So, we all know that Twilight is a huge deal right now. Even if we do feel like vampires are getting incredibly overdone right now, there's no denying that Twilight is popular and it sells. We see the black cover with the red and/or white image and that's just what we think of. The whole series is that way. Red-and-white flowers on a black background are associated with the New Moon cover, period, end of story.
But even knowing that, I still got rather upset when I saw the new covers for Romeo and Juliet, Pride and Prejudice, and Wuthering Heights in my local Barnes & Noble:
I mean, the way these four covers look, they could be a series. The black backgrounds with red-and-white flowers and a trace of green in the stalks; the curlicue script for the titles; the spaced-out capital letters spelling out the authors' names...never mind that they were all written at different times by different people, these covers make them look like they simply belong together. The Wuthering Heights cover even mentions Bella and Edward!
I have to admit, the cover designers did a good job of it; I'm quite sure the covers were meant to resemble New Moon, and they do that well. And the covers are pretty, too! Not sure how well the roses represent Pride and Prejudice, but I do think that cover especially is really nice-looking. But it still makes me a little sad that someone might assume Pride and Prejudice to be a young-adult vampire romance novel just because of the cover. (If you didn't know or hadn't guessed, I really love Pride and Prejudice.)
What do you guys think of the new covers for these classics? Yay or nay?
I know what you mean about these covers :)
ReplyDeleteI did a double take when I realised what book they actually were - and that they were on display in the YA paranormal section and not in the classics. I found it amusing that Wuthering heights have the tagline: Bella and Edwards favourite book. Haha. They're fictional characters, so it's not like they can endorse it :)
I like your blog, btw. It feels light and airy and looks so professional :)
xx
Thanks! And I can't ever decide whether I think those covers are funny or just a little sad. XD
ReplyDeleteI also think it's rather sad that they would Twilight the novels, but if it gets teens reading some classics then it's a great idea. I find the Bella & Edward thing on Wuthering Heights so ridiculous though.
ReplyDeleteThese covers are such ripoffs! I have seen a few newer books that look similar too (The Body Finder for example).
ReplyDeleteThe covers don't bother me so much as some of the blurbs they have on them. Like the Edward & Bella's favorite Book for WH. Seriously? THAT'S the only way they came up with to market this classic. But on the other hand if new covers and marketing strategies will get teens to try some of the classics....
ReplyDeleteOH by the way I came via CEP :)
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