Book Design and Leaving Las Vegas

I know you’re not supposed to judge a book by it’s cover. But on incredibly rare occasions, a book is designed as beautifully as its written. The book itself becomes a work of art, if not actually equalling, then certainly supporting the literary art. I am blessed, or as one of those home organization gurus on HGTV would say, cursed, to have a few thousand books. And without a doubt, my favorite book from a design perspective is John O’Brien’s Leaving Las Vegas. One of my favorites from a literary perspective as well, this novel is so beautifully designed and formatted that sometimes I take it off the shelf to just stare at it.

If you ever get a chance to see a first edition in person, I highly recommend it. This is a jewel of a book. O’Brien’s tragic and beautiful story combines with the innovative and bold design to record a truly memorable bit of publishing. I’m not at home right now, and the distance is killing me as I ache to pick up my copy of Leaving Las Vegas just from this discussion. It really is a gorgeous book.