Pretty Book Covers

I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover and all that jazz. However, one of the advantages of still buying paperbacks and hardbacks, apposed to ebooks, is that they look pretty and make you appear smarter.

Plus it is a lot easier to pass judgement on someones reading tastes if you can see their bookshelf- I'm looking at you, owners of proudly displayed 50 Shades. Hide your shame.  

After the cut is a picture heavy post of some of my favourite book covers.

If you like these, or if you're interested in wasting a couple of hours staring at books, you should check out the book cover archive. They have a huge selection of well organised book covers for you to appreciate.



1. Gregory Maguire, Son of a Witch, ISBN: 978-0-06-074722-0

I'm amazed by the detail of the drawing, and the cutout is unusual 

2. Stephen Kelman, Pigeon English, ISBN: 978-1-4088-1063-7

It took me a while to notice all the pigeon shapes that make up this picture 

3. Haruki Murakami, Norwegian Wood, ISBN978-0-0995-2898-2

I love all the redesigns of Vintage Modern Classics, they really are collectors items. I want them all. 

4. Angela Carter, Angela Carter's Book of Fairy Tales, ISBN: 978-1-84408-173-8

I like the that the collage of pictures are creepy, they remind me of a fairy tale book I had as a child.  

5. Scarlett Thomas, Popco, ISBN: 978-1-84767-335-0

This design is very striking. I like that the edges of the pages are blue as well. 

What do you think of my choices? Are there any book covers that you find particularly stunning?