Bitchin' Blog Posts
The Look of Love
by SB Sarah | December 11, 2008 | Thursday at 9:21 pm | 56 Comments
In the bargain rack near you is a total complete treasure. There’s pulp novel covers, and there’s Fabio.
There’s a visual history of the romance and pulp novel cover art, and there’s more man titty than you can shake a nipple at.
MY copy, however, is better than anyone’s, because MY copy came from Eve Savage, who post-it-noted the very best pages with her own personal expressions of WTF?
And since Jane also sent me one - what it is about people who see man titty and absurd cover art and immediately think of Smart Bitches? Because those people are awesome - I have two. Want one? Leave a comment! I shall gift you with the cover art of excellent.
Filed: General Bitching, Go Ahead, Win Some Shit
Tagged: history, fabio, cover snark, art

Lori S. said on 12.11.08 at 09:27 PM • [comment link]
Oooh! Sign me up!
Morgan said on 12.11.08 at 09:27 PM • [comment link]
Yes Please!
Oh Wow, am I the first one? Does that mean I win? :o}
Morgan said on 12.11.08 at 09:28 PM • [comment link]
ooops, I’m not the first! there was an error, ha ha.
Victoria Dahl said on 12.11.08 at 09:33 PM • [comment link]
Considering the email I sent you earlier, there is clearly something in the air.
Aemelia said on 12.11.08 at 09:44 PM • [comment link]
How cool of Eve to note all the best pages!
Angela James said on 12.11.08 at 09:47 PM • [comment link]
I got a copy too and it’s so gorgeous. I squeed when I got it and made my husband admire it (he was not as impressed as I but admitted it was the perfect thing for someone to send me.)
Danny said on 12.11.08 at 09:52 PM • [comment link]
:o Shaking your nipple at things should really be a more common gesture. Huhee.
Suze said on 12.11.08 at 09:59 PM • [comment link]
Agreed.
wendy said on 12.11.08 at 10:10 PM • [comment link]
Cover art goes right over my head. The whole story could be told on the cover and I wouldn’t notice unless it was written. Does this book teach how to look at the cover? You might guess that anime confuses me.
azteclady said on 12.11.08 at 10:13 PM • [comment link]
She’s going to have bruises on the shoulder, ‘sall I’m sayin’
Nicole said on 12.11.08 at 10:14 PM • [comment link]
I admit that a copy of this book made it all the way from Iowa to Portland when I went to meet Candy, and then I forgot it in the hotel. So then I decided I was meant to keep it. Sorry Candy.
Nicole
krsylu said on 12.11.08 at 10:14 PM • [comment link]
The Bitchy blog entries that make me snort my iced tea or Coke (a-cola) the hardest are the ones about covers. I have tortured (shared with) my husband more of those snarks than a non-romance-reading man should have to put up with! He is always very tolerant and sometimes even gets a fit of the chuckles and says, “Can I see that again?”
Carolyn Jewel said on 12.11.08 at 10:16 PM • [comment link]
Awfully cool!
phadem said on 12.11.08 at 10:34 PM • [comment link]
There’s one in there called Hootenanny Nurse! *dies* *laughing*
catburglar said on 12.11.08 at 10:38 PM • [comment link]
I like how the product description on Amazon describes romance novels as “this venerable if venal literary form.”
plainjane said on 12.11.08 at 10:46 PM • [comment link]
You can never go wrong with bad cover art…
Caty M said on 12.11.08 at 10:47 PM • [comment link]
*blink* I want to know what’s being said over the phone to the Foolish Virgin. No, on second thoughts, I really don’t.
Ijinx said on 12.11.08 at 10:55 PM • [comment link]
Oooh, me! My thesis needs cheering up.
Mary said on 12.11.08 at 11:24 PM • [comment link]
Me, me, me! I’ve been trying to convince some hard core sci-fi geeks that romance cover art has way more pulpy/trashtastic goodness than anything they could come up with. I need more ammunition, please!
Lori said on 12.11.08 at 11:46 PM • [comment link]
Oh, pick me. This would be just the thing to brighten up what is turning into a truly dismal & depressing month here at Chez Lori
Silver James said on 12.11.08 at 11:47 PM • [comment link]
*raises hand* Yes, please! I need to get lucky!
Liz L said on 12.11.08 at 11:52 PM • [comment link]
I *love* the graphics in this book and page through it frequently. The long historical perspective was nice, too. But I have to re-read it, since the first time around I remember being frustrated with the actual text of the book.
theo said on 12.11.08 at 11:55 PM • [comment link]
Doesn’t anyone see the irony that The Barbarian Lover is wearing a suit? *snort*
DeeCee said on 12.12.08 at 12:03 AM • [comment link]
Sign me up too please! :)
Julianna said on 12.12.08 at 12:04 AM • [comment link]
Oooh, I would love that. Add my name to the draw, please!
