tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post8768500891672103872..comments2024-01-07T02:13:14.908-05:00Comments on The Broke and the Bookish : how do you feel about cover re-designs? Janahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01772938036847330151noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-43213183386978615582013-03-27T08:52:32.387-04:002013-03-27T08:52:32.387-04:00Mostly I hate when they redesign book covers becau...Mostly I hate when they redesign book covers because the book was made into a movie. Whenever that happens I try my best to find the version that <i>doesn't</i> have the huge, obnoxious "NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE" seal on it. Ugh.Bridgethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04496106578261831965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-23482945693184195222013-03-25T09:17:29.122-04:002013-03-25T09:17:29.122-04:00Across the Universe has been confusing me so much!...Across the Universe has been confusing me so much! I keep seeing different covers in store/reviews and don't remember that it's the same book until I read the back (horrible memory for titles D:). I probably would have bought it months ago if I had been able to connect the reviews with one cover to the book I was holding in my hand at the store! <br /><br /><a href="http://www.onstarshipsanddragonwings.com/" rel="nofollow">Anya @ On Starships and Dragonwings</a>Anya @ On Starships and Dragonwingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11966260114472122150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-22708777588712538462013-03-24T20:17:53.985-04:002013-03-24T20:17:53.985-04:00Late to the conversation, but I agree that cover r...Late to the conversation, but I agree that cover redesigns midseries usually are a bad thing, since they don't improve on the original series. The only cover redesign that I've liked is the ones done to Stephanie Perkins books, but I'm in the minority. <br /><br />I think Delirium benefited from the cover redesign, but other than that it's usually a bad idea. Lizahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08763211385606299365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-69026849816084856542013-03-23T10:13:07.558-04:002013-03-23T10:13:07.558-04:00I totally agree with you! I read Across the Univer...I totally agree with you! I read Across the Universe when it was in my library(original cover) I then, loving it so much, went to go buy it and could only find it in the second cover. I was so disappointed. The first cover was by far my favorite and the last one was my least.<br />http://www.nobentspines.blogspot.com/Jackiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08860556457014980028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-6275178284543141482013-03-22T11:49:42.236-04:002013-03-22T11:49:42.236-04:00I really hate cover redesigns when they happen mid...I really hate cover redesigns when they happen mid-series because then they don't match when they're next to each other on my bookshelf, especially if they change the size.<br />I blogged about the new Steph Perkins covers here: http://anabundanceofkathryn.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/new-steph-perkins-covers.html<br />The Sarah Dessen redesigns look all right because they still have the same 'feel' but I really don't like the Across the Universe ones as they make it look like a whole different genre (also the original one was shiny!).Kathrynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04930754758046853151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-43697041258881192792013-03-22T09:05:00.865-04:002013-03-22T09:05:00.865-04:00I think redesigns are fine, as long as they wait u...I think redesigns are fine, as long as they wait until the entire series is already published. Changing it in the middle like Across the universe seems really odd. And to change it from that beautiful original, I don't understand it at all. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-15969573418093469592013-03-21T22:38:20.565-04:002013-03-21T22:38:20.565-04:00Great post! I don't mind a cover redesign, but...Great post! I don't mind a cover redesign, but I agree -- if it's got to be done, make them BETTER! I actually liked the Beth Revis covers, but I hated that the first book (with the new cover) wasn't released a a hardcover. So I bought the THIRD book as a hardcover, but the format of the first book still won't match, so I didn't bother. Instead I have a softcover old cover, hardcover old cover, and hardcover new cover. Blah. <br /><br />I never even thought about REBUYING books that you already own due to cover changes. That sounds like something I would do! Kristilyn (Reading In Winter)https://www.blogger.com/profile/12401451485460760416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-55838116634864917842013-03-21T16:51:50.927-04:002013-03-21T16:51:50.927-04:00Oh man, that Across the Universe redesign is PAINF...Oh man, that Across the Universe redesign is PAINFUL! I seriously don't understand it in the slightest.<br /><br />While I haven't been annoyed by a switch like that in some time my biggest frustration comes from books that have been made into movies and they change the cover to feature the actors. SO ANNOYING! It makes me not want to buy the book with the new cover because I feel like I'm supporting the movie and not the actual book itself. Also? I don't have posters of actors up in my home now that I'm older, and I sure as hell don't need them on my books!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-28782452135310826902013-03-21T14:59:12.863-04:002013-03-21T14:59:12.863-04:00Your point about it destroying brand identity make...Your point about it destroying brand identity makes so much sense. I would be so frustrated if I was looking for a book based on an old cover, and could never find it because it had been redesigned. And I totally agree about the Across the Universe covers. I loved the first one so much! The only one from the newest version that I like is Shades of Earth.<br /><br />Sometimes I think the redesigned covers are worth it (Shatter Me, for example), but often the changes just seem weird and unnecessary (Curseworkers series, Across the Universe series, etc.).Kelley @ Another Novel Readhttp://anothernovelread.