Because I just read Looking for Alaska for the first time a few weeks ago (I know, I'm a little behind everyone else on reading this one. :P) I decided to do a cover comparison for it this week! There are a BAJILLION covers for Looking for Alaska but I definitely like some better than others. Lets compare then shall we?
Original US Cover: I've never really been a fan of this cover. I think it's supposed to be all metaphorical and deep but it actually kind of scares me. I just don't dig its dark atmosphere.
New US Cover: I don't really like this cover and I know for a fact John Green doesn't either because he says as much in one of his vlogs. I can't remember which one or I would cite it here but he did say it I promise. :P But yeah, why did they have to zoom the picture so much? Talk about invading personal space! It just seems kind of awkward....
Original UK Cover: Now that I've read this book I finally understand the significance of the daisy! FINALLY! There's an element to this cover that seems a little, I don't know tacky and homemade but it's okay I guess. Not quite as creepy as the others which is good. I also like the tagline.
New UK Cover: I'm not a huge fan of covers that are obviously photoshopped and this one definitely falls into that category. However I love the color scheme. It's very pretty.
So who wins? Oh goodness so many options and none of them really stand out to me as great. I guess I'll have to go with the New UK Cover because it's the one I would probably pick up if I saw these on a shelf somewhere.
Which cover of Looking for Alaska is YOUR favorite? Be sure to vote in the poll below and sound off in the comments about why you made your decision!
Have any ideas for future cover comparison? Leave them in the form below!
Julia :)
Personally I don't like any of the covers, but the one that I dislike the least is the original US cover. That one is the most symbolic even though it does nothing to compel me to read it.
ReplyDeleteI thoroughly dislike the new US cover because it has been proven again and again that books with girls on the cover do nothing to get boys to pick up the book and read it. John Green writes books that appeal to guys and the new cover just completely subverts his efforts to get more guys to pick up the book and read it.
Surprisingly, I'd have to say the New U.S. cover wins. The reasons why? The bold font choice and the simplicity of it all.
ReplyDeleteFor a book with a guy narrator, the UK covers are way too girly. The original US cover is probably the best for a guy, but judging strictly on an overall choice, definitely the new US.
Beth S., very true. It won't get guys to read it. I've learned one thing, though. Boys typically skip over the YA books to James Patterson or sci-fi novels anyway. Let's face it: in a broad sense, the guys who will read a book won't do it because of what's on the cover but because of what's in it. Plus, they won't linger in bookstores and buy on looks; they want to get in and out as soon as possible. They'll do research before. At least that's what I find with myself...
Great post, Julia!
I don't like the original US cover either. That's actually what's put me off of it for so long. It looks dark and very adult-book as opposed to YA.
ReplyDeleteI think I'll have to go with the original UK. I don't know the daisy significance, but I still like the simplicity of it.
I like the original UK cover because I like the font. I'm not too big of a fan of the new US and UK cover though because they seem so cheap. I generally dislike covers with faces on them.
ReplyDeleteHad I never heard of this book, I'd probably pick up the book with the original US cover. Having not read the book yet, I don't understand the symbol, but it's the most interesting of the covers I think. My next vote would go to the new UK version. It looks pretty and it's calming.
ReplyDeleteDid somebody say John Green Time? That's the best!
ReplyDeleteThe tagline "first friend. first girl. last words." some of the new versions have does not really appeal to me.
I'd have to say I like the Original US and the Original UK cover the best. Yeah, the US cover can come off as dreary, but death is a big question of the book. The UK cover sort of balances what the book is about by having the daisy and the dark background.
Isn't is supposed to be creepy? Considering the content of the book? Making the cover bright and smiley kind of bothers me because it goes away from the book's content and towards the average teen cover. The original US cover has the perfect feel...it's like I can *feel* the breath that just extinguished the flame...and it just feels right.
ReplyDeleteBUT as for picking up in a bookstore without having read it first, I would maybe pick the girl face one. Even though there are way too many of those.
Woah I had no idea there are so many different covers for Looking for Alaska! (I still have to read it *shame!* I think my favorite is the first U.K. cover, but I really like the second U.K. cover like you too! They're all pretty great actually haha!
ReplyDeleteI love the U.K. Cover, but i don´t know the name of the font :c
ReplyDeleteCan you say me the name?