Book controversy and racism and covers

[dangermousie]

I don't know how many of you have been following the Cover for the novel Liar controversy. (Short version: the narrator is black but is shown as white on the cover).

Presumably everyone on my flist can agree this is wrong, so I want to mention something else: apparently people buy books based on covers! (What I mean is that the rationalization for having a white cover model was that books with white models sell better). Bwaaaaa?

Surely, I cannot be the only one who couldn't care less about what the cover is as long as the book sounds interesting? When I browse, I don't usually stop because of the cover, unless I am browsing manga which is a graphic art and thus yes, cover art would directly impact my interest - as it would be in the same style as the art inside. Most of my other reading is divided between non-fiction and what is considered old fiction (18th, 19th-century novels of various sorts), so maybe that's why I am cover-blind (non-fiction books usually have the most non-descript cover ever. The history of Korea I am reading right now has something on the cover I can't identify and the dynastic history of Ancient Egypt has a bust of some early Pharaoh) and those 'classic' novels which do have cover art usually go for the tried-and-true reproduction of some innocuous and hopefully period-appropriate painter.

When I browse, I go for authors I like, or have heard of, or topics I am interested in (this latter more often, actually, as I prefer non-fiction) and other than that, I sometimes pick books at random if the title catches my attention. Most of the time, I do searches on-line for topics of interest even for fiction (e.g. I might have a craving for Richard III or Ancient Greece novels so I browse to see what might appeal).

So do people really go for covers when deciding if to get books? And do they pick books based on the race of a cover model? Bizarre and wrong.

So, how do you pick your books in bookstores?

Comments

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

I use the covers mostly to determine likely subgenre. Regarding the race, though, uhm...well, for this particular book, it's actually EVEN WORSE, as the publisher actually justified it as "But it's about a liar! You think she was telling the truth about her RACE?" (Aka, "No! This isn't 1 book about a black girl to the 50 about white girls! She's probably white, too!")

But I don't think it's so much that anyone is more likely to buy a book based on the race of the character on the cover (save that it is an indication of at least one thing that might be a bit different from everything else like it) so much as that there's this idea that EVERYTHING MUST BE WHITE. There's also a lot of wank about the ABSOLUTE HORROR of putting a *gasp* woman on the covers of sff books, as men might get scared and not want to read about a woman. (No, seriously. I'm not being bitter or sarcastic or exagerating.)

[boycottbananas.livejournal.com]

I judge a book by it's cover/summary/title, usually. More of the summary and title itself, but eh.

And do they pick books based on the race of a cover model?

That, I don't do. Usually the covers of books that I check out don't have people on them, but a subject item or whatever from the book itself. :nods: Idk. 8D;;

my thoughts on books

[plazmah.livejournal.com]

I am not ashamed to say it... I actually DO pick books by how their covers look! But the covers aren't what makes me decide to buy a book, it just helps me whittle my choices down. You see, bookstores are big. Huge. There are thousands upon thousands of books inside them. That amount of choice is overwhelming. How to pick one book up and not another? I look at the cover, that's how.

But when it comes to the cover, I tend to gravitate towards covers that either have:

A) an ethnic/exotic feel to them, or
B) a minimalist cover that makes my inner graphic designer pleased

As a matter of fact, I am more inclined to pick up a book if there's a NON-white character on the front. And in the end, the cover doesn't really determine whether I buy the book or not. My ultimate test for picking books is that I read the first two pages; if I like the writer's style and content, I'll take it.

(It should be noted, I'm talking about fiction books: scifi, thriller, fantasy, etc.)

also

[plazmah.livejournal.com]

I have been following this story and I cannot get over how the publishing company is ignoring the author's statement that yes, the main character is a liar but she is not lying about her race. It's coming straight from the source for pete's sake!

[mishane.livejournal.com]

*raises hand*

I pick books by their cover. Mostly because book stores are HUGE and I'm more likely to be attracted by a cover. Also, I almost never go to book stores for a particular reason (to find a book), mostly to browse around and if I see a book that catches my eye, I purchase.

So I'm pretty sure that book covers are a big deal in the publishing world. There have been times where I didn't pick up a book because of it's cover, but those weren't race related reasons, more like, "OMG the graphic design is disgusting!".

I didn't know about that issue you're talking about, but it is pretty ridiculous.

