Another month of books, another month of book covers. Every month is pretty good in this area, but this month, my cup runneth over: we’ve got clever covers, sexy covers, beautiful covers, and just plain cool covers. Here are my favorites from July:
The Complete Works of lvaro de Campos, tr. Margaret Jull Costa and Patricio Ferrari; cover design by Peter Mendelsund (New Directions, July 4)” data-image-description=”” data-image-caption=”
Fernando Pessoa, The Complete Works of lvaro de Campos, tr. Margaret Jull Costa and Patricio Ferrari; cover design by Peter Mendelsund (New Directions, July 4)
” data-medium-file=” data-large-file=” decoding=”async” class=”wp-image-223822″ src=” alt=”Fernando Pessoa, The Complete Works of lvaro de Campos, tr. Margaret Jull Costa and Patricio Ferrari; cover design by Peter Mendelsund (New Directions, July 4) ” width=”450″ height=”696″ srcset=” 647w, 194w, 39w, 32w” sizes=”(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px”/> Fernando Pessoa, The Complete Works of lvaro de Campos, tr. Margaret Jull Costa and Patricio Ferrari; cover design by Peter Mendelsund (New Directions, July 4)
Mendelsund never misses with his New Directions covers; they generally look like fine art posters, and this one is no exception. Consider this a request for a large format print!
Disturbance; cover design by June Park, art direction by Ingsu Liu (Norton, July 4)
” data-medium-file=” data-large-file=” decoding=”async” loading=”lazy” class=”size-full wp-image-223758″ src=” alt=”” width=”450″ height=”675″ srcset=” 450w, 200w, 40w, 33w” sizes=”(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px”/> Jenna Clarke, Disturbance; cover design by June Park, art direction by Ingsu Liu (Norton, July 4)
Props to any cover that can make me feel this unsettled without actually having any obviously creepy imagery. It’s the claustrophobic text treatment, the peephole that looks like an eye, the fly peeking in, the shininess of it all. Shudder!
The Librarianist; cover design by TK TK (Ecco, July 4)
” data-medium-file=” data-large-file=” decoding=”async” loading=”lazy” class=”wp-image-212897″ src=” alt=”Patrick DeWitt, The Librarianist” width=”450″ height=”679″ srcset=” 678w, 199w, 768w, 40w, 1018w, 1357w, 33w, 1590w” sizes=”(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px”/> Patrick DeWitt,The Librarianist; cover design by Allison Saltzman (Ecco, July 4)
A pretty perfect execution of a very cute idea. Spot on for DeWitt, and for this book.
Eight Bears; cover design by Pete Garceau, art direction by Ingsu Liu (Norton, July 11)
” data-medium-file=” data-large-file=” decoding=”async” loading=”lazy” class=”size-full wp-image-223759″ src=” alt=”” width=”450″ height=”679″ srcset=” 450w, 199w, 40w, 33w” sizes=”(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px”/> Gloria Dickie, Eight Bears; cover design by Pete Garceau, art direction by Ingsu Liu, illustration by Arjun Parikh (Norton, July 11)
I love the woodblock-ish illustration paired with the bright, bold textit feels like a cool vintage t-shirt, in the best way.
The Vegan; cover design by Cecilia R. Zhang (FSG, July 11)
” data-medium-file=” data-large-file=” decoding=”async” loading=”lazy” class=”wp-image-222964″ src=” alt=”” width=”450″ height=”690″ srcset=” 667w, 196w, 768w, 39w, 33w, 900w” sizes=”(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px”/> Andrew Lipstein,The Vegan; cover design by Cecilia R. Zhang (FSG, July 11)
I’m weirdly impressed by the amount of black space on this coverand, of course, by the cheeky and disturbing image (though it makes perfect sense once you’ve read the book). Which is not to mention, you know, the green. The overall effect is daring and very cool.
