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Original poster

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

62 replies

nighbynight · 31/10/2009 13:29

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?

OP posts:
Ponymum · 05/11/2009 17:27

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.

Original poster
nighbynight · 06/11/2009 07:22

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.

OP posts:
Original poster
nighbynight · 06/11/2009 07:26

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

OP posts:
BalloonSlayer · 06/11/2009 08:22

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

Original poster
nighbynight · 06/11/2009 20:53

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

OP posts:
BalloonSlayer · 06/11/2009 21:40

Ooooh, tell, tell!

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

Original poster
nighbynight · 06/11/2009 22:25

no, or the copyright will rest with mn! Will probably post if I manage to sell the book

OP posts:
GetOrfMoiLand · 07/11/2009 23:52

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

verytiredmummy · 26/11/2009 12:16

Bit late to this but I like Sense & Sensibility. Elinor is Sense and Marianne is Sensibility - just like Mr Darcy being Pride and Elizabeth being Prejudice. They have to learn from each other and find the middle ground, d'you see?

I also like The Catcher in the Rye - Holden explains it in the book - he has misheard a children's rhyme (think it's a Rabbie Burns poem) about a body meeting a body coming through the rye as 'catch a body', and he pictures lots of children in a field near a cliff with him as the catcher who has to stop the children falling. It's do with him being on the verge of a breakdown, I think? Or am I wrong?

I have a secret guilty passion for crime thrillers, which always have the most awful titles. Always. But rubbish James Patterson's terrible books I think take the biscuit - they're SO contrived. It's the seventh book in the series, what shall I call it? Ooh how about Seventh Heaven?

WouldYouCouldYouWithAGoat · 26/11/2009 12:22

'Lucky Bitches!' the spook jackie collins novel by french and saunders

SkaterGrrrrl · 05/01/2010 13:35

The Catcher in the Rye is a great one!

loopylou2 · 24/02/2010 21:22

My vote goes to:

"The Fuck-Up" by Arthur Nersesian

My first reason is it's a great cover, with the title spelled largely across front spine and back. This makes it quite fun for reading on public transport, I always find I get some curious looks and the seat next to me stays empty!! (even in London)

Another reason is the title is a description of the main character and it's a very well written book, which I would recommend to anyone.

Another quite fun title is "The Colour of a Dog Running Away", but I can't remember who wrote this.

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