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Tuesday, August 03, 2021

Top Ten Tuesday: Eye-Catching Cover Themes


When it comes to purchasing books—or even choosing something to read off a library shelf—how much influence does a volume's packaging have on your decision?  Will beautiful cover art entice you to buy?  How about an intriguing title?  The TTT topic du jour, Top Ten Titles/Covers That Made Me Want to Read/Buy the Book, has me considering what attracts me to a book.  I couldn't think of any specific titles or covers that made me want to read a certain book STAT, but there are a number of tropes that I always find appealing (check out this TTT list I made about them in 2019).  If these themes are reflected on a book's cover, it pretty much guarantees I will at least give it a second glance.  

Before I dish about that, though, let me encourage you to join in the TTT fun.  All you have to do is click on over to That Artsy Reader Girl for some quick instructions, create your own list, then spend some happy hours spreading love across the book blogosphere.  It's a good ole time, I promise!

Top Ten Cover Tropes That Will Always Catch My Eye 


1.  Spooky old houses.  I love me an ancient and mysterious old pile teeming with hidden passageways, dark secrets, and ghostly haunts!  


2.  Broody landscapes, especially when they involve a sinister forest or moody seascape.  Atmospheric reads are my favorite.


3.  Covered wagons and people in pioneer clothes.  My proud Mormon Trail and Oregon Trail pioneer ancestry seems to have predisposed me to love a good trek story. 


4.  Books.  Show me a fun book stack or a tantalizing peek into a library or bookstore and I'm pretty much sold.


5.  Something is not quite right.  A cover that shows something ordinary with just the tiniest bit awry is always intriguing to me.


6.  Quaint small towns.  Even though I live in a ginormous suburb, my heart will always pine for tiny hamlets bursting with beauty and quirky folks, like the place where I grew up.


7.  Historical fiction featuring people looking away from the camera.  Yes, I know this cover trend is a little annoying, but I still love it.


8.  Food, especially desserts!  Sometimes you just want to lick a tasty cover...No?  Just me?


9.  Transportation, especially trains, ocean liners, and planes.  These vehicles hint that there is an adventure-filled journey just ahead.


10.  Warm, glow-y Fall or winter scenes.  I live in the Phoenix area.  What can I say?  I'm starved for seasons!         

There you go, ten cover themes that will always catch my eye.  Which covers/titles intrigue you?  Have you ever bought a book based solely on its packaging?  How did that go for you?  I'd truly love to know.  Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog.

Happy TTT!

65 comments:

  1. #1 - I like spooky old house or even castles or any old buildings.

    #4 - Oh yes, books with books on the cover, I have seen many of these and I like them.

    #5 - Sort of like a hidden mystery that you have to look closely to find.

    I have checked out books with amazing covers even when I know I won't read them. Some covers are just too amazing not to take a peek.

    Great list. Have a lovely day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes! With #5, you have to look closely before you realize something just isn't quite what it seems to be. I love that.

      Thanks for coming by, Lissa! I've missed your comments :)

      Delete
  2. I'm with you on Spooky Old Houses and Books! :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Right? Two of my favorite things to read about!

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Lark!

      Delete
  3. Food on a book cover will definitely make me give it a second look! I think that's how I started in on the Noodle Shop mysteries by Vivien Chien. ;-)

    My TTT

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Same. And, oh my goodness, reading the Noodle Shop mystery books makes me crave Chinese food!

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Nicole!

      Delete
  4. Did you change your header??? I LOVE IT! So adorable! I'm jealous!
    So #3...Have you read Amy Harmon's Where the Lost Wander? I can see that being up your alley. I haven't read it yet myself, but I love her writing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes! My blog got a big makeover. I'm glad you like it. It's fun to have a fresh look.

      I loved WHERE THE LOST WANDER! It's a great book. I need to read more by Harmon because I really liked that one.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Deanna!

      Delete
  5. I've figured out that what you can judge by a book's cover is what the publisher wants you to think about it. Transportation pictures and maps or compass roses appeal to my repressed wanderlust. Also, I almost always love books with covers by Brett Helquist.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. True. You know a lot of work goes into figuring out how to market a book. Publishers want you to react in a certain way when you see it.

