Cover Me With Love 12

Recently I discussed on a DRAWN! post the incredible talent of author and illustrator/cartoonist Mark Haddon. Yes, I am finally reading The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, and yes I am enjoying the book very, very much. Can't put it down, actually. Mark Haddon has a way with words, as well as a way with pen and ink. What a multi-talented guy!

Anyway, since his novel was so successful, naturally there were many editions of the book, published in many different languages. And of course, that meant many different cover designs. Most of us are familiar with the first design you see below, but have you seen the other interpretations of this book? Really interesting stuff. If you want to see even more versions, check out Mark Haddon's web site.

Comments

[Jordan]

I work as a substitute teacher during breaks and this book just blew me away. It was like reading a book written by one of the kids I've been working with for years. Amazing. Glad you're enjoying it.

[Cleo]

Glad you like the book-I hardly ever read fiction but I loved this one and read it straight through one weekend. But talk about faux pas...I liked it SO much I gave a copy to my boss for her birthday. She opens said gift, smiles-as she loves to read, and says "Oh, what's this on the cover?" "A dead dog," I reply nonchalantly. "Gee, thanks a lot!" It then dawns on me in a most horrific way...Her dog had been killed by a car two weeks earlier....I was mortified! So I stutter, "But it wasn't a Rottie, it's a POODLE! You HATE poodles! And this dog got killed with a garden fork!" The entire office burst out laughing, as I am the resident smart aleck and anytime I goof EVERYONE has to rub it in for days. She told the story for a month every time I was in the room! Thankfully, she thought it was funny as well. Hopefully, you're reading with no negative connotations! Happy Monday!

[kimbofo]

Oooh, I loved this book when I read it a couple of years ago. I have the blue cover (the last one in your post) and had not seen any of the others.

Mr Haddon must be very talented, as I believe he started out as a poet. I did not know he was also a cartoonist.

[Arethusa]

Some of those covers were wuite well-done! If I'd have seen those I might have bought it after all. I especially like the British and Norwegian covers that you have there in the 3rd row.

[Anne]

LOVED the book. Some of those covers are a bit ... gory! I like the English/American cover best. Simple and both stark and playful. Kind of like the story.

[R J Keefe]

I really like the North American cover, but I didn't wait for that edition to come out, so I've got the brown-backgrounded Jonathan Cape.

Glad to hear that you're liking the book!

[brian]

This is a great post... I wonder if there is a site that features a similar comparison of international book covers? I'd be so curious to see the international covers for, say, "The Little Friend" or "The Corrections".

[Sandy]

How interesting. We had this very discussion at my book club, since we had two different versions there (the British blue one and the American red poodle). I couldn't wait to send the link to this post to the others :-)

[Monique]

Hey have you had a chance to see the actual poetry book? In real life I mean? There's a scroll wheel that turns showing the image and book title in little cut-out windows.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307275698/qid=1144852641/sr=1-5/ref=sr_1_5/103-6713708-5780602?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

I bought the poetry book today because I saw it and immediately thought of your post on Haddon's design.

[patricia]

Monique, yes, I have seen the poetry book; I love it! So tempting to buy it, but must resist for now....money very tight at the moment!