Confession: I have not read any of the Fifty Shades books. Part of my hesitation is because I have judged those books by the covers. To me, those sleek, modern covers quite simply lack thoughtful or artful design.

The all-grey palette and the simplified layout work for the small icons we see online. However, too much space at the top isn’t balanced with the space at the bottom, so the “#1 Bestseller” line lies too close to the edge of the book. The dull and forgetful Courier-esque type is squeezed tightly against images that hog the layout and are rendered with some of the worst drop shadows in history.

Take a look at those handcuffs (an image in contrast with the word “freed” in the title). How does light coming from the right cast a shadow to the right? It should be on the left. The shadow is also so wide the heavy metal cuffs are actually floating. Look at any object on your desk to see what I mean.

What does design say before you read? Poor layout = poor writing. Thoughtful layout = thoughtful read. Maybe I’m wrong and the covers have drawn in readers, but I suspect sales aren’t handcuffed to the design. I think sales are up because people historically like a scandalous tale, and they are seeing their married friends come into work with smiles on their faces.

Based on the below book covers, I think I’ll pass on the shades and pick up an old copy of Lady Chatterley’s Lover instead.

This cover design balances white space, highlights the title, and the color in the Signet logo matches the woman’s hair so the eye is drawn down across the book title and author’s name.
Book covers were once considered art. Lucy McClaughlan did this illustrated design. Her other work is in private collections and the Victoria and Albert Museum, she’s rendered murals on buildings, and was listed in “The 100 Leading Figures in Urban Art.” (I wonder what Doris Lessing would think of dear James?)

8 Comments on Throwing Back the (Book) Covers

  1. Don’t waste your time with these! The horrific writing will make your skin crawl. It’s even worse than Twilight (which really says something).

    I miss artful book covers. I’m sure part of it is related to the ebook market… another casualty.

    • I’ve heard your same comments from so many people. I miss them too. The loss of well-designed covers comes from the EBook market for certain, as well as the onslaught of people who have access to Photoshop who’ve never taken a design class but call themselves designers.

  2. While I have not read any of the Shades – for these books a plain brown pager bag would have worked. And yes sadly the writing is awful – I cheated and used Look Inside from Amazon and thankfully saved a few dollars.

    Covers are tough – real tough. I have done five for my own books and redone three of them. I do have graphic training and experience so I thought “Why not!” Well I am seriously into second guessing and now very sure I’m too close to the material. But as a control freak I’m freaking out!
    All the best.

    • It’s hard to relinquish that control, especially if you’ve done some of the covers yourself. I look at design like I do programmer. I could learn to program websites, but I’ll never learn it like those trained in it full-time. And if my desire is to write or design, I’ll happily hand over all the HTMLjavawidgetwhatevers to someone who can do it in half the time and do it better.

  3. Oh my, are we on the same page, er- cover, as ever. And here I was, starting to think that I was becoming a “cover snob”. I can’t begin to say how many books I have passed over for the very same reason, a daunting cover that just doesn’t feel right, or fit. Be it image, font, layout or color, something isn’t working for it enough for me to say, “Pass”. “Fifty Shades” and your critique is a grand example, but there are many others- including books that I actually may want to read, and in that instance, I have to come to terms with it and *get over myself, because really, maybe it was the publisher’s idea? Or the author’s agent, or wife? Yep. That’s me. Always the critic. 🙂

    • For non-designers in the crowd, what you have said comes up so often. It “just doesn’t feel right.” Or, “something isn’t working.” It’s like that little café or deli that opens and they hang up the vinyl banner with a bad font instead of making a professional sign, and in your head you think, “Yup, they’ll be gone in six months.” It’s the same with books. Readers won’t go inside if the sign is bad or looks temporary.

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