Judging A Book By It's Cover.

Truth be told, I hate reading. Okay so maybe I don't hate reading...it's more that I don't like to be forced to read. Nor, do I have time to read. I can hardly take five minutes to read the directions for a recipe in a cookbook. I'm not sure if this is just the lazy part of my personality or due the fact that I had to read so many literary journals, white papers, etc. in my previous life.

What I do enjoy is the imagery of a book cover, a magazine, or on a flyer/poster, etc. What I've come to realize most recently is that I am in love with the integration of text and imagery...especially on books and in magazines. I honestly believe the images and color choice of written material is what attracts me to reading material. Okay, and the first three pages of a book or article need to be enticing. With the invention of book readers - you know those things called Nooks, Kindles, and tablets (Ha!), I think it's become ever so important for those designing book covers and magazine cover spreads to be creative.

I saw these (below) in Barnes & Noble the other weekend. Well actually, these books spotted me - with all there glitzyness and lead positioning on the center end cap.

Barnes & Noble Leatherbound Classics, designed by Jessica Hische

The imagery! The details! The designers choice of color and material...I couldn't help but stop and check them out. I picked up each book - flipped through it, felt its cover, smelled it (no, really I did). It's something about small little details that I enjoy. Something so simple and worldly given new life with fine detail.  The artist behind this awesomeness is Jessica Hische and she's an amazing illustrator, letterer, and designer.

Now, luckily I've read most of these classics because if I hadn't, I'd probably be judging these books by their cover...which one should never, never, ever do! 

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Are you still reading books or have you moved over to the new world of technology? If you are an old school paperback/ hardback reader, what are you reading these days? What attracts you to a book besides hearsay?