This meme was started by Books by Proxy, whose fabulous idea was to compare UK and US book covers and decide which is we prefer. This week we are looking at covers featuring abandoned houses and I have chosen Crooked House by Agatha Christie.
This is the cover that caught my eye – published by Minotaur Books in 2002, I think it strikingly evokes a sense of unease and disfunction using a ruined house as a very effective metaphor. This is my favourite.
This offering is also eye-catching with the bright red cover and the stylised font giving the impression of the crooked house. Published in 2011 by William Morrow, I also very much like this cover.
This offering, produced in 2010 by Harper Collins, is a facsimile of the first edition. While I love the beautiful etched rendition of the crooked house in the spooky wood, it is just a bit too muted to really catch the eye on a crowded bookshelf.
This Turkish cover, produced by Altın Kitaplar in 2014 is another atmospheric offering. I like the sepia colour palette, punctuated by the bright red splash in the corner, which emphasises the sense of menace.
This French edition, produced by Livre de Poche in 2010, again has a strong sense of something amiss. The unusual perspective of the house with the brooding storm clouds above is eye-catching and appealing. Which is your favourite?
Brainfluff 