You Can't Judge a Book by it's Cover!
It was a phrase I heard countless times when I was growing up. Almost as often as:
If You Can't Say Something Nice, Don't Say Anything at All!
Somehow, I became indoctrinated with the second phrase much easier than the first. I don't know if it's my personality, but I still struggle to Not judge a book by it's cover. They're just so...pretty! Which goes to prove another popular phrase:
The Eye Buys!
I'm pretty much doomed if I walk into a book store. I'd love to be one of those people that can go into a book store, order a coffee, sit down with something new or old, borrowed or bought, and just...read. Doesn't that sound so peaceful? I've never been that person, however. I am the kid in the candy store, my husband in the electronics store: every book is Wonderful! I'm going to read everysingleonerightnow! And really, my willpower isn't strong enough to get me out of that bookstore without buying something.
I went into Barnes & Noble Booksellers today (I really like the booksellers part, makes them sound old and kind and honest) to buy a cheap copy of Persuasion
to tear up (gasp!) and decoupage some wall art and jewelry so I can literally surround myself with Jane Austen. That was the only thing I was going to buy--honest! But then a book caught my eye, sitting unassumingly beside the Jane Austen books. A book that had caught my eye months ago and almost came home with me...it was [thisclose] to sitting on my bookshelf. Well, today it did come home with me. I couldn't resist. Even if I never read it, it was worth the money--just as art is worth the money.And I justified it by the fact that the copy of Persuasion I bought had a dumb, uninspiring cover--though I know it to be an amazing book--as well as the fact that I resisted buy TWO books earlier this week whose covers tempted me sorely. I didn't buy Brooklyn
, and I didn't buy Little Bee
, though the cover art is great. I did buy Keeping the House
; even if the story isn't great, the cover art is: a little vintage '50s in one tidy package. Am I the only one with this problem? Have you ever succumbed to the evil/amazing cover artists?
Oh, you must go back and buy Little Bee! It's brilliant. Brooklyn was pretty good too, if a bit slow. Have you seen these new penguins? http://www.penguin.co.uk/nf/Theme/ThemePage/0,,-7836097,00.html
ReplyDeletetoo beautiful to read!
Brooklyn is one of my favorite books read in 2009! It's a wonderful story, read it when you have time.
ReplyDeleteI'm a new follower. HAve a wonderful weekend!
I've got this problem as well! Little Bee caught my eye the first time I saw it. But usually it takes more than just the cover art for me to actually buy the book, however if I like the cover and the book sounds good... sold!
ReplyDelete@teadevotee--those covers are lovely, I could almost convince myself I need another copy of each of those. talk about bookshelf art!
ReplyDelete@Mari--I'm glad to hear Brooklyn is good! I was thinking perhaps it was only my recent reread of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn that was making me want it.
@Brenna--I'm the same, so I think the reason I didn't buy Little Bee right off is due to it being hard to figure what it's about. After doing a little looking online, I realize that was purposeful.
I'm sure these will both end up on my shelf at some point, my willpower really isn't THAT strong. :)