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ExUrbanis

Urban Leaving to Country Living

My TOP TEN Favourite Book Covers

August9

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly linkup of book bloggers hosted by The Broke and The Bookish!

Top Ten Tuesday photo toptentuesday_zps1les7hiy.jpg

This week’s topic allows me to share some covers on books that I still have on my shelves. Covers change, shelves change: this is a permutable list!
 

COVERS THAT EVOKE THE COUNTRY LIFE I LOVE

1. Welcome Home: Travels in Smalltown Canada by Stuart McLean

elcome Home by Stuart McLean photo welcome home_zpsxnd8ocmr.jpg

McLean is the host of the very popular CBC radio show The Vinyl Café. McLean’s books of stories from The Vinyl Café have won the Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour three times.

Before The Vinyl Café, McLean traveled to small towns across Canada to visit for several weeks in each.

I love this book and I loved the cover on my copy, but when I went to Amazon to find that cover, I loved this cover on the re-issue even more!

 

2. From Stone Orchard: a Collection of Memories

From Stone Orchard by Timothy Findley photo stone orchard_zpsmvbcu1y1.jpg This non-fiction work was my introduction to this icon of Canadian literature.

Findley and his partner purchased a run-down 19th century farmhouse in southern Ontario, Canada and lived there until his death in 2002. They named their estate Stone Orchard, for obvious reasons.

Even in non-fiction, Findley’s writing was lyrical.
 

3. The Corrigan Women by M.T. Dohaney
 
The Corrigan women by M.T. Dohaney photo corrigan women_zpsccg1svix.jpgI love this cover: it represents so well the Atlantic Canadian life I’ve embraced.

Along with To Scatter Stones and A Fit Month for Dying, this trilogy is the story of three generations of Corrigan women: Bertha, Carmel, & Tessie.

Set in a Newfoundland outport, the stories are rich and tragic; the writing superb.

Note: Check out the cover on the recent reissue of A Fit Month for Dying. I love it; it made me laugh out loud.

 

COVERS THAT EVOKE A DIFFERENT TIME OR PLACE

4. The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets by Eva Rice

The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets by Eva Rice photo lost art_zpsierivbmi.jpg

Aren’t these clothes so elegant?

The only complaint I have about this book set in 1950s London is that, after making me salivate at the dresses on the cover of the book, there was very little detail about the party clothes. I’d really liked to have known more than just it was “sparkly mint green dress”!

But don’t let that minor problem stop you from reading this delightful novel.

 

5. The Full Cupboard of Life by Alexander McCall Smith

The Full Cupboard of Life by Alexander McCall Smith photo full cupboard_zpspmkykoyq.jpg

Book 5 in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series featuring Mma Precious Ramotswe

There is something very touching about this cupboard, “full” of its stripped down essentials. It makes me think of my kitchen cupboards, and wonder what life would be like in Botswana.

And it’s a beautifully balanced montage.

 

6. The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck
The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck photo good earth_zpsx9kpfzx8.jpg

I know that this 1932 Pulitzer Prize winner has had numerous covers in its many incarnations, but this is the one on the copy that I have.

It immediately evokes traditional China, where peasant Wang Lung’s life is tied up in cycles of that earth that he works so diligently to acquire.

And I love the contrast between the gold and red.

 

COVERS WITH WONDERFUL COMPOSITION

7. Life of Pi by Yann Martel

Life of Pi by Yann Martel photo life of pi_zpsmzxlqnh2.jpg

This cover is perfect.

The blue is the perfect colour. The beautiful contrasting orange is just enough.

The boat is placed in just the right position, slightly off centre.

And there’s no extra text marring the composition.

Beats me why they issued all the digital “stuff” with a different cover.
 

8. The Underpainter by Jane Urquhart
The Underpainter by Jane Urquhart photo underpainter_zpsmlowwwg0.jpg
This brilliant novel won the 1997 Governor-General’s Literary Award.

The cover of the current edition of this book is different. Why? Oh, why?

There’s that country red again in the flowers.

