Friday Face Off : “Lord, what fools these mortals be”
4 December 2020
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Books by Proxy, Friday Face off, Hope Mirrlees, Lud-in-the-Mist
Here we are again with the Friday Face Off meme created by Books by Proxy . This is a great opportunity to feature some of your favourite book covers. The rules are fairly simple each week, following a predetermined theme (list below) choose a book (this doesn’t have to be a book that you’ve read), compare a couple of the different covers available for that particular book and choose your favourite. Future week’s themes are listed below – if you have a cover in mind that you’re really wanting to share then feel free to leave a comment about a future suggested theme. I’ve also listed events that take place during the year, that I’m aware of, so you can link up your covers – if you’re aware of any events that you think I should include then give me a shout. This week’s theme:
Fae or Fairy
I confess I have a love of books with the fae so I’m hoping this week’s prompt will be easy enough – hope everyone else finds something to their liking too. This week I’ve gone for a book that I unfortunately never got round to reviewing but is a thing of charm and beauty. Lud-in-the-Mist by Hope Mirrlees. And here are some of the covers:
I have more than one that I quite like for this in fact I could narrow it down to 3:
The first cover I like because that’s the cover of the book I read. The second – I have a love of flower and leaf borders and the third gives me an old fashioned fairytale style of cover and so it just brings me all the feelings of whimsy. My favourite:
Do you have a favourite?
I’ve updated the list now to include themes for next year. If you know of an event that’s coming up let me know and I’ll try and include covers that work for the event itself so that you can link up to the Friday Face Off and, as always, if you wish to submit an idea then leave me a comment – or if you’d like to host a week then simply let me know. Also, I would just mention that it’s very possible that some of these might be repeats from previous FFOs although I have tried to invent more ‘open ended’ prompt that can be interpreted differently and also prompts that relate to emotions. Finally, don’t struggle with any of these, this is meant to be a fun way of highlighting books. If you can’t come up with a book you think fits for a particular week use a freebie – perhaps a recent read for example:
Next week – Lake – the mysterious or eerie lake
2020
11th December – Lake – the mysterious lake
18th December – Highly Stylised
25th December- Freebie – or day off
2021
January
Vintage Sci-Fi month – if you’re taking part you could try and find some vintage style covers
1st – Dressed in White – could be a person could be a landscape – or something else completely?
8th – Books with ‘Moon’ in the Title
15th – An Aerial encounter – spaceships and explosions
22nd – An Alien Encounter – ‘we come in peace’ or maybe not.
29th – A favourite classic or vintage sci-fi
February
5th – A Book with a romance that you enjoyed
12th – Furry – a beast, something cuddly, or a fur covering
19th – Serpentine – could be a snake, could be a snake-like font, could be a snakeskin style cover
26th – A book with ‘Magic’ in the Title
March
5th – March is named for the Roman God of War – a Roman style cover or a cover with a God or Gods or simply a book about war
12th – Middle Grade – choose whatever pleases you
19th – Ruin or derelict, old and worn, could be the book itself, a building, a place
26th – A picture within a picture
April
2nd – A train or tram – travelling down the track, could be old style, futuristic, overhead, down below.
9th – Cartoonish or graphic
16th – I have to have it – a cover that gave you ‘grabby hands’
23rd – Your current read (if it has covers to compare) or any recent read
30th– A series that you love – highlight all the books in the series
May
Month of Wyrd and Wonder
7th – A Series where the cover changed midway through – which style do you prefer most
14th – The earliest fantasy you recall reading – or the first fantasy book you really loved, maybe the book that kickstarted your love of fantasy
21st – The Top Hat
28th – The Hood
June
4th – The nose boop – any animal, or human, with a close up shot.
