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June 16, 2007
Books I Love with Covers I Hate
Let’s just get it out of the way: I love Robert C. O’Brien, and Z for Zachariah is one of my enduring favorite books. Originally published in 1975, this is a book that still feels fresh and that has had a lasting impact on teen lit. Other authors are stealing elements from O’Brien’s work all the time. In fact, so many authors have done so that now authors are copying the authors who copied O’Brien and may not even be familiar with O’Brien’s work at all – although, seriously, what a shame.
Equally a shame? This cover:
I recommend this book to kids all the time, and the cover is so ugly that I always feel the need to apologize for it. (“I know the cover is kind of, well… but, I’m telling you, I love this book. Give it a chance. Please? PLEASE???”)
But, finally, after all these years, they’re fixing it:
Is that sexy or what? (ISBN: 1416939210, due out in July – ORDER IT NOW!!!) The grittiness, the red, the black – I’m falling in love all over again. And check out the tag line: “Ann thought she was the only one left alive…. She was wrong.” I am hearing it said by the guy with the deep voice who does the voiceovers for horror movie promos. I’m also giving it one of those really dramatic scores that makes audiences nervous. Awesome! If I had the right kinds of talents, I’d totally be making a book trailer right now.
Now if only they’d do something about the cover for The View from the Cherry Tree, my life would be complete.
Posted by adrienne at June 16, 2007 12:16 PM
Comments
Umm...don't know the book, but doesn't it look suspiciously like the ad campaign for 28 Weeks Later?
Posted by: Jeffrey Lee at June 16, 2007 01:34 PM
A bit. Black and red must be the color of the end of the world, as Z for Zachariah is about life after a nuclear war.
Posted by: adrienne at June 16, 2007 04:33 PM
I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!!
I read this when I was in junior high/ high school and it has stuck with me all these years.
And now I can safely by the book for the library because I know it'll go out! Two cheers for Adrienne!
Posted by: Cathy at June 16, 2007 05:43 PM
Yay!!!
I did not know that you shared my Z for Zachariah love, Cathy. We must discuss this on Wednesday, along with the photos and all.
Yay!!!
Posted by: adrienne at June 17, 2007 11:27 AM
Covers are frequently a problem with the type of book I like, luckily the authors I like seem to have good editors or who ever it is that decided Fabio was not a selling point.
Posted by: tonderdo at June 17, 2007 05:40 PM
I just decided its going to be next month's book discussion. I read it when I in sixth or seventh grade. I do remember LOVING it, but details are blurry. I figured it was the perfect excuse to read it again! Yippee! BTW I just made an order card for two copies!
Posted by: Cathy at June 18, 2007 01:05 PM