The holes are die-cut which is what makes this cover – the concept is simple and true to Klosterman’s brand, built by Sahre over many books – most of them (if not all) are nonfiction, so its interesting that with his first fiction it still appears to contain the very same elements as his first covers.
—
, 2008-10-27 18:51:00 -0400
This is one of the most bizarre covers I’ve ever seen! I’m sure the cut-out holes are supposed to suggest an owl’s eyes, but the vertically positioned photo is something I’d never expect! I’m guessing the line in the center is part of the design.
—
, 2008-10-28 00:35:00 -0400
Maybe it’s “downtown as seen through the eyes of an owl that has just been run over”?
—
, 2008-10-28 03:14:00 -0400
Not to make a bad pun / association but this cover takes balls. Literally, from the designer and publisher both. Paul is a designer who takes chances and fights for what he believes. (Anyone who saw his note at 50 books / 50 covers a year ago knows what I’m talking about)
Can you add links to some of Sahre’s other covers Chris?
I really like this. I love the way they are just two white circles until you read the title. From that point on you can’t help but see them as eyes. Bravo!
I love this too. But a part of me wishes there was something printed on the case. I think it’s blank. The owl is giving us a blank-eyed stare, if you will.
I agree with the comment Chris made about branding. This cover totally fits. I think it was a good decision to stay consistent even though this work is fiction.
I also appreciate that the horizon point in the photo is positioned just below ‘a novel’. Totally fluid when reading the text.
—
, 2008-10-28 11:01:00 -0400
I wonder what the town is?
This seems to be the first of the books to have a die-cut, so maybe that will be the distinguishing design feature of the novels…
Diecut shmicut. To the casual observer – I’ll go ahead and group myself there – the circles being diecut amount to nothing.
Drop the background picture, downsize those “eyes”, and put some owl ears above them and you’ve got a drab, if not modern, book cover for the Starbucks counter.
cool how the photo has such a long perspective, but reads as so flat on its side, especially w the diecut holes. A downtown owl is someone who wakes up in the street?
—
, 2008-10-29 02:20:00 -0400
Owl is the location in the book I think. So Downtown Owl is like saying downtown Manhattan. Owl is a place. From what I gathered…
But I think there is a double play on words happening which is cool too—and obviously the die-cut holes reinforce that. Would be refreshing to hear what Mr. Sahre had in mind… I’m sure if you read the book the cover starts to take on a flavor and meaning beyond the initial take. I rally love this cover though.
Incidentally, Chris, it appears you have a thing for bisection. If you look at the previous dozen covers or so that you’ve selected you might notice and intentional draw to the center of the cover by either a stark line of delineation, or by some other means. I don’t care for this much, myself. I prefer less congested feng shui on my covers.
Die-cuts does nothing for me. Is it supposed to be clever?
Daft. I suppose you could put your fingers through the holes and wriggle. Might entertain some infants.
Tilting the image is all right, but all-caps is trashy. Could be intended, but it annoys me when everything is in capitals.
what I like about Sahre’s design work is that it is raw and real. There is an interactive aspect of this book that makes you want to look further… but there is nothing there. There is an absurdity and oddity to it that I think matches the writing style. Much of Sahre’s work is about minimal, but evocative use of image. The text is there to tell you what it is and if it did not have to be there it would not… it would slide at best to the spine or title page. I think it is stylistically strong and very contemporary and works well for my generation.
There is nothing “Trashy” about all caps. And who’s to say it’s not meant to look a bit trashy and that is in fact the spirit of the writing.
And as for the die cuts, I have to say that the juvenile aspect of it appeals to me. It makes you want to sort of poke your finger through it or look through it… sorry, that’s just my infant instincts…
Not everything needs to appeal to everyone, but I think this is museum worthy in terms of covers. So pure and simple.
Downtown Owl: A Novel
The holes are die-cut which is what makes this cover – the concept is simple and true to Klosterman’s brand, built by Sahre over many books – most of them (if not all) are nonfiction, so its interesting that with his first fiction it still appears to contain the very same elements as his first covers.
— , 2008-10-27 18:51:00 -0400
This is one of the most bizarre covers I’ve ever seen! I’m sure the cut-out holes are supposed to suggest an owl’s eyes, but the vertically positioned photo is something I’d never expect! I’m guessing the line in the center is part of the design.
— , 2008-10-28 00:35:00 -0400
Maybe it’s “downtown as seen through the eyes of an owl that has just been run over”?
