Book covers can be awful and they can be meh and then they can be fantastic – and I’d be lying if I said I’d never picked up a book purely because of it’s beautiful cover. With TTT this week, we highlight some of those covers we’d consider to be pieces of art, quite literally. These are all covers that I’d love to have as large versions in my own future personal library.
Books are listed by author and the cover artist, and linked to the artists’ sites where possible. Feel free to inform me if I missed something.
1. In Real Life by Cory Doctorow and Jen Wang
I just recently read this via NetGalley and a review will appear closer to the publication date (14 Oct ’14). The art in this graphic novel is awesome – as is the cover.
2. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz and Chloe Foglia
So not only is this an awesome book with diverse characters, but the cover is so… dreamy. I love how the large text actually contributes to its appeal rather than being in the way.
3. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell and Anna Gorovoy
The art is kind of minamilistic right, and it looks like a pencil drawing, and something about it so perfectly suits the era it is set in.
4. The Glass Palace by Amitav Ghosh (I could not find the cover designer for this one. Anybody know?)
I suppose part of the appeal is that I’ve been here… I’d like to have this cover right next to a large photograph of the real Ubein Bridge.
5. Zoo City by Lauren Beukes and Joey Hi-Fi
Beukes always has these awesome covers. I really like this specific art though, and the way the pen-line drawings have elements of the story in them.
6. Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren and Louis S. Glanzman
Because – isn’t it wonderful?
7. Matilda by Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake
Not just because Dahl is so important to me, but because I love Quentin Blake’s art!
8. Since You Asked by Maurine Goo and Shutterstock’s Hifashion (?? I think)
I haven’t read this (yet!!) but I just love this cover. Which says a lot, because I generally detest the trend of “face books”. Oh, here’s a question for you – is that weird? Do most people love “face books”?
9. Don’t You Forget About Me by Kate Karyus Quinn and (cover artist not found by me – anyone?)
Haven’t read this one either (because it’s not out yet) but I do know that this instantly went on my TBR when I saw the cover.
10. Riot by Sarah Mussi (aaand I can’t find the cover artist here either. Help? 🙂 )
I haven’t read this yet either (though I have it on NetGalley and will start soon). Isn’t it awesome though? I think it’s awesome.
Did you ever have movie posters in your room as a teen? I always admired people who did, but never really felt strongly enough about movies to want it myself. Now, book covers… that might be my thing.
Unrelated postscript: have you watched The Amazing Spiderman 2? I love Peter’s bedroom! Especially the fact that he has Aung Sang Suu Kyi’s poster on his wall!
Whispers Unto the Aether 
Great subjkect matter this Blog round……………I teach English via the Internet to students all over the planet and I would like to use the info from this blog as the basis for some of my lessons – gets the students to express themselves freely etc
Love your Blogs generally ..thanks
I’m with you on “face books” (nice term, by the way). I can still stomach an illustrated face, but not so much photographs. And if you want to make sure I won’t buy your book (especially in the case of books on spirituality or self-help books, be they personal, financial, writing, publishing, etc.), put your own (the author’s) face on the cover.
I also prefer not to buy movie tie-in editions of a book as they usually have photos of the actors on the front – I want my own imagination to picture the characters for me, thank you very much.
Hah, that’s true. Not a fan of the authors face on my book covers. Same for movie tie-ins… they’re just another fad/money making scheme!
I love Pippi Longstockings!
http://jazminjade.wordpress.com/2014/05/06/top-ten-tuesday-book-cover-art/
I’m glad you do – me too!
Oh, Pippi Longstocking. That just brought back so many memories. Great list.
My TTT
I know right? I almost forgot about that book. I want it in my kids’ bedrooms one day.
Aww, I love the cover of In Real Life! Plus the book itself looks like something I’d enjoy (I guess it’s about virtual reality/games…). Zoo City has an AWESOME cover too. And I love that you have Ari and Dante on your list ❤
Yes, I think you will love In Real Life! You should check it out! It also has diverse characters.
Loving the cover for ‘Zoo City’! I keep meaning to pick that book up, I hear such good things about it. And Quentin Blake’s illustrations…I just can’t imagine Roald Dahl’s books without them! I feel exactly the same way about ‘face books’. I can’t bear it when the cover tries to show me what the characters look like with a photograph – I try to avoid movie book covers for the same reason!
Lovely list!
It’s really a good book, I hope you’ll enjoy it if you read it!
I’ve never considered the idea that maybe I dislike face books because of it “showing” me what the characters look like… maybe that’s the reason, after all, in my subconscious!
Great covers! I especially love the Aristotle and Dante cover, it’s gorgeous. I also think (Don’t You) Forget About Me has a brilliant cover too. Nice picks 🙂 Here’s my TTT.
Thank you! Happy TTT 🙂
I want a Matilda print so badly!!! And In Real Life looks SO GOOD! And the cover is gorgeous!
Thanks for stoppin by! Have a great week!
Thanks! I think my house will have to have a Matilda print. It’s a seminal book in my life. Keep well!
Interesting covers. In Real Life looks like something I might read, I’ll have to check it out!
I hope you’ll like it!
Wow I love Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. This cover is gorgeous! It looks a really good book too, just added it to my TBR.
I also really like Don’t You Forget About Me and the way the writing is the tree branches. That is really cool 🙂
I’m glad you like them! I’m obsessed 😀
I particularly love the cover of Eleanor and Park. I’m really drawn to those kinds of covers – minimalistic, pastel colours… just something about them invites me in 🙂
They’re lovely right? Kind of… whimsical? I don’t know really. But I want more of them.
Okay, this might be the first 10 Book Covers post where i wanted to read every single book shown!
Really? Hah, that’s awesome!
Reblogged this on safe haven.
You picked out some really gorgeous covers for your list!
I love In Real Life – definitely something I’d have put on my bedroom wall as a teenager! Zoo City is great too, and I thought about putting it on my own list. So much detail, but it doesn’t come across as cluttered which is great.
I absolutely agree with you on face covers, they just don’t do it for me. My favourite covers are usually the minimalist ones, like Eleanor and Park. Although I have to admit I really do like Aristotle and Dante, even though it has more elements on the cover than I’m usually drawn to.
I definitely think book posters should be a thing. Matt Haig had a twitter giveaway for a poster for The Humans before and I remember thinking I would absolutely love it on my wall.
(Also, completely agree about Peter’s bedroom, even though like you I never really bothered with posters…Apart from a poster of Spike from Buffy that my best friend bought me and should probably not bet talked about!).
Haha! I’m glad you liked it 🙂 Ari&Dante is quite a busy cover, but somehow it seems to work.
So book posters are a thing? I’ll have to find some now!
Haha, I had a friend with tonnes of Buffy posters… so no judgment 😉