11th – A cover that annoyed you and why
18th – Out of Perspective, or make you feel a bit dizzy
25th – Upside down, back to front or topsy turvy
July
2nd – A book with a landscape you’d like to visit
9th – A Wicked Grin
16th – Books with ‘book’ in the title
23rd – A Black Hole – could be in the universe or going deep into the ground
30th – Chaos – maybe too much going on in this one
August
6th – “They cluck their thick tongues, and shake their heads and suggest, os so very delicately!” – The Motel
13th – A favourite holiday read
20th – Dressed to kill (could be literally someone dressed to kill, or someone dressed up for a big night out
27th – Sunbathing or on the beach
September (RIP event)
3rd – 1920s feel, noir detective
10th – I’m Henry the Eighth I am – let’s look at Kings or other Emperors/rulers
17th – Books with ‘Murder’ in the title
24th – A favourite thriller
October
1st – A Halloween read
8th – Chills – anything at all that almost makes you too scared to pick up the book (your own pet hate)
15th – Your favourite book of magic
22nd – Books with ‘Queen’ in the title
29th – Must be gothic
November – Sci Fi Month
5th – Your earliest sci-fi read or the first sci-fi you reviewed
12th – A book with ‘star’ in the title
19th – Futuristic vista
26th – A Black Hole – in the universe or going deep into the ground
December
3rd – Windswept, the classic figure, stood majestically, with wind blowing out in a fetching way
10th – A fairytale retold
17th – Winter Solstice approaching – anything cold and seasonal
24th – All things fire – red hair, red covers, fire breathing dragons, simply fire?
31st – What’s your catnip – if it’s on a cover you have to pick it up
I love the last two – there’s a old-timey nostalgic vibe to them that really appeals to me.
Yes, exactly that.
Lynn 😀
Yes! The fairy castle surrounded by that artsy frame looks just perfect 🙂
It provokes a real sense of nostalgic for me about bedtime stories.
Lynn 😀
[…] was to compare UK and US book covers and decide which is we prefer. This meme is being nurtured by Lynn’s Book Blog and this week we are featuring covers with FAE. I’ve selected The Darkest Part of the Forest by […]
What a wonderful looking book! I don’t know this one at all – and it looks as though I should… My favourite cover is the right-hand cover on the top row – I’m always a sucker for luminous fairy creatures against a dark, tangled backdrop. But your choice comes a close second.
And many, many thanks for all your hard work and effort in providing suitable themes to continue throughout next year – you are a superstar! It cuts down the angst when my favourite meme has the listed themes all there, waiting for me to plan:)).
I do like it once I get going on a list. I think a few duplications are inevitable but I’ve tried to go for a slightly different way of phrasing some of these so that they can be interpreted differently.
Lynn 😀
You have done a WONDERFUL job! I’ve gone through them and given that you have provided a whole in advance, there are relatively few duplications – and as you say, they are open to be tweaked so we can take them off in our own directions:)). Thank you!
Thanks Sarah 😀
Wow, you’ve been busy, Lynn! Next year’s prompts already planned out?? As for your covers this week, I love #3 and #4 the best😁
Yes, I thought it was best to let everyone have the list. At least that way some planning ahead can take place. I think the only issue now is possible duplications although I’ve tried to come up with new themes I think it’s inevitable.
Lynn 😀
I like your choice, too! So happy to see next year’s prompts, too.
Thanks.
I hope there’s not too much repetition next year, I’ve tried to come up with a few more ideas that are open to interpretation.
Lynn 😀
This has such pretty covers! 😊
I know – I was pleasantly surprised.
Lynn 😀
This one has soooo many great covers! I’ll admit I’m partial to the one with the flowers on it. 🙂
It’s a lovely cover indeed.
Lynn 😀
I do really like the covers for this one and highlighting it for the prompt has reminded me that I still need to finish the series.
Lynn 😀
Hmm… I love books about the fae and Lud-in-the-Mist is memorable. Great covers, and agree with your chosen favorite! This seems like a cool meme, may join in too in 2021 if it’s still on 🙂
Hi, sorry about the late reply. I’m a bit behind at the moment. The covers for this one are great. And, yes, please do join us in 2021. I’ve updated the list now for next year which hopefully allows people to plan ahead.
Lynn 😀
Sounds good ^__^