Books and Sensibility

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Tied Up with Tie-Ins;The Good, Bad & Ugly of Movie Tie-In Book Covers

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Ah, film tie-ins. Those wonderful (read: sarcasm ) things movie companies come up with to make even more money than they already have. Film tie-ins often come in the form of video games and collectible toys, but now we are seeing more movie tie-in book covers. You bought Breaking Dawn two years ago , right ? Well, You don’t own the one with Rpatz face on it !That’ll be $10.

I kind of have a love/hate relationship with tie-in covers. Mostly though, I hate them. They don’t serve much of a purpose except to make you buy the book again. Let’s take a look at the good, bad and ugly of tie in covers.

Better than the original



I like this cover. In fact, when I bought the book, I chose it over the original. The design of the tie-in seems to have become somewhat of an icon for Lauren Weisberger. All of her book covers  are now released with a similar heel design, she even uses the heel motif  on her website.

Original American Cover
Movie Tie-in Cover

The Good

Some tie-ins know how to blend the best of both worlds. They will just take elements of the original and work it together with the film tie-in. Both of these tie-ins used similar coloring and positioning as the original. 

 

Original Cover
 Movie Tie-in cover

 

 
Original Cover

 

 

Don’t Look Now

This may just be a coincidence,but I was in the bookstore and I noticed when it comes to romantic themed novel tie-ins,they pretty much follow the same position;look deep into each others eyes and don’t look into the 4th wall. Usually this is done when it is a ‘celebrity romance’ they are trying to push. I think the reason they use this position is to draw our attention to the couple but, it was funny to me all the tie-ins  follow this. Also, notice none of the original covers even have faces on them.

Movie Tie-in Cover
Original Cover
Original Cover
Movie Tie-in cover
Original Cover
Movie Tie-in Cover    

 

 

Look Who is in This Book  . . . Not, Really.

  Some tie-ins just shamelessly put the actor front and center. A little shelf candy for your home library. I don’t know what Charlie St. Cloud is about but, ooh Zefron !

Original Cover
Movie Tie-in
Movie Tie-in
Original Cover

 

 

 

 

This is not my childhood

I find it really bizarre when suddenly the books of your childhood get the film tie-in cover. The Narnia covers of my childhood were the 1994 HarperCollins by Leo and Diane Dillon. You know, the purple and white ones. I mean okay, I admit . . . I do own the Prince Caspian with Ben Barnes on the cover.

Original Book Cover
Movie Tie-in
1994 HarperCollins Cover
Movie Tie-in

 Harry Potter

And then there are series like Harry Potter and it’s film tie- in covers. Oh wait . . .  Harry Potter don’t play that. There are no film tie-in covers for Harry Potter because they don’t need them. I mean, okay I will admit as far as merchandising tie-ins Harry Potter does seem have everything else. Still, I’d rather eat a bag of Beritie Botts Every Flavor Jellybean than buy a book I already have because Daniel Radcliffe is on the cover.

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Written By Kat