a critique site for book lovers, hosted by author Jude Hardin
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
The Biker by JD Mader
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.
This cover looks very homemade. I have no idea of the genre. It's a cheap single-step photoshop filter applied to a photo. Because of his hoodie and helmet, his head looks like a basketball.
Typfaces are boring, looks like Arial. I would not pick up this book based on the cover.
This cover just does not work. It does does not draw in the viewer and it's hard to see what is going on. It also does not communicate what the book is about.
Anon, a typeface is a collection of fonts that belong together. Arial is a typeface. Within Arial are fonts such as Arial bold, arial italic, arial black.
I think the cover is brilliant for this gritty book and it says much about the nature of the story. Let's face it, there are some covers that are going to be beautiful and the book will stink to high heavens and vice versa. Mader's writing is genius, gritty, dark, complex. This cover reflects that story to me.
@Jo, this is not a site for discussion of talent, or lack of same, of the author. This site is for review of covers. Several of us who are regulars actually make a living doing graphic design. We come here to help authors and are giving out, for free, information based on years of actual experience.
Frankly, I don't care about the book. I'm not likely to read it, I'm not a fan of the author (or any author who posts here). My goal is to help an author with critique of their cover so that they can attract new readers.
This cover is is an amateur job and it shows it. It will make some people LESS likely to pick up the book.
I fail to see why any author would post a cover here and not expect honest critique.
I don't know where I implied that I did not want an honest critique. I appreciate everyone sharing their thoughts. The cover is intended to convey a kind of 'punk rock poster' aesthetic. Most book covers lately look the same to me. The cover of my other novel, Joe Cafe, would likely not pass muster with professional graphic designers either. I don't rightly know.
Obviously, I like the cover or I wouldn't have put it on my book, but everyone is entitled to their opinions and I value hearing everyone's perspective. Thanks to everyone for taking the time to share your impressions.
@JD, I'm at a loss as to why you would bother to post the cover here if you were happy with it and had no intention of contemplating changing it?
Frankly, it really frustrates me when people do this. I expect perhaps as a marketing ploy to get people to see and hopefully buy your book. It's a slap in the face to those of us who are trying to help authors if an author has no intention of being helped.
Robin, I am always open to people's opinions and I contemplate changing everything all the time. Am I going to change this particular cover? No. I wasn't convinced based on the critiques when compared to some of the other covers on here. Since you were so vehement, I specifically looked for your critiques of other covers and I disagree with your aesthetic.
I'm at a loss as to why you are taking this so personally. It was a risky cover and I wanted some feedback. I got some here and I also received some private emails about it. Some people seem to like the cover a lot. You, apparently, don't. Which is fine.
This cover looks very homemade. I have no idea of the genre. It's a cheap single-step photoshop filter applied to a photo. Because of his hoodie and helmet, his head looks like a basketball.
ReplyDeleteTypfaces are boring, looks like Arial. I would not pick up this book based on the cover.
I'm guessing some sort of action book with the motorcycle theme. Maybe racing? Not really sure.
ReplyDeleteI like the cover. It tells me this will be gritty and noirish. For me, its simplicity is a selling point.
ReplyDeleteI like the cover, too; I agree that it feels noirish. Frankly I don't care HOW an image is created. The resulting effect and mood are what makes it.
ReplyDeleteThe head is very hard for me to see. I can't tell what genre is intended, maybe men's action?
ReplyDeleteWhat's a typface?
ReplyDeleteI like it too, I find it mysterious
ReplyDeleteThis cover just does not work. It does does not draw in the viewer and it's hard to see what is going on. It also does not communicate what the book is about.
ReplyDeletePersonally I would suggest that they start over.
Anon, a typeface is a collection of fonts that belong together. Arial is a typeface. Within Arial are fonts such as Arial bold, arial italic, arial black.
ReplyDeleteI think the cover is brilliant for this gritty book and it says much about the nature of the story. Let's face it, there are some covers that are going to be beautiful and the book will stink to high heavens and vice versa. Mader's writing is genius, gritty, dark, complex. This cover reflects that story to me.
ReplyDelete@Jo, this is not a site for discussion of talent, or lack of same, of the author. This site is for review of covers. Several of us who are regulars actually make a living doing graphic design. We come here to help authors and are giving out, for free, information based on years of actual experience.
ReplyDeleteFrankly, I don't care about the book. I'm not likely to read it, I'm not a fan of the author (or any author who posts here). My goal is to help an author with critique of their cover so that they can attract new readers.
This cover is is an amateur job and it shows it. It will make some people LESS likely to pick up the book.
I fail to see why any author would post a cover here and not expect honest critique.
Hey, it's me, the author!
ReplyDeleteI don't know where I implied that I did not want an honest critique. I appreciate everyone sharing their thoughts. The cover is intended to convey a kind of 'punk rock poster' aesthetic. Most book covers lately look the same to me. The cover of my other novel, Joe Cafe, would likely not pass muster with professional graphic designers either. I don't rightly know.
Obviously, I like the cover or I wouldn't have put it on my book, but everyone is entitled to their opinions and I value hearing everyone's perspective. Thanks to everyone for taking the time to share your impressions.
JD Mader
@JD, I'm at a loss as to why you would bother to post the cover here if you were happy with it and had no intention of contemplating changing it?
ReplyDeleteFrankly, it really frustrates me when people do this. I expect perhaps as a marketing ploy to get people to see and hopefully buy your book. It's a slap in the face to those of us who are trying to help authors if an author has no intention of being helped.
Robin, I am always open to people's opinions and I contemplate changing everything all the time. Am I going to change this particular cover? No. I wasn't convinced based on the critiques when compared to some of the other covers on here. Since you were so vehement, I specifically looked for your critiques of other covers and I disagree with your aesthetic.
ReplyDeleteI'm at a loss as to why you are taking this so personally. It was a risky cover and I wanted some feedback. I got some here and I also received some private emails about it. Some people seem to like the cover a lot. You, apparently, don't. Which is fine.
JD