The drab looking book cover

Use this forum to discuss the October Book of the Month "McDowell" by William H. Coles.
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Kaven_Crimble_the_witless_71
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Re: The drab looking book cover

Post by Kaven_Crimble_the_witless_71 »

I would have to support the current template for the book's front cover. It seems like the kind of marketing approach to the book that would be viewed positively among most book stores. The black and white provides a synoptic aesthetic for much of McDowell's decisions, where things tend to appear very black and white to him.

Before reading the intro, I was given this feeling of the book being about a vintage Noir novel. I find it funny now, whereas the narration isn't the same, the demure of a very masculine, take-no-prisoners mentality of doing exactly what his masculine determinism permits is quite fitting of what I've read thus far.

But there's always the possibility of a second book cover! I wonder what that would look like?
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Post by Miercoles »

I think the cover, which shows a male face hidden by a hat, is quite befitting the person. No one really knows who Hiram is. His relationships with others are brief and the people who he meets only see certain aspects of him. The reader has been privileged to see him in various situations and may be better placed to have a clearer opinion of character.
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Post by Ctcntry4 »

I think the book cover in black and white is perfect for McDowell’s character and it adds to the intrigue and wonder of the story.
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Post by Helen_Combe »

I like the cover, it shows a man for whom you can’t grasp his whole personality because you can’t see his eyes.
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Post by KnightReader »

To be honest, I could read the simple black-lined in white backdrop cover as the irony of Hiram's character. Since he has both goodness and evil in him, there should at least be gray in the cover of the book featuring his life.

But perhaps I'm looking much into it. Perhaps I am wrong, and Hiram's 'caricature' is simply black-lined, because of he is a man with a dark history and sentiments, and around him are his innocent victims he intentionally or unintentionally bring woe.

Or maybe it's really just a simple non-related choice and none of what I thought had any weight.
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Post by Alice Heritage »

I think the way he is shown with his hat hiding his eyes reflects that he is a morally questionable individual, so the cover fits well. An image showing a desolate landscape like a mountain or a desert might also have reflected his inner emptiness.
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Post by ShareTheGift »

I like the black and white cover. It helps to build that air of mystery and intrigue.

It is reminiscent of old detective or more serious books and movies of the noir genre.

As soon as I saw it I was reminded of two Orson Welles great movies Citizen Kane and The Third Man.
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Post by stacie k »

The black and white cover did not draw me to want to read this book. However, I do feel it is fitting with the character of McDowell.
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Post by M Zee »

The book cover didn't appeal to me on a visual level but reading about what other people thought, I think it might actually draw in the right kinds of readers for the book? There's something to be said for the minimalist approach to a cover when it reflects the kind of book it is.
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Post by Radiant3 »

I think the cover should have been a bit more appealing. It seemed to lack vibrancy. Hiram was throughout the story, a man of energy and productivity. He was always on the move.
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Post by writer808 »

I loved the cover of the book.It grabs the attention of the reader.It coordinates with his character to an appropriate level.
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Post by Browlyns »

The black and white on the cover are sharp and contrast each other, hence it makes the book more noticeable and attractive to the eyes.
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Post by evan1995muniz »

It does fit with his character but for the sake of attracting more of an audience a random splash of color could be usefull.
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Post by Sahar Majid »

I like the book cover, but I do think it can put people off. When it comes to character reflection the cover could be a direct contrast to the contents of the book which aren't black and white at all.
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Post by Jayjayz28 »

I believe it's not about the book cover, the content is the most important. And for some reason i admire McDowell for being mysterious. Black and white cover suits in his personality
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