Tuesday Tales (on Wednesday): Pretty Covers and Catchy Titles
You know what? Sometimes, we judge books by their covers. I mean this literally. A pretty book jacket commands attention. A catchy title can work too.
Here are five books that attracted me with their looks (and sounds). How did it work out? Read on!
“Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore” by Robin Sloan
A book about a 24-hour bookstore, which is home to a secret society of readers, with a cover that glows in the dark. How could I resist such clever craftsmanship?
The verdict: This book is luminous, literally and figuratively. I will be writing about this one in more detail at a future time, but for now, I’ll say this: it’s my favorite book I have read this year, possibly over the past five years. Populated by kind, ethical people, none of whom is anywhere near perfect, this is a book about finding the meaning of life, about friendship, about technology, and about what matters and lasts over time. As soon as I read the last page, I wanted to turn back to the beginning and start all over again. Also, it’s helpful to know or look up the meaning of the word “penumbra.”
“The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane” by Katherine Howe
I found this novel on the shelves at Barnes and Nobles during an idle stroll through the fiction section. The cover claimed the book was “spooky,” which is at the top of my list of favorite words. The novel tells the story of Connie Goodwin, a PhD candidate in history searching for a unique primary source around which to conduct her dissertation research. She finds the source when she returns to her grandmother’s home, abandoned for 20 years after her death, which turns out to be a family artifact with an unexpected connection to the Salem Witch Trials.
The verdict: I had a hard time putting this one down. Howe, who is descended from two women tried for witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials (one of whom was executed), intersects Connie’s story with selective narratives from the past. We know more than Connie does, but not enough to uncover the secret. Like Connie, we’re trying to piece together the data to arrive at a conclusion. It’s an enthralling, suspenseful read for history buffs.
“The Song of Achilles” by Madeleine Miller
I was initially attracted to this book because it reframes “The Iliad” as a love story told from the perspective of Patrocles, and the idea of a new vantage point on an ancient tale appealed to me. But really, it was the UK book jacket and sturdy paper of the edition I stumbled on at the Athens airport this summer that compelled me to buy it.
The verdict: This was a win. Miller’s writing evokes the musicality of the original epic poem. Besides that, she manages to make the ancient world feel both far away and accessible at the same time by infusing alien customs with familiar emotions. Also, her novel inspired me to read Stephen Mitchell’s translation of “The Iliad.” Well played, Ms. Miller!
“The Imperfectionists” by Tom Rachman
The title jumped out at me more than did the cover of this novel, which I found on the sale shelf at the Westport library, mostly because I’m keenly aware of my imperfections. But the cover was also very pretty, with a unique, swirly font. Also it’s set at an English-language newspaper in Rome, where a large cast of characters each gets to tell his or her story in relation to the role she or he plays at the paper.
The verdict: Sad but affecting, the novel is indeed filled with imperfect people, whose stories Rachman tells with sensitivity, humor, and pathos. Each chapter is like a short story that bleeds into the next, giving us multiple perspectives on both the newspaper where the story is set and the characters who work there. It will make you wonder about what you do and don’t know about the people whose lives intersect with yours on a daily basis.
“The Night Circus” by Erin Morgenstern
The cover is very evocative, dark and shadowy like the story it tells of a circus that appears in a town overnight. I hear it has magical realism elements to it, but what really made me want to read it was a post by Morgenstern on Book Riot called “Write Place, Write Time: Erin Morgenstern.” I love a playful voice.
The verdict: This one is next on my list, so I will have to get back to you!
Now it’s your turn! Tell me a story of a book you picked up for a reason other than a personal recommendation. Pretty please?