For book lovers, there’s nothing more important than a well-crafted story and a memorable plot. For book collectors however, there’s an added preference and affinity for beautiful covers that long to be touched. Some book covers draw you in and mesmerize you, regardless of the actual content. Going through my own collection and scouring the internet for favorites, I’ve listed below some incredible book covers that will hopefully arouse some curiosity or sheer appreciation.
1. Siddharta – by Hermann Hesse
The vibrant hue and minimalist design of this book is aligned to the story it contains. Siddharta is a page-turner, despite being a very deep, spiritual book that will leave you reeling and thinking.
2. Big Magic – by Elizabeth Gilbert
The colors! The title! So much promise. A great book by the author of Eat, Pray, Love, ideal for the creative archetype or creative-wannabes. Elizabeth Gilbert expands on her own knowledge and encourages others through the beauty and struggle of the creative process.
3. Tampa – by Alyssa Nutting
Besides the ingenious symbolism behind the flesh-colored button slit, this is a phenomenal book for fiction lovers that is hard to digest but worth every single moment of discomfort.
4. The Lost Girls – by Jennifer Baggett, Holly C. Corbett, Amanda Pressner
If only for the sake of visualizing myself on some exotic beach that largely resembles my screensaver, I couldn’t resist purchasing this gem of a travel book. Perfect for female travelers, the story of The Lost Girls is sure to evoke some serious wanderlust.
5. Zen Pencils, Volume Two – by Gavin Aung Than
Stumbling upon the eponymous blog name is a fond memory of mine. The book which has high-definition inspirational comics never fail to make me feel grateful and motivated. This book includes a free poster and makes for a wonderful gift for almost anyone. I can’t recommend it enough.
6. Aleph – by Paulo Coelho
Beyond stating the obvious, which is that Paulo Coelho writes meaningful books, that leading path in the water is intriguing and aweworthy. An insightful look into karmic justice based on the memories of the author’s past life.
7. Perfect Strangers – by Tasmina Perry
Diving into a Tasmina Perry book is the mental equivalent of sinking your toes into flawless sand on the deserted beach of your dreams on a perfect day. Her writing is immaculate and the characters are always intricately woven into a heavy and fantastic net that will leave you exuberant yet flabbergasted by the last page. Her novels are a staple in my carry-on and are always welcome on my bookshelf, also because of their beautiful covers.
8. Paris Letters – by Janice MacLeod
This book cover doubles as a post card, if you’re ever in a bind. A beautiful, romantic and brave story about a woman who leaves everything up to chance and gains a rather poetic adventure in Paris.
9. Love Poems – by Pablo Neruda
The delicate, golden calligraphy. The dainty pastel pink book that could fit into your hand or pocket. Poetry lovers, rejoice. Pablo Neruda will revive the coldest hearts with his honeyed words about the fondest sentiment of all.
10. Illustrated Complete Works of Shakespeare – by William Shakespeare
Beware, this is a very heavy encyclopedia loaded with all – and I do mean all – of Shakespeare’s plays, sonnets, poems. It’s a beautiful collection for fans of classic literature or party snobs who want to appear intelligent and cultured and of course for fans of beautiful book covers.
11. A piece of cake – by Cupcake Brown
Don’t let the gorgeous throw of colorful confetti mislead you. This is a very intense (and rewarding) story about starting at rock bottom and fighting to not only reach the core but surpass it brilliantly.
12. Euphoria – by Lily King
I have no idea what this book is about. I wish I could tell you but I never quite got past the cover. If you really must go past the book cover, there is a ton of praise and positive reviews that accompanies this book. It must be good. But more importantly, where can I hang this in my house?
13. The life and love of the sea – by Lewis Blackwell
This is a book to behold and daydream, made easy with the beautiful images that leak from one page to the next, heavy with ocean fantasies.
14. Scent of a dream: Travels in the world of coffee – by Sebastiao Salgado
At first glance, I genuinely thought this was a poster without a frame. The gorgeous photo pulls you in with eager fingers to undress the remainder of this coffee-table must have.
15. Cosmos – by Carl Sagan
A popular and classic book frequent on most must-read lists, the cover alone induces a lot of wonder and the content is equally as marvelous.
16. Lust – Marc Lagrange
Feast your eyes on this series of photogenic essays. Although the hefty price tag might be a slight deterrent, it’s worth every lusty blink.
17. Cain – by José Saramago
A riveting take on a biblical story, the artsy cover doesn’t distract from the incredible story that lies beneath.
Featured photo credit: Stockholm Public Library by Elmindreda via flickr.com
