The blight of book jackets and the question of the cat
May 22nd 2008 20:57
As a devoted book lover, book collector and book fanatic, lover of the gatefold flap, the beautiful cover design, I have to verbalize the question that has been brewing inside me for a long time: What’s with the book jacket?
I appreciate a hard cover just like the next person who likes to pay more than double for a book so it doesn’t run the risk of having its front cover torn. But what purpose does a book jacket that doesn’t stay on unless you keep the book permanently closed serve? It just gets in the way while you’re trying to read, flopping around like a map that won’t fold back properly, gaping and tearing at every possible opportunity, until such time as the reader (me in this instance) yanks the thing off in irritation, unable to throw it out, but not knowing what else to do with it.
As far as I can tell, the only purpose a book jacket ever serves is as a place holder in a book. Until you’ve read so much of the book the little front foldy bit doesn’t work so well and then you have to use the little back foldy bit. But that’s what we have bookmarks for. Designed for just this very purpose.
My daughter has little piles of book jackets strewn around her room the cat uses to wrestle with. The jacket of the latest book I am reading was recently attacked by the cat and mauled to shreds. I couldn’t blame her. I felt the same way.
To my mind, book jackets should be banned for these reasons:
1. they are annoying
2. they get in the way of a good read
3. they tear
4. they serve no purpose other than to irritate the reader
5. they are a waste of paper
6. they confuse the cat
If anyone can show me any good reason why I have misjudged book covers, let them speak now.
www.joannefedler.com
Book trailer for Things Without A Name
I appreciate a hard cover just like the next person who likes to pay more than double for a book so it doesn’t run the risk of having its front cover torn. But what purpose does a book jacket that doesn’t stay on unless you keep the book permanently closed serve? It just gets in the way while you’re trying to read, flopping around like a map that won’t fold back properly, gaping and tearing at every possible opportunity, until such time as the reader (me in this instance) yanks the thing off in irritation, unable to throw it out, but not knowing what else to do with it.
As far as I can tell, the only purpose a book jacket ever serves is as a place holder in a book. Until you’ve read so much of the book the little front foldy bit doesn’t work so well and then you have to use the little back foldy bit. But that’s what we have bookmarks for. Designed for just this very purpose.
My daughter has little piles of book jackets strewn around her room the cat uses to wrestle with. The jacket of the latest book I am reading was recently attacked by the cat and mauled to shreds. I couldn’t blame her. I felt the same way.
To my mind, book jackets should be banned for these reasons:
1. they are annoying
2. they get in the way of a good read
3. they tear
4. they serve no purpose other than to irritate the reader
5. they are a waste of paper
6. they confuse the cat
If anyone can show me any good reason why I have misjudged book covers, let them speak now.
www.joannefedler.com
Book trailer for Things Without A Name
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Comment by tlcorbin
Coffee Quip
A Global Citizen
Paranormal Paranormal
Is Why
Alaska Chronicle
unscented toilet paper,
birdcage liners,
dog house insulation,
rolled up they can be used to discipline kids, dogs, cats and rowdy beaus,
camp fire starters,
we hang them in lieu of family portraits,
wrapping up left over sushi lunches,
for handiwipes,
art palettes,
insulation for your muk luks (it's easier to harvest than grass),
taped to broken windows you put off repairs until spring,
rolled into mini logs you can burn them in the fireplace,
rolled up they can be the mainstay of spanky butt games,
shaped into cones they are great funnels and megaphones,
and once II caught myself reading one out desperation while waiting to use it as unscented TP.
Do these count Jo? I've got more you know . . .
Raven
Comment by Joanne Fedler
Secret Writers Business
What is a muk luk?
How does one discipline a rowdy beau?
Thanks for the laugh.
And I LOVE your new photo - is that your cat and does s/he also maul book jackets?
Jo
Comment by tlcorbin
Coffee Quip
A Global Citizen
Paranormal Paranormal
Is Why
Alaska Chronicle
I'm glad that I could give you a laugh.