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: “One could mention many lovable traits in Smee. For instance, after killing, it was his spectacles he wiped instead of his weapon.” – A cover with glasses.
I had a tough time finding a book for this prompt, for some reason. But I finally did, and who better to highlight than one of the most famous glasses-wearing writers, Stephen King? On Writing is King’s memoir/writing manual that is honestly more memoir than advice on writing. I’m feeling “meh” about most of these, but at least a bunch show King wearing glasses, take a look:
Scribner 10th Anniversary edition 2010 | Scribner U.S. hardcover 2000 | Ukrainian edition 2017
Swedish edition 2006 | Spanish edition 2013 | Arabic edition 2019
Bulgarian edition 2016 | Persian edition 2016 | Portuguese edition 2020
I think the Persian edition is pretty clever, the way the type bars are incorporated into the bottom of the cover. But for overall effectiveness, I’m going with the Bulgarian edition. I love the typewriter and the creepy carpet from The Shining showing through the paint.
Ah well, your choice exemplifies perfectly what is usually King’s mindset….
I found this one difficult too! Clearly there need to be more covers with people wearing glasses!
I would probably choose the Persian edition as my favourite with your favourite a close second!
My favourite is the Ukrainian 2017 edition – I love that pop of yellow. But all these covers are preferable to the utterly charmless offering I actually own, which has a blurry window on it for some reason:)).
I agree, I also like the Bulgarian edition, though the Scribner 10th anniversary is the one I have. I really enjoyed that book, though it was different than I’d expected, as you said because a good half or more of it was memoir.
Oooo…I like the Bulgarian edition, too! It’s very SK.
Hi there! Sticking with the theme, I would say I like the Ukranian one the most. I love Stephen King (okay, maybe not all Stephen King books) and I haven’t read his writing manual. Should be quite interesting!
I add the Friday Face-off to my weekly (sometimes fortnightly!) Friday post. Here’s a link: Weekend Book Friends
Really cool choice for this week!
I love your choice. My second one would be the Portougese cover.
I like the Bulgarian edition the most too I’ve got to say.
The Portuguese edition is my favorite but that’s genius to choose King for this!
I love the top right! It just looks so fitting for him
Oooh, do you know where that quote comes from? I’m so curious! The covers for this book are totally disappointing, in a really weird way, because the book is absolutely FABULOUS and one of my favorite writing books. I do agree that the Bulgarian cover is the best.
It also totally fits his aesthetic in general lol.
I feel like I’m back in the groove – my fave is the Portuguese edition!
Oh this is a good one, didn’t even think about it. I love the one you went with, something about it feels really clean and pleasant.
I like the Persian cover- but I think I like the US Scribner edition best. Seems very anti-King lol.
I like the cover you’ve chosen. The simplicity works really well for me.
Lynn