[arathesane.livejournal.com]

Well, I certainly don't choose the books I read solely on their covers! Generally, if I'm not looking for a specific work I look through all the sections of the store I'm interested. I guess I just sort of randomly pick up books based on the titles or if I've heard good things about the authors. I've never really thought about it before. I usually read a few pages to see if I like the writer's style.

But I have to say, speaking from the time I worked in book retail, cover art can make a difference. I saw several people pick up a book that they'd never heard of based on the cover.

And I do appreciate good cover art. But as I said it isn't the determining factor in whether or not I buy a book.

[lesbiassparrow.livejournal.com]

People do pick books by their covers. I always find it amusing how differently Chick Lit books are packaged to those that are in the romance section - in some cases surely there isn't much difference, but so that people don't feel embarrassed to buy that 'sort of book' they use different covers. I tend to get put off by certain covers, attracted by others, but normally it's the description that makes me buy it or not.

Nonfiction books that might be bestsellers get it too - anything that remotely could be connected with covering the Nazis gets a swastika. Apparently books with swastikas sell so much better that even if the book is about early Weimar German then it will get one.

[queenofthorns.livejournal.com]

Nonfiction books that might be bestsellers get it too - anything that remotely could be connected with covering the Nazis gets a swastika. Apparently books with swastikas sell so much better that even if the book is about early Weimar German then it will get one.

This is SO TRUE!!! And "Hitler" in the title works too. So basically, if you wanted to sell your book about, say, Arminius in the Teutoburger Forest, you could title it "Hitler's Precursor", put a swastika on it, and people would buy it only to find out that it was set 1900 years earlier :P

[lesbiassparrow.livejournal.com]

Marchand had this struggle over Down from Olympus, an account of 18th and 19th century classical scholarship in Germany. Mention Nietzsche? Clearly you should have a swastika!

[main-hoon-emily.livejournal.com]

The only time a book's cover matters to me is if there are different editions available and I want to spend money on the version that appeals most to me. Otherwise, I go by whether the story sounds interesting, whether I've liked what the author has written before, whether I heard good things about the book from someone else...cover art is last on my list.

[grace-om.livejournal.com]

I've never chosen to buy a book because of its cover, but I might pick up a book to look at more closely if the artwork attracted me.

I'm way more likely to steer well clear of a book because of a lurid cover that makes me think "cheesy cover, cheesy book."

Mostly when I go to bookstores, I'm looking for something specific, or browsing particular topics -- generally nonfiction, which as you say tend to have innocuous covers. I pretty much never buy random fiction (unless desperate in an airport), but look for things that have been recommended by someone I trust or that I've heard/read interesting reviews of.

[seven-trees.livejournal.com]

I don't really think about the cover that much unless the book has something really cheesy on the front, like one of those old school romance novels covers.

I do think the justification for the cover they picked was ridiculous. "Oh the book is about a liar, so how can you be sure she's not lying about her race?" Well, if you go by that logic, how can you be sure she's not a green space alien from the planet Borg who's only posing as a human? It's the stupidest thing I've heard all week.

[syrenstar.livejournal.com]

Never solely on the book cover but the cover is usually what catches my eye in the first place. Anything, the colour, the art, the font or the just its title can grab my attention long enough for me to read the blurb. I buy based on the subject but packaging has its part to play too.

[moonyka.livejournal.com]

I also think that is strange for people to go out and buy some book because its cover. The cover won't buy a good story. (Also, I dislike the covers for YA's books).
When I'm buying a book I read the summary and if it attracted me I'll buy it. Also, if someone recommend me something and I think that is good. If I stop myself from buying something because its cover then I wouldn't buy any books (many spanish editions from some books are awful when is about the cover).

[kitkat-cat.livejournal.com]

I confess that a good cover-art probably attracts me when it is literally a random book that i've just picked up, BUT it in no way plays any further part in my decision making process.

Conversely, if I alsready have a book that i want to buy, i just hunt it down and get it. I really couldn't care less what it's cover looks like, unless the cover is torn or something!

[sabaceanbabe.livejournal.com]

Wow. That's all kinds of messed up. The only time a cover really influences me is usually negatively, and it usually involves Fabio on a romance novel. *shudder*

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

I pick books by cover, mainly because if I don't I would be overwhelmed because I read EVERYTHING. An eye catching cover or title at least makes me gravitate more towards one book than another. Now I read mostly (okay almost all) fantasy and historical novels, so I appreciate the cover at least being indicative of what the book is about in some way if they're going to have a picture. I will say with fantasy novels that outdated tacky ones are a turn off. As for ethnicity, I would prefer not to be misled by the cover. If the book is about someone Asian, I don't expect Queen Elizabeth on the cover.