The Absolutes; cover design by TK TK (Mariner Books, July 11)” data-image-description=”” data-image-caption=”
Molly Dektar, The Absolutes; cover design by TK TK (Mariner Books, July 11)
” data-medium-file=” data-large-file=” decoding=”async” loading=”lazy” class=”size-full wp-image-223873″ src=” alt=”Molly Dektar, The Absolutes; cover design by TK TK (Mariner Books, July 11)” width=”450″ height=”684″ srcset=” 450w, 197w, 39w, 33w” sizes=”(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px”/> Molly Dektar, The Absolutes; cover design by Yeon Kim (Mariner Books, July 11)
Sexy and abstracted at once.
Excavations; cover design by TK TK (One World, July 11)” data-image-description=”” data-image-caption=”
Hannah Michell, Excavations; cover design by TK TK (One World, July 11)
” data-medium-file=” data-large-file=” decoding=”async” loading=”lazy” class=”wp-image-223874″ src=” alt=”Hannah Michell, Excavations; cover design by TK TK (One World, July 11) ” width=”450″ height=”675″ srcset=” 667w, 200w, 40w, 33w” sizes=”(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px”/> Hannah Michell, Excavations; cover design by Arsh Raziuddin, art direction by Greg Mollica (One World, July 11)
The second book on this list that I really want as a poster. The image, the color, the textit’s all perfect.
My Husband; cover design by TK TK (HarperVia, July 11)
” data-medium-file=” data-large-file=” decoding=”async” loading=”lazy” class=”wp-image-222229″ src=” alt=”Ventura_MyHusband” width=”450″ height=”675″ srcset=” 683w, 200w, 768w, 40w, 1024w, 1365w, 33w, 1650w” sizes=”(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px”/> Maud Ventura, tr. Emma Ramadan, My Husband; cover design by Alicia Tatone, art by Annie Kevans (HarperVia, July 11)
A perfect marriage of (striking!) image and (hand drawn!) text.
Quick Fixes: Drugs in America from Prohibition to the 21st Century Binge; cover design by TK TK (Verso, July 11)” data-image-description=”” data-image-caption=”
Benjamin Y. Fong, Quick Fixes: Drugs in America from Prohibition to the 21st Century Binge; cover design by TK TK (Verso, July 11)
” data-medium-file=” data-large-file=” decoding=”async” loading=”lazy” class=”wp-image-223876″ src=” alt=”Benjamin Y. Fong, Quick Fixes: Drugs in America from Prohibition to the 21st Century Binge; cover design by TK TK (Verso, July 11) ” width=”450″ height=”749″ srcset=” 601w, 180w, 36w, 30w” sizes=”(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px”/> Benjamin Y. Fong, Quick Fixes: Drugs in America from Prohibition to the 21st Century Binge (Verso, July 11)
So simple in concept, so glorious in execution.
Sunrise Radiant: Stories; cover design by TK TK (Astra House, July 11)” data-image-description=”” data-image-caption=”
Erika Kobayashi, tr. Brian Bergstrom, Sunrise Radiant: Stories; cover design by TK TK (Astra House, July 11)
” data-medium-file=” data-large-file=” decoding=”async” loading=”lazy” class=”wp-image-223878″ src=” alt=”Erika Kobayashi, tr. Brian Bergstrom, Sunrise Radiant: Stories; cover design by TK TK (Astra House, July 11)” width=”450″ height=”675″ srcset=” 683w, 200w, 768w, 40w, 33w, 1000w” sizes=”(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px”/> Erika Kobayashi, tr. Brian Bergstrom, Sunrise Radiant: Stories; cover art:In My HandThe Fire of Prometheus by Erika Kobayashi, photograph by Kasane Nogawa(Astra House, July 11)
I love the way the title integrates with the flameit’s odd and daring and very compelling.
Do Tell; cover design by TK TK (Doubleday, July 11)” data-image-description=”” data-image-caption=”
Lindsay Lynch,Do Tell; cover design by TK TK (Doubleday, July 11)
” data-medium-file=” data-large-file=” decoding=”async” loading=”lazy” class=”size-full wp-image-223879″ src=” alt=”Lindsay Lynch,Do Tell; cover design by TK TK (Doubleday, July 11)” width=”450″ height=”680″ srcset=” 450w, 199w, 40w, 33w” sizes=”(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px”/> Lindsay Lynch,Do Tell; cover design by Emily Mahon (Doubleday, July 11)
Bugs Bunny realness!
