Never Let Me Go Cover Analysis:
- Focus on the images and their intended purpose.
Cover A's intended purpose is to show the setting of NLMG as gloomy with darkness and lightness within. The boat in it is also significant to the boat scene near the end of the book so it is foreshadowing to the contents of the book. Cover B's intended purpose is to show the main character as lonely or alienated. There is also a contrast in the image between the modern/futuristic print and the natural setting. Cover C's intended purpose is to foreshadow the significance of organs in the book, more specifically organ donation. Cover D's intended purpose is to show the change/movement in the narrator's life by having a picture of a girl moving.
- What similarities and differences do you find? Speculate on the reasons for the various covers.
All of the covers have the author's name and the title of the book on them. They all have a little bit about the Booker Prize at the top and a quote about the book, except Cover C. The reason Cover C may be lacking those things is because the artist may have found it more powerful to just have the title and the author and make it more mysterious.
- After briefly comparing and contrasting all four covers, choose two to examine more closely:
Cover B and C.
1) What are the first words that come into your mind when you see this image? What does it make you think of?
Cover B - I think of sadness and loneliness when I look at this image.
Cover C - I think of darkness and mystery when I look at this image.
Cover B - I think of sadness and loneliness when I look at this image.
Cover C - I think of darkness and mystery when I look at this image.
2) If you hadn't read any of the novel, what would this image make you think the book was about?
Now that you've read the novel, what kind of relationship(s) does this image have to the text?
Cover B - I would think the novel is about a lonely girl. Now that I've read it though, I think this image relates to the loneliness Kathy feels after Ruth and Tommy die.
Cover C - I would think the novel is about medicine and/or illness that is trapping someone. Now that I've read it though, I think this image relates to organ donation throughout the book and how the clones are trapped in their fate of becoming donors.
Now that you've read the novel, what kind of relationship(s) does this image have to the text?
Cover B - I would think the novel is about a lonely girl. Now that I've read it though, I think this image relates to the loneliness Kathy feels after Ruth and Tommy die.
Cover C - I would think the novel is about medicine and/or illness that is trapping someone. Now that I've read it though, I think this image relates to organ donation throughout the book and how the clones are trapped in their fate of becoming donors.
3) Who seems to be portrayed? From whose viewpoint are we looking?
Cover B - Kathy H seems to be portrayed. It seems as though the viewpoint is that of an outsider.
Cover C - Kathy H, or maybe all donors in general, seem to be portrayed. It also seems as though the viewpoint is that of an outsider.
Cover B - Kathy H seems to be portrayed. It seems as though the viewpoint is that of an outsider.
Cover C - Kathy H, or maybe all donors in general, seem to be portrayed. It also seems as though the viewpoint is that of an outsider.
5) What kinds of people would make this book, and what kinds of people would read it?
Cover B - Lonely but thoughtful people would make this book. I think the same types of people would read it also.
Cover C - People with a darker outlook on life would make this book. Also people with a dark outlook on life and a curiosity for dark novels would read this book.
Cover B - Lonely but thoughtful people would make this book. I think the same types of people would read it also.
Cover C - People with a darker outlook on life would make this book. Also people with a dark outlook on life and a curiosity for dark novels would read this book.
Maddie, I really like this post. I really like the way you organized it because it makes it easy to see your points and where they connect. I didn't even consider the font of the texts when I looked at the covers but you make a really good point when you discuss the difference between the font and setting of Cover B. I find it interesting that you see Cover C as the POV of an outsider as well, but now that I think about it I see why you would think so. This was a really good post!
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