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tarinahmed's review against another edition
informative
reflective
fast-paced
3.5
Very interesting insight on book covers from an author. Outside of the logistics of marketing and publicity it was nice to hear a take on book covers that’s more about the personal feeling of the authors themselves, especially since they don’t often get a say in how their book looks
guk's review against another edition
4.0
I really like books about books and was excited to finally read this small essay on the subject of covers. I was interested in the author's immigrant experience and struggle with fashion trends as a youngster. She equates this to book covers. While I do think authors need to have more control of the cover art, I do think that they are a useful marketing tool. I actually enjoy book covers, sometimes even more than the books! I will keep this for a re-read and keep it on my books about books shelf.
essjay1's review against another edition
3.0
Insight to the author’s conflicted relationship with her covers. I always assumed the author had some power over the cover but apparently not.
mfumarolo's review against another edition
3.0
A thoughtful essay and interesting perspective from an author on the nature of book covers and their relationship to the writers and stories within (or sometimes, the lack thereof). I’d highly recommend this to people interested particularly in book cover design, or anyone who has given thought to how and why the same story can look so vastly different on the outside across translations and editions.
karenleagermain's review against another edition
5.0
Thank You to Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group for providing me with a copy of Jhumpa Lahiri's, The Clothing of Books, in exchange for an honest review.
PLOT- In this short, non-fiction book, award-winning author, Jhumpa Lahiri, explains the process that the publishing industry uses to create book covers. She explores her own feelings on book covers, as both an avid reader and famous author.
LIKE- I'm a huge, huge fan of Lahiri, and I was thrilled for the opportunity to review, The Clothing of Books. As a book lover and hopeful author, I found her take on book covers to be both informative and thought provoking. Although my manuscript is far from ready to even send out in search of agents, I'm well aware of the book cover process, how the author may have very little say, with the publisher picking the cover that best fits their vision for marketing. Lahiri writes about this process, confessing that some of her own covers did not fit with her personal vision of her stories. She writes about her experience of having her books translated and how publishers in other countries, would pick covers based on what works for their culture. A popular cover in one country, could be disastrous in another, even though the book is the same.
Lahiri relates the theme of book covers, to her own cultural background. She was born in England to parents from India, but immigrated to the United States as a small child. Living in America, she attended public schools, without a dress-code. On her summer trips back to India, she envied her cousins who attended schools with uniforms, wishing that she could wear a uniform in America, so that she wouldn't stand-out so much. Making matters more difficult, were her parents didn't quite understand her wish to fit-in, and would purchase American style clothes for her that was budget-friendly, not trendy for teens. They had her dress in traditional Indian clothing for occasions spent with other Indian immigrants. Lahiri never felt like she belonged anywhere. To layer this further, she speaks of her father, a librarian, and how her childhood experience with books was all at the library, where the covers are often removed.
Lahiri writes about the beauty of covers. On her recent move to Italy, she could not bring many of her possessions, so she used books, facing the covers forward on her shelves, like pieces of art, to breath life into her rented home with its generic furniture. She mentioned never having spent so much time admiring covers, as when they were displayed in this fashion.
DISLIKE - Only that it was too short.
RECOMMEND - YES!!! If you're a reader, writer, artist, et.., The Clothing of Books is a must-read. Really, anything by Lahiri is a must-read. She's brilliant.
Like my review? Check out my blog!
PLOT- In this short, non-fiction book, award-winning author, Jhumpa Lahiri, explains the process that the publishing industry uses to create book covers. She explores her own feelings on book covers, as both an avid reader and famous author.
LIKE- I'm a huge, huge fan of Lahiri, and I was thrilled for the opportunity to review, The Clothing of Books. As a book lover and hopeful author, I found her take on book covers to be both informative and thought provoking. Although my manuscript is far from ready to even send out in search of agents, I'm well aware of the book cover process, how the author may have very little say, with the publisher picking the cover that best fits their vision for marketing. Lahiri writes about this process, confessing that some of her own covers did not fit with her personal vision of her stories. She writes about her experience of having her books translated and how publishers in other countries, would pick covers based on what works for their culture. A popular cover in one country, could be disastrous in another, even though the book is the same.
Lahiri relates the theme of book covers, to her own cultural background. She was born in England to parents from India, but immigrated to the United States as a small child. Living in America, she attended public schools, without a dress-code. On her summer trips back to India, she envied her cousins who attended schools with uniforms, wishing that she could wear a uniform in America, so that she wouldn't stand-out so much. Making matters more difficult, were her parents didn't quite understand her wish to fit-in, and would purchase American style clothes for her that was budget-friendly, not trendy for teens. They had her dress in traditional Indian clothing for occasions spent with other Indian immigrants. Lahiri never felt like she belonged anywhere. To layer this further, she speaks of her father, a librarian, and how her childhood experience with books was all at the library, where the covers are often removed.
Lahiri writes about the beauty of covers. On her recent move to Italy, she could not bring many of her possessions, so she used books, facing the covers forward on her shelves, like pieces of art, to breath life into her rented home with its generic furniture. She mentioned never having spent so much time admiring covers, as when they were displayed in this fashion.
DISLIKE - Only that it was too short.
RECOMMEND - YES!!! If you're a reader, writer, artist, et.., The Clothing of Books is a must-read. Really, anything by Lahiri is a must-read. She's brilliant.
Like my review? Check out my blog!
daniellekat's review
informative
reflective
fast-paced
2.5
An interesting essay but I found the tone a bit off putting. I liked how the author equated book covers to clothing and how that idea related to her own ideas of being dressed and presented.
charvi_not_just_fiction's review against another edition
4.0
Loved this beautiful book!
The author draws from her childhood experiences if clothing and how the way we dress expresses our opinions to connect it with book covers. All the analogies drawn were perfect and there were some beautiful comparisons too. The writing style was simple and eloquent. All in all a great book!
The author draws from her childhood experiences if clothing and how the way we dress expresses our opinions to connect it with book covers. All the analogies drawn were perfect and there were some beautiful comparisons too. The writing style was simple and eloquent. All in all a great book!