Cover Chat (Again)

Afew months ago, I did a joint blog with Rhys from Thirst 4 Fiction (here's my previous blog). Had such fun with doing it, I decided to do it again with Rhys.

Now, for those of you wondering what Cover Chat is, it's a "multiple-blog feature (or meme) where book bloggers talk about US vs UK book covers." (click here if you want to take part or want to know more...)

On Thirst for Fiction, we are talking about the covers for Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys. But here, we are chatting about The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson.

Here is the UK cover:


And here is the US cover:


Rhys says: "I think, without a doubt, that the UK cover definitely takes the lead here- the high contrast, muted colour pallete really works well, and it really looks solid. Everything just works really well together to form a wonderfully dark and mysterious cover that is far superior to its American counterpart, which is rather disappointing. For a start, the overlay of the man in the top hat looks amateurish- but the text is badly placed and badly coloured too, and the washed out tones really do nothing for the book. The dark intruige of the UK cover really does triumph- which is why I can easily say that the UK cover wins hands down in this contest..."

I say: "I have to disagree with you, Rhys. I quite like the US cover. It seems simple, and hints at the plot. I'm quite intrigued over the red-haired girl. The UK cover, at first glance, seems a bit monotone. It's using a lot of pallete colours and it doesn't seem to grab and hold my attention. But after looking the cover a bit more, I think I realise why I dislike the UK cover - the typeface for the title. It seems so wrong! It's trying to be gothic and it fails. And why did they need to put the "Jack The Ripper Returns"? And in red? It jars out and it ruins the cover! I think it's the typeface that bothers me the most about the UK cover. I prefer the US cover, but I hope that, when I see it in the flesh, it just works!*"

I want to thank, yet again, Rhys from Thirst4Fiction for allowing me to take part in this! And for picking such interesting covers this time and last time (and hopefully next time. I am so doing this again!)

*I have seen it in the flesh. I prefer it now I've seen it in the flesh but I prefer the US cover...