Good Covers Versus Good Content // Let’s Talk Bookish

Good Covers Versus Good Content // Let’s Talk Bookish
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Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly meme hosted by Rukky @ Eternity Books and Dani @ Literary Lion where we discuss certain topics based on prompts allocated for each Friday of the week. You basically share your opinions and get into the conversation by visiting each other’s posts. You can find the June schedule here or here.

Today’s Let’s Talk Bookish topic is Good Covers vs. Good Contents, which was suggested by Krupali @ Musings of Souls.

I have seen people talk about this all the time. On blogs. On Bookstagram. On Twitter. Everywhere! And we recommend books with pretty covers too and books that are as good as their covers. Thus, it is high time I joined in on the discussion too!

WHEN YOU PICK BOOKS TO BUY WHAT IS MORE LIKELY TO SWAY YOU, GOOD COVER OR GOOD CONTENTS (STORY)?

Looking back at my book habits, my personal trends on this debate have changed over the years. When I was younger I bought all my books from physical bookstores. I was not an active member of the online book community then and had no idea what books lived up to people’s expectations. So, I would grab all the pretty covers, read the blurb and buy it if it has got elements I am interested in. Unfortunately, this meant I got a fair amount of books that did not live up to my expectations.

Now I am active here, on Goodreads and Bookstagram. Based on what others are reading, I already have a good idea of what most books are like, pretty cover or not. Before I buy a book, I usually consult Goodreads and check out the book rating as well as my friends’ reviews to seal the deal. So, now I tend to lean towards good content. And since there is the option of online stores, I even choose the edition that I think is prettier.

WHEN YOU CHOOSE TO UNHAUL BOOKS, DO YOU SOMETIMES KEEP BAD BOOKS IF THEY’RE PRETTY?

This is a tough question because I have never unhauled my books. My home library is full of my baby reads, my childhood obsessions and my older collections of books. And I like it that way. Though I hardly lend my books to others, I still prefer my home library to appeal to all ages.

Anyway, coming back to the question. I do keep “bad” books (and it is subjective which books are bad versus good). It is not necessarily because of the beautiful covers but more so because I get emotionally attached on an unhealthy level! LOL!

DO YOU LOVE A BOOK LESS IF THE COVER IS UGLY EVEN IF THE STORY IS GOOD? DO YOU LIKE COVERS LESS IF IT TURNS OUT THE STORY INSIDE ISN’T VERY INTERESTING?

If I do not end up liking the story, the appeal of the pretty cover wanes. Subconsciously, I prize the books with good stories, regardless of what their covers look like. Having read and appreciated the story gives the book its beauty. For example, I have an ancient (LOL not really but it looks like it) edition of a Singhalese translation of Matilda by Roald Dahl with what I consider to be a lame cover. But I love the book so much anyway because my experience reading it eclipses the actual physical looks of it. (And this is when I realised that I sound like I am describing a life partner… LOL!)

WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE A SHELF OF GOOD STORIES OR BEAUTIFUL COVERS?

Definitely a shelf (or shelves!) of good stories! If they feature beautiful covers, that is just an added bonus. Otherwise I am happy with books that I enjoyed reading and left me with great memories!

I had loads of fun writing this post and I’m so curious about what everyone else contributed to this week’s Let’s Talk Bookish! Feel free to start a conversation below and let’s have some fun!

My previous Let’s Talk Bookish posts:

11 thoughts on “Good Covers Versus Good Content // Let’s Talk Bookish”

  1. So beautiful answers! Even I used to collect all the pretty covers, that was one reason I was very fobd of Dork Daries, though I still haven’t read all the books😂
    Uhm, sometime cover matters for me, sometimes the blurb matters for me, and sometimes the story! I’m not and avid reader so I just read the books that my friends read and they found it is amazing.
    Great discussion, Hasini!💛

    1. Thank you!!! Oooh I’ve seen the Dork Diaries covers! They’re so cute! Friend recommendations are always the best TBH! You’ll always have someone to rant to once you’re done reading!

      1. Other than the de-hauling answer I agree with all you’ve said. I got rid of the vast majority of my physical books when my children were little and we needed the space.

  2. I think cover art is getting better and better these days, so it’s unusual for me to find a really bad cover. For me, a debut author or a new to me author better have a decent cover or I probably won’t pick up the book. Sad but true😬

    1. I agree with you. I tend to choose books based on the cover a lot when the author is unknown to me, especially on NetGalley 😅

  3. Gosh yes I can relate to having a shelf of books that I’ve read in all stages of my life lol. And i’ve never unhauled books (I reread books all the time haha). Another thing I’ve noticed is that almost all books have pretty covers so it’s getting hard to choose..

    1. Yes! Nowadays covers are getting very pretty and fancy so there isn’t really much emphasis on buying a book solely based on the cover most times 😅 AND I’m glad I’m not the only “unhauler” here! 😆

    1. Thank you! And yes! I love looking at my childhood faves and rereading them! 😁

  5. Pingback: Prologues & Epilogues: Are They Necessary? // Let's Talk Bookish

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