AW Cover Wars: The Help by Kathryn Stockett
I’ve been on a Chick Flick movie kick recently and I think a lot of it has to do with this very book, The Help by Kathryn Stockett. When I originally saw the trailer for the upcoming movie something ignited in me and despite having skipped out on reading the book with my book club last year, I’m now eager to read it! Not too mention Leah’s splendid review just a couple of weeks ago (please tell me you didn’t miss it!).
Now, why exactly did I skip reading it with my book club even though I actually owned a pristine new copy in my home? Well, the first being the size, it seemed a bit daunting and the subject matter isn’t one I’m always fond of at that length. Second and most superficially, the cover. Even after my book club met to discuss it no one could tell me exactly why they felt there were the birds on the front of the cover. I’m still curious. Those of you who have read it already, any guesses or do you know for sure why? So, being the cover snob I am and loving the trailer for the movie, I actually fell in love with the new movie tie-in cover which is something that never happens.
What do you think? The original cover or the new movie tie-in cover for Kathryn Stockett’s smash hit The Help?
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June 5th, 2011 at 4:25 pm
We went to see Kathryn Stockett at a signing awhile back and she talked about how much she hated the cover! She joked about how it had NOTHING to do with the story!
I agree, I didn’t read it for a long time because the cover gives absolutely NO clue as to what it’s about. The title only made sense once I started reading it because I didn’t know what it was about when I started! I hope you read it, it’s really really good!
June 5th, 2011 at 7:50 pm
Definitely the new cover. Like you, I never had any interest in the book even though everyone bragged about it. The cover didn’t help either. When I saw the movie trailer at the show, my first thought is “why didn’t I read this book, it looks good!” I think if they had this new cover on the book originally, I probably would have read it. I don’t care what anybody says, a book cover does make a difference. I plan on reading the book and seeing the movies this summer.
June 5th, 2011 at 7:55 pm
I COULDN’T agree more!!! I have an article coming out in NOR Digital Magazine about book covers. With so many books to choose from, the cover helps readers make a decision on books. I have passed over this book MULTIPLE times. The birds don’t make sense. I love the new design. It gives a much better look at what the book is about, the heart and soul of it and its more attractive. Birds don’t scream chick-lit to me. Anyhow, I vote cover 2!
June 5th, 2011 at 9:27 pm
I’ve read The Help and look forward to seeing the movie in August. The birds have absolutely nothing to do with the book. At all. I just don’t understand covers that don’t relate to the content. My vote is definitely for the second movie tie-in cover (which is rare. Movie tie-in covers are usually worse.)
June 6th, 2011 at 3:42 am
Although the cover didn’t really match Stockett’s story, I have to tell you that I saw some additional paintings by the artist, Ellen Granter, at a Gallery in Vermont. They are absolutely stunning and the yellow background is actually gold in Ms. Granter’s works:
http://www.edgewatergallery-vt.com/granter-ellen.html
June 6th, 2011 at 5:24 pm
DEFINITELY the new cover. I love it and it says allot.
June 7th, 2011 at 11:03 pm
The Help is one of my favorite books EVER and because of this I’ve read endless articles, interviews etc. and although I can’t remember where I read this, I did hear that the “birds” cover has absolutely nothing to do with the book on purpose. The US publishers weren’t sure how a book about black maids raising white children would “play” in the southern US states, and so didn’t want to make the subject matter so obvious on the cover. (Because of course the blurb, that tells you what it’s about, is so far away!) I love the tie-in cover and cannot WAIT to see the movie, but I hope neither cover turns anyone off reading it because it is such a fantastic read.