It's been awhile since I've conducted a cover-off here at Kittling: Books, and when I stumbled across the US and UK covers for Ann Cleeves' upcoming Matthew Venn mystery, The Raging Storm, I knew it was the perfect opportunity.
Let's take a look at the covers.
Both certainly chose excellent graphics, didn't they? If I were the type of person to get seasick (I'm not), I think I could take one look at either of these covers and feel myself turning unbecoming shades of green. But which one do I like the best?
The UK Cover
In this graphic, I'm at the bottom of a trough, looking up at a small boat at the top. Land is near... but not near enough. Do I need rescuing? Is that small boat my ticket to dry land? There are no definite answers to be found in the graphic, that's for sure. But what about the rest?
It's too busy. For one thing, take that badge off the upper left corner. It detracts and distracts even if it does identify the book as a Matthew Venn mystery. Also, you know me and blurbs. Can't stand 'em. Remove "The Sunday Times Bestseller," but if you must have something, keep "One of Britain's best crime writers." I think it would look better if the badge was removed and the Sunday Times line was replaced by something like "a Matthew Venn Investigation."
Clean it up. Let the graphic, the title, and the author's name shine!
The US Cover
The US cover makes me feel more like I'm lost in a ferocious storm in a small boat (and probably bailing for all I'm worth). There's no land in view, so no hope for rescue. Those seabirds are looking down on me... probably wondering if I'd make a good lunch.
This is a much cleaner cover. In fact, the only thing I'd remove is that "New York Times Bestselling Author" line. This cover does a much better job of giving us an idea of what the book's about as well as telling us who wrote it and what series it belongs to.
The Verdict
Although in many ways, I prefer the graphic the UK cover uses, I have to say that I like the cleaner appearance of the US cover. The important "stuff" is right out there in plain sight, and it's allowed the space it needs to speak to those of us wandering the aisles of our local bookshops and libraries.
What say all of you? Which cover do you prefer?
I'm with you, Cathy. I prefer the cleaner, slightly simpler US cover. I especially like covers that don't have blurbs, seals, etc.. I know it may help a book's sales if there's a note that it's won an award, or that a famous author endorses it, but I just don't like those things...
ReplyDeleteI think the "problem" may be that folks like you and me don't need all those hooks to convince us to buy a book.
DeleteI like the US cover this time, too. It's just a better look at the storm with the waves and the dark sky and the birds.
ReplyDeleteIt could be that the boat is too distracting.
DeleteU.S, cover. Simpler, and I feel like I'm in the storm.
ReplyDeleteBoth of them make me feel that I'm glad not to be physically in them.
DeleteAny cover with an Ann Cleeves novel inside it works for me.
ReplyDelete*laughing* She had us at hello, eh?
DeleteThe US cover for me, also. The darker sky and violent waves reinforce the title nicely, and I'm also a fan of the cleaner overall design. The many birds in sight made me wonder whether the viewpoint is from a small boat, as you said, or from a wind-whipped promontory, because most birds don't get too far out to sea. There's more overall mystery with this cover.
ReplyDeleteYep, that boat is too distracting.
DeleteNot even close in the way the covers impacted me at first view. I find the cleaner cover of the US version gave me a feel for the level of terror the opens seas can generate in a tiny human being. The UK cover is so cluttered that I had to look twice to really see the huge waves.
ReplyDeleteYep. Just too many distractions on the UK cover. (Good to see you, Sam!)
DeleteThanks, Cathy. I was down with covid for about three weeks and I'm still struggling with "concentration" issues. I do think that's getting better, but I've really lost touch with the bunch of bloggers I depended on to keep me up to date. Hoping to fix that...gradually.
DeleteTake it easy, Sam. I'm glad to hear that you're on the mend.
Delete