By the Cover

One new book cover each week throughout 2017

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Week 9

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi, @aaknopf 2016

I was really blown away by this book last year and have referred to it multiple times in the same e-mail chain, to the same person as “the best book I read last year” “by far and away my favorite book last year” “probably my favorite book of the last few years.” And it’s her debut! I’m so excited for future me reading future Yaa Gyasi books.

The original version was monochromatic and backlit to give the impression of a woman actually made of fire. It was fine, but I’d spent so long looking at Ghanian clothes by that point, that I knew I was doing the book a disservice by not using the colors of Kente cloth. The background is patterned with Adinkra symbols for freedom and slavery (fawohodie and epa). 

[bythecoverproject-blog]

Week 8

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin, Dutton Books, 1978.

Ellen Raskin is one of my illustration icons and it feels almost sacrilegious to try and improve of her original cover, but this is a book that meant a lot to me as a kid and continues to mean a lot to me today.

Here, in all its glory, is Sunset Towers. Judge Ford, in apt 4D, always has a chess game ready to go, Flora Baumbach in 2C is hard at work on her sewing, the coffee is brewed and ready to be poured in the Theodorakis’ lobby shop, and Turtle Wexler is getting ready to leave her home, apt 3D, with her customary long braid and witches’ hat.

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Farthing by Jo Walton, @torbooks 2006.

I was planning on doing this book later in the year but I also didn't expect an alternate history about a slow slide into fascism to be so relevant. Add it to Handmaid's Tale for your required reading for the new reality. 

The gate is from Inspector Carmichael's description when he first approaches the estate.

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The Red Tent by Anita Diamant, @stmartinspress 1997.

The hand to reference a hamsa, the pomegranate for fertility and the hand is surrounded by symbolically important plants in Jewish culture- olive branches, grape vines and wheat/barley. Most of which are referenced in the scene where Leah recalls cooking for Joseph for the first time.

[bythecoverproject-blog]

Week 5!

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell. St Martin’s Press, 2013.

I really love this book, y’all.

Pull quotes from @bethanyactually @hockeybuttsafterdark and Sarah, who I don’t think is on tumblr anymore

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Lagoon by @nnedi @simonbooks 2015.

Come for the first contact story, stay for Adora and Ayodele and Ugandan Rappers (Anthony!!!!) and sentient bats and marine life.

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Week 3. Happy inauguration week.

“That was when they suspended the Constitution. They said it would be temporary.”

The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood, McClelland and Stewart, 1985.

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Week 2!

The Likeness by Tana French, published by @vikingbooks 2008

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Week 1!

Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver

Published by @harperperennial in 2000.

This has been one of my favorite books since I picked it up in college; it was the inspiration for this whole project. As lush and beautiful and evocative as the book is, the cover did not do it justice.

[bythecoverproject-blog]

Hello 2017.

My project this year is By The Cover- one reimagined papercut book cover of a favorite book each week for the whole year. Starting today, January 1.

Follow here, on instagram (@by_the_cover) or twitter (@by_the_cover)