Jackie Under My Skin

Design by Henry Sene Yee

Check out the crop of Warhol's "Red Jackie" on Jackie Under My Skin. What word comes to your mind? I can't get past sinister.


Uncropped:


(Wow, weird timing. RIP, Sen. Kennedy)

Bella Abzug

Design by Susan Mitchell

If you grew up in New York in the '70s as I did, you know who Bella Abzug was. But if you don't know who she was, the "one tough broad" in the subtitle pretty much says it all. What's wonderful about this cover -- and what's particulary impressive when you see the book in person -- is how aggressively it jumps off the new books table, just as Abzug jumped into and shook up politics. If it seems a little over the top, it's because Abzug was.

My only beef? Abzug's trademark hat barely registers.


Buy this book from Amazon.com

Leni: The Life & Work of Leni Riefenstahl, UK and US

The cover for the UK edition (top) focuses on Riefenstahl's career as filmmaker and photographer (and is yet another entry into the vertically-oriented cover category); the US edition (bottom) makes her look like a mid-century matinee idol. I wish the UK edition let the photo show through a bit more; the title text and white block are a bit too overwhelming.

And does anyone have an idea what the red stripe is about?

Maravich; Pistol

Pistol designed by Eric Fuentecilla
Maravich design by Paul Hodgson

Different approaches to the same biographical subject. Which draws you in more: the photo of Maravich, or the floppy socks and Chuck Taylors?

The Autobiography of Malcolm X

Designer unknown.

There have been so many versions of this over the years, I'm not sure if this is what you'll find at your local Borders--and until the temperature cracks 10F here in Chicago and I can walk outside without my face falling off, your guess is as good as mine.

I'm fond of this because of the myriad ways the X can be read.

Cursed from Birth

There's something about this I really like. It might be the alignment of the text, or maybe it's the white horizontal bars that make me think of a louvered door. Since Burroughs Jr. was raised in Florida, I can't think that this isn't intentional. And check out the palm tree: it took me awhile to figure out why it looks so delightfully odd. See it?