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: “Some places are like people: some shine, and some don’t.” – A cover featuring an Inn/Hotel.
At the risk of choosing the obvious book for this week’s prompt, well, I’ve gone ahead and chosen it anyway! Or maybe it’s just obvious to me. That book is The Shining by Stephen King, chosen because of the Overlook Hotel that features on many of the covers. It’s also one of the best horror stories ever, and it works nicely for an October Friday Face-Off. Of course there are a billion different covers for it, so here are some of my favorites:
Portuguese edition 1999 | German edition 1985 | US Subterranean Press edition 2013
Polish edition 2009 | Bulgarian edition 2010 | UK edition 2018
German edition 2003 | UK edition 1977 | Hungarian edition (date?)
Latvian edition 2014 | Russian edition 2012 | Georgian edition 2013
Bulgarian edition 2015 | Russian edition 2014 | Estonian edition 2018
I love that this is a mostly international gathering of covers, with only one U.S. cover in the bunch. And folks, I love all of these. For that reason it’s very hard to pick a favorite, so I’ve decided to pick two. I always adore Subterranean Press editions, and I can’t take my eyes off the Estonian cover, it’s so cool and different, and it’s the only cover I saw that features the hedge animals, one of the scariest parts of the story.
You and Mogsy had the same idea. Of course it’s the best choice in my opinion. I’ve read this three times and considering how much I usually don’t reread, that says a lot. It’s my favorite King. Even though you chose the same book, I see some different ones here. I LOVE the Subterranean Press one possibly because I think the scene in the movie (I know, technically not the book) where Jack sees all the ghosts in the bar, is one of the scariest.
Gotta go with the German edition 1985- but in this case there isn’t a single one I don’t like. Impressive since you put so many of them up!
I like the UK edition 2018 cover best!
Brittany recently posted…Friday Face Off: Inn/Hotel
The Shining was one of the first ones I’d thought of as well, it is perfect for this week. I really like the vibe of the Subterranean Press edition, as well as the Russian and German ones!
Both the ghosts and the topiary animals represent the scariest elements in this novel, so I do agree with your choice of portraying both these covers. And now I think I might want to rewatch the movie… 🙂
Maddalena@spaceandsorcery recently posted…Short Story Review: A SPY IN EUROPA (from Galactic North), by Alastair Reynolds
The 1985 German one caught my eye but my favorite is the Estonian cover. I love it. And that scene with the hedge animals was too creepy!
Laura Thomas recently posted…31 Days Of Thrills And Chills #11 ~ Murderous Little Darlings
This is a great choice for this week’s theme, Tammy:). And what a wealth of covers to choose from – my personal favourite is the 2012 Russian edition – that poor little soul sitting on the stairs looks so horribly vulnerable…
Great minds think alike! I like the Subterranean Press cover a lot too, they always have the best painted ones!
Mogsy @ BiblioSanctum recently posted…Friday Face-Off: Inn
I love seeing the hedge animals, too! That’s most definitely my pick, but there are so many great ones here, Tammy.
OMGOSH that Subterranean Press edition is fantastic! But you’re right, the hedge creatures are quite interesting. Makes me want to do a re-read. 🙂
The Shining always freaks me out even though I’ve never read it or seen it haha! I’m not sure which is my favorite but the Hungarian edition is interesting!
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I actually almost made it my vacation goal to get every edition of this book in the different European countries I was visiting hahaha Then I remembered how big King’s books were and no way my baggage could’ve fit them all hahaha
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For some reason i didn’t even think of The Shining for this one, but it’s perfect!
The hedge animals were such a great part of the story. I couldn’t figure out how come they weren’t part of the film but then I suppose special effects weren’t quite as advanced when the film was made.
Lynn.