Interact: Discussions: Can you judge a book by it's cover?

This is something I often wonder about. I reviewed a book last month that I would never have chosen to read by the style of it's cover and really enjoyed it, so thought I would pose the question on here.  How do you choose the books you read?  From reviews, recommendations from friends, browsing the bookshops (Bookrabbit of course), or some other more formal way?
Joanne

Joanne Shawcross

Currently reading: Labyrinth
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I rely on lots :) Recommendations from friends and the book forum I'm a member of. Book lists, prize-winners, books about books. Sometimes I research books to read more than I read books.

Glynis M

Currently reading: As I Lay Dying
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I find its usually the titles that draw me in. The I read the blurb and decide if it gets to the till or not. I often go on recommendations as well.

 

Victoria Hill

Currently reading: The Dark Volume
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With great difficulty!  Especially when it comes to fiction.  I can definitely be put off or attracted by a cover, or a title, but usually I investigate further.  I like to look at the back cover blurb (misleading though it often is) and then get a feel for the writing.  I don't much care for author blurbs or reviews of the author's previous book(s).  (hey, I'm looking at THIS book!)  I also have various trigger words that lead straight to putting the book back on the shelf.

In fiction, I'm most likely to go for a book by an author I've read before and liked.  If I'm buying secondhand, I'm more inclined to experiment (less money 'wasted' if I don't like the book).  When it comes to non-fiction, I will snap up cheap reference books jic they may one day be useful.

I find in recent years I've been reading far more non-fiction than ever, just because it's easier to find decently-written books on subjects that interest me than it is to find good fiction.  I also find the Amazon "look inside" feature useful--it's prevented me making mistakes in purchases before now.  A lot of the non-fiction I read is however triggered by fiction I've enjoyed--since finding Patrick O'Brian, I've been reading a lot about the RN and Trafalgar and the Napoleonic Wars and so on.

I've tried various approaches to finding good fiction--BR is one of them.  But unfortunately none of them are as reliable as I'd like!

Buffy Squirrel

Currently reading: Wreck:...
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I do judge books by their covers, but I also read the blurb. If I didn't judge them by their covers I'd never have discovered Tom Holt! Also, it would be impossible to read every single blurb on every book in the bookshop. Pretty covers are good.

Holly Harrison

Currently reading: The Satanic Verses
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I mostly read non fiction so I select books based on subjects that interest me.

I rarely judge a book by it's cover but I discovered the outstanding sci fi author Jack McDevitt this way.

When raking through Oxfam for books, I came across a paperback copy of his novel Slow Lightning. The title intrigued me and the cover had a picture of the Horsehead Nebula in Orion, which immediately peaked my interest. The synopsis on the back cover told of a story set on an extra solar colony that dealt with the mystery of why mankind had yet to discover any alien intelligences, despite having branched out into other star systems.

The novel was unputdownable and I became a fan of McDevitt's.

So the one time I did judge a book on it's cover turned out well for me!

When selecting a novel I usually go by reviews or recommendations.

Wordy Rappinghood

Currently reading: Strangers
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I think publishers are very keen that you can judge a book by its cover! It has to be an immediate sell - and arresting image or design to stop you looking elsewhere - or they're not really interested (I can understand that. They're businesses, not charities). But sometimes they misjudge a book - and try and sell it as one thing when actually its something else. No doubt covers turn people off as much as attract people. Perhaps we could have a thread on the greatest 'missells' in book history.

James Cary

Currently reading: Native Tongue
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Location: Fulham
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Books are not fungible.  That's where Amazon go wrong.

Buffy Squirrel

Currently reading: Wreck:...
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If anything I think book covers are going to get more and more important - as the quantity of books published increases the cover is your first contact with the book. Has no-one else been in a bookshop, seen table upon table piled with books and, apart from the 'oh goody' response which being in close proximity to so many books, not known where to start? The cover has the job of getting you to pick up the book in the first place, most often, then the blurb, first few pages etc have to do their job to stop you putting it down again.

Lesley Brown

Currently reading: The Great Gatsby
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If I'm in a shop browsing then the cover has to catch my eye and then I'll read the blurb on the back and judge by that but mostly I buy my books online now and read the customer reviews on Amazon.co.uk and .com and see what books are linked to the books that I have bought. I think most people go by recommendations and reviews these days because you can get a feel of whether a book will be right for you.

Lately I have become a bit annoyed when books are re-released in different covers in the middle of a series. The old books become unavailable and the new ones don't come out for a few months and you're just left waiting for books that won't match the ones you all ready have. Sometimes the new covers are just ugly and I don't want them on my bookshelves but I really want to read the book! Ok I've finished moaning now.

Amy T

Currently reading: Ulrik
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Location: Bucks
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