The great book title. Much like the yeti, it is a mystical creature that often eludes the hardiest of searches. Oftentimes it is mistakenly spotted in the woods, but let’s be honest: when you see Sasquatch, you know it’s Sasquatch. (Also a great title is hairy and best viewed on grainy video. Yay metaphors!)
I have seen books go through twenty tentative titles before a final title was finally chosen, and it’s often an agonizing choice. There’s a reason for that: a great title can really capture a reader’s attention and can separate a book from the pack. Although they’re great books that suceeded on their own merits, no doubt titles like HEARTBREAKING WORK OF STAGGERING GENIUS, SPECIAL TOPICS IN CALAMITY PHYSICS and THE RELUCTANT FUNDAMENTALIST helped set those books apart.
So you tell me: you don’t have to have read the book or even liked it, but what is your favorite book title of all time? As always, you can only pick one. Why? Because I’m mean. (And it’s more fun that way.)
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Katie Alender says
I searched my bookshelves and the one that jumped out at me was Ally Carter’s I’D TELL YOU I LOVE YOU BUT THEN I’D HAVE TO KILL YOU. It’s perfect for the book.
Stephen Parrish says
Nathan, I think you should change the title of this post to:
What is Your Favorite Book Title? You Tell Me
It flows better. Just some friendly advice.
Nathan Bransford says
Stephen-
Thanks for the suggestion. It’s a weekly feature called You Tell Me, so I like to tip off people that it means they need to leave their Bloglines bubble and come and comment. Sometimes it reads well, sometimes it’s awkward, but who am I to change my own arbitrarily decided features?
Stephen Parrish says
It was a joke. I was keying on your mention of numerous title changes.
Nathan Bransford says
Stephen-
Ah!! Forgive me, I’m slow.
Chisem says
The Watchers by Dean Koontz. Perfectly captures the theme of the book; part romance, part thriller, and part horror.
Merry Jelinek says
Hypocrite in a White Poofy Dress; tales of growing up groovy and clueless.
It was just as much fun to read as the title would suggest, too.
Anonymous says
Elvis, Jesus, and Coca Cola. When you add “by Kinky Friedman” then, my friends, you have a great book title.
Gerri says
My current one: Ancient Rome on Five Denarii a Day.
Hilarious spoof on travel books, and it has some darn good stuff in it, too.
original bran fan says
THE HITCHHIKER’S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY.
It’s got irreverance, scope, and it is intriguing. It is a very fitting title for the book.
Stephen Parrish says
Nathan, all you need is a Crapometer to rule the known universe.
That was a compliment, by the way, in case you decide to be slow again.
Here’s my input:
I Heard the Owl Call My Name, by Margaret Craven.
Annalee says
There’s an anthology of alternative history short stories called ONE LAMP. I haven’t read it, but I keep meaning to snap up a copy because I think that’s terribly clever.
Roxan says
Breakfast Of Champions.
Christopher M. Park says
Hmm… how about HE SAID, SHE SHOUTED LOUDLY? Well, technically that’s not a book — but it should be. I think that title is just hilarious.
As to actual books… I suppose I’ll say I AM LEGEND by Richard Matheson. Talk about an evocative title, especially once you learn what the topic is and what the title actually means.
Chris
Lauren says
ZEN AND THE ART OF MOTORCYCLE MAINTENANCE, by Robert M. Pirsig
But not the approximately 51,397 newspaper, magazine, and blog entry titles that have riffed on it since then.
(And I’m guilty of that. Used to have a website that borrowed from said title.)
B.E. Sanderson says
A fun one that’s in my TBR pile:
Bill the Galactic Hero on the Planet of Bottled Brains
Sounds like fun, and since it’s Harry Harrison, it probably will be.
Brian says
HELLO, GROIN by Beth Goobie (I’m also fond of the author’s last name).
Bernita says
NIGHT IS THE HUNTER
Barbara says
THE UNBEARABLE LIGHTNESS OF BEING — that’s one, spotted on a bookshelf, that stuck with me and actually dragged me back to read the book.
Therese Walsh says
All right, it’s the title of a play, but it still deserves a bow: A Streetcar Named Desire.
millhousethecat says
Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal
By Christopher Moore
It’s also a helluva good book.
MelodyO says
The Man Who Mistook his Wife for a Hat — Oliver Sacks. Now THAT catches the eye when perusing a bookshelf.
Kim Stagliano says
Something Wicked This Way Comes.
Bradbury…. dreamy!
Heidi the Hick says
FARGO, ROCK CITY!
(The cover with the Holstein cow with the Gene Simmons make up is hilarious.)
