A little nostalgia on a warm autumn night

This cover is great because it has completely captured the look of a novelty map found in vacation areas—big drawings denoting nearby restaurants and in the background a large arrow pointing to “I-95” as if nothing else existed around these spots. I don’t intend to read this book but I would love to hold a copy in my hands. I have this dream that it would have a texture more akin to a brown paper bag than contemporary book covers.

Pontoon: A Novel of Lake Wobegon
By Garrison Keillor
Viking Press

Sheep Story

Three Bags Full has an interesting cover. I think the subtitle alone would grab my attention—A Sheep Detective Story. The use of primary colors combined with the stark silhouettes makes this cover rather enticing. I was unsure about the numbering until I saw the back cover and what it stated about each character. The cover seems playful enough but I’ve read that some reviews that state the book becomes rather dark and serious towards the end. A darker more sinister cover just wouldn’t do this book justice methinks.

Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Story
by Leonie Swann
Flying Dolphin Press

Back Cover:

Compared to the UK cover I think my preference would be obvious. Yours?

I just found the German covers with the original title Glennkill which doubles as the setting of the mystery. These are remarkably fun. I need to get this book.

Giving Up

“Giving” has one of those covers that entices not one of my aesthetic senses. I do understand that this book will probably make Knopf a boat-load of money but its design offers only moneymaking elements—the author’s name. I can’t say much about this because there isn’t much to work with. The back cover apparently has one of those wonderful pictures of Bill Clinton smiling among a group of cheery poverty-stricken people. That might be nice.

Giving: How each of us can change the world
Bill Clinton
Knopf

And the one stylistic choice, those blue dividers, I can’t say they are necessary.

Any takers?