The Power of Purchasing: Judging a Book by Its Cover

Maybe it's because I work at a library (or maybe it's because I've become quite cheap in my "old age"), but I hardly ever buy books anymore.

90% of the books I "read" these days are in audiobook format. This method of reading works wonders for me for multiple reasons:

• It's hands (and eyes) free: I can craft, drive, draw, and more while "reading" - it's also a way to read while having a migraine

• It's fast: I mean this literally as I can speed up the narration to match how fast I can read myself

• It's free: I borrow all my eAudiobooks via my library through the wonderful invention that is the Libby app

On the rare occasion I do purchase a book, it tends to fall into one of the following categories:

• Books I've read before and want to add to my collection (eg. His Dark Materials)

• Big books that will take me a long time to read (eg. The Kingkiller Chronicles)

• Books I know I'm going to devour (eg. the Shadow and Bone trilogy plus the Six of Crows duology, both of which I was introduced to by the spectacular Netflix show that has since been regrettably canceled)

• Books that are encyclopedic in nature that I'm sure to refer to in fits and spurts (eg. Doctor Who: How to be a Time Lord)

• Books that catch my eye with their stunning covers (eg. Sistersong)

Everyone has their reasons for their book-buying habits, but one of mine sticks out: I 100% judge books by their covers. This behaviour is far from a secret; I tell people this at the check-out desk all the time! I will shamelessly re-shelve a book if the cover-art turns me off.

One of the main reasons I may choose to self-publish is so that I can have creative control over the aesthetics of my novels. I want them to properly represent the contents and to look gorgeous on a shelf or in an Insta post. In addition to my vanity, aesthetically pleasing covers also sell better. It's a no-brainer, really!

Have you ever purchased a book because of its cover? Be honest! This is a judgment-free zone!