From the Look of Things

1. I am completely snowed in. I'm sure anyone in the MD/DC/VA area is having the same problems right now. It just stopped snowing an hour ago, but there's a predicted storm for Tuesday.

Our power went out last night, so I was incredibly relieved when I woke up this morning and everything was running again, though it flickers a bit. I don't do really well with power outages. I can deal with no light, no computer, no TV, and no hot water, but not all at the same time. I think it's the boredom that comes with being stuck in a dark house. And then the boredom makes me want to eat and sleep. By the time the snow begins to clear out I'm going to look like a squirrell ready for hibernation.

I though I'd add some pictures of my back porch and of the tree limbs weighed down in the snow.

Ironically, the first thing that popped into my head when the blizzard hit was, "I have a library book that's overdue and there is no way I can return it this weekend." I guess that's what I get for having a librarian for a mother :)

2. I feel I might as well add my two cents about the new Lisa Kleypas and Julia Quinn book covers. I've seen a lot of people posting about it. In both cases, I think the covers are a step down from the previous books in the series.

Lisa Kleypas:

So far the Hathways have some of my favorite covers. In fact, that's how I began reading the series.- back in '07 the blue and gold cover of Mine Till Midnight caught my eye when I was stuck in a long line at CVS. I like the covers for Seduce Me at Sunrise and Tempt Me at Twilight even more.

I love image of the single female reclining. There's a touch of mystery in that you can't see her eyes. To me, those covers are attractive and sensual without being overdone.

The covers of Married by Morning and Love in the Afternoon match each other, but not the other books in the series. This is a pet peeve of mine. I know it doesn't bother a lot of readers, but I hate when things don't match. The titles match, so why can't the covers? On top of that, the covers don't seem as interesting or romantic.

I'm unsure why the publishers decided to make the covers more tame- I doubt the books will be. Both the covers are pleasant, but I find them bland. I can see why Love in the Afternoon has a stack of letters, but the roses on Married by Morning just seem to be garden variety romance symbolism (hehe forgive the pun). They're not nearly as sensual as the earlier book covers.

Also, comparing the step backs, the first three follow the formula of shirtless male/dress falling off. Then these two are shirt falling off/dress on. I don't think that's a big deal. I just wonder why the publishers decided to go that direction.

Julia Quinn:

The cover for What Happens in London is a lot like what the new Hathaway covers look like (minus the step back). While I don't think it's remarkable, I do like it.

So I'm really lost to how the publishers decided on the cover for Ten Things I Love About You (the follow up to What Happens in London).

The cover almost works if you start from the bottom. You've got a lovely flowing white dress, a hint of cleavage, a mysterious letter... a washed out brunette? I feel bad for whoever was the model for that cover- it is not a flattering angle for her face and the expression looks more bored and vacant than intriguing. The face is so jarring it takes any romance there was out of the cover.

Personally, I think Julia Quinn has been screwed over on covers for the past few years. I remember the WTF moment from when I first saw The Lost Duke of Wyndham. I would have hoped publishers learned from the Wyndham/Cavendish covers, but apparently not. In these cases, while cartoonish, I think I prefer the UK versions.