Friday Face-Off: Freebie
Welcome to The Friday Face-Off, a weekly meme created by Books by Proxy! Each Friday, we will pit cover against cover while also taking the opportunity to showcase gorgeous artwork and feature some of our favorite book covers. If you want to join the fun, simply choose a book each Friday that fits that week’s predetermined theme, post and compare two or more different covers available for that book, then name your favorite. A list of future weeks’ themes are available at Lynn’s Book Blog.
This week’s theme is:
A FREEBIE!
Choose one of your favorite titles and compare the covers
Mogsy’s Pick:
The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker
Yes, I absolutely adored this book, even though magical realism isn’t typically my thing. Combining religion and mythology to tell a story of two supernatural creatures who find themselves in New York City in 1899, the story plays out like a fairy tale for adults. Chava is a magically-crafted clay golem, brought to life by a disgraced rabbi who dies at sea while on the voyage from Poland. When the ship reaches NYC, she is left directionless and without a master. Ahmad is a jinni, released accidentally after being trapped in a copper flask for hundreds of years. Through free from the vessel, he finds himself still bound to the physical world by a band of iron around his wrist, placed there by the wizard who imprisoned him so long ago.
The golem and the jinni become two more faces in the crowd trying to seek a new beginning in America. Despite being creatures of lore, their struggles and aspirations make them feel entirely too human. This was just simply a beautiful book, and a great choice if you’re in the mood for some literary fantasy! Now let’s take a look at the covers:
From left to right:
Harper (2013) – Blue Door (2013) – Portuguese Edition (2015)
Turkish Edition (2014) – Spanish Edition (2014) – German Edition (2013)
Czech Edition (2014) – Russian Edition (2014) – Indonesian Edition (2015)
Italian Edition (2013) – German Edition (2015) – Hebrew Edition (2013)
Hungarian Edition (2015) – French Edition (2016) – Norwegian Edition (2013)
Winner:
So many covers to choose from, and several that really stand out for me this week, but there can only be one! Even though it’s not as atmospheric as some of the others, I’m really feeling the colors of the French edition. At least at this very moment. Ask me another day, and my choice might be different!
But what do you think? Which one is your favorite?
The BiblioSanctum 
I didn’t even know this one in French
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It’s pretty popular, so I think it’s been translated in many languages.
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I remember thinking this sounded really cool! Love the covers too. Especially the French edition and the Blue Door edition as well. Those are nice.
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Yeah, I was torn between the French version and the Blue Door and Portuguese editions. So atmospheric and beautiful.
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I quite often find myself loving the French covers and this one is no exception – it’s a lovely cover. I need to read this – your little description intrigued me. I bought a copy years ago and kept meaning to read it.
Lynn 😀
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Yeah, I just love the art style with the colors and patterns!
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I think I’m going for the Portuguese edition, but seriously, there are some beautiful covers here!
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Yeah, my second choice would have been the Portuguese or Blue Door editions. The two of them are similar, same moody atmosphere and beautiful colors!
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So many covers for this one!
I like your choice because it combines the “magic” element of the story with its ornate border and the “modern” side with the New York skyline. 🙂
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Yeah, I didn’t even think of that, but you are right! Great blend of themes and symbolism there!
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I would’ve picked the third one but the writing over the fire is really annoying!
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Yeah the Portuguese edition is beautiful, but you’re right that the lettering is quite distracting!
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I adored this book too! But I would go with Harper or the Portuguese version 😉
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The Portuguese edition is quite beautiful, that one would have been my second choice!
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Hmmm maybe the first one.
Arghh! I meant to do this this Friday but forgot and posted something else when I finally remembered
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You should join in on future weeks! 😀
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These are all such great covers!! I agree with your pick though. That one caught my eye immediately!
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Yeah, something about that design and the colors…so eye-catching!
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This one has so many varied covers. Definitely like your pick best too. I keep meaning to read this book!
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It’s a gorgeous book…I am waiting on pins and needles on what she’ll be working on next, I’ve heard some news here and there!
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ooh love your pick! I agree that there are lots of other cool ones, but the colours are so good for the french one 🙂
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Yeah, the design really caught my eye!
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They are ALL gorgeous! But the one I like most is the grey German edition from 2013 🙂
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Oh, that one’s actually quite pretty…and it doesn’t get enough love!
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