04. A book with a monochromatic cover

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

We are all drawn to beautiful book covers, and one of the latest trends in the publishing industry is to use one central color on the cover of a book. This week, you're picking a book cover that stands out to you because of its use of one single color across the cover. Different hues of red, blue, yellow, or any other color under the rainbow -- as long as they aren't mingling on the cover!

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Suggestions:

You'll have to search your TBR, but here are a few suggestions!




ATY Group Listopia

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Optional Questions:
1. What are you reading for this category?
2. Do you normally pick books based on their cover?
3. What book would you recommend to others to read for this category?

[Sam]

I'm going with Klara and the Sun for this one.


I don't pick books based on their covers, but when physically browsing the cover or title needs to draw me to get me to flip it over and read the back. For ebooks and ARCs cover helps but there's usually Goodreads to check or blurbs/info loaded into edelweiss to determine if I want to download it.

For recs, I'll do one from each ROYGBIV (now not sure if Watership Down counts so threw in an extra yellow) plus black and white and I tried to just pick books I really like that happen to have a monochromatic cover:

[Pam]

I thought I had read that black and white worked so I may go with that option.
When We Were Orphans
Brideshead Revisited
Penguin Island - My edition is a hardback in a slip cover and looks like this cover but with no blue, only black and white!

[Chrissy]

I think this is a bit of a cheat with the yellow added in, but I think I may use
.
Or maybe
!

[Viktoria]

I've chosen for this prompt.

I don't usually look at covers, because I read mostly ebooks and listen to audiobooks. And it was a bit hard for me to decide if a book fits the prompt or not. I still don't know if black and white counts?
If it does is another option I have on my TBR

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

My thought is that, if you're looking at the color scale, on one end is white, on the other is black, and in between are all of the variations of that one color. So... black and white will count for me, as long as it is just accent colors (like with American Gods), and not like half of the book cover color.

[dalex]

This prompt hurts my brain...LOL. When I look at the books on the listopia I see 3 or 4 or 5 colors on the covers, not just one. I think I’m just going to do a black & white cover and call it done.

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

There can be different colors as long as they are variations of the same one. Also some people didn't count the title if it was black, white, etc. I am surprised to find in my TBR all these:



I have a lot of books similar to the example of above, but I personally would disqualify that because of the red contrasting area.

[Kristina]

I’m reading A Teaspoon of Earth and Sea for this prompt.

[Sam]

Robin P wrote: "There can be different colors as long as they are variations of the same one. Also some people didn't count the title if it was black, white, etc. I am surprised to find in my TBR all these:

[book..."

Oh that's interesting, Robin P! I would count Catch-22 because it does use one single color for most of the cover the book and it definitely doesn't mingle colors.

I'm not sure why[bookcover:Catch-22|168668] wouldn't count but or would count: Chemistry has a black figure surrounded by a red atom which I think is comparable to the Catch-22 red figure, and Recursion has a gray/blue/green dashed figure 8 prominently on the cover.

I would count all the these as meeting the criteria, but maybe I am off base?

[Nancy]

These are the two I'm considering for this one:



Though Dear Emmie Blue has the red balloon and person so maybe not, if that Catch-22 cover doesn't work? I guess that would make it easier to go with The Last Flight.

I think I'm overthinking this one.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

I think that Catch-22's cover's red is just a bit too vibrant/much/prominent for me to count it as monochromatic, whereas Chemistry's is so subtle. I could see Recursion not counting since the design covers the whole cover...

All that being said, it's going to be a highly subjective prompt and we are just going to roll with it lol. When I was adding books, I went with the "mostly one color" rule rather than truly monochromatic. But we will see what I end up actually reading.

On my plan, I currently have:

[Pam]

I’m with Dalex! This prompt hurts my brain, too! If I see more than color, then I don’t think monochrome.

[Hannah]

I'm intending to read in order, but only plan kind of month by month, so this is one I'm thinking about now. I agree that this prompt is bringing out the literalist in me, though! I'm trying to decide if I will consider black and white or if that's too easy. I figure if there are multiple shades of gray, it could count so I have a few options I'm excited about:


If not black and white, I might go for
or

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

Sam wrote: "Robin P wrote: "There can be different colors as long as they are variations of the same one. Also some people didn't count the title if it was black, white, etc. I am surprised to find in my TBR a..."

I see your point, as Emily says this is highly subjective, so if you think it fits, go with it!

