Friday Face Off : Ruin or derelict, old and worn, could be the book itself, a building, a place
19 March 2021
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Aliette de Bodard, Books by Proxy, Friday Face off, The House of Shattered Wings
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:
Ruin or derelict, old and worn, could be the book itself, a building, a place
Firstly, sorry I’ve been so behind blog hopping. Lots of work and whatnot. I am now trying to catch up with everyone’s past posts I mean I wouldn’t want to miss anything and a good book slip by unnoticed now would I??
I”m not entirely sure what I had in mind for this but I’ve gone for a book this week that I haven’t yet read even though it’s been on my kindle for a long time. The House of Shattered Wings by Aliette de Bodard. Have you read this – should I bump it up my tbr?
Anyway, set in a post war Paris where most of the buildings are in ruins I thought it would be perfect. Here are the covers:
And my favourite this week:\
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 – A picture within a picture
2021
March
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 both the UK covers, although honestly all of these are pretty good😁
Yes, exactly, I don’t dislike any of these covers.
Lynn 😀
I love the Gothic vibe of your choice, and it’s the reason I also like the cover on the right in the second row of your presentation: both share the same delightfully creepy sensation… 🙂
Yes, that gothic vibe is pretty striking in both of those covers and it just appeals to me.
Lynn 😀
This has been on my kindle for ages too, my copy is the top right so is my unbiased favourite!
Yep, there’s just something appealing about the familiarity of a cover, sort of comforting because you’ve become used to it.
Lynn 😀
Hi Lynn! I’m struggling to post on your blog, don’t know why!
But let’s try again! I like your favorite choice as well. I don’t know the book, but it sure does draw attention!
I finally had time to do a Friday Face-Off. Hopefully it will be a bit better over the next couple of weeks.
Have a good weekend!
Elza Reads
Ooh, I wonder what the problem was – maybe I should look into my settings and spam etc. I’ll be checking out your post soon. Finally catching up after a couple of weeks break.
Lynn 😀
Yes, same book! The audio would have been my second choice, such beautiful font design.
Yes, I love that font and it works so well with the overall design.
Lynn 😀
What beautiful book covers those are. I’m not sure I could pick a favorite.
Yes, unusually, I like all of these covers which does make choosing a favourite more difficult.
Lynn 😀
I agree with your cover choice. Though I think the most common one is the 4th cover, that’s the one I’ve seen in all the blog reviews. I hoped to read this book, but somehow got lost in TBR overdose
You and me both!
Lynn 😀
I am behind on blog hopping myself, as per usual haha. I love all these, fits the weird gothic vibe really well.
Yeah, I’m making a big push to catch up – and then hopefully stay on top of things. I really don’t like being behind.
Lynn 😀
I don’t like it either and yet here I am LOL