Tabula Rasa, Volume 1; cover design by Alex Merto (FSG, July 11)” data-image-description=”” data-image-caption=”
John McPhee,Tabula Rasa, Volume 1; cover design by Alex Merto (FSG, July 11)
” data-medium-file=” data-large-file=” decoding=”async” loading=”lazy” class=”wp-image-223992″ src=” alt=”John McPhee,Tabula Rasa, Volume 1; cover design by Alex Merto (FSG, July 11)” width=”450″ height=”690″ srcset=” 667w, 196w, 768w, 39w, 1001w, 33w, 1200w” sizes=”(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px”/> John McPhee,Tabula Rasa, Volume 1; cover design by Alex Merto (FSG, July 11)
Sometimes, the simpler the better.
Hope; cover design by TK TK (Viking, July 11)” data-image-description=”” data-image-caption=”
Andrew Ridker,Hope; cover design by TK TK (Viking, July 11)
” data-medium-file=” data-large-file=” decoding=”async” loading=”lazy” class=”size-full wp-image-223880″ src=” alt=”Andrew Ridker,Hope; cover design by TK TK (Viking, July 11) ” width=”450″ height=”680″ srcset=” 450w, 199w, 40w, 33w” sizes=”(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px”/> Andrew Ridker,Hope; cover image: “Bat Mitzvah Dance, Chicago, IL” by Melissa Ann Pinney (Viking, July 11)
A hilariousand all too painfully relatableimage for a hilarious book. Read more about it here.
The Stolen Coast; cover design by TK TK (Viking, July 11)
” data-medium-file=” data-large-file=” decoding=”async” loading=”lazy” class=”wp-image-213469″ src=” alt=”Dwyer Murphy, The Stolen Coast” width=”450″ height=”680″ srcset=” 678w, 199w, 768w, 40w, 1016w, 1355w, 33w, 1694w” sizes=”(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px”/> Dwyer Murphy,The Stolen Coast; cover design by Dave Litman (Viking, July 11)
Movie poster style plus hyper-saturated vintage vibes plus a little trompe l’oeil for good measureand yet the overall effect is clear and straightforward. A classic.
I Meant It Once; cover design by TK TK (Algonquin, July 28)
” data-medium-file=” data-large-file=” decoding=”async” loading=”lazy” class=”wp-image-223523″ src=” alt=”i meant it once” width=”450″ height=”678″ srcset=” 664w, 199w, 40w, 33w” sizes=”(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px”/> Kate Doyle,I Meant It Once(Algonquin, July 18)
It’s a whole story right there on the cover.
Pleasure of Thinking: Essays; cover design by TK TK (Astra House, July 25)” data-image-description=”” data-image-caption=”
Wang Xiaobo, tr. Yan Yan, Pleasure of Thinking: Essays; cover design by TK TK (Astra House, July 25)
” data-medium-file=” data-large-file=” decoding=”async” loading=”lazy” class=”size-full wp-image-224100″ src=” alt=”Wang Xiaobo, tr. Yan Yan, Pleasure of Thinking: Essays; cover design by TK TK (Astra House, July 25) ” width=”450″ height=”674″ srcset=” 450w, 200w, 40w, 33w” sizes=”(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px”/> Wang Xiaobo, tr. Yan Yan, Pleasure of Thinking: Essays(Astra House, July 25)
I particularly love the way the thought bubble tail infects the B.
Glaciers; cover design by TK TK (Tin House, July 25)
” data-medium-file=” data-large-file=” decoding=”async” loading=”lazy” class=”wp-image-223527″ src=” alt=”Glaciers” width=”450″ height=”653″ srcset=” 706w, 207w, 768w, 41w, 1059w, 1412w, 34w, 1500w” sizes=”(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px”/> Alexis M. Smith,Glaciers; cover design by Beth Steidle (Tin House, July 25)
A brilliant covercompelling, attractive, and destabilizing in a way I really haven’t seen before.
