Let’s face
it: One of the first things which entices you to pick up a book or read a
certain article is its title. A title
can make or break a person’s first encounter with a book. It’s like meeting someone for the first
time. If you were to encounter someone
on the street who was wearing ski goggles, a furry parka, rainbow tights, and
had a pet monkey on his shoulder…well, you’d probably run away in terror. But!
You’d want to know his backstory, surely? Of course you would.
A title
does sort of the same thing. Choosing
the right title can make a big difference in the way in which a book is
received. It can evoke certain emotions
or make someone interested in the book even if the actual subject matter may
not be to their taste. In fact, the title
may be downright misleading (thank you, Naked
Lunch), but if it’s creative enough, chances are you’ll at least pick it up
and have a look at the back cover. Here
are some of my personal favorite book titles:
- The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
- The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
- The Vagina Monologues by Eve Ensler
- The Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse by Robert Rankin (I swear this is a real book. I haven’t read it yet, but just for the title alone, I really think I should!)
I could go
on and on; titles are just so much fun, not only to read but to create! I’d assume it’s like naming a baby; a name
gives something its whole identity.
