Yesterday and today's mail inspired this post. I had several padded brown envelopes delivered, and that always seem to mean an unexpected reading treasure. Now imagine my
The House on Oyster Creek
Stash
Live To TellAll (3) of these came from different publishers, and honestly, I am thrilled and honored that these publishers feel that my reviews warrant sending me these free review copies, BUT...why do they show the actual cover art, and then print the ARCs in the awful, ugly plain paper wraps? Is is that much of a savings to do this?
I know I am sounding petty and ungrateful, but it is really just disappointment. I drooled over these books, and was attracted not only by the storyline but the covers as well. I was hoping I might be lucky enough to get a review copy, and then it arrives and it pushes my expectations of these books down a notch because of the plain covers. Sorry but that is how I'm feeling.
So I am wondering book bloggers....
- If all the best sellers came with plain boring covers like these, would you want to still rush out and BUY them?
- Would they still be on the top of your list to borrow from the library?
- Would you read some other books first, that had covers that you loved?
- Should I just shut up, stop being such a cover snob and be happy? LOL
Be Happy!(you asked)
ReplyDeleteThe cover art may not have been ready when those ARCs were printed. I do prefer a pretty cover, but I'm thrilled by every book I get.
ReplyDeleteA pretty cover can entice me to pick up and look at a book by an author I do not know. However, I would buy a book by a favorite author regardless of the cover.
ReplyDeleteI'm a total sucker for cover art! Of course I want a good story, but I do so like a beautiful cover if I can get it. A good book with an attractive cover just makes the whole experience that much more enjoyable for me.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed Oster Creek - I need to post my review. I bet you will like it.
ReplyDeleteInteresting on the ARC's.... I haven't received plain covers in a while....
I'm kind of a cover snob too. While I truly appreciate each and every book I get for review, I love a beautiful cover and have been known to buy books for their covers alone.
ReplyDeleteI rarely get sent an ARC, but I often buy them online, and could care less about the cover, so I would say....be glad you got these books FREE!
ReplyDeleteMaybe many ARCs are just as valuable to keep in a collection as the final printed book. In that case, I don't mind having them.
ReplyDeleteMy main problem with getting these plain cover ARCs is that I'm not sure what to do when them when I'm done. They don't seem like real books and I doubt I will ever put them on my shelves. If I really love one, I will buy a "real" copy later. But what if I just like it?
ReplyDeleteYou know what confuses me even more? Signed plain cover ARCs. :)
I gues not, publishers know what sells and what people pick up and since books aren't plain I guess on the whole I wouldnt pick them up. You could put them together and pretend their part of a set ')
ReplyDeleteI have to admit that the plain cover wouldn't bother me. I actualy think those plain ones have their own kind of 'no-frills' style
ReplyDeleteYuck - I'm with you! It's hard even to read a free ARC when they look like that!
ReplyDeleteThe covers look pretty dull - the stories better be enticing!
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't buy them but I do read them when I get them for review. A pretty cover can push me towards a book but I have gotten better about evaluating. A lot of my LT early reviewer books come like that. I got The House on Oyster Creek w/ the cover but that happens rarely if it isn't due to be published for months
ReplyDeleteI don't necessarily get disappointed, but recently I got every book in a series from a publisher - four of the books had their trademark glossy covers, while the fifth one is in that plain drab non-cover. :( I was really disappointed because it was part of a series.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't matter so much to me because I usually don't keep the ARCs that I get. I do think that the cover art is more appealing though, and I think I like ARCs that have the art more because I like to pass along nicer books in my giveaways.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean Diane. I find that I get disappointed when I receive an ARC without the real cover. I'm still confused about that process bcuz some ARCs I've rec'd have the actual covers.
ReplyDeleteOn a different note, I love a pretty cover. Last year I read two books solely based on their covers and both books were terrible! I couldn't believe how a book with a gorgeous cover could be so bad! I'm so visual that usually it's the cover that will attract me to a book.
I love covers too! When I see a book cover with a lot of purple on it, I just melt a little (and then buy it!). Would I read books by my favourite authors even if the cover was plain brown? Yes! However, would I have ever picked up the first book in the first place without a nice enough cover? Probably not....don't feel bad, I'm a bit of a cover snob myself!