      I had to look up Brett Helquist. His art is definitely unique! It makes the ASOUE books stand out for sure.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, T!

      Delete
  6. I like your twist on this topic by going with general ideas. I have been quite drawn to the contemporary romance cover style that is popular right now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, that style is hugely popular right now. Not my favorite style or genre, but some of the covers are super cute.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Helen!

      Delete
  7. I also love broody landscapes and seeing food on covers.

    My post: https://lydiaschoch.com/top-ten-tuesday-titles-that-made-me-want-to-read-the-book/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There's just something about a moody, broody landscape, isn't there? And, really, who doesn't love food??

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Lydia!

      Delete
  8. I don't know if I could come up with categories the way you did, but I know I tend to like bright and pretty covers as they usually cover light and fluffy books. I am big on covers though, and it takes a lot to get me to read a book with a lackluster cover.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Makes sense that light and fluffy books would have bright, fun covers. And they're some of the happiest, most smile-inducing covers out there, too!

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Sam!

      Delete
  9. I agree, covers that show something that's not quite right are often the most eye-catching.

    Here's my list this week.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Right? It might take a glance or two before you notice something's a little off. I love that!

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Lectrice!

      Delete
  10. Love your take on the topic! I always love fall scenes or books on covers as well :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I just love the cozy vibes they give off! So quaint and homey.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Lindsey!

      Delete
  11. I did start reading Green Lights, and for some ODD reason,a lot of my friends were interested in reading it. So…I would have to say covers with Matthew McConaughey. Or however you spell it. 😉

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha ha. I should have made an eleventh category - books with Matthew McConaughey on the cover! LOL.

      Delete
  12. Old houses- absolutely! There's something about covered wagons too, and heading west- I've always been interested going back to the Little House books.

    Ocean travel- yes. And autumn settings... :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Same here! I loved the Little House books and t.v. show as a kid. I grew up hearing stories about my own pioneer ancestors, so I think it's just always been easy to imagine myself on the trail (although, in reality, I'm not sure I would have survived it).

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Greg!

      Delete
  13. You always have such an interesting take on the Top Ten Susan. I steer clear of spooky looking covers but love quaint towns, food and books (libraries, bookstores etc.). I love your new look as well. Great job!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I especially love quaint towns with yummy-sounding cafes and fun bookstores. That's the kind of place I want to live in!

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Carla!

      Delete
  14. I love what you did with this weeks theme! I agree with a lot of these, especially small towns and food!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Small towns WITH food. Yes, please!

      Thanks for stopping in, Missy!

      Delete
  15. I love spooky houses on covers too--they also made my TTT this week! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They're hard to resist, aren't they?

      Thanks for popping by, FangirlFlax!

      Delete
  16. Great choices; I especially agree with you on 3, 4, and 6. Those are always hard for me to pass up for at least an extended look at them. Another eye-grabber for me is the re-issued books from the forties and fifties that use the original artwork...even the pulpiest of them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is interesting to look at those old books with their vintage covers. It's fascinating to study how cover trends have changed and not changed over the years.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Sam!

      Delete
  17. Love your take on this topic and I'm loving your blog!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much! I'm glad you found my blog and vice versa. That's my favorite part of TTT :)

      Thanks for coming by!

      Delete
  18. I love your take on this weeks topic. I love book books, food books, creepy houses on the cover etc...I am not sure if I have said it before, but I love the fun look of your blog.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! It has been fun to give the blog a makeover, although I can't really take any credit for it. The designer did a great job. I'm really happy with it.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Cindy!

      Delete
  19. First of all, I LOVE the new look of your blog! Great job!

    I agree with most of your choices, particularly 1, 2, 4, 5, 8 & 9!