[ladysaotome.livejournal.com]

If a cover looks interesting, I'm much more likely to pick it up & actually look at it, read the description, etc. Unless the title happens to grab me while I browse. But I don't pay attention to the gender or race of whoever's on the cover. And an inaccuracy like that would drive me crazy!

[astrothsknot.livejournal.com]

the title, blurb and a read of the first chapter. It's the read of the first chapter that's the deal breaker.

[lyssie.livejournal.com]

Depends. Since I'm on a "diversity is nice" kick, I tend to grab stuff with non-white characters on them--

But the back blurb has to grab me, and if the prose is...well... lacking, it'll go back on the shelf.

[queenofthorns.livejournal.com]

I don't usually buy books based on their cover because I'm usually in bookstores looking for something specific (or else I get into SO MUCH TROUBLE). (I buy them based on reviews, for the most part, or because I've read the author before or because it's something I find generally interesting.) HOWEVER - I did buy Posession (one of my all-time favorite novels) because the paperback copy I picked up had a glorious pre-Raphaelite painting on its cover (and then I read the blurb on the back and realized that I would probably love the novel - and did.) Also, I love all the covers of Patricia McKillip's novels (also pre-Raphaelit-ish) and I distinctly remember that the first novel of hers that I purchased (Ombria in Shadow) was largely because I thought the cover was so lovely. Again, it turned out that I LOVED the novel and all of McKillip's other work!

I also will sometimes NOT buy a book because of its cover. In fact, I had to replace all my GRR Martin books because I had these horrible English paperbacks with lurid Playtex-bra-wearing chicks on their covers and I just couldn't bear to be embarassed by reading those on the subway.

[wingstodust.livejournal.com]

Covers do in fact play a role in how I pick books. Let's see, first I would check out the spine, since that's the way we normally get our first impression of a novel. I would usually pick it up if the font is nice and legible and the font colour goes well with the background colour of the spine. Also, strange catchy titles will do this as well. Then I look at the cover. if the art isn't hideous I'll read the summary. If it still sounds interesting I'll open the first page and read a couple paragraphs before deciding what to read.

But I've never under any instances would put down a book because I didn't want to read a novel, or was turned off by said novel, with a *insert any other ethnicity other than white here* face on the cover. I will say this however: my gut reaction when I see a East Asian face on a cover is to grab at it, clinging for dear life. (It doesn't mean that I will definitely buy the novel, but it does mean that I just go straight to reading the inner contents to decide whether or not I'd like to read it.) This is because I rarely see faces of people who look like me in fiction!covers, and everytime I find one it feels like being told there's this spot where I may most likely strike gold, and I only get a chance at it once.

[timescout.livejournal.com]

I don't think I've ever bought a book because of the cover. That sounds bizarre to me. Like you I tend to browse books by authors I like or by topic and/or author if it's non-fiction. Cover has no deal in it. If I have nothing particular in mind I just pick up books that sound interesting by looking at the names to check what they are about. If the burb grabs me I may buy it.

[december-clouds.livejournal.com]

I usually choose books based on titles actually. There are books that have sort of silly vague names like "The dreams of the lies of the days that my mother most told me about" which tend to be vague and silly novels themselves.

Then there's titles like Unaccustomed Earth, which really make me smile. It's neat and clean, it's slightly vague, yet not vague at all. What can I say, I like her short stories.

[filmi-girl.livejournal.com]

I don't think anyone mentioned it yet but one of the big issues with putting a Black girl on the front of the cover is that it would likely but banished to the "urban fiction" section of the book stores where "regular" folks don't shop.

The marketing people probably felt that they were putting a "mainstream" picture on - whether or not they realized that "mainstream" equals "white" and "urban" equals "only black people can buy this" is a different story.

[katranna.livejournal.com]

Covers definitely play into my decision to buy a book, unless it is otherwise AMAZING sounding (but then I'd have to have heard of it before). And I pick up books in libraries based on covers.

However, I'm one of those people who get upset if a red-haired character is shown as blonde or whatever. A book with a character of one race depicted as another? Would PISS ME OFF like whoa.