Never Let Me Go

- What similarities and differences do you find? Speculate on the reasons for the various covers.

One clear similarity between each cover is that the font of each matches the background. For the top left image, this was done by changing the color to a yellowish green color to match the leaves and grass. For the top right image, this was also done by changing the font color. The top author text is black to match the core of the hair of the faded figure, and the title text is dark brown to match the outer parts of the figure's hair. For the bottom left image, the illustrator uses the same font color(white) in different parts of the cover, and also a yellowish tan color towards the top in order to match the background sky. For the bottom right image, the font type matches the background drawing in both the color and the crookedness/sketchiness of the lines. 
A major(obvious) difference is what is portrayed in the background. The top left cover has a photograph of a young woman. The top right cover has a watercolor or pastel drawing of a young girl. The bottom left has a photograph of one boat, and the bottom right has a diagram of a human body with its organs.

Each cover is suggestive of a different aspect of the novel. The use of light, earthy colors in the top left cover, along with a young lady that appears to be alone and reflecting, hints at the blissfulness of self reflection and reminiscing. The blurry/rushed pastel drawing of a young girl on the top right cover, suggests a similar idea. However, the fade of that drawing suggests the fleeting of memories, or events that took place as children. The lonely boat on the bottom left cover hints at individuality, or the lack thereof in the novel. The ominous drawing of the human figure and organs on the bottom right cover expresses the horrific or darker aspects of the novel.

- After briefly comparing and contrasting all four covers, choose two to examine more closely: 

Perhaps the only similarities between these two covers is that they both have the title and the author of the novel, and that they include some sort of a human figure. However, there are various differences, including:
The background color of the covers- the cover on the left is very dull with varying shades of gray, while the cover on the right is lively with bright olive green, yellow, and red.
The illustrated figure- The left cover shows the upper half of a body, and the internal organs, and the right cover shows a young woman in a field of plants and flowers
The amount of details- The left cover has "cartoon quality" , with overlapping and crooked lines, while the right cover is an actual photograph of a young woman.
The font- The left cover has a cryptic or mysterious font. It seems almost like the font of a horror movie. The right cover has a much more serene font; one that is not too particular to stand out.

The reasons each illustrating company, artist or whoever created the covers, created them based on how they viewed the novel. Likely, the illustrator that created the left cover viewed the novel as twisted or somewhat dark not only because of the mysterious things, but also the sense of normalcy each character had towards those mysterious things. The illustrator on the right probably viewed the novel lightheartedly, as a nostalgic journey of a young woman. These covers could also represent how the illustrators wanted the readers to view the book. The illustrator on the left would want the reader to be aware of the mysterious and creepy elements of the novel, while the illustrator on the right would want the viewer to notice the blissful nature of past memories.

As far as cultural construction goes, I can only see it within the left cover. The novel itself was created at a time when cloning and genetic modification was a very controversial issue. It was essentially a 'hot topic' in the media. The left illustrator seems to be showing his belief (discontent, fear, etc) about something that many others believe is acceptable.