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-5052666359445573152013-03-21T12:19:08.417-04:002013-03-21T12:19:08.417-04:00I hate when book covers are re-designed after the ...I hate when book covers are re-designed after the second title releases because then my copies don't match! It makes me very upset!The Insouciant Sophisticatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03934853089105345052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-83034189252810839452013-03-21T10:03:17.390-04:002013-03-21T10:03:17.390-04:00I like cover changes to a point, I don't think...I like cover changes to a point, I don't think I would get a book again just because of the cover. After all we read books because of the content, we choose books because of the cover (well I know I do). So if it was something I hadn't read before I can see it being good but if it's something I have then it doesn't really matter. For example the Sarah Dessen books, I've read every single one, not feeling the new covers and honestly when they first came out I thought oooh a new book, but nope it was just a recover. So tricky sometimes.Cathy De Los Santoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16156512393353472676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-3507123506987341922013-03-21T09:01:10.613-04:002013-03-21T09:01:10.613-04:00It drives me crazy. Sometimes the cover does get b...It drives me crazy. Sometimes the cover does get better but there are series like Across the Universe and Born Wicked that I absolutely loved the first cover design. Why change it!! Especially if a book has been out for a while. It's one thing to do it before the book is released. I understand that but not once it's already out there and the world and people are looking for that cover when they buy the book.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12963999107738707214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-19911105454762902372013-03-21T01:14:16.869-04:002013-03-21T01:14:16.869-04:00They do it in attempts to get better sales on the ...They do it in attempts to get better sales on the book. Like Across the Universe- the first one is rather girly, and to a point the second version. I think this new round is to probably draw more guys who probably thought the earlier covers made it seem like a girly book. Personally, I love this third/series cover style. I have a weird thing about books with a guy and girl on the cover, and the second never drew me.<br /><br />I usually hate cover redesigns, mostly on the matching issue. But I am really loving the new cover design for the Virals series.sawcathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05665856636670547062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-24539700033770931032013-03-20T22:06:24.421-04:002013-03-20T22:06:24.421-04:00My jaded opinion: total marketing ploy. My jaded opinion: total marketing ploy. Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02287501540207945678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-17806234727382869572013-03-20T22:03:32.519-04:002013-03-20T22:03:32.519-04:00As a general rule I'm against cover redesigns,...As a general rule I'm against cover redesigns, UNLESS it is a whole series being republished at the same time! I've seen a few series that are older do a complete face lift to bring in new readers. I'm fine with that! Just PLEASE don't change the covers half way through a series. It drives me mad!<br /><br />Side note: Those new covers for Anna and Lola are just so boring. It's sad.Jessica N.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07734855129352601818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-2269078644095120492013-03-20T21:25:43.009-04:002013-03-20T21:25:43.009-04:00I am generally not in favor of new covers, for man...I am generally not in favor of new covers, for many of the reasons you said. And I’ll add that I really HATE movie tie-in covers. Because sometimes I’ve just been too lazy to buy a book until it’s on sale, but as a movie tie-in copy, and then I’m stuck with that until I want to try to justify re-purchasing a book I already own because I want a different cover (hello, <i>I Am Legend</i>). I mean, I GET why publishers do it – especially in that instance – but, I still don’t like it. <br /><br />I also really dislike the new <i>Anna</i> and <i>Lola</i> book covers – and more than that, the display on my kindle changed to the new covers, even though I bought them under the old cover! I don’t know if I’ve read them now! (Well, I do know….. but I did have to look carefully at it to figure out that I knew what that book was now.) Add that to my list of “detractions” for e-readers. <br /><br />And, yes, I’ve re-bought the same book I already own because it had a new cover and I didn’t remember the title/author, so I didn’t know I had read it already. <br /><br />And I associate the picture to the story, so with Sarah Dessen’s books I keep having to re-read them now because I can’t remember which book it is. I don’t have time to re-read all those books! I need to move onto something new! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-4439487080051341752013-03-20T21:25:20.116-04:002013-03-20T21:25:20.116-04:00I am generally not in favor of new covers, for man...I am generally not in favor of new covers, for many of the reasons you said. And I’ll add that I really HATE movie tie-in covers. Because sometimes I’ve just been too lazy to buy a book until it’s on sale, but as a movie tie-in copy, and then I’m stuck with that until I want to try to justify re-purchasing a book I already own because I want a different cover (hello, <i>I Am Legend</i>). I mean, I GET why publishers do it – especially in that instance – but, I still don’t like it. <br /><br />I also really dislike the new <i>Anna</i> and <i>Lola</i> book covers – and more than that, the display on my kindle changed to the new covers, even though I bought them under the old cover! I don’t know if I’ve read them now! (Well, I do know….. but I did have to look carefully at it to figure out that I knew what that book was now.) Add that to my list of “detractions” for e-readers. <br /><br />And, yes, I’ve re-bought the same book I already own because it had a new cover and I didn’t remember the title/author, so I didn’t know I had read it already. <br /><br />And I associate the picture to the story, so with Sarah Dessen’s books I keep having to re-read them now because I can’t remember which book it is. I don’t have time to re-read all those books! I need to move onto something new! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-9926357531795789752013-03-20T21:24:25.800-04:002013-03-20T21:24:25.800-04:00I don't mind it -- said so on your blog too. W...I don't mind it -- said so on your blog too. What I hate is when they redesign an entire series (a la Harry Potter) before the last book and so I have all 6 in TP and then the 7th has a different spine and I am just -- grr.sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14559411978623170432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-76318875167480353392013-03-20T20:44:40.664-04:002013-03-20T20:44:40.664-04:00I think it depends. For instance, cover redesigns ...I think it depends. For instance, cover redesigns partway through a series drive me absolutely crazy because my books won't match (I'm a little neurotic about that). But I also hate cover redesigns that don't capture the essence of the book AT ALL.<br /><br />On the other hand, cover redesigns that do a better job capturing the story don't drive me quite so crazy (see: Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi). And if a book has been out for a really long time, there definitely is a good reason to update the covers a little to capture a more modern audience. (However, I did see versions of <i>Wuthering Heights</i> floating around that had been redesigned to look like the Twilight books...HUGE problem with that because it's not like <i>Twilight</i> AT ALL.)Stephanie Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01258321385403403810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-6299480116734140612013-03-20T19:25:15.905-04:002013-03-20T19:25:15.905-04:00I totally hate the cover redesign! Drives me up a...I totally hate the cover redesign! Drives me up a wall, especially when they also change the size of the book (those weird tall mass market books wreak havoc on my bookshelves!)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07091698933263675862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-79298029275099010872013-03-20T18:28:30.698-04:002013-03-20T18:28:30.698-04:00I don't really care too much about cover redes...I don't really care too much about cover redesigns, unless it is done in the middle of the series (like before the last books have been published). I really prefer the newer Dessen covers mostly because they (except 2) don't have any people on them. Most of my students are African American and a lot of my girls aren't interested in "white girl books". I also LOVE the new colored cover for Seraphina, its just so much more welcoming than the original. The only cover redesign I'm not a fan of is the Born Wicked one...I just thought the original was so gorgeous that this new one is kind of dull. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-86100338126815356682013-03-20T16:29:22.068-04:002013-03-20T16:29:22.068-04:00I don't really like cover redesigns either. Pa...I don't really like cover redesigns either. Particularly for the reasons you named. If you don't keep up with bookish things, then it'll just confuse you and you might end up buying a book you already have. At the same time, I know it's completely out of most of the author's control. A published friend of mine is currently having this very problem. <br /><br />She's writing a trilogy and the second book hasn't even come out yet, but her publisher has notified her that they will be changing the cover of the first book. Thus, if you have the hardcover copy version of that one and then the hardcover version of the final two in the series, it's not going to match. And like Leah said, a lot of people really want a matching set. It's out of her control, though. The publisher thinks the original cover is too "girlish" and it turns out a lot of the people who are buying the book are boys. I guess it's just a marketing scheme by the publishers for little reasons like that. <br /><br />For really successful books, I think sometimes they release a new cover so it can be like a "collectors" item, too. Kim (YA Asylum)https://www.blogger.com/profile/01933643189969276703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-10521407701570896112013-03-20T15:58:03.388-04:002013-03-20T15:58:03.388-04:00I don't get why they have cover changes midway...I don't get why they have cover changes midway through series or when the books aren't very old... I also don't like redesigns of iconic covers (the Brit HP covers spring to mind). Some series and books are so defined by their covers that redesigns seem counterproductive!<br /><br />It would be great if you could just choose the cover you wanted...handiangelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14332512697694604272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-51053802560110933072013-03-20T15:01:28.646-04:002013-03-20T15:01:28.646-04:00Cover changes kind of bother me. Especially if the...Cover changes kind of bother me. Especially if they switch midway through the series and I've already bought the original covers! I really like them to match. <br />The Perkins covers... They weren't the greatest. But they were really recognizable. As for the new ones... I'm still on the fence about them! I like them a little bit better because they're not as cheesy BUT I also don't think those are really that well done either. AND now Isla is not going to look like the other books. Bummer :( Brittany @ The Book Addicts Guidehttp://www.bookaddictsguide.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345948308406299194.post-36230416733891533432013-03-20T14:54:23.501-04:002013-03-20T14:54:23.501-04:00I agree with you completely. I also will remember ...I agree with you completely. I also will remember a cover before I remember a name or title. We're visual creatures, its to be expected.<br /><br />What I hate...when a book gets turned into a movie and then the cover is then updated to resemble the movie. That drives me insane! I will go out of my way to find and buy one with an original cover. Prime examples (from B&N at least) Warm Bodies, The Host, Breaking Dawn all look like movie posters. It ruins it for me.<br />And end of my rant lol<br /><br />Sheri @ <a href="http://sherismuse.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Perks of Being a Bookworm</a>Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00102414352794370204noreply@blogger.com