Nomes over at Ink Crush is hosting a "Faves of 2011" event with five different categories of awards for books we've read in 2011. You can find out more details here. Here are my Top 10 covers for books released in 2011 (of ones I've read).
Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
I never thought that much of this cover until I saw it in person. It has such a pretty sheen to it! Absolutely love the colouring, and the font details are pretty great too.
Wither by Lauren DeStefano
It's just... stunning, really. The colour, the hair, the dress, the symbolism. Every aspect of it is quite appealing.
Back When You Were Easier to Love by Emily Wing Smith
I just really like this one for some reason. Perhaps the library stool & bookshelves?? I just think it's so cute, and the mixture of photo and illustration is so cool, and the bubble around the title is just so cute.
Divergent by Veronica Roth
It's just so interesting! The massive Dauntless symbol (that, yes, totally reminds me of the Eye of Sauron, but whatever), Chicago in the background... I even like the UK version with the people on the bottom (plus the UK version is all super shiny which is pretty! yes, I somehow own the UK paperback edition of this one).
Wrapped by Jennifer Bradbury
You don't see many YA covers that are only illustrations, but I think Wrapped is a perfect example of how illustrations can work for YA. I love the lines, and I'm partial to brown, so I think the colours on this cover are gorgeous.
Blood Red Road by Moira Young
The tone of this cover is just perfect for the book! So sparse and dusty, with the lone figure. And the font?! Holy moly, it's all just so... atmospheric.
The Gray Wolf Throne by Cinda Williams Chima
I seem to really like purple covers, so there is that, but also the crown and the mountains. Plus I just like the design of this trilogy in general, with the author and title written sideways. It's just very different from most books, and they stand out because of it.
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
It just makes you stop and stare, doesn't it? The water, the pose, the colours, the font... the pictures from this photo shoot are gorgeous, and they make a very eye catching cover.
Prized by Caragh M. O'Brien
There's just something so cool about this one! The way the font curlicues up and around is so awesome. And then the elements on the cover, such as the smoke/fog and the glass are actually important in the book, which makes it even more cool.
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
I know this one got a lot of cover hate, and I agree that the puffy dress thing is a bit over done (though it is textually accurate in this case, which is cool)... however, I do think it shows how strong Juliette is, I loveeee the title font, AND most of all I adore that the effect in the background is all part of the photograph, not added in afterwards.
I have half of these... and haven't touched them yet! But books like Shatter Me, Divergent and Mara Dyer seem to be on everyone's top fave lists of 2011, so they might have to make their way to the TOP of my TBR list :p
ReplyDeleteHappy Holidays!
Wrapped was a fun little fluffy book, wasn't it? I quite enjoyed that one.
ReplyDeleteSo many lovelies! We second Prized, Mara Dyer, and Wrapped, and we would like to add Daughter of Smoke and Bone, the UK edition.
ReplyDeleteOh, and Carrier of the Mark! We would buy that cover just to display on our shelf.
ReplyDeleteI love the Wither and Unbecoming of Mara Dyer covers!
ReplyDeleteI really love the "Wither" book cover. I honestly I hate to say this, but I think it is one of the factors of me adding it to my to-read list.
ReplyDeleteJade -- I loved Shatter Me & Divergent! Their covers are gorgeous, but the books are awesome too
ReplyDeleteLisa -- Yes, I enjoyed Wrapped! It was a fun and interesting mystery
We <3 Ladies -- Ooh heck yah, the Daughter UK version?? So gorgeous!!
Kayla -- I think sometimes judging a cover has negative connotations, but honestly there's a reason why marketing or whoever spends so much time and money trying to find a right cover; they're trying to visually represent the book in the best way possible, so really I don't think there's anything wrong with saying "wow that cover is amazing" and having it make you curious about the book. I think that's the problem with a lot of self-pubbed covers. They don't have that huge marketing machine, so the covers in end sub-par, doing a disservice to a book that's possibly amazing
All of these covers are excellent!
ReplyDeleteI just did my whole condensed version of the survey :P
It was a lot of fun!
SOOOO pretty! They're not all pretty girls in pretty dresses (though I really do like those. Not gonna lie.). So many drool-worthy covers in 2011 (and 2012!).
ReplyDeleteThese are pretty. I like that you chose covers that were pretty and those that were unique and different.
ReplyDeleteYou posted a really nice, diverse set of covers...Wither is my favorite of the ethereal variety, and Back When You Were Easier to Love is a great cute one.
ReplyDeleteHope you have a lovely holiday season!
The Dauntless symbol reminded me of the Eye of Sauron too!! Glad I'm not the only one ;D Other than that, though, I have to admit it is a pretty striking cover.
ReplyDeleteWither's cover is just so gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteLove all of your choices Ashley! I literally just finished Wither and am now starting on Fever! Like Shatter Me, I think that the covers are textually accurate in this case, which is cool... ;)
ReplyDeleteAnd I have yet to read Divergent, but I hope to after finishing Fever!