Wendy said on 12.12.08 at 12:10 AM • [comment link]
OK, how is it that I haven’t heard of this book? Me, she with the all consuming pulp cover art addiction. Heck, my devotion to pulp covers is 75% of the reason why I’m obsessed with the Hard Case Crime line.
http://www.hardcasecrime.com/
ms bookjunkie said on 12.12.08 at 12:27 AM • [comment link]
How does her top stay up? Two-sided tape?
Liviania said on 12.12.08 at 12:50 AM • [comment link]
Oh, to be associated with man titty and cover art.
Never underestimate the double-sided tape. It’s not just for professional giftwrapping.
Nicole said on 12.12.08 at 12:55 AM • [comment link]
To help the love along, I’d like to mention that Half Price Books stores got lots of copies awhile back. Some stores might still have copies.
It’s where I got my copy.
Eve Savage said on 12.12.08 at 12:58 AM • [comment link]
It was my pleasure to send you the book, Sarah. :)
Some of the titles in there (The Abortive Hussy) just put the mind in baffle mode, but there are some great covers and it’s definitely a trip down memory (nightmare) lane.
Michele said on 12.12.08 at 01:16 AM • [comment link]
I love whenever I see covers here. Whenever I need a pick-me-up (or my husband does, for that matter), I always search here for good cover snark!
It would be fun to look at all those covers (and snark-tastic titles)!
Heather said on 12.12.08 at 01:32 AM • [comment link]
How in the world did I miss this one??? *boggles* Must have!
amy lane said on 12.12.08 at 01:43 AM • [comment link]
Oooh….I had a book of post cards that traveled book covers through the ages… I couldn’t bring myself to send the damn things, I just fondled them and composed women’s literature master’s theses in my head, based solely on women’s romance covers. So, uhm, me want. Me want me want me want!!!
Tracy said on 12.12.08 at 01:50 AM • [comment link]
Ohh….. so want….
jocelynnesimone said on 12.12.08 at 02:06 AM • [comment link]
Oh yes, I will hurl myself into the big pile of longing and need. =) This book looks like awesometastic fun, and I could surely use the pick-me-up. Ditto what everyone else has said about the joy of your cover snark.
nekobawt said on 12.12.08 at 03:08 AM • [comment link]
Golly gee, Miss Smart Bitch, it should would be keen if I could get that free copy. *puppy dog eyes*
spam word: again71 = here I go again, trying to get free stuff.
Brandi said on 12.12.08 at 03:14 AM • [comment link]
Boy, I’d love a shot at getting that book. It’d go well with the history of SF/horror pulp cover art and illustrations I have!
spamword: always97 (and never a bride?)
Eunice said on 12.12.08 at 03:35 AM • [comment link]
I’m in!
Willa said on 12.12.08 at 04:10 AM • [comment link]
So this covers the entire history of modern romance novel artwork? Including the 80’s Fabio-with-woman-wearing-green-eye-shadow look? If so, then count me in the drawing! I’d love to read the commentary on those covers.
GirlyNerd said on 12.12.08 at 04:22 AM • [comment link]
Full of man titty and win!
Alison said on 12.12.08 at 05:59 AM • [comment link]
Oh, yeah baby! That looks like good coffee table material to me!
Melissandre said on 12.12.08 at 06:49 AM • [comment link]
Looks pulptastic. Sign me up!
Freda said on 12.12.08 at 07:12 AM • [comment link]
Now I have this earworm going through my head and I can’t get it out!!
The look of love. That’s the look, that’s the look. The look of love. That’s the look, that’s the look… If you judge a book by the cover Then you judge the look by the lover I hope you’ll soon recover Me, I go from one extreme to another
Katie Ann said on 12.12.08 at 07:13 AM • [comment link]
*shakes nipple*
Victoria said on 12.12.08 at 07:18 AM • [comment link]
dude, i totally want some cover art of excellence!
ev said on 12.12.08 at 07:31 AM • [comment link]
Looks more like he’s going to get a black eye or two, to me.
Marita said on 12.12.08 at 07:45 AM • [comment link]
Ooo! Oooo! Can I have one please?
job said on 12.12.08 at 08:08 AM • [comment link]
Oooh Me. Me. Pick me!!!
If I promise not to throw exclamation points at you, will you pick me?
Anne Morand said on 12.12.08 at 08:25 AM • [comment link]
I want to win, I want to win,
Please Please Please :)
SonomaLass said on 12.12.08 at 09:13 AM • [comment link]
We wants it, precious!
Eva Lynn said on 12.12.08 at 11:49 AM • [comment link]
I deeply desire this book.
Tina S said on 12.12.08 at 03:08 PM • [comment link]
I want it…
Babs said on 12.12.08 at 05:09 PM • [comment link]
Oh, want. Please.
Puhleeeaaassseee.
Sherry Thomas said on 12.12.08 at 05:46 PM • [comment link]
I want!
Lil' Deviant said on 12.12.08 at 06:59 PM • [comment link]
Sign me up too. *grin*
Kaite said on 12.12.08 at 08:57 PM • [comment link]
When’s the drawing? Drop me in the hat, too!
Add a Comment
Sorry, comments are now closed for this post.