Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week a new topic is given and weeks topic is:
Scariest Book Covers
For each of the covers below, I've included some of the alternate/foreign covers, but the large version is the one I deem the scariest.
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Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk:
The expression on this face is pure terror. What could he be looking at?
The expression on this face is pure terror. What could he be looking at?
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This is a case of less is more. The close-up of the clenched hand with the rotten, dirty fingernails is scary enough on its own. The second cover looks too bad actor-y, and the green cover is just too sanitized.
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The Omen by David Seltzer:
I don't normally prefer book covers showing the film actors, but in this case, it works, with innocent, little Damien, casting a shadow in the shape of a cross. The last one, with a shadow in the shape of a jackal is great, too.
It by Stephen King:
I had to have a scary clown! That first one is shudder-inducing. He has a look that makes it appear as though he's about to either burst into tears or slowly widen his lips into a wicked grin. The first cover on the first row is pretty creepy, with just a bit of clown face showing.
Do you know that Kristen from My Friends are Fiction redesigns book cover characters with Legos? Here's her take on Pennywise:
They Thirst by Robert McCammon:
This one is just disgusting, and I say that with utmost praise. Do we even need to discuss the other covers? They don't come close to comparing.
The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty:
OK, I think this might be the Spanish version. Can anyone confirm? She looks like she's rotting from the inside out. On the bottom row, aside from the font, there's nothing scary in the first cover. That almost looks like Cindy Brady from The Brady Bunch. The second cover could be a supermodel with her features distorted in Photoshop. I believe the third one is an image from the movie. It's scary to me, because I've seen it, and I know what happens to him. I have no idea what to make of the last cover.
I don't normally prefer book covers showing the film actors, but in this case, it works, with innocent, little Damien, casting a shadow in the shape of a cross. The last one, with a shadow in the shape of a jackal is great, too.
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I had to have a scary clown! That first one is shudder-inducing. He has a look that makes it appear as though he's about to either burst into tears or slowly widen his lips into a wicked grin. The first cover on the first row is pretty creepy, with just a bit of clown face showing.
Do you know that Kristen from My Friends are Fiction redesigns book cover characters with Legos? Here's her take on Pennywise:
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This one is just disgusting, and I say that with utmost praise. Do we even need to discuss the other covers? They don't come close to comparing.
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OK, I think this might be the Spanish version. Can anyone confirm? She looks like she's rotting from the inside out. On the bottom row, aside from the font, there's nothing scary in the first cover. That almost looks like Cindy Brady from The Brady Bunch. The second cover could be a supermodel with her features distorted in Photoshop. I believe the third one is an image from the movie. It's scary to me, because I've seen it, and I know what happens to him. I have no idea what to make of the last cover.
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The Ritual by Adam Nevill:
The top cover beats the first one on the bottom for two reasons: 1) The scary tagline, and 2) Aside from the weird stuff in the foreground on the bottom cover, it looks like the sun is shining during a nice fall day. The third cover is very similar to the top one, but I prefer the colors in the top, and I also like how that cross thing is not the focal point; it takes a second for your eyes to find it. It's much more in your face in the last cover.
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I was going to put Haunted on my list too, the face alone scares me but imagining what inspires that face is probably a lot worst. LOL the lego remake of IT is awesome though he just looks very grumpy. I scrolled past The Exorcist cover so quick, it startled my poor heart. :P
ReplyDeleteIsa @ Chasing Quills
I really love the covers for The Ritual, and I like what you did with your list. We have a couple of books in common even!
ReplyDeleteMy TTT
Scary!! Rot & Ruin made my list too! Those covers freak me out. IDK if I can read the books just because I wouldn't want to look at the book sitting in my house. The Omen is definitely freaky and ANYTHING with clowns makes my skin crawl!
ReplyDeleteMy TTT
Great selection. I think the overall collection of It covers is freaky. Scary clowns? What could be creepier?
ReplyDeleteSuch creepy books. I don't think I could manage reading any of these books. The covers might look at me!
ReplyDeleteOkay, yep, your list is the scariest I've seen so far x___x The covers for IT are HORRIBLE, I hate clowns! I also dislike children, mostly in horror stories, so those covers for The Omen are a big NOPE. I'm going to run away now.
ReplyDeleteI think IT is on everyone's lists this week. I am likely to have nightmares about clowns tonight. Haha.
ReplyDeleteMy TTT.
Scary clown is...scary. Mind you, clowns freak me out a bit anyway so he could be looking totally innocuous and I'd still be getting shivers. Here's my TTT
ReplyDeleteThe covers of It completely terrify me. Clowns are just wrong in life.
ReplyDeleteMy TTT List
Overall a terrifying list of book covers. That first cover of They Thirst is horrible, so disturbing! I'm actually not really scared of clowns but It sounds and looks creepy as! Great choices!
ReplyDeleteBecca @ Lost in Thought
http://lostinthought-becca.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/top-ten-scary-book-covers.html
I don't even know where to begin, they're all really creepy in their own way (from the sinister clown to the strange whathaveyou for The Thirst). lol
ReplyDeleteMy TTT
"It" is making a lot of lists, including mine. I love your friend's Lego version. Not quite as scary.
ReplyDeletehttp://thebookconnectionccm.blogspot.com/2013/10/top-ten-tuesday-top-ten-scariest.html
Wow just looking at these covers give me the shivers. Great picks!
ReplyDeleteMy TTT:http://www.bookythoughtsandme.com/top-ten-books-to-read-for-halloween/
IT. OMEN. EXORCIST. *TURNS AWAY!* Are you trying to give me nightmares?
ReplyDeleteHere's Our List
Doris @ Owl Always Be Reading
There is no Halloween without Stephewn King books! Cray cray
ReplyDeleteMy Top Ten List!
So many freaky covers. Flesh and Bone really creeps me out, as do the covers for The Exorcist. Great list!
ReplyDeleteWhat I need to know--does anyone in the world LIKE clowns? They are so freaky scary and I have never understood how they are for kids. that being said...the It cover with the hand and the balloon gave me chills. Ugh. Even Stephen King's name creeps me.
ReplyDeleteSome of those are really terrifying. I love that you included the biggest one being the one you found scariest and then other variations.
Omen totally freaks me. A lone, scowling child is horrifying.
Great list Stephanie! Love it and thank you so much for including Lego Pennywise.
My Friends Are Fiction
Haunted is really spooky -- gah! I have The Omen, The Exorcist, and It this week too (lots of lists with It this week -- no wonder we're all scared to death of clowns!). These are great, and I love that you included so many varieties!
ReplyDeleteLisa
My TTT
Those are really creepy covers. I was scrolling and had to stop because I though the lips on The Thirst were dripping -- which made it all the creepier.
ReplyDelete