Judging books by their covers

A.N. Wilson writes on modern editions of books with decidedly ugly covers. I find myself torn when I consider the idea of having a lovely library that looks as though it could exist in old English estates... naturally, it would be the aesthetic option for harmony, but I've grown accustomed to looking at a colorful bookshelf, the garish colors balanced by more neutral tones. Some are, of course, hideous, but some can be lovely in their simplicity (though simplicity is perhaps not the most popular trait when it comes to marketing books these days).