Wednesday, March 16, 2016

I Have Nevada Barr Covered!


There's just something about having a house guest in the spring that makes me want to put myself in high shag to get everything done and perfect as quickly as possible. High shag? you ask. I got that phrase from an episode of Designing Women (when the series was first run back in the 80s--if I'm not careful, I'll qualify for Old Fart status soon). Anyway, the point of this is, my comparison may be shorter and sweeter than usual-- I have other things to do!

I stumbled across Nevada Barr's next Anna Pigeon novel Boar Island which will be available in May, and I decided find the US and UK book covers of her last, Destroyer Angel. Let's take a look!
 




I had a discussion yesterday with a Poisoned Pen staff member about blurbs. He hates them, too. In fact, I've never come across one single soul who likes them. Is it because I tend to talk books with dedicated bibliophiles? I don't know. All I can say is that if the US publishers had left that one blurb off, we'd have two very fine covers here.

The UK cover gives (1) bestselling status, (2) author, (3) title, and (4) series character's name. It's the same graphic as on the US cover, but the background is black instead of a deep blue. All the words are done in white with a rather generic font. That water looks cold, and the sunrise looks a long way away.

The US cover has that completely meaningless blurb at the top-- for shame! It also has the same four items that the UK cover does, although in a different order, and to me the order makes more sense on the US cover (and the spacing between phrases looks more polished).

The fonts used are also more eyecatching, especially Barr's name against that deep blue sky. In fact, her name in a different color, and the color used for the sky makes the entire cover pop.

Which Destroyer Angel wins this week's Cover Off? For me it's the US cover. Hands down. No comparison. Even with that blasted blurb at the top.

What say all of you? Which cover do you prefer? US? UK? Neither one? Too close to call?  Inquiring minds would absolutely love to know!


      
 

12 comments:

  1. I'm with you on this one, Cathy. The US cover really is more appealing to me.

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    1. Different eyes see different things, but it seems our eyes are in agreement this time, Margot!

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  2. I'm definitely on the side of the US cover. The blue is more pleasing to me. And I like the fact that her name is in a complementary color. My mystery group read this book last fall and really liked it. I'm excited that BOAR ISLAND will include some of the same characters.

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    1. So am I, Kay. I'm really looking forward to reading the book and to seeing Nevada at The PP.

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  3. I like the UK better. The graphics in the US cover go down into the pine trees and seems to take up too much of the cover. I like the graphics in the UK for the most part because they are above the scene on the cover. It seems better organized and less messy to me. I also prefer the black background. It looks more foreboding.

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    1. Everything you mention makes perfect sense, Lynn. Interestsing how each person interprets the same cover!

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  4. I agree with you regarding the US cover. It grabbed me right away, even before I read your post.

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    1. Yes, the US cover even makes me feel as though I'm in that freezing water!

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  5. I like the UK version better. It makes the book look like a darker, mysterious novel. And I like how the lettering doesn't interfere with the sun coming over the mountains. I agree on the blurbs on the US cover. I could really do without those. Put them on the back cover if you must. But not right on the front.

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    1. One of these days, I'm going to come in contact with a person who loves blurbs (and I might just fall over from shock)!

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  6. Don't go into shock, please. I do not mind that blurb. I'm not crazy about blurbs on the front cover, but here it doesn't bother me. It doesn't make the cover too busy. Plus I am a fan of Marilyn Stasio's, read her reviews faithfully in the New York Times.

    I like the goldish tone of Nevada Barr's name and the blue in the title. So, I much prefer the U.S. cover. I think it's more appealing with the colors.

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    1. Okay... I didn't go into shock, but I did feel light-headed for a second. Besides, it sounds as though there were extenuating circumstances with this one blurb!

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