Thursday, March 28, 2013

"The Blue Castle": The Search for Adequate Cover Art


I love The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery. The problem is, I don't have a hardcover version of it, and my paperback version is getting beat up. So I used my blog as an excuse to "research" different covers, looking for a replacement. Unfortunately, it looks like the majority of cover artists--like the majority of readers in general--have never read the actual novel. 

"Take a castle, paint it blue!" seemed to be the consensus. Even if the results are psychedelic.

"What do you mean, there is no literal blue castle in the story? Okay, fine. It's a romance, right? Let's make it look as much like a romance novel as possible!"


Actually, this is the version I have. It's a wonder I bothered reading it in the first place. Valancy is all, "Ugh I'm dyinnnnnnng!" and Barney is like, "Although you are obviously ill and have a chill I am going to hog this sweater all to myself."




 "Do you remember when we first met?"
"I thought I had strayed into a dream"
"Long years have passed.  You did not have the cares you carry now."

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm6-FVLgREtGgVdQvpGk4uza4hQrs5FBV9F3pF5yK0Zn2cRQ-EtKYzdvH8cm2QFG-OdyBS8y8KeFO1g9atSho7WoIquDCxEKdv20PstOa2VojiR8Q2nagAbwoDtQ36OH0QEP3BNKKefrI/s1600/tbc_replace.ag4sk4s998w8wwg80k4cwsg4.5zvljhzizwcgs00w8ws8o40sc.th.jpeg
I actually don't mind this cover art (the font is still dated), except it reveals spoilers: she gets her hair bobbed!  Valancy Stirling: Hipster Flapper.

"It's a historical novel, right?  Let's put Valancy in period costume, something sure to draw the Jane Austen Crowd."

Note to Historical Fiction marketing people: fans of Historical Fiction know their history.  Putting an early Victorian dress on an Edwardian character is NOT going to boost your sales.

"Fine.  Historical fiction didn't do the trick. Maybe we simply need to update the cover, make Valancy a modern woman!"


"Valancy wasn't ugly. She was ahead of her time. Later Barney invented a time machine and took them to the 1930s, where she folded silk stockings while sitting on an ottoman." 

Also, the description of the story is NOT accurate. AT. ALL. I don't even think Valancy is "as sweet as Anne of Green Gables."


I...can't even...
Stop. Please. I can't take it anymore! 
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1 comment:

  1. PrismFebruary 5, 2016 at 2:36 PM

    My dear cousin that I introduced to The Blue Castle sent me this blog, and, wow! You nailed it! NONE of the covers has ANYTHING to do with the story except for the fact that Valancy, is, in fact, female. I have both of the "Barney in a Mauve Sweater" paperback editions, and have long despaired over both of them, although I kind of think they might actually be the same artist (who is WAY in love with whatever that white flower is!)

    Also, as a side note, I am fairly certain that the model for "Hipster Valancy" is Mary Stuart Masterson (possibly straight from a movie still for "Some Kind of Wonderful"). AAARRRGGG! At least we can join together in our pain!

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