We both had lists (J's had 56 titles) but soon found it was easier to just scan each shelf in the hope (expectation) that those of interest would somehow make themselves known to us. And with every book just £1, the temptation to take a punt on something that looked of potential interest was rife.
What did surprise me was the speed at which I rejected books. And, even more shaming, on what little evidence I did so.
Banal blurbs, too-general (and therefore non-gripping) opening paragraphs saw books immediately returned to shelves. (On my return home I immediately rechecked the first paragraphs of mine for oomph.)
But books that looked lovely were given a second chance; a further check and often went into the basked on wheels so thoughtfully provided.
Book covers do seem to be going through a bit of a renaissance at the moment. Lately I found Denzil Meyrick's series different and appealing, and Caffeine Nights has a signature which appeals. There are others which I can't bring to mind (and some, like the latest Rebus ones, which I actively dislike) but all in all enough of an impetus to send be to the drawing board to re-hash my as-yet-unpublished DI Luke Darbyshere series (the fourth of which has yet to be written).
This is the initial result. Images need re-sizing to match each other and maybe colours need more differentiation between titles, but the final two I AM pleased with.
