I could go on for days about book covers I really don’t like, but instead I prefer to show you ones that for one reason or another I really like.  I don’t look to see what these books are about.  It’s all about the first impression, what would make you want to pick up the book off the shelf to find out what’s inside.  Todays selections are:

Below, by Meg McKinlay: Unusual and strikingly simple title over a bizarre image.   What’s below?  What’s above?  I don’t know, but I’m curious. How about you?

Dracula, by Bram Stoker: There’s no need to pick this book up to find out what’s it about, but what an alluring cover ….  I’m not a vampire (that I’m willing to admit) I just write vampire novels, but even I’m a little tempted to take a nibble.  🙂

Hades, by Alexandra Adornetto:  I’m totally loving this cover.  Clear easy to read title, wonderful imagery that doesn’t compete with the title.  I’m actually thinking I may find out what this one is about.

Moby Dick, by Herman Melville: Again, another classic on the list, but come on, how cool is this!!  Whoever came up with this cover is a genius in my opinion.  You can ever see whale silhouettes in the water.

The August 5, by Jenna Helland:  I have no idea what this book could possibly be about, but the cover is just so enticing.  I love the flame color of the title against the almost sepia tone of the background.

The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, by Joan Aiken:  I love these devilish little wolves.  They’re a little freaky, like they’d eat you with a sly smile on their faces.  It’s a very simple cover in that it’s B&W with red lettering, but I think it works because of the animation in the faces of the wolves.

The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne: Another B&W with red cover.  I really like the simplicity of this cover, but I’m not entirely sure it would work so well if you didn’t know what the book was  about.  That said, it’s a striking cover that I really like.

Villain, by Yoshida Shuichi: This is such a cleaver depiction of a gun, which makes you wonder who the villain is threatening with said gun.

Wetlands by Charlotte Roche:  Based on the cover alone, I have no idea what this book could possibly be about, but I’d still pick it up to find out.  I love how the graphics wrap about her legs like tattoos.

If you know of any great book covers you like, let me know and I’ll mention them the next time I do a book covers blog post.

-Jennifer

Jennifer Geoghan, author of The Purity of Blood novel series and If Love is a Lie: Finding and Losing Love Online