RED STICK WRITER says
Lewis Grizzard was a beloved Southern humorist. His syndicated column originated from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He left a legacy of columns and books, as well as recordings of some of his public appearances. Lewis occasionally sat on Johnny Carson’s couch and guested on Designing Women. We lost years more smiles and laughs when he expired at 49 following the fourth surgery aimed at resolving a congenital heart problem. Many of his book titles were stories in and of themselves. My favorite was SHOOT LOW, BOYS – THEY’RE RIDIN’ SHETLAND PONIES. Another good one was CHILI DAWGS ALWAYS BARK AT NIGHT. He wrote one about sex. It was called DON’T BEND OVER IN THE GARDEN, GRANNY, YOU KNOW THEM TATERS GOT EYES. Being the good old Southern boy that he was, Lewis replaced all of the “dirty” words in that one with the term “woo woo.”
Kim Stagliano says
Ooh, may I vote for another? When I said goodbye to Miss Snark (after groveling and begging her not to sign off) I used “So Long and Thanks for all the Fish” as my adieu. That’s another fabulous title.
Girl in Boy Clothes says
Lolita
Blunt. Provocative.
Yuri says
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JESUS CHRIST by Jose Saramago
The title is as provocative as the novel itself. As a side effect, it also does a great job of filtering the audience. In other words, people who are likely to be offended by the book most probably won’t even pick it up.
Sarah Hina says
FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS
Anonymous says
War and Peace
Conflict in the title
Jordyn says
THE BOYFRIEND LIST (by E. Lockhart)
No contest.
I know Ally Carter’s I’D TELL YOU I LOVE YOU BUT THEN I’D HAVE TO KILL YOU is commonly regarded as pretty dern awesome, but I think it’s too long.
Dan Leo says
The Catcher in the Rye
Catch-22
Slaughterhouse-5
The Sun Also Rises
Blood Meridian
Funny how these great American novels all have such great titles. I’m gonna go with Catcher as my own fave, so dreamlike and evocative…
Lide says
Oral Sadism and the Vegetarian Personality by Glen Ellenbogen
I saw it on the shelf and had to have it. Didn’t matter what it was about.
Liz says
Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood…
Marva says
Steal This Book by Abbie Hoffman. If you have to ask, you’re too young.
elphaba says
Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World
Anonymous says
Animal Dreams
Mary Paddock says
Hitchhikers guide to the Galaxy
wins hands down as my favorite title of all time
Second though would be “Confederacy of Dunces” (However I truly hated the book)
In the non-fiction category, “Why do Whales and Children Sing” has to be my favorite title of all time.
Stephanie Zvan says
Bimbos of the Death Sun is a great title that, unfortunately, the book can’t quite live up to.
Jude says
“Undead and Unwed” by MaryJanice Davidson neatly captured so much of the book — humorous, chicklit, paranormal.
David Roth says
Has to be (Shamless plug alert) “Sometimes I Hear Voices” by, well, me.
john levitt says
The Last Temptation Of Christ.
A Paperback Writer says
My all-time favorite book title is from a self-help book my mom had in the 70s. I never read it, but, you gotta admit that IF YOU DON’T KNOW WHERE YOU’RE GOING, YOU’LL PROBABLY END UP SOMEPLACE ELSE is a heckuva good title.
My second favorite book title is from a kids’ book in the Bunnicula series: THE CELERY STALKS AT MIDNIGHT. Great stuff.
Then, the one that caught my eye on the library shelf. I read it, and it was hilarious: THE PIRATES! IN AN ADVENTURE WITH THE COMMUNISTS!
Writers' Support and Inspiration says
Lawrence Block’s “Telling Lies for Fun and Profit”. Great title and a fabulous book as well.
Heather
Susan Helene Gottfried says
Anything Dixie Cash puts her (their?) name on.
On Mt. TBR: My Heart May be Broken, but My Hair Looks Fabulous.
Laurel says
It’s a book of poems. Is that allowed?
“Return to a place lit by a glass of milk” By Charles Simic
EBO says
Just about any book by Patrick F. McManus seems to have a good title (although the books are actually all books of short stories). The one that jumps to mind immediately is: They Shoot Canoes Don’t They?
Anonymous says
SATAN: HIS PSYCHOTHERAPY AND CURE BY THE UNFORTUNATE DR. KASSLER, J.S.P.S. by Jeremy Leven
Jennifer McK says
I’d have to say I saw a book called “Bitter Is The New Black” by Jen Lancaster.
Michelle Moran says
Current favorite title (or maybe it’s just the amazing cover): BLOOD OF FLOWERS.
And it’s not just a great title. It’s also a great historical novel.