The Friday Face-Off was created by Books by Proxy, where each week bloggers can showcase books with covers centered around a weekly theme. You can visit Lynn’s Books for a list of upcoming themes. Join in the fun each Friday by finding a book whose cover is based on the theme!
This week’s theme: “As full of spirit as the month of May.” – A cover featuring a festival/party/celebration.
I’m veering off my intended fantasy Friday Face-Off plan, because I really struggled with this theme, for some reason. I mean I know there are tons of parties in fantasy, but I couldn’t find one with the actual party on the cover. So I’m choosing one of my all time favorite books, Bel Canto by Ann Patchett. It’s more of a political thriller but it’s Patchett so the characters are the most important element of the story. The whole story revolves around a birthday party being held for a high powered politician, set somewhere in South America. And I’m not sure how well these covers will show up because all the images on Goodreads are super tiny!
U.S. paperback edition 2005 | Italian edition 2003
U.S. paperback edition 2008 | French edition 2002
Bulgarian edition 2015 | Fourth Estate edition 2001
Polish edition 2008 | Indonesian edition 2004
As for my favorite, I’m going to choose the cover I think is the most clever, the one that really gives you an idea of what this story’s about. Some of these are very misleading, although perhaps that’s to preserve the suspense! I’m choosing the Bulgarian edition for that reason. Otherwise it’s really bland and simple, but that bullet and piano design is soooo good:
All of these have some good points but I love that bullet on the keys of the piano!
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Oh man, I love that French cover.
I think my favorite is the 2005 US… but that’s the one I read so maybe it’s just nostalgia talking.
Curious- did you ever see the movie? I haven’t been brave enough to watch it because I figured I’d just ugly cry the whole time.
Oh, I love this book, too, Tammy! One I will never forget! I agree with your cover choice! I still love the 2005 US edition though because that’s what I have.
I’m not even aware of this book and perhaps if I read it, my opinion would change but I really like the 2008 paperback edition. It doesn’t tell me a lot about the book but it’s pretty 🙂
I struggled with this theme! I could think of a couple of celebrations/parties but couldn’t find the covers. I like your choice here but I love that crazy/chaotic French version.
Lynn 😀
Ohhhh! The bullet in the place of one of the piano keys is very effective!
It’s true that the simplest of images are often the most striking ones…
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Oh what a great pick! I love the one you picked with the piano and bullet, and I also love the US paperback just for that design.
I really like the Polish edition! And yes, this week’s theme was HARD.
I like the Fourth Estate edition a lot with the gun pointing at the viewer!
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It really is amazing how different these all are. Just glancing at them, I would never have guessed they were all for the same book. I like the one with the piano keys and the one next to it with the gun.
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I agree with your choice! It kind of has a James Bond type feel too it and while it is super simple it is super eye catching!
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I’m gonna take your word for it that that cover represents the book best, and I’m also gonna choose it because it is clever (I didn’t even notice the bullet at first!), and I like the color scheme.
Fun topic! These covers are so varied it’s hard to pick. I do like the piano a lot though!