Friday Face Off : Serpentine – could be a snake, could be a snake-like font, could be a snakeskin style cover
19 February 2021
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Books by Proxy, Friday Face off, Sarah Perry, The essek serpent
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:
Serpentine – could be a snake, could be a snake-like font, could be a snakeskin style cover
I didn’t have a particular book in mind for this but I felt sure I could come up with something. As it happens, I’ve gone for a book I own but haven’t read yet: The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry
My 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 – A book with ‘Magic’ in the Title
2021
February
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
It would be a hard choice between the first and third cover, because I love the overall them and keep switching between the blue and the green color choice… 🙂
Yeah, I was pretty much the same going between the two.
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 serpentine images. I’ve selected The Reptile Room – […]
It’s the first cover! I am constantly surprised at what a huge difference in tone and mood just shifting the colours can make. I’m immediately drawn to the warmer feel of the orange and yellow accents, rather than the cooler blue. This is a book that has intrigued me for a long time – but it’s making time for it!
Yes, exactly, I bought it ages ago and still haven’t managed to squeeze it in.
Lynn 😀
*sigh* Oh I know that scenario!!
What a beautiful cover!
It’s a lovely design and one that always pulls me in.
Lynn 😀
I’m definitely a fan of the first cover, much prefer the warmer colours, it doesn’t make the whole ‘snake thing’ quite so creepy somehow!
It took me a while to find this one, as I remember one of my Goodreads friends sharing it some time ago, but I couldn’t quite remember which friend it was ‘The Snakes’ by Sadie Jones has two different colour options and once again I prefer the warmer orange colours over the harsher yellow…
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42270119-the-snakes
Thanks for a great post and enjoy your weekend 🙂
Yvonne Xx
Thanks Yvonne. Hope you had a lovely weekend and enjoy your week.
Lynn 😀
I’ve never heard of Essex Serpent, but your chosen cover sure is the best of them! It’s a lovely cover.
I’ve been absent a bit and will most probably be absent still for the next month. School is hectic at this stage, but we are not complaining at all. Lovely to be back.
I did manage to work a Friday Face Off into my Friday Post.
Have a good weekend Lynn and happy reading!
Elza Reads
Life just happens doesn’t it. Hope you had a good weekend.
Lynn 😀
For me its a toss up between the first and third covers, both are lovely😁
They are and it was difficult to choose
Lynn 😀
You’ve reminded me that I have this book in my TBR pile somewhere haha. I may have bought it mostly due to the cover lol. 🙂
Yeah, same. I bought this ages ago but haven’t carved out time.
Lynn 😀
Wow, what a burst of color! I love that one!
They are lovely covers – I just love the design.
Lynn 😀
Good selection for this week’s FFO! I guess the first cover gives it a fantasy book feel, so they came out with the third cover for a more “literary” look? Would be interesting to speak to the designer about this, haha
Indeed it would – that’s a great idea. I should seek out some cover designers for interviewing.
Lynn 😀
Wow, that sounds awesome! 🙂
I think I like the first one a bit more since I like bright colors. But I also like your choice a lot.
I do like both tbh.
Lynn 😀
🙂