Wednesday, December 02, 2015

I've Got Anne Zouroudi Covered!


The last month of the year always makes me think of a few reading related things: (1) It will soon be time to compile all my statistics (bring on the graphs!), (2) I smile when I think of all the marvelous books I've read so far, and (3) I gasp when I think of all the authors sitting on my TBR shelves that I didn't get around to reading this year. Yikes!

So in honor of thought #3, I thought I'd compare the US and UK book covers of Anne Zouroudi's The Feast of Artemis. Zouroudi writes a wonderful series set in Greece that features Hermes Diaktoros, a very mysterious sort of investigator from Athens. This post is a reminder for me to grab the next book in this series after I finish the two books I'm reading now. As I compare the covers, that reminder will affix itself to my memory. Well... that's usually what happens anyway.  

Let's get to work---



The US Cover...

The US cover is very simple, and the predominant color seems to be flavor of the month with interior decorators-- at least that's the impression I've gotten any time I happen to wander into HGTV or the DIY channels' programming. Don't get me wrong; I happen to like grey. Oops. It's the US cover, so I'd better say gray. There are Greek key borders running across the top and bottom, and there's a rather angelic-looking sheep in the center. I say angelic because of the old style halo around its head. I don't see any crosshairs, so I don't think it's a target.

We're told that it's a Seven Deadly Sins mystery, and the first book in the series is listed at the top. All the information that's left to impart is the author's name and the title of the book. Clean, simple. Nice choice of fonts, and the author's name and title stand out well on the gray background. I like this cover.


The UK Cover...

Although both covers are rather simplistic (and I mean that in a good way), they are very different, aren't they? There's only one Greek key border at the top of the UK cover, and there's a beautiful scene of sky, sea, green grass, a small village, and a grove of what are probably olive trees (which I'm deathly allergic to, but I won't hold that against these particular trees). The colors are wonderful. They not only make me smile, they make me feel at peace.

As far as the information we're told, "The Mysteries of the Greek Detective" is a bit hidden in that border at the top, and there's a praise blurb from Alexander McCall Smith: "Lovely, delicious prose and plot-- as tasty as one of those irresistible honey-soaked Greek confections." A rather flowery blurb, but if McCall Smith gets more people to read Zouroudi's books, then he's done his job, and I thank him for it. The word "Bloomsbury" under the author's name is the publisher. I like the fonts chosen for both the title and the author's name, too. Oh oh. I like this cover, too!


The Verdict...

It's a good thing you weren't able to time how long it took me to choose my favorite. I really like them both, and the clean simplicity of the US cover appeals to me a great deal. But...

...I chose the UK cover. There's something about those colors and that scene that draws me right in. I can feel the sun. I can smell the sea. I want to walk barefoot across that grass and go down to the village. I want to know more.

Now I feel like I've abandoned that poor sheep....


What Say You?

Which cover appeals to you the most? The US cover? The UK cover? Neither one? Too close to call? Inquiring minds would love to know!


12 comments:

  1. I say the UK cover, too, Cathy. There's something about the greens and blues and scenery that evokes Greece to me.

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    1. Yes, they certainly do say "Greece" to me, too!

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  2. I like both covers, but the UK cover makes me want to read the book. :)

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  3. I prefer the US cover. It has all the information that would make me pick it up (BTW I love this series). Plus, it looks very classically Greek.

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    1. Yes, it is very classically Greek. I had a horrible time choosing between the two. I'm glad to hear that you like this series, too!

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  4. Lol! Don't worry, the sheep hasn't been abandoned. I liked the US cover better.

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    1. Whew! That's a load off my mind. I know you and Debbie will take good care of it. ;-)

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  5. I like both, but prefer the U.S. cover. It's more intriguing to me. The British cover is gayer, lighter, doesn't seem like a mystery. However, I do like the Anne Zaroudi font on the British cover.

    But what is happening with that poor sheep? Is it going to be the main dish at the Feast of Artemis?

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    1. I think we're going to have to read the book to find out, Kathy!

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  6. I love the graphs and statistics and want to see your top reads of this year. And, alas, I join the club of those who have TBR piles which we did not tackle (sigh).

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    1. If I'd stop adding books to those shelves, I just might make some progress-- but what self-respecting bookaholic can stop adding treasures to the trove?

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