Thursday, July 25, 2013

Highlights & Lowlights: Blurbs on Book Covers


Anyone who visits YA Book Queen regularly knows that I love to look for the highlights and lowlights in every book. And, sometimes, I like to look for highlights and lowlights elsewhere, too. Last time, I discussed the Highlights & Lowlights of Sequels. This week, however, I'm going to focus on something different but still bookish. When it comes to books, one of the first things I notice is the cover. I also notice of other little details – such as whether or not the cover has quotes / blurbs on the front. Here are some highlights and lowlights when it comes to blurbs on book covers:


Lowlight:  They don't fit the book at all. I'm looking at you, paperback version of IF I STAY. I mean, really? These two stories are nothing alike, aside from having romance (Forman's novel is undeniably better written), so I think it's a strange blurb that doesn't do this novel any favors. It's kind of like saying CODE NAME VERITY will appeal to HARRY POTTER fans (because both feature friendship...and that's it). It just doesn't fit. 

Highlight:  They can be fun! Maureen Johnson gives the best example of this with her blurb for ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS (which is actually on the back cover of the original paperback): "Very sly. Very funny. Very romantic. You should date this book." When MJ tells you to date a book, you date the book. I always love reading quirky, odd blurbs. A blurb like that makes me laugh, and want to pick up the novel to check it out. 

Lowlight:  I'm not a fan of the author who blurbed the book. I might walk on by if I see Author X exclaiming about another writer's work, especially if I dislike Author X's writing. I tend to assume that if Author X blurbs Author Z's novel, then they must write similarly...which isn't always true, but I still tend to move on to looking at something else. 


Highlight:  They make me curious about books I would NEVER read. The MJ quotation, once again, is the perfect example. It's amusing, catches my eye, and makes me wonder about the novel - which is exactly what a blurb should do! I never would have read A&TFK, simply because the title is a bit ridiculous, but the blurbs and good buzz convinced me otherwise. 

Lowlight:  Blurbs with comparisons set me up for disappointment. Tell me a novel is going to be the next HARRY POTTER, and I get excited. Really excited, because I love HP. So, when it turns out to be a so-and-so or even good story, I'm disappointment. I might have enjoyed the novel more if the blurb hadn't of compared it to HP in the first place.

Highlight:  The blurb is written by one of my favorite authors. One of the reasons I became even more curious about SHADOW AND BONE was because Veronica Roth had a blurb on the book cover. And, since I'm a fan of Roth's work, it made me curious enough about Bardugo's novel to convince me to purchase it, and I wasn't disappointed.


Lowlight:  Some blurbs seem like lies or are all the same. I have a hard time taking blurbs seriously when they (A) come from someone that seems to love everything, (B) compare books inaccurately, or (C) recycle the same phrases over and over. If I hadn't of read and loved an ARC of BLOOD RED ROAD, I never would have picked up the new cover version that features a blurb from MTV'S Hollywood Crush. It doesn't catch my eye in a good way. 

Highlight: They give me another author's work to check out. When I pick up a book I like that has a blurb by an author I haven't heard of, I'll usually check out that author's novels on Goodreads. Sometimes it's a great way to discover an author that has a similar writing style as the book I originally picked up. 

Lowlight:  They ruin what would otherwise be an awesome cover. I actually wish blurbs were mostly on the back cover of books, that way they don't ruin a lovely cover with unnecessary font. The THRONE OF GLASS cover, for instance, would look incredible if it didn't have the blurb on the front cover. 


Highlight: They describe the novel perfectly.  For example, Miranda Kenneally's blurb for TORCHED - it's short, sweet, and completely accurate. It's not an overly exciting blurb, but it does fit the story. 

Highlight: They add to the overall cover design. THE FAULT IN OUR STARS is one cover that really makes the blurb add something extra to the cover. The quotation doesn't look out of place, it fits in perfectly. I feel like this is pretty rare, though. Can anyone else think of a cover that uses the text from a blurb in an interesting way? 


While I, for the most part, dislike seeing a blurb on the front cover, I do love to read them! What are your thoughts on book covers with blurbs on the front? 


