Sunday, July 17, 2011

Titles




This title calls to me. Have no idea what the book is about and yet...Does this ever happen to you? Have you ever bought a book based on the title alone?

MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN
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15 comments:

David Cranmer said...

All the time, Patti. Title and cover image attract me first. Above author's name or blurbs.

8:13 AM
Deb said...

Books with catchy, unusual, weird, or just "calls to me" titles always get a second look from em. When I was young, I loved just wandering up and down the library aisles, looking at book titles and checking out the ones that grabbed me. I read so many books based on their titles alone. One instance I clearly remember is reading football player Lance Renzell's WHEN ALL THE LAUGHTER DIES IN SORROW (about his fight against his compulsion to expose himself to little girls--I'm sure I'd find it very self-serving if I read it today) because that was the title of a song by Chicago. I was in 8th or 9th grade at the time and found the book in the school library. I can't imagine any public school would stock that one today!

8:36 AM
Anonymous said...

Patti - Sometimes the title calls to me, and that one is certainly very unusual and distinct. But usually the title isn't as important as other aspects of the novel.

9:01 AM
Anonymous said...

Sometimes a book will catch my eye by having an interesting title:

The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency
Blotto, Twinks and the Ex-King's Daughter

are too that come to mind. But I wouldn't buy the book on the title alone.

Jeff M.

9:32 AM
Anonymous said...

Sorry, two not 'too'

I never remember to proofread.

Jeff M.

9:32 AM
pattinase (abbott) said...

I may not buy it and may not read it, but I will look at it on amazon or at the library.

9:50 AM
Milton T. Burton said...

Titles can compel me to buy at times. By the same token, they can have the opposite effect as well.

10:08 AM
Charles Gramlich said...

I have. I love evocative titles.

11:01 AM
Heath Lowrance said...

Oh, absolutely. An evocative cover and/or title works wonders. And sometimes it'll lead to you discovering something great that you may not have before. Conversely, it can often be a let-down... haha.

11:21 AM
Joe Barone said...

I like that title too.

12:34 PM
George said...

I find books with titles like TROUBLE IS MY BUSINESS, THE BIG SLEEP, ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF SOLITUDE, GRAVITY'S RAINBOW, and PERSUASION irresistible.

2:25 PM
Mike Dennis said...

Patti, I don't often buy books solely on the basis of the title alone, but I did just recently buy BLACK ORCHID BLUES by Persia Walker. It grabbed me, what can I say? I'm reading it right now, and so far, it has delivered on its promise.

4:35 PM
pattinase (abbott) said...

I think my introduction to crime fiction was based on the allure of the John D. MacDonald novel titles.

4:51 PM
Dorte H said...

Oh yes, titles can attract my attention or put me off, just like covers. I won´t buy a book unless I believe I´ll like what is inside also, but it often begins with a title. And I would definitely pick up Miss Peregrine to see what was behind that intriguing title.

5:52 PM
Cap'n Bob said...

Nigger Heaven. I know, it's offensive, but it's a great collectible.

12:12 AM

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