Birthstone Book Covers: August = Peridot!

Posted in Bookish Thoughts, Fun and Whimsy by

Trying something new! Leslie at Books Are the New Black hosts this fun monthly meme, and since I love anything related to spotlighting amazing book covers, I thought I’d jump in.

The rules are simple:

  • Mention the creator (Leslie @ Books Are The New Black ) and link back so she can see your post!
  • Pick 5+ book covers that match the current month’s Birthstone.
  • HAVE FUN!

August’s birthstone is peridot. According to the American Gem Society:

Though peridot is widely recognized for its brilliant lime green glow, the origin of this gemstone’s name is unclear. Most scholars agree that the word “peridot” is derived from the Arabic faridat, which means “gem;” however, some believe it’s rooted in the Greek word peridona, meaning “giving plenty.” Perhaps that’s why peridot was, according to lore, associated with prosperity and good fortune.

Peridot is the rare gem-quality variety of the common mineral olivine, which forms deep inside the Earth’s mantle and is brought to the surface by volcanoes. In Hawaii, peridot once symbolized the tears of Pele, the volcano goddess of fire who controls the flow of lava. Rarely, peridot is also found inside meteorites.

Peridot’s signature green color comes from the composition of the mineral itself—rather than from trace impurities, as with many gemstones. That’s why this is one of few gemstones that only comes in one color, though shades may vary from yellowish-green to olive to brownish-green, depending on how much iron is present.

https://www.geologyin.com/

My son is an August baby — so even though he doesn’t actually wear gemstones of any sort, peridot is near and dear to my heart!

Onward to the books! Here are the peridot (or peridot-adjacent) book covers I’ve found on my shelves:

  • Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton
  • Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky
  • The Collapsing Empire by John Scalzi
  • An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon
  • Weyward by Emilia Hart
  • Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell
  • The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren
  • Heartsong by TJ Klune
  • Lost in the Moment and Found by Seanan McGuire

Do you have any favorite peridot book covers to share?

Next month is Sapphire for September… and since it’s “my” month, I’ll be excited to work on the next birthstone post!

22 thoughts on “Birthstone Book Covers: August = Peridot!”

  8. I feel like you picked a tricky month to first join in – Peridot covers were pretty hard to find I found.  You’ve found some wonderful options though. I think Heartsong is my favourite (although I still need to try the authors books 🙈) although I especially love the Hollow Kingdom cover too. I also hope your son had/has a wonderful birthday. Also snap on Sapphire birthdays 🥰

    Reply

    • Three cheers for sapphire! Thanks – this was fun to put together, and I’m looking forward to keeping it going in future months. Heartsong is amazing, as is the entire series (and pretty much everything else I’ve read by that author!)

      Reply

      • 🎉🎉 I’m glad you enjoyed making the post. It’s always a great reminder of what’s on our shelves too I find. And I definitely plan to try something by them fairly soon. I’m torn between three titles atm though, including their 2026 release 😂

        Reply

  9. Pingback: August Wrap-Up! | Books Are The New Black

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