[Ellie]

I'm allowing black and white elements if the majority of the cover is one colour. I like to use the cover on the edition I own for cover prompts and I don't think this style is as common in the UK...

[Kathy]

Choices I have:

- Zadie Smith
- Mary Stewart
- R.T. Campbell
- Mary Westmacott
- Elizabeth Gaskell

[Alicia]

I've decided, for myself, that black and white don't count as colors. Instead I view them as shades of other colors. So I've narrowed down to these three:

King of Scars - I don't know if something can be as monochromatic as this or the sequel Rule of Wolves


The Last Flight


American War

[Serendipity]

Yay. Another category I can use a Woman’s Prize winner for. Carol Shield’s Larry’s Party has a green cover. Whether my library’s copy does remains to be seen.

[Pam]

From Wiki, ”Of an image, the term monochrome is usually taken to mean the same as black and white or, more likely, grayscale, but may also be used to refer to other combinations containing only tones of a single color...” This definition is why I was thinking that black and white works. I would prefer to go with a non B&W option, if I can find a good one. I’ve added a few to my TBR from this thread already!

[Heather]

My plan is Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver, which I'm excited for bc I loved The Poisonwood Bible.

[Angie]

This prompt has Riley Sager written all over it.

My two top options are:



I've been holding off on reading them this year because both of them fit nicely into this year's list.

For those looking for options, Sager has a couple of other books that fit the bill:



I liked both books but preferred Lock Every Door.

[Marie (UK)]

I think I might go with this one

if it works

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

I'd say it works, Marie.

[Marie (UK)]

Emily wrote: "I'd say it works, Marie."

thanks i may have a more obvious one Going Green

[Wendy]

I'm thinking of The Blue Fox for this one.

[SadieReadsAgain]

1. What are you reading for this category?
Well, I was today years old when I realised that monochromatic means "one colour." I seemed to think it meant black and white 🤦‍♀️ But I'm glad to see others think that still fits, because I don't want to switch out my choice:

Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge

2. Do you normally pick books based on their cover?
Not really. Usually a book has gone on my TBR before I've ever seen the cover. But a pretty cover will always turn my head and get me to read the blurb at the very least.

3. What book would you recommend to others to read for this category?
Well, now I know what it means...! These are monochromatic-ish.

[SadieReadsAgain]

Emily wrote: "My thought is that, if you're looking at the color scale, on one end is white, on the other is black, and in between are all of the variations of that one color. So... black and white will count fo..."

I'm going with this!

[Kerry]

Yay, because I really, really want to read this soon.


Welcome to Night Vale by Joseph Fink, Jeffrey Cranor

[Betty]

Would this work?

[Jennie]

I think this book works, and it's been on my TBR forever.

[Barbara]

1. What are you reading for this category?


2. Do you normally pick books based on their cover?
I have read quite a few books because of their covers and have had great experiences doing so!

3. What book would you recommend to others to read for this category?
My option is a re-reading, so if anyone qwould like to join me, I would love to share thoughts about the book.

[Errlee]

Do we have a listopia going for this prompt? I find those especially helpful for cover prompts, being a library user and with our libraries closed for browsing right now.

[Angela]

What are you reading for this category?
Lady Susan, by Jane Austen


Do you normally pick books based on their cover?
Occasionally if I see a really eye-catching cover, I’ll have a look at the plot description, but generally no.

What book would you recommend to others to read for this category?
Any of the Penguin Little Black Classics.

[Ruth]

So I've jut finished my first book in this year's challenge
by Alan Bennett, an excellent short read to start my year about what may happen if you mess with books with an unexpected twist at the end. Would also work for prompt 51.

[NancyJ]

Here are some that I'd like to read

[NancyJ]

Jenna wrote: "1. What are you reading for this category?

A Season of Splendor: The Court of Mrs. Astor in Gilded Age New York

[bookcover:A Season of Splendor: The Court of Mrs. Astor in Gilded ..."

Good idea Jenna. I've saved a lot of money since I implemented a "library card, not credit card" policy a few years back. I read 270 books last year, so I figure I saved myself thousands. My library system has a great selection of kindles and audios online, and they take requests (which is very nice). I've also been extremely lucky with giveaways (or diligent in applying for them.)

[Sandra]

Like mysteries with a bit of grit and sarcasm? I just finished this one and enjoyed it a lot. Set in Tucson and has a great sense of place. Double Wide.

[Sandra]

Jenna wrote: "1. What are you reading for this category?

