My Love Affair with Book Covers

Don't judge a book by its cover. The adage warns me every time I see a beautiful book cover. I remind myself of all the heartbreaks I had to endure in the past because of my incurable fascination with these pretty book covers. But I don't listen. Just like someone hopelessly in love, I too ignore the harsh lessons and give in.

Loved this Cover and the book :-)

I confess I am in love with book covers. Pretty. Attractive. Enigmatic. Mustard and sunrise yellows. Pinks and blues. Black? Definitely Yes! Red, not so much. Faces on the cover? Naah! Not for me. 

Just like on a dating website, you should not just go by the face in the profile picture but should also read about the person, I know that I should read the blurb on the back cover (sometimes on the inside cover). And I do too! But by that time I am so smitten by the cover of the book that the blurb blurs. It is only the charming cover that calls me. It knows that I am in love with it. It taunts me. It teases me playfully. Till the time I give in. 

Enigmatic! I was drawn to it. The story too!

Sometimes I get lucky. The book turns out to be great. Just like the cover. But I will not lie. There have been times when I was betrayed. The book didn't match the cover at all. Just like a blind date gone wrong. Now those books lie on my bookshelf. And when I glance at them, the cover winks at me to say “Fooled you! Didn't I?” I sigh and walk on. What else can I do?

Simplicity! The virtue of the cover and the book

I should learn a lesson. I should not pick up random books just because their covers are pretty. I should read the blurb and the reviews. I should ask friends from my book club. I have decided. I will not let a pretty cover break my heart again. I have made my resolve. You cannot fool me with that pretty cover of yours.

Somewhere on a bookshelf, a book cover is smirking at my naivety.