(I am so sorry there have been no posts lately, I will get back into a routine this week- no need to be disappointed anymore)
Don’t judge a book by it’s cover.
It’s a pretty popular phrase, said in tv shows, books, and by people alike. And I know that it actually means, don’t judge someone by the way they look, but I’ve never taken it that way. I’ve taken it in the literal sense of actually judging a book by it’s cover. That’s why I find the phrase silly. Everyone is always telling everyone to not judge a book by it’s cover, yet every single person does. And don’t lie, the first impression you get of a book is the cover- it’s the same way that in the first thirty seconds of a job interview could make it or break it. But sometimes you can’t trust the cover of a book. And I know what you’re thinking in the sarcastic bit of your brain, No, Emma! Really!? I had no idea! What an inconceivable (I just watched The Princess Bride last night) thought! I find it interesting that some of my favorite books have horrible covers, and I never would have read them had I not been bored; or how some books I wish I had never touched, have beautiful covers.
It’s intrigued me enough, that I’ve made a list of five books I judged the cover of, and did not like at all, and a second list of books I judged the book of- decided I didn’t want to read it- but eventually had to for some reason or another.
Books I judged (positively) and hated:
5. Unenchanted
No one can deny that this is a beautiful cover, and I was quite intrigued when I first saw it. Sadly, the book is not as good as I first believed it to be. It wasn't a terrible book, and I can see a certain group of people liking it, it just wasn't for me. Their was too much romance (not inappropriate romance, just romance) for me (and the guys were both the dark, handsome, mysterious stereotypes). It also did NOT intrigue me that this was a series, I didn't really want to get into a series in the period of life I was in when I read this, so I didn't enjoy it when it left at a cliffhanger.
4. Lunatic
I feel like I'm giving this book less than it deserves, so I might read it again to see what I think, but from what I remember, I hated this book. Yes, I was only ten years old when I read it, so I didn't understand the allegorical parallel that went along with the story, but I still didn't enjoy it. Once again, one of the reasons is because it had a romance in it, but I actually liked the couple in the story, which is I why I found it so upsetting, when the boy spent the entire book googling over another (evil) girl! I also have a complaint, that NOTHING seemed to happen in this book. Four years later, all I remember is this boy walking around, being tranced by this girl, while his fiance stood right beside him. Anyways, it was a huge disappointment to my ten year old mind, especially after reading three amazing books before this one.
3. Storm of Lightning
I have been reading the Michael Vey series since I was ten years old, and when I started it, I LOVED the series! As I grew older though, and my readership broadened the series grew a bit dull, but I still read it out of loyal readership. The first three aren't terrible, then I read the fourth book, and I could clearly see it was only a filler book. So, with a sigh, I waited a year for a better book to come out. And then this beauty of a cover showed up, and I was ecstatic! My anticipation grew, and I wondered if this would bring the series back as- at least- a likeable series. The release day came around, and I was so excited! I got the book, I read it... And I'm so glad it wasn't my money I spent. I've only got to leave off with one thing: I thought the fourth book was a filler, but compared to this it was as action packed as The Hunger Games series. That's how bad it was- I'm really tempted to quit the series, but alas! The loyalty to my beloved books stretch further than my detest to this villain!
4. Princess Ben
First comment on this, is that the girl's name is not Ben, it's Benevolence.
When I first began this book, I was actually thoroughly enjoying it, but about a fourth into it, it completely unraveled. Every single aspect of the book I loved was stripped away, and every single aspect of a book I hate entered the story. Then to add to this crime, the ending was horrid, and had no explanation behind it, and, it didn't even end bringing back everything I had loved in the first place. The character simply said, that it was immature and wasteful.
5. Nobody's Princess
The cover of this book is gorgeous, and the title is gorgeous! Just the cover and title foreshadow so much of this story. A kick butt heroin who fought to not be a proper princess- something I loved as a twelve year old, and still do. But let me say, none of it was true. I was extremely disappointed by this book and the main character. Helen actually doesn't mind being a princess- despite what the blurb says- and rubs it into her sister's face that she will be queen someday. This girl is supposed to come off as strong, independent, and courageous, but when it comes time for her big moment!... She sits back and watches as a different warrior girl takes her moment. I cannot stress enough how much I hate this book. It is my least favorite in all time. And as proof: I have never not completed a series- unless it's inappropriate- and there's a sequel after this book. I didn't read the sequel, that's how much I hated this book!
Books I judged (negatively) and loved:
5. The Lightning Thief-
Don't ask me why I didn't like this cover, but for some reason I didn't. And because of this cover, I didn't read it for a year or two, but last summer, I finally broke, and I read it. And there is no need to say that I fell in love when I read it- after that I fell in love with the cover.
4. Enna Burning
I honestly hate this cover because it's just so.... Well, just look at it. Despite my hate of the cover though, it was the second book in a series, from the point of view of a character I loved, resulting in having to read it. And it has become my favorite book in the series. Of course judging this cover is just not fair, because it has a new gorgeous cover, and that's the edition I actually read:
Enna Burning cover.
3. Forest Born
This is the fourth book in the same series of Enna Burning, and it's my second favorite book. Once again, I do not enjoy the cover, but the story is beautiful. The main character is very relatable, and I devoured this book in a day. But it's unfair to judge this cover again, because it has a new one:
Forest Born cover.
2. River Secrets
(I've just got to say, I love this series, hate these covers- it's called the Books of Bayern) This is the third book in the series, and I don't think I need to explain why I decided to read this, because it was for the same reasons as the others. It was part of a series, I loved the books, the characters, so I did. And again, it has a new, more beautiful cover:
River Secrets cover.
1. The Goose Girl
This is the first book of the series, and so now, I actually had a reason for starting this book. And trust me, I didn't really like the cover, but my friend had been recommending the book to me for a couple months. Finally, I came to a gap, where I didn't have any books to read, so I got it, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm so glad I discovered this series and author. But this book has a cover I like more also:
The Goose Girl cover