31 comments:

  1. Blurbs either work or really don't for me. Some reflect the story, and that gives me an idea of what I'm in for. Others, however, just say it's "better than" such and such a book or "the next" book...that just makes me mad. Great feature, Lea!

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    1. I'm the same way - I either like them or I hate them (especially on covers). I tend to like the ones that give an idea for the story, too. Putting in "better than" and "the next" doesn't really serve any purpose, and they definitely do not tell me anything about the story.

      Thanks for stopping by :)

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  2. I'm not a big fan of blurbs on the cover unless it's a paperback novel. I think I prefer my blurbs on the back and if it's from an author I love, I am always sold on the book! And you are so right about the blurb from Maureen Johnson--that would have sold me on Anna and the French Kiss right then and there! She is so witty! Great post, Lea! I really enjoy your discussion posts.

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    1. I love blurbs on the back of books - that's such a better spot for them. The MJ blurb is so awesome! I love it when authors have a little fun with blurbs, instead of using the same old praises :)

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  3. I prefer blurbs on the back cover but since the front cover is really what sells the book (or gets you to pick it up) I can understand why publishers choose to put it there.

    I hate it when a book is compared to another major book because it will inevitably fail to live up to expectations. I read one debut novel that had the misfortune of being compared to John Green and Sarah Dessen which didn't do it any favors. I also hate "the next Hunger Games" or "Game of Thrones for teens" or blurbs where it is obvious that the author never read the book (I've heard that it does happen-sometimes an author will blurb a book and in return they get a blurb, etc.)

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    1. Yes, I understand it too. Still, I do wish they were on the back ;)

      I know, right? I cannot remember the last time I actually thought a blurb comparison was correct and didn't ruin the story. They almost always never work. I'm not a fan of the "the next Hunger Games" / GoT comparisons too. Unless they happen to have the exact same story / concept, it won't work well.

      Ooh, really? I've always wondered if authors do that - that might explain some things...

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  4. I just don't like author blurbs on the front of books. I want the whole cover to be pretty and save those blurbs for the back. Then I scan them to see who blurbed and what they said. If they're on the cover, I tend to ignore them. And what's with saying If I Stay is for Twilight fans? Doesn't seem like a good comparison at all.

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    1. Agreed! Why can't they just put the blurbs on the back? We cover lovers need pretty book covers w/o unnecessary font!

      I still cannot understand the Twilight reference for IIS - such a random thing to say, let alone put on the cover!

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  5. Hmm.. I don't really read the blurbs before buying a book, so I don't get influenced by them. But I agree that some blurbs are really good and others don't do justice to the book. 'The next..' is always irritating, it makes the book seem unoriginal.
    Really love this feature :)

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    1. I used to never read blurbs...but then I became a blogger, so I started noticing them more.

      "The next" is absolutely irritating. Has there ever been a blurb that uses "the next" successfully? It seems like it never works / fits.

      Thanks for stopping by! :)

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  6. "Blurbs with comparisons set me up for disappointment." So true. I also hate Stephenie Meyers blurb on Warm Bodies. I just don't understand what authority she is on zombie. Sure it's an inhuman and human love story, but she's not the only one who ever wrote one. Great post.

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    1. Not going to lie, I haven't read WARM BODIES yet, and it's mostly because of that blurb by SM. It makes me think they must write similarly or the story will be all insta-lovey. Sometimes it's strange to see what books authors blurb - especially when they blurb a book that's completely different from their own genre.

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  7. A blurb comparing one book to another never works on me. The comparisons are almost never accurate and I end up disappointed.

    Author blurbs are a little different. If I know the author doesn't just blurb everything in sight, I'll take a look. If I follow the author on Twitter and know their reading tastes and see them blurb and talking up a book that they truly love than it carries more weight with me.

    I would never buy a book based on just a blurb anyway but it might make me investigate further.

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    1. Comparisons are hard to do well - I cannot think of a single blurb comparison that was actually 100% perfect.

      I definitely take a second glance at a book if I see a blurb from an author I follow on Twitter (or read their blog or something). It's kind of fun to see what they are reading!

