"See What I Have Done" by Sarah Schmidt -- a fictionalized account of the Lizzie Borden story -- came out this week and I'm hoping to read it soon. In fact, I have an advance-read copy that I just haven't managed to get to yet. Here's a bit of the Goodreads blurb:
"On the morning of August 4, 1892, Lizzie Borden calls out to her maid: Someone’s killed Father. The brutal ax-murder of Andrew and Abby Borden in their home in Fall River, Massachusetts, leaves little evidence and many unanswered questions. While neighbors struggle to understand why anyone would want to harm the respected Bordens, those close to the family have a different tale to tell -- of a father with an explosive temper; a spiteful stepmother; and two spinster sisters, with a bond even stronger than blood, desperate for their independence. "
U.S. // U.K.
I like both covers! They really have quite a bit in common: a bright, eye-catching single graphic centered on a neutral background, pretty colors, and a sort of rustic feel. And they both have just a little bit of eeriness that likely compliments the grim story -- the strange orange eye of the bird, and the bugs on the partially eaten pear.
The U.S. cover appeals to me because I love anything in the blue-green colorway and that bird is just so striking against the cream background! I also love artsy covers, and the watercolor paint-drip is right up my alley. On the other hand, the U.K. cover has that gorgeous font -- and I love how the author blurbs are made to look like they were handwritten.
In the end, though, the U.K. cover squeaks ahead for the win in my opinion. I like the painted look of the background, the bite taken out of the pear, the different-sized lettering and the colors, which compliment each other perfectly. I also like that it's such a balanced piece of artwork: when I look at it, my eye takes in the entire thing rather than zeroing in on a certain point (on the U.S. cover, my eye goes right to the white "HA").
Do tell: which cover do you prefer?
The U.S. cover appeals to me because I love anything in the blue-green colorway and that bird is just so striking against the cream background! I also love artsy covers, and the watercolor paint-drip is right up my alley. On the other hand, the U.K. cover has that gorgeous font -- and I love how the author blurbs are made to look like they were handwritten.
In the end, though, the U.K. cover squeaks ahead for the win in my opinion. I like the painted look of the background, the bite taken out of the pear, the different-sized lettering and the colors, which compliment each other perfectly. I also like that it's such a balanced piece of artwork: when I look at it, my eye takes in the entire thing rather than zeroing in on a certain point (on the U.S. cover, my eye goes right to the white "HA").
Do tell: which cover do you prefer?
While I love the dripping look of the US edition, I have to say I like the UK version better as well. Perhaps if the US edition was an illustration with more reds, that dripping would have won me over (super gross, I know! haha). But considering the content, I think an even darker cover would be more fitting than both of the current covers.
ReplyDeleteI prefer the UK version but like both. I think the font on the UK one pushed it over the edge for me.
ReplyDeleteI like them both a lot, but I think I'm leaning towards the US cover because I *hate* blurbs and why would you clutter up a front cover with them?
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