked back. But I don't exactly care for legal thrillers, so when Mickey Haller started showing up in Harry's books, I became a bit miffed, and Harry's books are now causing a traffic jam on one of my to-be-read shelves. Hopefully this post will get me in gear!
Let's get to it-- slap on your Critic badge and get to analyzing, friends!
Sometimes it's nice to take a look at two relatively simple cover designs. Publishers on both sides of the pond probably realize that they don't have to do all that much to the cover of a Michael Connelly book-- other than to put his name in large, bold print. How many booksellers have heard, "I want the latest Michael Connelly book!"?
Both covers for The Burning Room don't have all that much going on. The author's name and the title are the most important items. The US cover has a plain white background with Connelly's name in large, bright red, capital letters. A yellow flame and wisps of smoke are all the artwork deemed necessary.
The UK cover is darker, with a blood-red wash over the action in the background. There are bright lights back there. Are they flashing? Emergency vehicles? Has there been a traffic accident? We're left to wonder because-- like the US cover, the author's name and the title of the book are the most important items.
Now... which one catches my eye? Which cover looks the best to me? Hmmm....
I have to say that the US cover strikes my fancy this time. The burning room. Where there's smoke, there's fire. Michael Connelly's name screaming at me. If I were strolling past the shelves in my local bookstore, the US cover is the one that would make me stop first.
How about you? Which cover catches your eye first? Inquiring minds would love to know!
I'm a HIeronymus Bosch fan too, have his latest on my Kindle, but haven't gotten around to it yet.
ReplyDeleteYa just gotta love Harry!
DeleteI'm with you on the cover choice this time, Cathy. I do like the US cover better, and I think it's because the UK cover is a bit dark for me. So glad you featured a Harry Bosch novel. I really do enjoy Connelly's work.
ReplyDeleteHe created one of the very best characters in all of crime fiction as far as I'm concerned. We all count, or nobody counts.
DeleteI have not ever read a Connelly book. I know, I know. Heresy. I like the US cover, by the way. ;-)
ReplyDeleteNah. Not heresy, although I have to admit that one of my eyebrows did twitch a bit! LOL
DeleteI agree with the choice of the U.S. cover. I like that the background is a light color, that the words are centered and that it clearly says it's a Harry Bosch novel. (The British one says that but I could barely read the letters on the dark background.) And I prefer that font.
ReplyDeleteI think the touch with a flame at the bottom is a good symbol for the book.
Yes, you hit the nail on the head, Kathy.
DeleteThe US cover. Because it says a Harry Bosch novel, that would make me think, 'oh good, have I read this one'? I've read them all, except for most recent.
ReplyDeleteYes indeed! Harry Bosch is a magic name to me, too!
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