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 meme is being nurtured by Lynn’s Book Blog and this week we are featuring covers with images of TRAINS. I’ve selected Trains and Lovers by Alexander McCall Smith of The Ladies’ No 1 Detective Agency fame. And in case you haven’t encountered this little gem, I wrote a review of it back in 2014 – see my review of Trains and Lovers.
This edition was produced by Pantheon in June 2013, and is the original cover design, so has set the tone for the subsequent covers. I actually like it very much. It’s clever and to the point – we see the train speeding past with a series of ardent couples all engaged in various stages of courtship. I like the contrast of the beige background colour and the grey train, which ought to be boring but somehow is not. I also like the title font, particularly the colouring of it, though I would have preferred that it was just a little more bolded to give a bit of extra heft for when it is in thumbnail.
Published in November 2012 by Polygon, I think this cover is trying just a tad too hard. Heart-shaped clouds if you must, with the sun peeping out – but flowers bouncing around the train wheels and a fluttering in the air. Really?? Apart from anything else, this is giving the completely wrong idea of the overall tone of this book, which is far more nuanced and ambivalent about the business of falling in love and what happens next. So, while I’ll agree that it is an attractive cover, I don’t like it as I think it tips into sentimentality which I LOATHE.
This edition, published by Anchor in December 2013 is far more sombre in tone, despite the bright red colouring. The seat facing the track with two single people sitting alone gives a sense of loneliness – and the randomness of encountering someone that you bond sufficiently well that you fall in love. This cover is certainly a contender.
This Italian edition, produced by Tre60 in April 2014 is back to the theme of the love train. The punchy blue backdrop and high bridge makes the train with its trail of hearts look small and rather fragile. I also like the treatment of the font, which really grabs the eye and stands out well in thumbnail.
This edition, published by Polygon in August 2017, is my favourite. I love the station scene and the punchy contrast between that saturated blue, which works well as a backdrop to the title font, and the yellow arches. The station clock and flowers act as a pleasing set for the lovers meeting on the station platform. It’s very simple and pared back, as are all the cover designs for this book, but this is the most visually pleasing and works well for this particular book, I think. Which is your favourite?
Brainfluff 
I like the original cover, pictured first. with the realistic colors and people shown in silhouette!
Thank you, Becky. It’s great fun, isn’t it? It was certainly a contender – until I encountered the last cover, I thought it would be my favourite, too:)
The last one is my favorite as well: the station scene is so reminiscent of many similar scenes in movies that it’s instantly recognizable as a classic 🙂
Yes! I immediately thought of the film ‘Brief Encounter’ – the original, rather than the 1970s version…
I really like the vintage look of the Pantheon cover, but if I am looking to one that draws my eye, it would be Polygon cover that you also selected, Sarah.
Thank you, Carla:). Yes, as soon as I saw the Polygon cover, it was the one that garnered my attention.
Something about number 2 endears itself to me.
I’m glad you like it, Rae:)). It is a very cheerful, attractive cover, full of colour. By the way – I think you’d love this one…
I think my favorite is the last one. I love the colors and the perspective!
Thank you, Mogsy:). Yes – the colours and perspective work really well, I think:).
Definitely the first book, although the last one is a close runner-up.
Yes – they are both very strong covers, I think.
HELLO! Thought I’d stop by here to see what’s what, and I’m excited to have found some more covers to compare! I wonder if that first selection works because it almost feels like a handwritten note, something discovered while on a train. I agree all the flying flowers in the other one is way too much sugary whimsy for me. 😉
I hadn’t thought of why that first cover works – but our sub-conscious often takes over in these cases:)).