10 Worst Book Covers In The History Of Literature

[Mark Kohut]

Here's why this list is "bad' in general in my professional opinion. 
 
Start with the the premise that the main reason for covers is to lead--entice --you to pick up
the book in a store full of thousands. Given that, some of the 'worst', most garish, most
'comic' do just that...
 
Then, however, they must not mislead (in some discussable sense) as to the nature of the book. 
 
Within the book biz, the 'worst' covers are ones so perfectly, sometimes almost-beautifully (but kitschy
really) bland that anyone browsing feels ....bored with it. (With the proviso that certain 'mannered' cover
conventions serve to make many potential readers feel ...'comfortable' with the cover/book. Certain romance
conventions, 'gay' cover looks, even 'family sagas' conventions---this last probably fading as all conventions do)
 

________________________________
 From: Dave Monroe <against.the.dave at gmail.com>
To: Mark Kohut <markekohut at yahoo.com> 
Cc: pynchon -l <pynchon-l at waste.org> 
Sent: Thursday, June 21, 2012 1:55 PM
Subject: Re: 10 Worst Book Covers In The History Of Literature
  
On Thu, Jun 21, 2012 at 11:31 AM, Mark Kohut <markekohut at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Sorry, but depending on the meaning of "bad covers', this guy's knowledge
> and judgment is bad...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/gallery/2012/may/30/terrifying-french-childrens-books-in-pictures
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