A Season of Splendor: The Court of Mrs. Astor in Gilded Age New York

[bookcover:A Season of Splendor: The Court of Mrs. Astor in Gilded ..."

Me too! I’m trying to be frugal with my book buying this year. I am challenging myself to read a 3:1 ratio of books already owned (or library) to books I buy. If I buy, they will first be < $5 Thrift book finds, or under $10 through my Audible subscription. The only new books I’m allowing at full price are for a local bookstore’s bookclub. May I friend you and tag along with your challenge?

[Jenna ✨DNF Queen✨Here, Sometimes...]

sssnoo wrote: "Me too! I’m trying to be frugal with my book buying this year. I am challenging myself to read a 3:1 ratio of books already owned (or library) to books I buy. If I buy, they will first be < $5 Thrift book finds, or under $10 through my Audible "

I love audible! It's the best for when I'm cleaning the house or working a night shift. Audible and Kindle Unlimited are two things I left in my budget since I get a lot out of them. I'm looking forward to what a depth-year-style challenge will bring!

NancyJ wrote: "...My library system has a great selection of kindles and audios online, and they take requests..."

That's great to hear NancyJ! Sadly 2020 was a rough year for accessing library materials in my part of the world and doesn't look to be improving just yet. This is especially ironic since I live less that 1 block from a library branch that also takes requests when functioning normally. I'm glad to hear you've been able to take advantage of lending/loaning where you are.

I love books and can get easily carried away when purchasing so I'm leaning in to a philosophy of only purchasing things I want in my life long-term. It's nice to know there are other like-minded people out there!

[Bec]

Would this count?

[Nadine in NY]

Is White Ivy a monochromatic cover? I think this is actually a full color photo but exposed in such a way that it appears monochromatic? Or is it actually a mononchrome image? I can't tell!! And then there are the title / author in another color - how strict is everyone being?

[Ellie]

I went with Mrs Death Misses Death by poet Salena Godden since I had a copy for review. It is a novel but has a mix of poetry in it. Not sure its theme of death will be for everyone right now but she wrote a wonderful disclaimer at the start acknowledging that. Something a bit different for me but I liked it.

[Ellie]

Nadine wrote: "Is White Ivy a monochromatic cover? I think this is actually a full color photo but exposed in such a way that it appears monochromatic? Or is it actually a mononchrome image? I can..."

I would count the image as monochromatic but maybe not the text? I don't think everyone is being that strict with coloured text thought.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Bec, I'd say so.

Nadine, I probably wouldn't count it, but mostly because I have so many books that fit this prompt that I'd use White Ivy somewhere else. I don't think it's too much of a stretch, though, if you wanted to place it here. (I'm obviously very liberal in my definition of "monochromatic" lol)

[Bec]

Emily wrote: "Bec, I'd say so.
.."

Thanks!!

[Brittany]

1. What are you reading for this category?
Limited Edition by Aude Picault

2. Do you normally pick books based on their cover?
Not all the time, but some covers definitely jump out to me and then I have to read them.
3. What book would you recommend to others to read for this category?

[Deborah]

While I have been known to be attracted to books by the cover, I have rarely made the decision to read it without looking at the book further. As a result, I decided to go with books I had already considered reading that happened to have a monochromatic cover. For this prompt I will be reading Eragon by Christopher Paolini. I considered reading Number the Stars by Lois Lowry instead, but I just finished a book that takes place in World War II and I think that I want to read something different for now. However, it was one of my favorite books as a child, so I highly recommend it. (I might take it on as a side read when some time has passed.)

Here is the cover of Eragon and some other books that I would recommend that happen to have a monochromatic Cover:


reply | flag *

[Aimee]

I'm struggling a bit with this prompt. Do you think this book:



would count?

The main colour is shades of orange but there is both black and white text on the cover too. I think I'd feel happier with the 'monochrome' definition if it only had black or white text, rather than both, so I'm wavering a bit.

[NancyJ]

Aimee wrote: "I'm struggling a bit with this prompt. Do you think this book:



would count?

The main colour is shades of orange but there is b..."

I like it. If you put it next to others above, the split background might make it stand out as different, but it fits the definition better than some on the listopia.

The book sounds good. I might read it too, for (47) non-fiction, (36) >6 words, (8) a country I didn't visit (nigeria, australia). It also fits a prompt that didn't make the list: "A book featuring a theme of women overcoming systemic obstacles"