— , 2008-10-28 03:14:00 -0400
Not to make a bad pun / association but this cover takes balls. Literally, from the designer and publisher both. Paul is a designer who takes chances and fights for what he believes. (Anyone who saw his note at 50 books / 50 covers a year ago knows what I’m talking about)
— O.O.P.S. there it is! , 2008-10-28 03:17:00 -0400
Can you add links to some of Sahre’s other covers Chris?
I really like this. I love the way they are just two white circles until you read the title. From that point on you can’t help but see them as eyes. Bravo!
— jim , 2008-10-28 04:27:00 -0400
Jim, just click Paul Share at left and you’ll get his covers on the site. Alternatively, you can visit his website www.paulsahre.com
— FWIS Admin , 2008-10-28 04:43:00 -0400
I love this cover. Looks great on the shelf and really grabs you. So simple, yet so effective. This is what good design is about.
— ian shimkoviak , 2008-10-28 04:58:00 -0400
I love this too. But a part of me wishes there was something printed on the case. I think it’s blank. The owl is giving us a blank-eyed stare, if you will.
— Tal , 2008-10-28 05:52:00 -0400
I agree with the comment Chris made about branding. This cover totally fits. I think it was a good decision to stay consistent even though this work is fiction.
I also appreciate that the horizon point in the photo is positioned just below ‘a novel’. Totally fluid when reading the text.
— , 2008-10-28 11:01:00 -0400
I wonder what the town is?
This seems to be the first of the books to have a die-cut, so maybe that will be the distinguishing design feature of the novels…
— ian shimkoviak , 2008-10-28 11:19:00 -0400
Diecut shmicut. To the casual observer – I’ll go ahead and group myself there – the circles being diecut amount to nothing.
Drop the background picture, downsize those “eyes”, and put some owl ears above them and you’ve got a drab, if not modern, book cover for the Starbucks counter.
— C-Dog , 2008-10-28 17:21:00 -0400
I don’t get what C-Dog is saying…
— ? , 2008-10-28 17:54:00 -0400
cool how the photo has such a long perspective, but reads as so flat on its side, especially w the diecut holes. A downtown owl is someone who wakes up in the street?
— , 2008-10-29 02:20:00 -0400
Owl is the location in the book I think. So Downtown Owl is like saying downtown Manhattan. Owl is a place. From what I gathered…
But I think there is a double play on words happening which is cool too—and obviously the die-cut holes reinforce that. Would be refreshing to hear what Mr. Sahre had in mind… I’m sure if you read the book the cover starts to take on a flavor and meaning beyond the initial take. I rally love this cover though.
— ian shimkoviak , 2008-10-29 04:19:00 -0400
?, be more witty in your one line retorts, plz.
— C-Dog , 2008-10-29 10:31:00 -0400
Incidentally, Chris, it appears you have a thing for bisection. If you look at the previous dozen covers or so that you’ve selected you might notice and intentional draw to the center of the cover by either a stark line of delineation, or by some other means. I don’t care for this much, myself. I prefer less congested feng shui on my covers.
— C-Dog , 2008-10-29 10:34:00 -0400
Die-cuts does nothing for me. Is it supposed to be clever?
Daft. I suppose you could put your fingers through the holes and wriggle. Might entertain some infants.
Tilting the image is all right, but all-caps is trashy. Could be intended, but it annoys me when everything is in capitals.
— boblet , 2008-10-29 11:19:00 -0400
what I like about Sahre’s design work is that it is raw and real. There is an interactive aspect of this book that makes you want to look further… but there is nothing there. There is an absurdity and oddity to it that I think matches the writing style. Much of Sahre’s work is about minimal, but evocative use of image. The text is there to tell you what it is and if it did not have to be there it would not… it would slide at best to the spine or title page. I think it is stylistically strong and very contemporary and works well for my generation.
There is nothing “Trashy” about all caps. And who’s to say it’s not meant to look a bit trashy and that is in fact the spirit of the writing.
And as for the die cuts, I have to say that the juvenile aspect of it appeals to me. It makes you want to sort of poke your finger through it or look through it… sorry, that’s just my infant instincts…
Not everything needs to appeal to everyone, but I think this is museum worthy in terms of covers. So pure and simple.
— ian shimkoviak , 2008-10-29 14:00:00 -0400
“Incidentally, Chris, it appears you have a thing for bisection. “
My split personality REVEALED.
— , 2008-10-29 18:02:00 -0400
make some sense
— treadmills , 2008-11-15 20:53:00 -0500
there are million of the books on the face of earth who never get to see the sun and this is one of them
— elliptical , 2008-11-15 20:57:00 -0500