ReplyDeleteWhen I got the ARC of two of the three books that I wrote from Berkley - they at least were in color - green and yellow!
ReplyDeleteBeing a total cover snob/slut, I've been disappointed by a couple of plain cover ARCs as well. But maybe they figure that if you want the pretty cover then you'll have to buy the actual book and not just keep the ARC. If I love a book, I'll eventually get one of the "real" ones for my collection; if not, I either keep the ARC or a couple times a year I have a giveaway of them on my blog!
ReplyDeleteI used to be very influenced by covers, only reading books that attracted me in the library/book shop. Since I started blogging I now order most books I read without knowing what the cover will look like - I tend to go by recommendation only. Sometimes I fall for a pretty cover, but I'm often disappointed by these books. I don't mind plain ARCS - as long is the contents is good I don't really care :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm with you....I feel ungrateful if I'm disappointed by a plain cover--after all the book is free,but I'm also realistic enough to know that if the cover is enticing that book will keep hopping out of the TBR pile screaming "pick me!"
ReplyDeleteI have tried to pass on ARCs with plain covers, and NO ONE wants them (even my fellow librarians) unless they've already become best sellers. And I'm almost definitely not going to go buy a book I've already read just to get the cover!
Stash arrived yesterday for me too and I was surprised to see the cover too. I see where Kathy noted that the covers might not have been done by the time the arcs printed...I never thought of that!
ReplyDeleteI'm a sucker for gorgeous covers, too. However, I actually love those three covers you posted. Love the simplicity. They actually feel very mod, design-wise. At least to me. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm with you Diane! The main reason I don't like ARCs with plain covers is that I like to pass on most ARCs after I've read them and charity shops won't take the plain cover ones so usually they end up in the recycle bin, which is a real shame. If they had just sent me a proper copy, loads more people than just me could have benefited from it!
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with you Diane. The plain covers really irk me and make me a lot less excited about reading the book. I never really thought about it before, but I really do prefer beautiful cover art for all my books.
ReplyDeleteI do like to have a cover especially if it's a nice one but I'll read them either way. There aren't any pretty covers to look at on my eReader either so I'm used to it.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you. I love a pretty cover, and I can't help but be a touch disappointed when a plain cover ARC arrives. This is not to say that I haven't enjoyed plain cover ARCs, I've enjoyed several very much, but it does kind of take a little bit of the anticipation away. It's also part of the reason why I don't think I'm going to be a big E-reader type. I love a pretty cover and the feel of a book in my hand too much....
ReplyDeleteI admit, I'm a cover snob. Hehe! Though I'm extremely grateful to the publishers or publicists who send those books/ARCs to me.
ReplyDeleteThat's how I felt about one of the most highly, anticipated novels this year (Hornet's Nest). I received it months before its release date and it had a plain, orangey-red paper cover. So ho-hum.
ReplyDeleteI do agree. A cover can sometimes make or break a book but I so love seeing the cover before it hits the shelves.
I'm happy you got "Live TO Tell." though I feel so bad I didn't send it to you earlier ... I still have to write my review. If it makes you feel better, my ARC is the boring cover too.
ReplyDeleteWow now I'm confused - I got Live to Tell and it has cover art and it's an ARC - must have been a later printing? I don't like the plain ones as much either, but I am happy to get them however the front looks.
ReplyDeleteThough for buying I want a nice cover.
I've only gotten one plain cover like this and I admit that I was a little disappointed at first. Once I started reading, it was a charming book and I didn't care anymore. Until I went to write my review on GoodReads and saw the charming cover again. I'm grateful for the book, but I agree with you about the covers.
ReplyDeleteHere's another thing. My husband's been hinting pretty strongly at getting me an e-reader sometime this year. I'm leaning toward the nook, simply because I can still see the cover art in color in the little tiny screen! If I'm a cover snob, at least I'm in good company!
I'm happy receiving ARCs of my favorite authors, no matter in what covers they come in. I've just received one and posted it in my Mailbox Monday post. :)
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