Sunday, November 15, 2009
Book covers
There are many covers that go along with The Fifth Child. But out of the 4 covers I feel that the second one down represents the book the best. When looking at it you see many things. When I first glanced at it, I saw a face. The eyes were in between the arms of the person, and it had an eerie smile. It also looks like this face is wearing a mask. But when you look closer you can see a boy ready to jump out of a window. This cover shows how complicated this book is. It has a feeling of darkness and horror to it, the same feeling that the book created. When the first four children were born everything was fine and happy. "This was happiness in the old style." (Lesing, p. 17) People reading this book wouldn't get this dark horrific cover at that point in the book. Then, after Ben was born and they saw the pain that he created among the family, people would quickly agree with the cover. The book has a lot of feelings of darkness, horror, and gothic. The cover that I picked is able to put that same feeling on one piece of paper.
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Hi Alan! Great analysis! I liked that you commented on all four book covers instyed of just the one you liked...
ReplyDeleteAlan, I feel the same way as you about that specific book cover for Doris Lessling's "The Fifth Child". It truly does show the complication of this novella, and transmits a feeling of disarray. Also, it depicts the dark, sinister side of the story as well. Good choice!
ReplyDeleteMike F
I think this is a great explination of why the cover is a good choice. It is right that you would think that the cover is apporate for the first four children but the horror of the cover is very apporate when Ben is brought into there life. Also the book is just as complicated as this cover.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the second cover captured the gothic characteristics of the novel best, however I did see the image of the face until it was pointed out by someone, instead I felt that tne cover represented how Ben was locked away from the outside world both when he was in his bedroom and the institution. The figure crouching on the cover could represent Ben and his introverted and unique manerisms.
ReplyDeleteHey Alan!! I really like how you chose the book cover you liked but you commented on all the other ones as well! Very well written!
ReplyDeleteAlthough i did not choose the cover that you did, i agree with you 100%. This cover shows the depth in this novel. It also manages to show Ben's sadness and his monstrous inside at the same time.
ReplyDeletei didn't agree with this at all, but you made valid points and i respect your opinion. nice job putting pictures of each of the covers in instead of just one.
ReplyDeleteYou did have a lot of good points. As a matter of fact, I picked the same one, for very similar reasons.
ReplyDelete