An amusing piece from the Mail & Guardian’s books editor on five covers that caught his eye this decade, for alternately the right and wrong reasons:
The Good
The Bad
The Ugly
What could be more redolent and evocative of decades past than the old-fashioned glass milk bottle, with foil top being pecked open by a bird? Judging this memoir of Chris van Wyk’s by its cover is good practice, for once: just as the jacket image whisks one to another time and spirit of place, so too does the author’s filigree writing.
Have you got any goodies, baddies or uglies of your own? Let us know in the comments section below.
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December 24th, 2009 @09:03 #
That Chris van Wyk cover is a classic. I remember the pop the foil made as it took the imprint of one's thumb, and the best part was licking off the cream. A powerful cover evokes and invites.
December 24th, 2009 @12:30 #
Love this piece, and agree with Liesl, although I also loved the original Shirley, Goodness and Mercy cover. Good, bad and ugly covers is a game I'd love to play -- maybe when I'm less stressed and frantic (this is not one of my better Festering Seasons).