Wednesday, May 09, 2007

What lurks beneath the covers?

Check out these book covers - all from different publishers.

Start here with the book by Girl With a One Track Mind.

The image “http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/414P1E9W3JL._SS500_.jpg” cannot be displayed, because it contains errors.

Now look at the latest edition of Belle de Jour:

The image “http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/41PUNTOfKLL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-dp-500-arrow,TopRight,45,-64_OU02_AA240_SH20_.jpg” cannot be displayed, because it contains errors.

and this one from the US ...

The image “http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/31VEY8ARDDL._SS500_.jpg” cannot be displayed, because it contains errors.

and this ...

The image “http://g-ec2.images-amazon.com/images/I/41rxtjtv58L._SS500_.jpg” cannot be displayed, because it contains errors.
and even the classics are getting the treatment ...

The image “http://www.penguinclassics.co.uk/static/covers/all/6/9/9780141023496L.jpg” cannot be displayed, because it contains errors.

Notice any ... er ... similarities?
So what's going on here?

Is this:

a) a clever marketing ploy to cash in on a winning formula
or
b) a symptom of laziness and lack of imagination in some of the publishing houses
or
c) complete coincidence. None of them knew about the others. It's just evidence of how tuned into the zeitgeist they all are.

11 comments:

Marie said...

Definitely b.

Anonymous said...

Yep b.

*fish in shoals hehe.

Unknown said...

Apart from Lolita I looked at those covers and thought... well there's a bunch of books I don't want to read. (I actually own that copy of Lolita!)

Anonymous said...

Before I cast my vote can you explain the difference between a) and b)?

S. Kearney said...

oh dear, see what you mean ... all these editors must get together somewhere to sort out the year's covers. :)

Unknown said...

How could you think such a silly thing, it's c). Besides, 'Straight up and Dirty' has no pants on at all - totally different.

Anonymous said...

b for a while, then c.
My thoughts!

Anonymous said...

Yup, I agree with Verillion. A handy marketing device to indicate which books not to read.

Anonymous said...

Maybe they are all the same book but with a different tile??

Anonymous said...

Anyone seen the "Real Lives" section at Borders?

Debi said...

Thanks for that, Adam.

And here's another one that should have been on this post.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sleeping-Around-Secrets-Sexual-Adventuress/dp/0719563518/ref=pd_ecc_rvi_4/203-1286373-2127947?ie=UTF8&qid=1179419582&sr=1-16

Who knows how many more of these there are lurking out there on the shelves or are waiting in the wings?