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Literary fiction: what are the best ever book titles, and why?

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By Sat 31-Oct-09 13:29:46 Add message | Report | Contact poster

Is this question considered on creative writing courses? (Never done one, so dont know.)
Anyway, I was trying to think of a good title, and was thinking of lots of famous books, and recent books, and why the titles are so great.

Quotes are out, I think? (dated). Like "The agony and the ecstasy" or "To Love and Be Wise"

A title like "Crime and Punishment" is too big for the book, unless you are writing, well Crime and Punishment.

I rather like wordplay like Faiza Guene's "Just like tomorrow" (kifkif demain) in which the author is describing a way of life from which it is very hard to escape.

The sorrows of an american is a great title as well, because it's so memorable.

what are your favourite book titles?

Add message | Report | Contact poster By Sat 07-Nov-09 23:52:47

Once in a House on Fire by Andrea Ashworth - I love the title pf that book and it sums up the main theme.

Add message | Report | Contact poster By Fri 06-Nov-09 22:25:38

no, or the copyright will rest with mn! Will probably post if I manage to sell the book<dreams of career change to novelist>

Add message | Report | Contact poster By Fri 06-Nov-09 21:40:23

Ooooh, tell, tell!

Am on the way to bed so might not be able to comment till morning though...

Add message | Report | Contact poster By Fri 06-Nov-09 20:53:55

Oh goodness, yes, book covers are just Barbie / Action Man for grown ups now.
Only the "intelligent" reads in teh middle seem to escape the cliched covers.

I have thought of a title, and it has 5 words and a nice rhythm, and is a manifesto of the book, and also has a double meaning. Is too complicated to be taken seriously<clutches head>

Add message | Report | Contact poster By Fri 06-Nov-09 08:22:08

A one word title like Atonement does indeed suggest a serious, intelligent tome, but you have to look at the cover of it as well.

Alas, these days you can judge a book by its cover.

The actual title would not be totally out of character for this author or this one

Add message | Report | Contact poster By Fri 06-Nov-09 07:26:16

A Jerk on One End is very good - oh how the British do love wordplay. Living overseas, I miss it.

Add message | Report | Contact poster By Fri 06-Nov-09 07:22:17

Well, I would imagine that that doesn't appeal to anyone who's female and over the age of 35!

IMO, any title with a hint of ponce should be avoided, because the best novels don't have them.

Crime and Punishment
Middlemarch
Wuthering Heights
etc.

On the other hand, you get books like "Atonement" with a simple, all encompassing title. I have picked this up several times in the bookshop, but haven't parted with money yet. I know it has lots of fans, but it has a fatal whiff of the intelligensia about it.

Add message | Report | Contact poster By Thu 05-Nov-09 17:27:16

I dislike this one, but I read that it got picked up because the publisher thought the title would sell:
'Revenge of the Middle-Aged Woman'
I suppose that might shift a few books in Waterstones but it's not for me. Although it does illustrate that it pays to put some thought into your title.

Add message | Report | Contact poster By Thu 05-Nov-09 17:13:00

'He died with a felafel in his hand' is a good book title, it always makes me laugh.

Add message | Report | Contact poster By Thu 05-Nov-09 17:02:30

To Kill a Mockingbird and Of Mice and Men.
Makes you wonder if the title or the story came first.

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Literary fiction: what are the best ever book titles, and why?