I’m not a fan.
I’m a member of the ‘the book is almost always better than the movie’ group. It’s not that I have anything against making movies and TV shows based on books. I watch and enjoy many of them. But when I buy a book, I want the book cover not the DVD cover.
Yesterday I went to the bookstore to buy a The Blind Side by Michael Lewis. This book has been on my TBR list for a long time. My friend Eleanor read it when it first came out and has been telling me ever since that it’s one of the best football related books she’s read. Granted the upcoming (or already released? I don’t know) movie is what prompted me to remember that I wanted the book, but when I went to buy it I almost didn’t. The only copies I saw were the covers with the movie promo picture.
Sorry, not interested. Lucky for me I did find off to the side a single copy of the original paperback edition with its original cover so the day was saved and I now have the copy I want.
This is not the first time I’ve had to look hard to find the edition I wanted. The Sookie Stackhouse Series has a wonderful set of quirky covers, but they’re getting harder and harder to find. What’s prominent on the shelves are the covers with images from the HBO series True Blood (based on the books).
I’m buying this set,
<----
not this one. ---->
I’ve been known to seek out used editions (being thankful here that I live in the land of Powell’s Books) in order to get a copy of a book that does not have the movie or TV tie-in cover.
Yes, even though it’s Johnny Depp, I’ll be purchasing
this edition of Public Enemies,<----
and not this one. ---->
How do you feel about Movie or TV tie-in covers? Like ‘em? Don’t like ‘em? Don’t care? Or does it depend on whether you read the book or saw the movie/show first?
12 Comments:
I don't like the movie or TV tie-in covers either, but... if I find a tie-in cover on a book I want in the clearance section of my local used book store I will buy the tie-in cover to save money.
As a bookseller, we have a real love/hate relationship not only with these, but with the 'Oprah branded' editions as well. They may catch a customer's eye, or tweak their memory (like they did with you, SuziQ), but our customers are a little embarrassed to be seen with them. They scream "bandwagon" somehow.
That said -- I'm so glad you found an unmovied edition of Blind Side to read!
Lori: if it's my only option I'll get the movie cover, but luckily I've got several great sources of used books that I can draw on.
El: it's exactly that 'bandwagon' thing I don't like. This book was on my list since you read it - I don't want people thinking I'm only reading it because I saw the movie. I understand the need and draw for bookstores to sell the tie-in covers, because there's a definite market there for you that's looking for them.
I try to avoid those movie covers like the plague. I don't want to see actors in my mind while I'm reading the book. But I could make an exception for the cover with Johnny Depp. Or like you, if it is the only cover available and I really, really, want the book.
I really, really dislike movie tie-in covers, but I'll buy them if that's all that's available.
--Anna
Diary of an Eccentric
Not a fan of movie tie-in covers, but sometimes I take what I can get. We don't have a used bookstore so most of my used finds are from the library sale, which is mostly donation-based, or Paperback Swap.
I think the bandwagon thing Eleanor mentioned is a part of it, but I also happen to prefer artwork to photos of people we tend to see too much of, already. I feel like I've totally overdosed on the star idolatry thing, in recent years.
I don't hate movie tie-in book covers, but they are never look as good as original artwork, for the simple reason that they are usually just the movie poster all over again, which performs a different function to a book cover. To choose the obvious one, "Twilight" has a pretty gorgeous cover - simple, attractive and effective in black white and red. (We'll ignore the fact that half of all teenage fiction seems to be trying to replicate the book, starting with the cover.) The picture from the film is just a photo of two pretty film stars looking smoochy. It works for a film poster, but not for a book cover. For fiction, I don't WANT photos. I want to imagine for myself.
Also, as Eleanor says, "they scream bandwagon."
I loathe movie-tie in covers. Even if I enjoyed the movie, I don't want images from it on my book. It's not so much the bandwagon issue as I feel it dates a book moreso than a regular cover, plus, more often that not, the scenes/people depicted on movie tie-ins are not way I picture them in my head when reading the book, and I don't like having those fixed for me by Hollywood.
Framed: I'm the same way - I don't like being told what a character looks like. I prefer to figure it out for myself. (Unless it's a non-fiction book). LOL at making an exception for Johnny Depp, though ;-)
Anna: Sometimes it's the only cover you can find, but I'm glad to hear so many readers feel the same way I do.
Bookfool: I agree about artwork to celebrity photos. Book covers can be really beautiful or even portray the mood or feling of a book.
Katie: I agree about never as good. Like you said - typically just a small version of the movie poster.
Lesley: Exactly - I also avoid conversations about who should play characters when the book is made into a movie - I don't like to have an actors face override my own mind's interpretation of what a character looks or sounds like.
I don't like movie tie-in covers, nor do I like books with an endorsement badge from Oprah. Part of my reading enjoyment includes admiring beautiful or creative cover art. Slap on a glossy photo from the film and it loses an essential ingredient to the overall enjoyment of the experience. Slap a Oprah sticker on and I immediately think, "No! I'm not a sheep!!" ;)
Les: Oh I agree - that Oprah badge is something I avoid too. It's like a label saying "I can't pick a book out on my own"
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