US // UK
This week, there isn't much competition at all.
I am currently reading this book and loving it. Trash by Andy Milligan. You'll be able to see my review sometime next week I believe, but for now, here is the synopsis:
Raphael is a dumpsite boy. He spends his days wading through mountains of steaming trash, sifting it, sorting it, breathing it, sleeping next to it. Then one unlucky-lucky day, Raphael's world turns upside down. A small leather bag falls into his hands. It's a bag of clues. It's a bag of hope. It's a bag that will change everything. Soon Raphael and his friends Gardo and Rat are running for their lives. Wanted by the police, it takes all their quick-thinking, fast-talking to stay ahead. As the net tightens, they uncover a dead man's mission to put right a terrible wrong. It's three street-boys against the world...
Sounds good, doesn't it? Now, back to the covers! I don't like the colour or the style of the US cover. It just doesnt appeal. But the UK cover. Perfection. It's a stunning image, the way the title is written, the different layers of the art really give the feel of looking into the distance. In person, you appreciate the bits in the foreground that are shiny while the rest is matte which only adds to this effect. The colour. Everything is beautiful. Check it out below in it's full wrap around beauty!
(Click to Enlarge)
(Click to Enlarge)
So this week, the UK wins hands down! Which do you prefer?
I like both of them a lot but yes, the UK cover wins.
ReplyDeleteActaully for just the front image I think I prefer the US one, but seeing the full wrap-around UK one, I think that just edges it.
ReplyDeleteI think the UK design is one of the best cover images I've seen this year.
ReplyDeleteI my opinion it works on several levels: it shows the immense size of the Behala dump ... so unending it forms its own landscape; it illustrates one of the best parts of the story; and the lighting and colours of the sunrise reflect the feelings of hope and optimism amid despair that run throughout the book. When a story has such a bleak setting, the cover needs invite readers in - help them see beyond the dust-jacket blurb to what awaits inside.
The US cover is just depressing. While some may argue the blotchy image and unattractive colours reinforce the title - to my mind they don't draw potential readers past the obvious to reveal the deeper theme. It lacks the scale of the UK cover - and the static figures don't convey any of the book's excitement and action.
To me, one image portrays hope while the other portrays lack of it.
No contest. The UK cover wins.
i didn;t like the UK one at all until I saw it on here as the whole wrap around thing!
ReplyDeleteYes. The UK one by far! It's such an eye-catching cover..
ReplyDelete