Wednesday, August 02, 2017

I Have Fiona Barton Covered!


It never ceases to amaze me the things that inspire me to write posts. For this comparison series, authors have submitted covers, readers have made suggestions, and I've chosen a few as a reminder to read the next book in that author's series, but in this particular case, the author herself inspired me (completely unknowingly).

When I went to see Fiona Barton at The Poisoned Pen, she is the one who mentioned how dissimilar the US and UK covers are for her two published books, The Widow and The Child. Naturally when I returned home, I had to take a look to see what she meant.

Now it's time for everyone to take a look and share their opinions! 





May I go on record now as saying that none of the covers does much for me? Especially the US covers; they say absolutely nothing and aren't even particularly eye-catching. It's almost as if they (1) didn't want the books to sell, or (2) they had no clue as to how to market them.

To ease up on those folks a bit, I will say that neither book is simple to slap a label on. Books with multiple narrators are tricky. But still!

While the UK covers aren't particularly attractive, at least they tell us something about the books. While I don't think the author blurbs on the fronts are necessary, the ones that reveal a taste of what the book is about are very helpful-- especially the one for The Widow: "A loving husband or a heartless killer...she'd know, wouldn't she?" Those white lilies I always associate with funerals are fitting for a book with that title, and there's also something a bit creepy about the way the flowers are twined about the title-- or is it just me?

Before rubber bands or plastic bags, the local newspapers that I grew up with came rolled up with paper bands around their middles, so I immediately think of news stories and getting that ink all over my fingers as I turned the pages when I look at the cover of The Child. Between the graphic and "You can bury the story...but you can't hide the truth," I'm put in mind of a newspaper reporter digging up secrets for a big exposé. 

So... while both US covers do nothing much in promotion of Fiona Barton's books, the UK covers do manage to tantalize us a bit. If I were comparing these four covers on the basis of appearance alone (fonts/colors/graphics), I would choose none of them. However, if I were choosing on the basis of the information given on each cover, I would choose the UK cover of The Widow

What about you? Which covers do you prefer-- or do you not like any of them at all? Inquiring minds would love to know!
 

8 comments:

  1. I agree, Cathy. That UK cover for The Widow is the best. Interesting how these really don't say very much at all about the novels. As you say, that's difficult with some stories. Still...

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    1. From what little she said and the rather puzzled look on her face as she said it, I think Barton would agree with you!

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  2. What grabs me about the British cover of The Widow is the teaser at the top.

    For The Child, neither cover grabs me.

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    1. Yes, that teaser for The Widow is probably the one best element in all four covers.

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  3. The covers for both countries are really bland. Nothing like the story.

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  4. I will read The Child because I read a recommendation here, with a good explanation of the plot and characters. That has more influence with me than covers.

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    1. I've gotten to the point where I do like to compare covers, but I'm like you-- other things are a much greater influence to me than covers.

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