Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Close-Up - Cover Opinions

This week's selection for "cover opinions" is the US and UK covers for Esther Verhoef's Close-Up translated by Leon Vincent.

So what are you thoughts on the US (LHS) and UK (RHS) covers? Which would entice you to pick the book up if you were not familiar with Esther Verhoef?

If you have read it, how well do the covers match the story?

Read the Euro Crime review by Maxine of Close-Up (which is quoted inside the UK paperback.)

7 comments:

Amy said...

I've not read the book but the woman with camera cover would not appeal to me, I'd not likely pick it up. Yet the other, with the tub, seems sort of unoriginal.

Anonymous said...

Karen - I have to admit; neither cover appeals to me. Neither would really push me to pick up the book. If I were forced to choose, I'd choose the right-hand cover, but I don't particularly like it...

Dorte H said...

I have read it, and they are both relevant to the story. I don´t like any of them very much so I´d pick the Dutch cover: http://www.escober.nl/estherverhoef/boek/Close-up-T134.php

Not perfect either, but I like the colours.

kathy d. said...

I don't like either cover. Confess that I did not like the book, too much violence all the way around. So no cover would appeal probably.

avisannschild said...

The bathtub on the right-hand cover has been featured on other book covers; see my post here. Mind you, the cover I included in my blog post is not exactly the same: there's no blood on the floor (which I prefer). I can't say I like any of the covers very much, though.

Anonymous said...

I've read the book and I agree with Dorte that both covers do reflect the content. I think the US cover (the person with camera) probably reflects the content more accurately than the bathtub, as most of the book is about the awakening of the main character. However, I agree with others that neither of these covers is that great, I would not pick up the book on the basis of either, if I didn't know anything about it or the author.

I can think of plenty of suitable cover themes that would be far more attractive and enticing for this book.

LauraR said...

I don't like either, I find the bathtub cover marginally less off cutting, the underewear shot seems a bit gratuitous.