Book cover trends are an endless source of conversation for us here at the library. Some are pretty easy to spot, like “woman walking toward the Eiffel Tower or other European landmark” or “cartoon couple embracing,” but others get a little more niche (“does the font on ___ match the font on ___?”). Everyone has covers that draw them in or repel them immediately, regardless of the old admonition to never judge books by their covers. It takes me back to childhood reading, where the cover was definitely the first step in figuring out what book I wanted to check out.
Personally, I’ve recently been enjoying the animal covers. What are they all up to? Some are painted, some are majestic, some are unsettling, and most are metaphors. I’ll always pick up a book with this type of cover to learn more, even if I don’t end up reading it. Whether animals are your cover kryptonite or you prefer another trend, pure visual browsing can be a fun way to reinvigorate your reading, especially if you’re always seeing the same books come across your social media feed or mentioned in the bestseller lists. Going purely by their covers, here are some recent titles for you to explore.
“Dominion” by Addie E. Citchens. “A novel with a big cast, Dominion explores the lies and complicity of a Baptist church and the family that leads it-a philandering minister, a pill-popping first lady, and a favorite son whose fall will expose them all.”
“Moderation” by Elaine Castillo. “Girlie Delmundo is the greatest content moderator in the world, and despite the setbacks of financial crises, climate catastrophe, and a global pandemic, she’s going places: she’s getting a promotion. Now thanks to her parent company Paragon’s purchase of Fairground – the world’s preeminent virtual reality content provider – she’s on the way to becoming an elite VR moderator, playing in the big leagues and, if her enthusiastic bosses are to be believed, moderating the next stage of human interaction. Despite the isolation that virtual reality requires from colleagues, friends, and family, the unbelievable perks of her new job mean she can solve a lot of her family’s problems with money and mobility. She doesn’t have to think about the childhood home they lost back in the Bay Area, or history at all – she can just pay any debts that come due. But when she meets William Cheung, Playground’s wry, reticent co-founder (now Chief Product Officer) and slowly unearths some of his secrets, and finds herself somehow falling in love, she’ll learn that history might be impossible to moderate and the future utterly impossible to control.”
“The Hounding” by Xenobe Purvis. “The Crucible meets The Virgin Suicides in this haunting debut about five sisters in a small village in 18th century England whose neighbors are convinced they’re turning into dogs. Even before the rumors about the Mansfield girls begin, Little Nettlebed is a village steeped in the uncanny, from strange creatures that wash up on the riverbed to portentous ravens gathering on the roofs of people about to die. But when the villagers start to hear barking, and when one claims to see the Mansfield sisters transform before his very eyes, the allegations spark fascination and fear like nothing has before.”
“The Island of Last Things” by Emma Sloley. “Camille has always preferred animals to people. The wild has nearly disappeared, but as a zookeeper at the last zoo in the world, on Alcatraz Island, she spends her days caring for playful chimpanzees, gentle tree frogs, and a restless jaguar. Outside, resistance groups and brutal cartels fight to shape the world’s future, but Camille is safe within her routines. That is, until a new zookeeper, Sailor, arrives from Paris… Sailor knows all too well the dangers beyond Alcatraz, but she increasingly chafes at the zoo’s rigid rules. She hatches a reckless plan to smuggle one of the most prized animals off the island to freedom, and invites Camille to join her.”
“Ruth” by Kate Riley. “Ruth is raised in a snow globe of Christian communism, a world without private property, television, or tolerance for idle questions. Every morning she braids her hair and wears the same costume, sings the same breakfast song in a family room identical to every other family room in the community; every one of these moments is meant to be a prayer, but to Ruth they remain puzzles. Her life is seen in glimpses through childhood, marriage, and motherhood, as she tries to manage her own perilous curiosity in a community built on holy mystery. Is she happy? Might this in fact be happiness?”
“Women, Seated” by Zhang Yueran, translated by Jeremy Tiang. An elite Chinese family lives “a life of luxury, limitless power, and around-the-clock service, which includes their trusted nanny Yu Ling. Slipping in and out of the shadows, careful to speak deferentially, meticulous in her care of their only son Kuan Kuan, Yu has served the family for years and knows their secrets. But little do they suspect that Yu has secrets of her own. In the pressure-cooker political environment of China, the fates of even the most powerful families can reverse overnight. When Kuan Kuan’s father and grandfather are arrested and his socialite mother goes on the run, Yu is left behind to make a series of life-changing choices.”
Next time you’re browsing at the library or on our e-library services, take notice of the covers that catch your eye. Maybe it’s time to take a chance on something unusual. Don’t forget: you can always ask us for personalized reading recommendations if you need something new.