Freebie

It has been a busy week/weekend so I'm using my freebie for this blogpost!

Never Let Me Go

In the first image, a young girl is seen sitting peacefully. The title and author do not come across as significantly as the girl does, as her long blonde hair is clearly noted. The intended purpose is not to give information about the text that would spoil the plot, as there are no regards to cloning or Hailshem. The second selected image portrays what I interpret as a young Kathy dancing to her music. The yellow background is symbolic of happiness and the cover depicts a happy girl. Her face is not seen, signifying that the intention of the cover is to show her inner spirit rather than give away any significant detail about the novel regarding plot synopsis, and the author and title are the most captivating aspect of the cover. The third cover (similar to the first) is very peaceful, yet there is more of a creepy feel to it. This cover is much more intriguing in it's mysterious spirit, as it leads to many more follow up questions based on it’s relation to the title. If I had not had experience in reading the text already, I would not have guessed that the title is related to the song that signifies so much to her. Rather, I would have assumed there was an escape being planned because of the connotation that is relevant with the cover. Lastly, the fourth cover is the most gruesome in relation to the others. The dark and eery feel that radiants from this depiction explicitly states how something is off in Kathy’s life, as in the beginning her life seems decently normal. With this cover in mind, it would be easier to identify that there must be something that would transform the “world" that Kathy lives in, giving the audience a better idea of what is to come. 

At first glance, the cover depicting the girl in the blue dress comes across as portraying a “happy” novel, one set in a time and place similar to something expected of a modern audience. Although, looking closer after having read the novel, it is accepted that the dancing girl is symbolic of Kathy’s past before accepting her fate or realizing what made her so different. Before, though, I would have noted that the title was symbolic of a love story, rather than an internal struggle. It seems as though Kathy is the one portrayed, based on the idea that she was a joyful spirit, especially when she was dancing to her favorite song. The perspective that I deem this was taken from is Kathy herself, because she was the only one who truly understood what the music meant to her. The others could have taken the tape, also stealing these joyous moments from her, so she kept it a secret. And anyone like Madam would have shuttered at the sight, completing a more dark or fearful image of Kathy. There is not much intel into the culture of the book from the picture or the title, but it is evident how the audience is expected to be adult based on the washed out cover (it seems like something my mom would read). Yet, once I began reading the text, I realized how much more relevant it is to someone of my generation based on the significance of events regarding growing up. 

The second the cover I chose to analyze is the most dark of the four, extremely contrasting to the first. The first word that came to mind when seeing this cover is “grim”, based on the dark colors and font. Before reading the novel, I would have assumed that the book has something to do with a group of people being captured or kept in a confined space based on the barbed wire fence entrapping what could be interpreted as a brain, symbolizing the control that that is kept over this group of people. This symbol foreshadows the idea of cloning in a more discrete way. The viewpoint that I assume the cover is taken from is one of a guardian, because they understand the events that are constantly occurring yet also comprehend how important it is that the children are kept away from the important knowledge regarding who they are and the importance of their existence. The only cultural significance I could gain from the cover is that it seems like something that would happen in the past or the future, not an event that could happen in a more modern context. The cover reminds me of one developed by Tim Burton, which leads me to believe it would be enjoyed by someone who also is intrigued by his other works.