      "I would never buy a book based on just a blurb anyway but it might make me investigate further." - Agreed! A blurb is a very small part of a book. I tend to read a few chapters before committing to a book!

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  8. I love blurbs... if they're on the back. I don't like them on the front at all. While I do sometimes pick up a book based on an author's blurb... I've been burned by this before. I ended up HATING a book that had a favorite author's blurb on the cover. Also, comparing it to another book is the worst, especially when the book is nothing like what it's being compared to. It's a smart marketing trick, but a cheap one.

    Great discussion! Love seeing what other people think about little things like this!

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    1. YES. They just look so out of place on the front covers of books. Back cover? That works for me.

      Ooh, yeah. I try to be careful when it comes to buying books that a favorite author blurbs. I'll check out the novel, read a few chapters, and get it if I like it (because I've also had that happen to me, and it sucks)!

      Book comparisons are so frustrating. It must work when it comes to selling books though, or else they wouldn't do it so much ;)

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  9. I totally agree about the one from If I Stay! I've never noticed it before now, but it just made me laugh. Like did you really compare the two?!

    Great post :D

    Janina @ Synchronized Reading

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    1. Weird blurb, right? I noticed it right away (I was late to reading IF I STAY, and I almost put off reading it after spotting that blurb). Such a silly comparison!

      Thanks for stopping by :)

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  10. Oh, excellent - I think about this sometimes and you summarized it pretty perfectly (also GREAT graphics)! Ultimately, I usually dislike blurbs on the front of the cover, like you. Why not just put them on the back? I always turn he book over to read the synopsis and so that would be a good spot for it. Otherwise, it kind of ruins the cover in some cases (like the TMI covers that were reprinted when they received a blurb from Stephenie Meyer). It's also a total turn off when I don't like the author doing the blurbing - though that's probably unfair to the author whose work is being blurbed. There's plenty of good stuff about blurbing though, as you point out - that Maureen Johnson blurb: love it!!

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    1. Thanks! I agree, I always pick up a book and check out the back cover anyway, so it'd be nice to see blurbs there rather than the front cover.

      The MJ blurb is made of awesome. I wish all blurbs were like that!

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  11. This is a really great analyze of blurbs. I feel the same way about then, they either catch my attention or don't. And sometimes they catch my attention in the wrong sort of way. If it weren't for the fact that I picked up a hardcover version of If I Stay at the library, I might not have read -- and loved -- the book. If I see Stephanie Meyer's blurb something ... I'm not really interested. I don't see how Twilight applies to If I Stay at all either. Particularly since the romance is significantly better in If I Stay and real.

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    1. They're either great or very bad! It's a tricky line to walk across ;)

      I know, right? Twilight + If I Stay = WHAT? The romance in IIS is definitely superior.

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  12. Great post!!!!! I love it. My books are found through my book club usually so I don't go to the store to find a book so I never notice the blurbs. But now I will probably notice them more. I do sometimes look on the internet though to see what Stephen King is recommending.

    Angie
    Angela's Anxious Life

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    1. That's probably a good thing! I try not to notice them, but it's just so hard for me not to see them ;)

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  13. I tried to ignore blurbs even if it is by an author I love just due to the fact that They may love it but I'll end up hating it due to different taste in books

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    1. Oh, yes. I've suffered the consequences of listening to a favorite author before (and the book was very disappointing).

      Thanks for stopping by!

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  14. You make some truly magnificent points of both the highlights and the lowlights. I agree that blurbs that try to compare a book to something amazing (like HP) is just setting the reader up for disappointment. It could be great, but if it isn't as great as the comparison it inevitably leads to disproportionate disappointment. I also wish blurbs stuck to the back. Covers, especially lately, are pretty amazing and blurbs often look so out of place. Great post, Lea!

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    1. Thank you! Agreed with your points, especially about blurbs on the back covers. Covers are fantastic lately, it would be nice to keep any extra (and unnecessary) font off them!

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  15. I've definitely seen ones that seem so generic. "Super fun" is not one I've seen but could be applied to most books and I've seen blurbs with very similar wording before. However if Meg Cabot blurbs something, I usually pick it up-her picks tend to be very funny and I like them a lot!

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