Book Design

 This subject is near and dear to me, because I have an interest in design and I actually like physical books more than I like e-books. The reason for that is that there is this aesthetic quality to physical books that e-books don't have. I also find it easier to concentrate with a physical book. In the article, I thought it was interesting the tactics being used to avoid a complete e-book takeover. From a marketing standpoint, the idea of making something visually pleasing is one of the cardinal views. Catching a viewer's eye is the first step in creating a connection to something. I was surprised hearing the amount of detail that goes into cover design specifically. It sounds like such a daunting task to trap an entire book's essence in a very small space. There is so much that could be missed.

I was also very excited when the article mentioned Madeline Miller's Song of Achilles. I became a huge fan of her after reading "Circe" and I bought the physical book. The cover is of Circe's face and inside the book is a map of the island she inhabits. To me, this made the book feel special because I could now visualize the place where the majority of the book takes place. I would come back to the map after reading Circe's intimate descriptions of her island prison. That added something to the reading experience, so I can understand the importance of book design because I will be buying a hard copy of "The Song of Achilles." 

Ariel