Speaking of Covers
In the comments to my last post, someone asked about the cover for Theodosia and the Eyes of Horus. It’s not available yet, but I’ll post it as soon as it is. In the meantime, I thought it might be kind of fun to see all the foreign covers of Theodosia. The book has been published in French, Polish, Italian, and German. It’s been hugely fun seeing how the different countries design different covers.
In French: Theodosia et les Serpents du Chaos
In Italian:
In German:
In Polish: (Even though it’s the same cover, I love the way the title looks in Polish.)
Do you have a favorite? Post your favorite cover in the comments and you’ll be entered in a drawing to win a just released paperback copy of Theodosia and the Staff of Osiris!
The contest will run until next Monday, when I’ll announce the winner in my next post. Good luck!
(p.s. The more entries there are, the more winners I’ll draw. I’ll draw one winner for every ten people that comment!)
August 28th, 2009 at 12:35 am
i like ther German one best.
August 28th, 2009 at 12:48 am
Teh French one looks like a comic book or graphic novel, so i like that one best.
August 28th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
Me. Me. Me. PICK ME!!!!
I like ALL OF THEM EQUALLY.
PICK ME!!!
August 28th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
I vote for the Italian one cuz she looks kinda like me.
August 29th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
Hi! Long time no see! I thought that you took out the comments completely! My mistake. Anyway, I like the french one the best.
August 30th, 2009 at 2:49 am
I really like the french one, even though it doesn’t look very much like how I picture Theo. And I like the German one, because it looks like there is a cat coming out of her head!
August 30th, 2009 at 8:47 pm
The French one!
September 7th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
i know the contest is over, but the german one is the best. especialy because the title is strange. I love how it means something along the lines of curses the black cat. also, long time no see!
September 20th, 2009 at 5:38 pm
I like the French cover most of all, because she looks so pretty. However, the German cover is really neat with how Isis is on her head and she holding the Hear of Egypt. The Polish and the American covers look the most like I picture Theodosia to look though!
September 20th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
Thanks for weighing in, Morgan! I like your analysis.
December 27th, 2009 at 6:49 pm
I agree that Theo looks prettiest on the French cover, but I can’t even imagine her looking like that, with that expression on her face. It doesn’t fit her personality, in my opinion. Also, as Caitlyn said, it looks like a comic book or graphic novel. She saw that as a good thing, but I don’t. I don’t read that kind of thing, and I’m not sure how much I’d really want to read it, upon seeing it. I’d probably see the interesting title on the spine in the library, see the cover, read the blurb, and just put it back. Then, eventually, after weeks of seeing it and doing the same (I do some really weird things when I’m not sure whether to read a book), I might check it out and realize what a marvelous book I’d been missing out on, but I’d forever be criticizing the cover for not putting the proper expression on her face. I’m sorry, but I just can’t picture her looking that way.
I like the Italian cover. I like the way Theo is portrayed in it. Her expression fits her personality well enough, and although she’s very different from how I see her (which is basically a cross between the German and Polish/American versions of her), I understand why she might look that way, and it’s interesting to compare it to the way I see her. What I don’t like is its lack of Isis. I think she should be there somewhere, as she’s an important part of the story.
My absolute favorite is the German 1. I love it partly for all of the reasons already stated, but for other reasons as well. It’s extremely realistic looking, for one thing. I wish I could draw like that. And her eyes are wonderful! They look extremely intelligent, which of course she is. And they look confused and inquisitive, like she has a secret; like she’s up to something; trying to figure something out — all of those things are usually true. And they look really caring but troubled and afraid, as if someone she loves, and maybe herself as well, is in danger, which is perfect for an 11-year-old living in a museum full of cursed objects with her family, the only 1 who can even try to break the curses, and not a professional at it, either. And yet they are cold, penetrating, suspicious eyes as well. She doesn’t go around trusting people blindly, they have to earn it. There’s also something in those eyes that’s pleading and lonely. It looks as if there’s some secret part of her that’s crying out mentally, “Please look at me. Acknowledge my existence. Listen to me, and hear what I say. Believe me! I have something important to say, but you keep ignoring me!” And that’s true as well. I think that the reason she came so close to telling Henry everything is that she needed to. Most book characters make friends and allies so easily, it’s extremely unrealistic. It isn’t so simple for Theodosia. Her own parents act like she doesn’t exist, even though she keeps trying to please them. It’s unfair, and she knows it. Really, it’s Theodosia’s eye’s that make me love the German cover so much. But, it’s not just those reasons, either. I know it’s an insignificant detail, but the dress she’s wearing is magnificent! I’m sure she’s only wearing it because her Grandmother Throckmorton made her or something of that sort, but I just love it!
The Polish cover is nice, too. Isis looks awesome, like a real Ancient Egyptian cat. The only thing I don’t like is Theo’s facial expression. It’s so cold and selfish! I much prefer the German version…
December 27th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
Wow, that was a long comment!!
December 30th, 2009 at 3:55 am
Wow, thank you for your very well thought out and detailed analysis, Bibliophile! I absolutely agree that the face on the German cover conveys a lot of layers and depth to Theodosia’s personality. Very haunting eyes, as you say.