a critique site for book lovers, hosted by author Jude Hardin
Thursday, March 10, 2011
The Pearl of Great Price by Roshawn Dawson
What's the genre? What is it you like or don't like about this cover? Does it make you want to know more about the book? Does it make you want to BUY the book? Discuss.
At First glance, without reading the title, I thought "asteroid crashing into earth." After reading the title, I would think it's some kind of seafaring adventure about pearls. It's simplistic, and if I'm right, it works.
I like this cover. It's simple, it's clean, it catches my attention. I don't have any clue about the genre, so I would assume literary. But the title, with its biblical reference, plus the term, "a tale" (instead of "a novel") makes me think that this is a religious book, perhaps a spiritual parable or a novelization/retelling of the parable about the pear of great price in the New Testament.
I like this one. It's clean, professional looking and easy to read. 'A Tale' has a nice direct tone; this is a story, not a text book. My impression is something literary and from the image on the cover I think "that doesn't look like a valuable pearl" which I find more intriguing than if it was smooth and flawless; I'm curious to learn how the title and image connect. Now... off to see what it is about!
I do not like the cover. Yes, it is clean and looks professional but the image does not match the text.
When most people see the word pearl think round and smooth. That is not what we get in the image. And just looking over the comments so far we get "asteroid strike", Rock and so on.
Also saying "A Tale" does not give enough information. Is it a short story or a novel?
I would suggest back to the drawing board with this one.
At first glance I thought the image was the skull of an extraterrestrial. :)
The title shows up well, but I'm nor real crazy about "a tale." Since the genre isn't clear from the cover image, this would be a good place to put "a paranormal thriller" or "a love story" or whatever is appropriate. If this is a short story, or a novella, I think you need to make that clear on the cover or at least in the product description. "A tale" tells us nothing.
Thanks for the replies. Very interesting to read your comments.
I did the cover myself. I know that the title screams religion (Mormon specifically), but it's not a religious/spiritual work. It's general fiction.
I went with something different for the cover's image. Most people imagine a pearl as a beautiful thing. Given the book's title and story, I thought using an ugly rock (yep, that's what it is) to represent the pearl would challenge that notion of beauty and generate interest. I hope it works.
I used the by-line "A Tale" because everyone else is saying "A Novel", and saying "A Short Story" just didn't flow well (at least to me). I'm just trying to stand out from the crowd a little. LOL!
Overall, I'm pleased with the cover. But do keep the comment coming.
I like the cover. The layout is good. The font is good. Love the divider between the title and the blurb. The colors are good. And the graphic is interesting.
I have no idea what this is about, I don't know what genre, and I don't know how long it is. "A Tale" makes me think it's a short story or novelette.
However...bottom line...the cover is interesting enough to make me pick it up and see what it's about...or read the description if it's an ebook.
"I went with something different for the cover's image. Most people imagine a pearl as a beautiful thing. Given the book's title and story, I thought using an ugly rock (yep, that's what it is) to represent the pearl would challenge that notion of beauty and generate interest. I hope it works."
... It's a rock. How is a rock different? I see rocks every day. Do you know what I don't see every day? A pearl. Not that a pearl should be the cover image if there's no pearl involved aside from the title...
But it's a rock. And not even a particularly interesting rock, like drastically ugly or pretty, it's just a rock that you could find anywhere.
That's probably your artistic intent. It ain't working (on me, anyway.)
I don't know why this bothers me so badly, I know it shouldn't - but it's a rock! lol
:P But great job on getting a story out there, that's always the most important part!
At First glance, without reading the title, I thought "asteroid crashing into earth." After reading the title, I would think it's some kind of seafaring adventure about pearls. It's simplistic, and if I'm right, it works.
ReplyDeleteI like this cover. It's simple, it's clean, it catches my attention. I don't have any clue about the genre, so I would assume literary. But the title, with its biblical reference, plus the term, "a tale" (instead of "a novel") makes me think that this is a religious book, perhaps a spiritual parable or a novelization/retelling of the parable about the pear of great price in the New Testament.
ReplyDeleteThe title loaded before the image so I immediately thought of Mormons and Joseph Smith.
ReplyDeletethen I saw the rock.
I really don't have an opinion because it's a picture of a rock.
...
I like this one. It's clean, professional looking and easy to read. 'A Tale' has a nice direct tone; this is a story, not a text book. My impression is something literary and from the image on the cover I think "that doesn't look like a valuable pearl" which I find more intriguing than if it was smooth and flawless; I'm curious to learn how the title and image connect. Now... off to see what it is about!
ReplyDeletelike Joshua, I thought "asteroid strike" when I first saw it.
ReplyDeleteThe title says "religious story" .. or at least "spiritual story" - I didn't know the source off hand but recognized the aphorism.
I have seen this cover and know a bit about what it is. I like the layout, great visual, but maybe beef up the by-line a bit.
I like the look of the cover, but my first thought was a dinosaur egg, not a rock LOL. No clue on the genre, however...science fiction perhaps?
ReplyDelete"A Tale" makes me think it's a short story rather than a novel. If it is, that's good.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea from the cover what the genre is.
I do not like the cover. Yes, it is clean and looks professional but the image does not match the text.
ReplyDeleteWhen most people see the word pearl think round and smooth. That is not what we get in the image. And just looking over the comments so far we get "asteroid strike", Rock and so on.
Also saying "A Tale" does not give enough information. Is it a short story or a novel?
I would suggest back to the drawing board with this one.
At first glance I thought the image was the skull of an extraterrestrial. :)
ReplyDeleteThe title shows up well, but I'm nor real crazy about "a tale." Since the genre isn't clear from the cover image, this would be a good place to put "a paranormal thriller" or "a love story" or whatever is appropriate. If this is a short story, or a novella, I think you need to make that clear on the cover or at least in the product description. "A tale" tells us nothing.
Hi all,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the replies. Very interesting to read your comments.
I did the cover myself. I know that the title screams religion (Mormon specifically), but it's not a religious/spiritual work. It's general fiction.
I went with something different for the cover's image. Most people imagine a pearl as a beautiful thing. Given the book's title and story, I thought using an ugly rock (yep, that's what it is) to represent the pearl would challenge that notion of beauty and generate interest. I hope it works.
I used the by-line "A Tale" because everyone else is saying "A Novel", and saying "A Short Story" just didn't flow well (at least to me). I'm just trying to stand out from the crowd a little. LOL!
Overall, I'm pleased with the cover. But do keep the comment coming.
Thanks.
I like the cover. The layout is good. The font is good. Love the divider between the title and the blurb. The colors are good. And the graphic is interesting.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea what this is about, I don't know what genre, and I don't know how long it is. "A Tale" makes me think it's a short story or novelette.
However...bottom line...the cover is interesting enough to make me pick it up and see what it's about...or read the description if it's an ebook.
"I went with something different for the cover's image. Most people imagine a pearl as a beautiful thing. Given the book's title and story, I thought using an ugly rock (yep, that's what it is) to represent the pearl would challenge that notion of beauty and generate interest. I hope it works."
ReplyDelete... It's a rock. How is a rock different? I see rocks every day. Do you know what I don't see every day? A pearl. Not that a pearl should be the cover image if there's no pearl involved aside from the title...
But it's a rock. And not even a particularly interesting rock, like drastically ugly or pretty, it's just a rock that you could find anywhere.
That's probably your artistic intent. It ain't working (on me, anyway.)
I don't know why this bothers me so badly, I know it shouldn't - but it's a rock! lol
:P But great job on getting a story out there, that's always the most important part!