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Today, in “Gamache Goes Abroad,” we visit the Norwegian edition of The Cruelest Month. As you might remember from the Cultural Inspirations we did about this book, the title directly references the T.S. Eliot poem “The Wasteland.” In the book, Gamache reflects on the nature of the poet’s idea that April is the cruelest month. The American cover clearly represents April with its Easter egg imagery, but the one cracked Easter egg in the corner suggests something sinister as well.
In contrast, the Norwegian publisher chose to focus on an image suggesting the inside of the Old Hadley House, where some villagers celebrated Easter with a séance in this book. While the American cover uses pastel colors commonly associated with spring, the Norwegian jacket is done entirely in a muted, dark, and mysterious color palette.
What do you think about the two different covers?
Which cover better encapsulates your feelings about Louise’s third book?
68 replies on “Gamache Goes Abroad: The Cruelest Month”
Definitely the U.S. cover.
I was ready immediately to choose the U. S. cover. The colors and the eggs symbolic of April to me as I am from Texas. I, too, was confused by the bedroom in the Norwegian cover, but the drab colors do help identify the intrigue! I am really enjoying traveling the globe with the book covers!
I must be dense, because I live in the United States and read the American version of the book and never realized the cover was representing Easter and spring. As for the story, I think the Norwegian cover is the best representative of the book.
I really like them both, but am leaning to the Norwegian on for the intrigue it depicts.
The Norwegian cover is fantastic. And so I will be downloading The Cruelest Month from my library and reading it yet again. I think this will be my third reread Can’t get enough of Louise Penny. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Being a Florida resident, April is usually low humidity and pleasant weather, but the story and the seance are dark and forbidding, not pleasant so I would choose the Norwegian cover as a clue to what you’re going to read.
The US covers draw me into the charm that is THREE PINES each and every time I read the novels. The covers envelope me in warmth and safety, and I know whatever the challenges will be, Gamache and his friends in THREE PINES will meet them.
U.S.. cover for me. That cracked egg…..
I prefer the American cover. The crack in the pastel egg and the darkness in the back of the photo both suggest the sinister elements hiding among the April beauty.
I agree. Plus, it also emphasizes that there can be cruelty and darkness amid beauty.
Maybe I’m alone in this, but the Norwegian bedroom made no sense to me.the bedroom? The seance? I couldn’t relate the image to the story. Initially thought it was a room in the inn. The other cover—-the colors and the cracked Easter egg brought to mind April, “ the cruelest month.”
No, you’re not alone…those were my thoughts exactly!
My initial feelings as well. What are the happy colours of spring hiding?
I find that all the American covers evoke a softer and more subtle, impressionistic illustration, less harsh and sinister. It does not give away any of the plot but leaves you searching for the meaning behind it.
I imagine that spring in one’s country influences the colours we would choose to represent April. Although I like the colours of the US cover, I don’t relate to them for “April in Quebec”. For me, the left-over winter chill and greyness we in southern Quebec experience, are better represented by the stark Norwegian cover.
That’s what I was thinking too. I live in Maine, U.S. which is close to Canada, and April looks nothing like that cover. I like the muted darkness of the Norwegian cover, but the scene doesn’t catch me. A picture of nature in Three Pines in April would be more fitting for me. gray and brown, perhaps muddy
Dark anything not good for 80 yr olds. However, will accept any cover, gladly!
Yet the Easter egg hunt with colored eggs in the grass was important in the opening scenes.
I am drawn to the US cover probably just because I love the colors. But wow that Norwegian cover has power. Very intriguing.
I prefer the Norwegian cover
The Norwegian cover is subtle and stunning. It makes me want to read the book again!
I prefer the Norwegian cover. I think it embodies the mood of the book better.
I prefer the Norwegian cover. Intriguing and eye catching.
Your Norwegian cover better captures the feel of the book.sinister and dark. To be honest I didn’t get the u.s. cover at all. It just appears all the u. S. Covers are blue. I would like to see a Canadian cover. I think it would be different from both
I enjoyed your comment: a Canadian interpretation is needed!