The flowers imperfect; the cloth imperfect. The vase cut off.

Just beautiful.

 

9. This Cake is for the Party by Sarah Selecky

This Cake is for the Party by Sarah Selecky photo this cake_zps257aht1u.jpg

So far, this cover is the only one this book has had – and that’s a good thing.

You just know these are not “live happily ever after” short stories, but are about real life.

The broken plate. The crumbs.

Amazing how the imperfect makes it perfect.

 

10. The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury
The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury photo illustrated man_zpsolwjc6xl.jpg

This is not a beautiful cover. Frankly, it gives me the creeps.

But, wow, what an impact it had on me when I first read this as a teenager.

That was 45 years ago – and I can still see the cover without seeing it. If you know what I mean.

That blood red. The back of that man. So ominous.

 
I didn’t do this intentionally, and – honest – I read books from all over the world. But six of these authors (McLean, Findley, Dohaney, Martel, Urquhart, & Selecky) are Canadian. I guess I’m on a theme.

What do you think of these? Do any of them appeal to you? What’s your favourite cover?

 


 

P.S. The links are affiliate links so I will receive a small

posted under Top Ten Tuesday
12 Comments to

“My TOP TEN Favourite Book Covers”

  1. On August 9th, 2016 at 9:14 am J.G. Says:

    Lovely choices here! I’ve always liked the ‘Life of Pi’ cover. It took me a long time – and a key scene in the book – to realize that those weren’t just currents in the water. The overhead perspective is genius, and I love the contrast between the poses of the boy and the tiger. One of them seems quite at ease, right?

    If it’s still on your TBR shelf I recommend prioritizing it. And *don’t* read any reviews before you read it yourself. (Spoilers.)

  2. On August 9th, 2016 at 4:28 pm Debbie Says:

    Swimming with the sharks, Jane? I’m glad you like the Life of Pi cover, too. Although it wasn’t listed first, it’s probably my favourite on this list. Thanks for the warning about pre-reading reviews! I did read Life of Pi in 2004 and I understand exactly what you mean. It would ruin the entire experience if you had a spoiler!

  3. On August 9th, 2016 at 10:54 pm Judy Krueger Says:

    I like your country life covers!

  4. On August 10th, 2016 at 9:13 am Debbie Says:

    Ah, a country girl, Judy! I want my front porch to look like the one on From Stone Orchard.

  5. On August 10th, 2016 at 1:28 am Kate @ Fictional Thoughts Says:

    I like these covers. So many of the books I read have people on their covers and I like that most of your picks for this topic are people-free!

  6. On August 10th, 2016 at 9:15 am Debbie Says:

    I read a lot of books with people on the covers, too, Kate, but they don’t often grab me as favourites. I think part of the problem is that the cover people seldom look like the mental image I have of the people in the book.

    Welcome to Exurbanis!

  7. On August 10th, 2016 at 10:01 pm Lauren @ Always Me Says:

    That Life of Pi cover is one of my favorites. 🙂

    Check out my TTT.

  8. On August 12th, 2016 at 9:56 am Debbie Says:

    It’s just perfect, isn’t it, Lauren?

  9. On August 11th, 2016 at 6:47 pm emma Says:

    wow, the underpainter is gorgeous!

  10. On August 12th, 2016 at 9:59 am Debbie Says:

    I agree, Emma. All that imperfection = perfection!

  11. On September 8th, 2016 at 6:39 pm Whispering Gums Says:

    Filling in time while hubby drives, catching up on blogs! I love The life of Pi too. We had the same too. And funnily enough, though there are many editions and you and I live on the opposite ends of the world, that’s the Pearl S Buck cover I have and love too. As I recollect it also has a nice feel and is easy to open.

    I do have other covers I love, one is gorgeously tactile with a beautiful shiny gold pear, called The orchard or is it Orchard thieves. I get these two mixed up. But there are many that I love.

  12. On September 8th, 2016 at 7:07 pm Debbie Says:

    You couldn’t get much more opposite geographically, Sue. I am astounded that the Martel and especially the Buck were identical.

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