The saying goes...Don't judge a book by it's cover...but, come on folks, they would all have plain covers if the authors/publisher didn't believe tht the cover has an impact on us.
I am often really surprised when I see a book with a mediocre cover that hides a fantastic read.
Todays offering is.....
STAR GAZING by LINDA GILLARD
Oh my! This cover would not jump at at me from the shelves in the bookshop, (sorry Linda), but bear with me.
The lovely Linda Gillard asked me if I would like to review her novel Star Gazing. I am so glad she did as this has to be one of my favourite reads to date.
Here is what I had to say about the novel
The Blurb
Blind since birth, widowed in her twenties, now lonely in her forties. Marianne Fraser lives in Edinburgh in elegant, angry anonymity with her sister. Marianne's passionate nature finds solace in music, a love she finds she shares with Keir, the man she encounters on her doorstep one winter's night.
Keir makes no concession to Marianne's condition. He is abrupt to the point of rudeness, yet oddly and touchingly kind. But can Marianne turst her feelings for this reclusive stranger who wants to take a blind woman to his island home on Skye, to 'show' her the stars?
This beautiful, passionate and deeply haunting novel has the power to move and gives hope to even the most fractured heart.
This novel explores the world, through the senses, of someone who was born without one of those senses we take for granted, sight. We 'see' the world as Marianne 'sees' it in wonderful detail.
Marianne, is blind and widowed, but don't feel sorry for her. She is a strong independant woman. She knows about loss and survival.
Marianne lives with her sister, Louisa, an author, in Edinburgh.
Keir is a strong, rugged reclusive Scot from the Isle of Skye. An unlikely hero from the description but he instinctively, and unexpectedly, knows how to act around Marianne and how to tend to her needs.
A very emotional and thought provoking story sharing happiness, sadness, fear, romance and humour that really tugged at the heart strings. It visits the emotional issues of loss and lonliness that we face in life with tenderness and understanding that left me feeling comforted.
This one will definately be in my Top Ten reads for 2011.
5 out of 5 for me!
Find out more about Linda Gillard and her novels here
No need to apologise, Carol - I'm the author & in complete agreement about the STAR GAZING cover. When I first saw it, I thought, "Well, that's it - my book's doomed"! I expressed my dismay to my publisher, but the editorial team loved the cover and thought it was fresh & new. Even though I made it clear I was unhappy, the cover stayed.
ReplyDeleteAs I expect you know, most authors have little or no say over their covers. We're shown them as a courtesy, but the cover is regarded as a marketing issue, so the author's view counts for little.
Despite the cover, STAR GAZING went on to be short-listed for 2 awards and won another, but that cover got a mixed reception. Some readers loved it and thought it was very romantic, others thought it was dull or puzzling. (What exactly are those bright blobs?!)
I'll be very interested to hear what your readers think.
(Btw great idea for a new feature!)
Great post Carol and as a reader who pays good money for books I think we have every right to judge.
ReplyDeleteAs well as the number of not-so-good covers out there its becoming increasingly easy to spot books that have very similar covers which is something that disappoints me even more than a 'bad' cover.
This is a case where the cover does not match the content of the book, in my opinion. The cover suggests a quaint and cosy read, but Star Gazing is a very emotional and intensely dramatic tale and the cover doesn't reflect this.
ReplyDeleteAs a huge fan of Linda Gillard, I much prefer her Kindle book covers to this.
totally agree a cover can pull you in or put you off (with a meh inbetween). I liked Star gazing too and in this case the cover wouldn't have put me off but I don't think it does the story justice at all.
ReplyDeleteLainy http://www.alwaysreading.net
I disagree - While I think the cover isn't necessarily relevant to the content, I don't find it unattractive at all; in fact, I rather like it! But it could be a case of transference: since I love the book so much, I may be transferring my positive reaction to the cover....
ReplyDeleteSuch a shame the author didn't like the cover - after putting so much effort into writing the book, writers should get some say in how their work is packaged.
ReplyDelete*sneakily insert here* Sorry for hijacking your post but also wanted to let you know I've nominated you for an award on my blog :-) http://mamajheartschicklit.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/blog-award.html
Julie, I'm glad you like my ebook covers. :-) I choose the basic photo myself, then I pass it on to a professional designer with some very specific instructions about what I want. She sends me some draft versions with a few ideas of her own thrown in. Then we hash it over some more and she comes up with a final version.
ReplyDeleteI've epublished 2 of my out-of-print pbs with new covers. EMOTIONAL GEOLOGY was very similar to the original cover because I liked it, but the ebook cover for A LIFETIME BURNING is completely different (and much better IMHO!)
Great feature, Carol--and obviously touching a nerve here. Covers are totally emotionally charged and I think it's tough on the author when they don't get a say. I have to say, I quite like the image and the lights, although with a title like "Star Gazing" I might have expected something more... starry, I suppose. I haven't read the book yet so I'll come back when I can judge properly!
ReplyDeleteLinda,
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your comments on this post. You know I am a big fan of your writing. Of course, Emotional Geology and House of Silence had very striking covers, that would appeal to readers instantly.
Tracy, Julie, Lainy
What I am hoping to achieve with this feature is not to say...that was a bad cover...but to say...hey look past this cover :)
Rhapsody,
I loved this book too. My view of the cover did not really change after reading it.
Mama J,
thank u. will add to blog soon.
Nicky,
I highly recommend this read.
I do hope that authors and readers will take this feature in the vain it is intended, to highlight those books that I have read that are better on the inside.
I do, of course, realise that a cover is not the bee all and also it must be very hard to design a cover to appeal.
MMMM,maybe I need to interview a cover designer next!
carol