What strikes me most about this is that it’s for a non-fiction book.
Let me rephrase that: This is a politically-oriented (during an election season), first-person, autobiographical, anti-war book; and it looks like this? Wow, pretty hard to believe.
I would love to hear the backstory behind the presented concepts and the marketing department’s involvement (or lack thereof).
This cover captures the feel of the protest posters of the vietnam era.
Also, the spine is fantastic! FYI: I really enjoyed reading the book.
The author does not believe that he was a dove or a hawk but a raven.
I’m just not so sure what I think of this. The old-school look of it is interesting, granted, but it’s also rather awkward to me. It just all seems really overpowering to me.
I would think sales and marketing would have argued, or protested, against this jacket. It doesn’t do anything to illustrate that it’s a political memoir / non-fiction. Too many customers that read non-fiction would browse past it. Wasn’t there any period photography to pull from?
Rodrigo Corral’s work is consistently functional – and also keep in mind that Scribner consistently delivers on beautiful, risky covers. Klosterman, Kidd, and the (disappointingly short) Steve Martin autobio that I continue to love. That photo.
It’s off topic, but i admittedly bought the pb Klosterman IV for the jacket. The 8 pocket floor displays in Borders gave all those black jackets a hard-to-resist mon0lithic presence at the cashwrap.
I got Steve Martin’s memoir out of the library and read half of it last night—and I agree, great jacket but it’s way too slim a volume.
I completely disagree with you Chris. A loud type treatment doesn’t create a genius cover. You’re avoiding the fact that the cover doesn’t communicate anything about the content of the book.
But I agree that the cover doesn’t communicate anything about the contents. A large raven image is still too evocative of Jonathan Strange and its genre.
What must be an earlier cover treatment shows up on page 25 of the current (February) Ingram Advance. It definitely speaks more to the period, with an image of who I assume to be Carol O.
The name “Raven” in the title, then putting an image of a Raven on the cover, wow, that is very original… Why not tackle the issues of the book on the cover, why not add more feeling instead of overused imagery of birds…
What strikes me most about this is that it’s for a non-fiction book.
Let me rephrase that: This is a politically-oriented (during an election season), first-person, autobiographical, anti-war book; and it looks like this? Wow, pretty hard to believe.
I would love to hear the backstory behind the presented concepts and the marketing department’s involvement (or lack thereof).
— Ben Pieratt, 2008-02-21 11:42:00
This cover captures the feel of the protest posters of the vietnam era.
Also, the spine is fantastic! FYI: I really enjoyed reading the book.
The author does not believe that he was a dove or a hawk but a raven.
— 60s person, 2008-02-21 12:54:00
love the type
— Eric J, 2008-02-21 14:16:00
I’m just not so sure what I think of this. The old-school look of it is interesting, granted, but it’s also rather awkward to me. It just all seems really overpowering to me.
— Suzie, 2008-02-21 17:09:00
i think the awkward feeling evoked by this cover is intentional, mimicking design of the 60’s—over-crowed, poorly spaced, and overwhelming.
— ashley, 2008-02-21 19:18:00
It’s fucking brilliant.
Simple, fast and absolutely liberating.
— 21st Century Man, 2008-02-21 23:17:00
JUst by6 looking at the cover i would so be able tell what time period they were addressing in the book. Great design mate
— Tammylee, 2008-02-22 00:10:00
Love the type the texture and everything about it. The R and S look like the old Rolling Stone Mag typeface…
Very nice. When are we gonna see a Rodrigo Corral feature on Fwis? This guy just keeps banging them out… Good work.
— Ian Shimkoviak, 2008-02-22 15:22:00
what makes it brilliant? its a picture of a raven.
— mike, 2008-02-23 12:23:00
But, why a raven on the cover of a 60s anti-war book? Now it becomes MUCH more than a picture of a raven. Especially in a world where obvious is king.
— saduvnsunv, 2008-02-23 21:19:00
why a raven on the cover of a 60s anti-war book? hmmm, because raven is in the title. it just seems too easy of a solution.
— mike, 2008-02-24 13:26:00
This cover is genius in every way. The type treatment is exactly what it should be… it SHOUTS from the shelf in exactly the right way.
— Chris Papasadero / Fwis, 2008-02-26 07:33:00
I would think sales and marketing would have argued, or protested, against this jacket. It doesn’t do anything to illustrate that it’s a political memoir / non-fiction. Too many customers that read non-fiction would browse past it. Wasn’t there any period photography to pull from?
— John B, 2008-02-26 10:06:00
Rodrigo Corral’s work is consistently functional – and also keep in mind that Scribner consistently delivers on beautiful, risky covers. Klosterman, Kidd, and the (disappointingly short) Steve Martin autobio that I continue to love. That photo.
— Chris Papasadero / Fwis, 2008-02-27 05:52:00
It’s off topic, but i admittedly bought the pb Klosterman IV for the jacket. The 8 pocket floor displays in Borders gave all those black jackets a hard-to-resist mon0lithic presence at the cashwrap.
I got Steve Martin’s memoir out of the library and read half of it last night—and I agree, great jacket but it’s way too slim a volume.
— John B, 2008-02-27 08:15:00
I completely disagree with you Chris. A loud type treatment doesn’t create a genius cover. You’re avoiding the fact that the cover doesn’t communicate anything about the content of the book.
— mike, 2008-03-01 10:09:00
Luscious type.
But I agree that the cover doesn’t communicate anything about the contents. A large raven image is still too evocative of Jonathan Strange and its genre.
— Max, 2008-03-05 04:01:00
What must be an earlier cover treatment shows up on page 25 of the current (February) Ingram Advance. It definitely speaks more to the period, with an image of who I assume to be Carol O.
— IndyPub, 2008-03-07 09:15:00
A great stuff…
— khokhar, 2008-03-11 05:34:00
sucks
— not a sucker, 2008-03-19 01:30:00
sucks
— not a sucker, 2008-03-19 01:31:00
i like it. the type has the feel of the era, and it is simple, in a way, but for whatever reason the cover still feels really fresh. it pops.
— zach, 2008-03-27 20:59:00
This I like.
— C-Dog, 2008-04-03 15:23:00
The name “Raven” in the title, then putting an image of a Raven on the cover, wow, that is very original… Why not tackle the issues of the book on the cover, why not add more feeling instead of overused imagery of birds…
— Adrianna. L, 2008-04-24 03:32:00