I Always Judge a Book by Its Cover

The Archaeology of Home by Katharine Greider. The use of selected color in this design is magnificent. Immediately the eye is drawn to the color gradient that highlights a specific Lower East Side apartment in this photograph. The gradient fades from red to white to turquoise, like a funky patriotic theme, breathing unnatural life into the old structure. This apartment literally stands out from the rest of the black and white photo, which is a great illustration of the story to come. I like that the edges of the cover (and photo) are beset with faded smudges, a grunge look before grunge was cool. Finally, the use of the titles slanted to the perspective of the street line and building rise is indeed a clever (and appropriate, considering the ties to architecture) design move. If the story is as interesting at the cover, readers of memoirs will want to pick this one up.

Readers’ Average Rating: B-