I Judged a Book by its Cover. Stupid Cover

[kriadydragon]

Have you ever picked up a book that you think is right up your alley based on the cover, the synopsis and the overall premise, only to start reading and find out that the story is the complete opposite of what you thought you were getting into? And because it wasn't what you thought it was you found you couldn't keep reading?

You all know how much I love underdog stories, and I got this book from the library that I thought for sure - based on both the synopsis and the book's cover - was going to be a literal underdog story of the kind I love, literally because the story is about a dog. I had thought the story was about a puppy who goes on to do great things. Then I start reading. Cute little helpless puppy immediately begins growing up into a strong, handsome dog with sharp teeth and a love for battle and violence.

And I immediately lose interest to the point that I don't even care to find out if the hero escapes from his current predicament.

Chances are this is probably an excellent book and were I to keep reading I would come to love it. And I might try to do that... maybe (because while I enjoy the author, he does have a love for side stories, stories within stories and digressing, and while interesting it tends to make his books ridiculously long (in fact the last half of one of his books was nothing but chapter after chapter of rehashing the previous book!) so I kind of don't want to keep reading for that reason as well). It was just interesting how quickly and immediately I stopped caring about both the story and protagonist. And I do feel there was a bit of false advertising going on, because to look at the book and to read the synopsis your immediate assumption is going to be "story about puppy who saves the world." Not "strong, capable adult dog who saves the world."

*Shrugs*

But I think there is a lesson to be learned from this - be careful what you what you put into your synopsis and on your book cover. Because if your story is about an adult dog and not a puppy, then maybe you shouldn't put a puppy on the front cover.

Comments

[ninja007.livejournal.com]

I read a book once that I threw away. And, I NEVER throw books away. It was AWFUL and didn't deserve the respect I usually gave books.

There was another book I took back to the bookstore and told the bookseller it wasn't worth the paper it was printed on. That author is now in jail for fraud. It was the last time I bought a self help book.

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

I think there was a book I read once that I ended up tossing across the room because it made me so mad.

Ugh, I have a special hatred for books I spend money on only to end up despising.

[afleur-de-lis.livejournal.com]

I hate doing that. I mean, I once picked up a book that had a historical figure's portrait on it- and when I read the sleeve on the book it sounded like it was a book that I would love. Turned into a huge disappointment in the end.

It earned my three page rant about how horrible it was, and just how much I hated the book and the author.

That sounds like one book you picked up ;)

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I blame whoever did the cover (unless the author also did the cover, in which case *shakes finger of reprimand at author*)

[karri-kln1671.livejournal.com]

I bought a comic book once because one of my fav characters was predominately (front, center, larger than any one else) displayed on the cover, so I foolishly assumed she'd have a strong presence in the story. She didn't. If her presence was more than in the background of one panel, I missed it. Was definitely bitterly disappointed.

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I really don't get book covers, sometimes. Because the fact remains that people do judge a book by its cover, so you're going to want a cover that makes due on its promises, so to speak. But they either don't make due on that promise or don't even belong on that book at all.

[imbecamiel.livejournal.com]

Heh. I've gotten pickier and pickier about certain elements that I do or don't want in books lately... which is why I've come to rely very heavily on recommendations from friends and/or checking things out closely beforehand. In many cases I'd rather get spoilers but know there's not going to be something I'll hate than go in blind. Annnd also why I've come mainly to buy books that I already know I love, rather than buying it before reading. :P

On the reverse, I have read books because they came highly recommended which had such awful covers that I probably wouldn't have picked it up otherwise. (Part of the problem is that the author generally has almost no say in the cover design, and much of the time the artist doesn't have a chance to read the book beforehand, or even have access to good descriptions. Not logical, but there ya go.)

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

(Part of the problem is that the author generally has almost no say in the cover design, and much of the time the artist doesn't have a chance to read the book beforehand, or even have access to good descriptions. Not logical, but there ya go.)

Yeah, I never understood this, especially considering those books that ended up with covers that they really shouldn't have ended up with ("lj user="sholio"> has a post, in fact, about a copy of The Princess Bride ending up with a... very disturbing cover).

which is why I've come to rely very heavily on recommendations from friends and/or checking things out closely beforehand. In many cases I'd rather get spoilers but know there's not going to be something I'll hate than go in blind.

Oh, yes. My thing now is to read the reviews on amazon, even if it means having the ending spoiled (I didn't used to read reviews at all to avoid spoilers). Specifically the negative reviews which I feel to be more telling than the positive reviews. But in the end I'll usually base my decision on the number of positive reviews and far star ratings.

[aim2misbhave.livejournal.com]

One of my friends talks about how after Marley & Me was popular, someone took a cheap made-for-TV Christmas movie, made a new poster with a puppy on it, and re-named it "The Christmas Puppy" even though it didn't actually contain a puppy...

And I've read very few books I disliked... I didn't finish "Perdido Street Station" because I have a caterpillar problem. And there's one book that me and a friend ceremoniously destroyed, because it was a diet book that just sent the most awful messages about like body image and self-esteem and we didn't want it to be in a condition where any other woman could read it and take those things seriously :-(