Have you ever bought books just because you liked the covers, read book, thought it was so-so, but just couldn't bring yourself to part with it because you liked the cover?

I'm having that problem with a few at the moment, one of them being the Shirley Damsgaard Witch series, They sounded awesome, I loved the cat pictures on the cover, read the first one, and even though I liked it, there was really NO cat action to speak of. I'm so tired of mysteries selling themselves by having cats on the cover when the cat has nothing to do with the plot! :angry2: But even though I don't see myself reading this one again, I really like the cover and don't want to let go of it! (yes, even though if I BC'd it, I could stare at the cover on the screen all day long! LOL! Maybe if I ponder that thought long enough it will work and I can part with it! :lol: )

So, anyone else a sucker for cover art?

Well, I don't keep them because of cover art (I only see the spine on my bookshelf after all!), but I do buy them because of cover art. :lol:

You mean you don't randomly pick up books from your shelves and look at them and pet them and such? :lol:

Only when I'm contemplating what to read next...

I used to buy occasional vinyl records (albums and 12" singles) for their cover art way back when...

When I get into a decent B&M store (which doesn't happen often) I'll pick up previously-unknown books if I like their cover art, but unknown book purchases are based on the blurb.

I've hunted down second copies of books for my PC because I preferred alternative cover art, then passed my less-excitingly-covered original books on to someone else.

Shaunesay - you are not alone. I'm guilty of this too. Just a few months ago, I made myself give up my C. S. Friedman Coldfire trilogy because I knew I was never going to read them again. I love Michael Whelan's art work though and have bought many books just because he's done the cover art. I still have many other books I keep hanging on to though - Dragonsbane by Barbara Hambly, Shadow Moon by Chris Claremont and several of Daniel Hood's Fanuihl series are some I can think of off the top of my head. I know there are more. :blush:

I originally purchased George R. R. Martin's Game of Thrones because of the cover art work. It's one of my favorite fantasy series ever.

:blush: Um, doesn't everyone?!? :lol:

Yeah, I've been sucked in by great cover art too... I also had to get rid of a book once because I HATED the cover art so much.

I'm also a sucker for a great title, even if the book sucks... at least with bookcrossing I feel comfortable releasing those, knowing the great title will remain on my virtual bookshelf I don't feel the need to have it cluttering up my real shelves if I didn't actually like the book.

Also, I have a terrible time getting rid of parts of sets... even if I only really liked one or two books, I have to keep the whole set for completeness for some silly reason.

I bought The Horse Whisper for the cover art as well as The Traveler. Anytime I finish a SK book I sit there and rub the book, knowing it is done and can't seem to part with it.

I usually pass a book on as soon as I have read it but I do buy books for their covers