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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Chandler_Greg
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Re: The drab looking book cover

Post by Chandler_Greg »

Bookmermaid wrote: 22 Oct 2018, 14:45 Does the black and white book cover of a demure looking gentleman do justice to Mc Dowell's character? If yes what aspects of his character does it seems to highlight ? What might be a more fitting picture to capture a wide audience that would be reflective of some aspect of the narrative.
I don't care much for the cover. I have noting against black and white. There just wasn't anything about it that caught my interest. I'd have preferred a sketch of the wilderness, suggestive of McDowell's journey to find himself.
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Post by Samy Lax »

I think the cover and its black and white nature do add to the character of the book overall. The sombreness of McDowell's character is what this represents and I think it's quite fitting in this context.
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Post by Theresa Moffitt »

I really like the cover. It’s intriguing and makes the character look mysterious. Part of the reason I chose to read the book was the cover. It looked very interesting to me.
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Post by Amy+++ »

I find the cover unappealing. If I saw this book in a store I would have walked right past it.
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Post by Rosebella »

I think the cover is good because it's in line with the tone of the book and McDowell as a character.
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Post by PoisonWhiteRose »

It fits the book and character. But it doesn't stand out on a shelf. It seems bland and of a different sort of book rather than the suspense book it is.
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Post by María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda »

I don't have a problem with the cover being black and white. I think black and white can be elegant and mysterious and that suits the story perfectly. However, I think the sketch is way too simple.
This won't speak great about me but I avoided the book for a long time just because of the cover. I just picked it up because it was the book of the month. I know we shouldn't judge a book by its cover but I think it's dull. I could try to justify myself saying I work part time as a designer so I like catchier and more complex covers but, honestly, I should've known better than to judge so easily.
However, that's just my opinion and what's most important is inside the book.
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Post by Uche B »

I really think the cover is a good fit for the book, it gave me a sense of what to expect from the title character.
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Post by Onyinye Excel »

I think the cover suits the story. Since the story was all about McDowell, I think the cover was well interpreted. Also, considering the kind of chara term he was in the book, the cover picture reflected it well.
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Post by sarahmarlowe »

I will admit that the cover turned me off at first. It didn't catch my attention at all. But I don't think that a picture could capture the complexities of Dr. McDowell. Perhaps the line-drawn portrait is best, leaving the details to be filled in as the reader travels the storyline.
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Post by Doug Jones »

sarahmarlowe wrote: 26 Oct 2018, 16:48 I will admit that the cover turned me off at first. It didn't catch my attention at all. But I don't think that a picture could capture the complexities of Dr. McDowell. Perhaps the line-drawn portrait is best, leaving the details to be filled in as the reader travels the storyline.
That's a really interesting take on the cover and its relation to the actual story. Food for thought, Sarah.
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Post by Sweet Psamy »

The cover was not that bad. It reflected the aspect of him being a loner who always tried to run away from his family problems using work as a disguise.
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Post by Sonya Nicolaidis »

Actually, the cover design is what first attracted me to this book. There is absolutely no pride left in this man - his head is bowed, his hat covers his eyes and his gaze is downcast. It epitomizes the drab and lonely anonymity that he was condemned to after his fall from grace. I couldn't think of a better cover illustration for this book.
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Post by Supergirl1 »

sonya01 wrote: 27 Oct 2018, 14:05 Actually, the cover design is what first attracted me to this book. There is absolutely no pride left in this man - his head is bowed, his hat covers his eyes and his gaze is downcast. It epitomizes the drab and lonely anonymity that he was condemned to after his fall from grace. I couldn't think of a better cover illustration for this book.
Did you just read my mind? The cover drew me to this book as well. And everything you said is exactly how I feel about it.
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Post by Sicily Joy »

I think the cover does a great job of showing a character who has secrets. It is an image of a man who is fighting with his dark side. The cover also suggests that the novel will big an exploration of Mcdowell's character, mind and behaviors, therefore, it seems quite fitting.
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