    A friend and I passed by an abandoned WWII military barracks recently and she wanted me to slow down so she could take pictures. I was like, "Nope! I know how this story ends and I am not getting caught in that trap!" She got a blurry photo as I sped by. It was soooo creepy! There's no way that it hasn't been in a scary movie or book.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha ha. I enjoy a creepy ghost story, but I'm a pretty big wimp in real life. I really don't believe in ghosts and yet, I would have bypassed the barracks, too :)

      Thanks, as always, for coming by, Jen!

      Delete
  20. What a great list!

    Books, bookstores, libraries are all things that will make me pick up a book.

    And if the cover has some really yummy looking food on the cover, I'm going to pick it up! I actually read The Coincidence of Coconut Cake last year and enjoyed it. I haven't tried the recipe for the cake yet, but I am really tempted.

    When you get the chance, I hope you come over and check out my post: http://readbakecreate.com/15-book-covers-that-scream-summer/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've been in love with the COCONUT CAKE cover ever sine I saw it, but I still haven't actually read the book. I need to and if there's a recipe included? Yep, I'm definitely going to have to try it. That cake looks amazing!

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Pam!

      Delete
  21. Love the twist you took on the theme! Great choices!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! This was a nice, easy list to make. It was fun to think about the cover themes that I always find appealing.

      Thanks for stopping in, Amy!

      Delete
  22. Love your take on the topic!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! I didn't have to think to hard about this one, which is always nice :)

      Thanks for popping by, Evelyn!

      Delete
  23. Great idea to go for covers in general. And they all represent the kind of covers I am attracted to, as well. Surprise, surprise. LOL

    Thanks for visiting my TTT earlier.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not surprised at all since we have so much in common in our reading and outside lives :) We're long-lost twins, after all!

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Marianne!

      Delete
    2. Definitely. I'm so happy we have met.

      Delete
  24. I love how you picked out cover themes. I find most covers aren't very original, but it's interesting to read about what draws you. I'm from Phoenix myself, hope you're weathering the summer okay!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Agreed. The truly original ones stand out for just that reason.

      I'm in the suburbs, but yes, it's SO incredibly hot here. Even after 20+ years of living here I'm not used to it. I still pine away for the milder weather of the Pacific Northwest where I grew up.

      Thanks for stopping by, curlygeek04!

      Delete
  25. I love your take on this challenge today! I’m also a such a sucker for covers, I especially like ones with food pictures!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Right? The food always looks so amazing!

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Wendy!

      Delete
  26. I love your take on this week's topic, Susan. Spooky houses, covered wagons, quaint small towns, and warm fall colors also attract me.

    Thanks for sharing and for visiting my blog.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's hard to resist those themes, isn't it?

      Thanks for popping in, Cheryl!

      Delete
  27. I agree with all of your choices. I'm very fond of classic artwork on book covers, especially of the spooky variety. And, stupidly, a bad cover can almost ruin a book for me because I go to the pick the book up and shudder.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha ha. Just goes to show how important cover art can be and why publishers go to such great lengths to produce great covers.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Cath!

      Delete
  28. I'm not surprised to see we have a lot of favorites in common! I can never resist most of these - especially the creepy houses and the historical fiction looking away from the camera!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I honestly don't know what it is about the looking away from the camera thing. I think it's the mystery of not knowing who they are or what they're thinking and looking at! No matter how many of these covers I see, I'm always intrigued by them.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Katherine!

      Delete
  29. I like the take you brought to this TTT -- I usually read a lot of thrillers and suspense novels, and they are all pretty thematically similar when it comes to their covers. Which is actually somewhat dissappointing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, I get that. That's why the truly unique/original ones stand out so much!

      Thanks for stopping in, Verushka!

      Delete
  30. I love how you did this week's post. I agree with a lot of those, too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! I'm glad I'm not alone in my reading preferences :)

      Thanks for coming by, Kristi!

      Delete
  31. I love your approach to this week's theme, and I completely agree with you on many of these. Quaint towns and spooky houses? Definitely a complete sucker for covers showcasing either of those.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Same! And a town that looks quaint on the outside but hides dark secrets emanating from a spooky house? Yes, please. The contrast is always intriguing to me.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Christopher!

      Delete

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