Where Is Your Bookmark? (Miss Jane & Book Cover Art)

This week I began reading Brad Watson's Miss Jane for my Going Postal mail book group.

Goodreads Summary: 

Brings to life a forgotten woman and a lost world in a Southern pastoral.
Inspired by the true story of his own great-aunt, Watson explores the life of Miss Jane Chisolm, born in rural, early-twentieth-century Mississippi with a genital birth defect that would stand in the way of the central “uses” for a woman in that time and place—namely, sex and marriage.
From the country doctor who adopts Jane to the hard tactile labor of farm life, from the highly erotic world of nature around her to the boy who loved but was forced to leave her, the world of Miss Jane Chisolm is anything but barren. Free to satisfy only herself, she mesmerizes those around her, exerting an unearthly fascination that lives beyond her still.

A weekly meme where readers share the first sentence of the book they are reading and say what they think. Hosted by the wonderful Gillion Dumas of Rose City Reader.

You would not think someone so afflicted would or could be cheerful, not prone to melancholy or the miseries. 

From this first line of Miss Jane, I get the impression I will like the protagonist. She is not one to sit around and feel sorry for herself, at least not for very long, if at all. I also get the since I will enjoy Brad Watson's writing.

A weekly meme in which readers share a random sentence or two from page 56 or 56% of the book they are reading. Hosted by the wonderful Freda of Freda's Voice.

"I appreciate you all came," the doctor said, looking past her to where Grace sat in the bed of their buckboard. Like her mother she wore a black dress and a black bonnet that hid her face. "The Mrs. seems upset."
Chisolm said, looking over at her, jaw set, "She did consent to come along, but I'm afraid that death does not become her." [pg 56]

That last sentence is what really made me stand at attention in this excerpt.


Have you read this one? Does this sound like something you would like to read?

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Every Friday Coffee Addicted Writer from Coffee Addicted Writer poses a question which participants respond on their own blogs within the week (Friday through Thursday). They then share their links at the main site and visit other participants blogs.

Have you ever bought a book because you liked its cover art?

Not exactly, no. Not just for that reason. An attractive cover might stop me in its tracks and draw me to a book, make me pick it up and open it. An attractive cover might intrigue me enough to read the back cover or inside flap to see what the book is about. Ultimately, though, it's what it is about that will determine whether I will buy the book or not. First impressions can be important, but it is what is inside the cover that counts the most.

What about you?

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Everyone has a favorite and then we also have something we dislike. Like a coin, there are two sides to every question. Each week, Carrie at The Butterfly Reads and Laura from Blue Eye Books ask participants to list what they like and don't like about that week's topic.

This week's topic is Favorite/Least Favorite Cover Trend.

Book covers seem to be the theme for today! This was a tough topic for me. While I may not like one thing about one particular cover, I may find it well done in another, depending on the font, colors, etc. And it can depend on the type of book as well. I like the covers to match the book somewhat.

LEAST LIKED:

My husband doesn't like covers that cut off people's heads. And while I agree with him to some extent, there are some that are well done--at least in my opinion even if not his. I'm probably more likely to be put out by unattractive fonts. Plus, I don't like it when the author's name is bigger than the title. Then there's the scantily clad people that sometimes grace the cover of romance novels that tend to make me blush.

I really don't care for the font in the first cover or even the coloring. And while I understand the author's name sells books, I would prefer it to be smaller than the title.

But my least favorite covers? They tend to be movie/TV tie-in covers, especially when it has actors or actresses front and center. I will always go for the cover that has nothing to do with the television show or movie if given the choice. I don't care how attractive the movie tie-in cover might be.

Okay, so I don't really like either one of these. Bad font, author's name standing out more than title on the original cover and then the TV series tie-in--just no.

I definitely prefer the non-movie tie-in cover best. It draws the eye instantly. Pretty flower, drop of blood, even.  Besides, I'd rather go off my own vision of the characters than the actors who played them.

Another case of my preferring the non-movie tie-in cover. I like the mystery of the original cover, and the font of the title.

MOST LIKED:

Now that I have gone on and on about what I like least in cover trends, let's talk about cover trends I do like. Another hard question for me to answer because I am not really up on the terminology for cover art. And I like so many different ones! From bold colors to a softer look, landscapes to people and animals.

For the sake of today's topic, I'll highlight a few that especially appeal to me in terms of trends:

Silhouettes - It's just a fluke that so many of these are blue, but I admit, blue is a color I am drawn to.

Period Covers - There is just something about a cover in which you are instantly transported into the past, whether by costume, the scenery, or what have you. It draws me in immediately, and makes me want to take a closer look.

Flowers/Softened Colors - These covers I just find so pretty. They make me sigh in contentment. I love the contrast in colors, the pinks or purple. And don't you just love that hummingbird? 

I could got on. Cozy mystery covers are often a lot of fun, especially when they have animals in them. I like covers with an item of clothing front and center, no person. 

Are there any cover trends you don't like? What are your favorites?

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Every Friday Ellen from 15andmeowing.com and Ann from McGuffy’s Reader get together to host the Friendly Fill-Ins. You can be serious or funny--the idea is just to have fun.

1. September bucket list: 1. Avoid early Halloween candy 2. Read all the books (Not ALL of them, actually. Just the ones I want to read in September. Well, maybe just most of them).

2. If I came with a warning label, it would say: Approach With Caution When Book/Kindle in Hand.

3. Truth be told, I wish I was still on vacation.

4. I would rather spend a quiet evening at home with my family and my book than go out for cocktails after work.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Be sure and tell me where your bookmark is today!

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 © 2017, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.