Perhaps you are a fan of Haruki Murakami and have been eyeing up 1Q84 every time you have been in a book store. Take it easy on your triceps and read it digitally. The latest Murakami masterpiece tips the scales at almost three pounds in hardcover versus the eight to fifteen ounces from your favourite eReader. 1Q84 is not the only book that benefits from being read digitally, all of these amazing reads are slightly on the plump side and work really well as eBooks. No longer must you choose between your lunch and your book. What follows is not necessarily a “Best Of”, but a representative sampling of our good works from 2011. In the design department at Random House Canada, we’re very proud of these. We could show you more good stuff (the shelves groan under the weight), but that would require a separate website. In the meantime, enjoy a taste of our eye candy. (Click any image to enlarge for a better look.)
Designed and illustrated by Andrew Roberts
David Adams Richards (DAR in design shorthand) gets an original look for his non-fiction. A near-perfect combination of great production values and deftly rendered illustration. The subject matter could have sent this cover in some nasty directions, but understatement and elegance win the day.
Designed by Leah Springate
At the best of times, wrapping a poetry book is a tough nut to crack. The design needs to be evocative, intelligent, subtle and still represent what are often multiple (more often disparate) themes, styles, and metaphors. And all on a non-existent budget. This one succeeds, gracefully. Much like the poetry within.
Designed by Jennifer Lum, illustrated by Rajka Kupesic
If the art and text are the prima ballerinas, then a good designer knows their role is to dance the chorus: enhance the choreography, support those at centre stage, deepen what is already a stellar performance. Herewith a great design allowing the spotlight to fall where it should.
Designed by Kelly Hill, illustrated by Risto Turunen
The challenge: create a fresh look for a veritable publishing icon. Through the years, the various editions and permutations of the Wingfield franchise could fill a library. But none are as charming, eye-catching, and just plain fun as this. A terrific partnership of design, typography, and illustration. And who could resist that dog?
Designed by Terri Nimmo
For our money the perfect cover. From the colour palette to the type choice to the iconic bicycle-built-for-Jack-and-Olivia, everything works; everything respects the man and his legacy. What could have been maudlin, garish, or at worst opportunistic comes off as eloquent tribute. The ultimate irony? It’s not a printed cover at all. It’s an e-book.
As both a designer and accumulator of printed books, it’s hard not to speculate (and fret) about how this whole eBook thing is going to shake down. Much ink has been spilled about 
One of the many, many perks about working in the publishing industry is that you can justify the purchase of some pretty nifty toys under the pretense that you need them for work. The most common of these is an eReader. With the continuing explosive growth of ebook sales it’s looking more and more likely that book buyers will soon be doing most (if not all) of their reading on digital devices. While I love the bound codex (that’s a printed book to you) and I lament that it is taking a back seat to ebooks, I’m also willing to change with the times and try new things, so I picked up an eReader for myself and I’ve got to say I’m loving it. I’m not going to say which eReader I have (so as not to unduly bias our readers for or against a particular brand or model) but the things I love about my eReader really do apply to all of those currently available on the market.
New e-reader? No e-books yet? No Problem. Get Inspired by Top Picks from Some of Your Favorite Authors and Load Your Device with Great Reads.
