Now updated to include winners...

Let's talk cover love today.  I've admitted in the past to being a cover snob.  I love a pretty or interesting cover.  Often it's the cover that gets me to buy the book.  I tend to be attracted to the more abstract covers, but sometimes ones featuring people grab me.

My favorite cover from this past year's reads is the His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman.  Okay, I'm cheating a bit as the covers are a set, but these are too gorgeous not to include all three.  J picked up this box set at Half Price Books sometime in 2010.  I love the colors, the raised gold lettering, and especially the constellations in the background.  These covers fit the story to a tee.

Honorable mentions:

The Magicians and The Magician King by Lev Grossman -- These two fit beautiful together.  I get a sense of Fillory in each cover.

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake -- Look at those colors!

Sunshine by Robin McKinley -- My cover actually sparkles and somehow it doesn't seem cheesy at all.  Plus that little bit of red really calls to mind the vampires in the story.  Amazing!

Allison Hewitt is Trapped by Madeleine Roux -- Check out the zombie peeking at Allison through the book stacks. Very scary!

I also hold a place in my heart for funny or ridiculous covers.  I really love this selection.  Check them out!  Questions: Does anyone else have issues with where that pile of wood is on The Rifleman?  What is up with Retief's codpiece?  Does anyone else agree that clowns are always scary, but extra so when it looks like one is trying to pick you up?  And is that a weedwacker or are you just happy to see me?  Extra creepy...

Now I want to hear yours.  What's your favorite cover?  Or What's the funniest cover you've seen?  Tell me in a blog post (linked in my comments) or in the comments section to win.

Prizes:

• 2  $10 Amazon or Book Depository GC -- Favorite cover and funniest cover (open internationally)
• 2  Choice of book or series from my giveaway pile -- Random winners (open to US and Canada)

Rules:

• Must be a participant of Bout of Books to enter
• Must leave a comment or link to your blog in my comments section
• Contest runs 12:01am CST to 11:59pm CST

Giveaway stash (note that all books are preloved, but in good condition):

• Allison Hewitt is Trapped / Sadie Walker is Stranded by Madeleine Roux (2 books)
• As the World Dies trilogy by Rhiannon Frater (3 books)
• Newsflesh trilogy by Mira Grant (3 books)
• The Jewel of St. Petersburg by Kate Furnivall
• The Girl from Junchow by Kate Furnivall
• Consider Lily by Anne Dayton
• Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick
• The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
• The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
• The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever by Julia Quinn
• Bridge of Scarlet Leaves by Kristina McMorris
• Arthurian Romances by Chretien de Troyes
• Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky
• An Offer You Can't Refuse by Jill Mansell
• Pinned by Sharon Flake
• Serial by Jack Kilbourn and Blake Crouch
• Mythology by Edith Hamilton
• A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
• Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson
• The Tudor Rose trilogy by Susan Wiggs (3 books)
• The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott by Kelly O'Connor McNees

Good Luck and Happy Reading!!!!!

I had a hard time choosing, but I finally picked the winners for the Cover Challenge.  Thank you to everyone who entered.  It was awesome seeing all the beautiful/ridiculous covers.

My favorite cover was: Philip Pullman's Grimm Tales submitted by Ner.  I love the simple, yet intricate, design.  And the red hood and wolf tongue just pops!

The funniest cover was: Enchanted Again by Nancy Madore submitted by Aleksandra @ Aleksandra's Corner. Check out this ridiculousness. Who decided that flowers seeminly growing out of her butt was a good idea?

Random winners:

• Bekka @ Pretty Deadly Reviews
• Jennifer @ A Librarian's Library

Have Fun and Keep Reading!