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What's in a name?

Wabbit

New Member
We have had discussions before regarding if the cover of a book is an influence to your buying a book.

I am wondering how much the name of a novel influences you? I find that it is quite a big influence on me! If I am scanning row upon row of books at a book shop or stall, then I find myself stopping when a good sounding title catches my attention. Of course, I read the back to find if I like the book or not! But the title often will be a draw for me. How about you all?
 
Same goes as for the cover - it's the cover and the title that grab my initial attention. If either the cover or the title arouse an interest in any which way, I will pick it up. It up to the bookdescription to do the rest.

Cheers
 
Martin said:
Same goes as for the cover - it's the cover and the title that grab my initial attention. If either the cover or the title arouse an interest in any which way, I will pick it up. It up to the bookdescription to do the rest.

Ditto on that.
 
SillyWabbit said:
We have had discussions before regarding if the cover of a book is an influence to your buying a book.

I am wondering how much the name of a novel influences you? I find that it is quite a big influence on me! If I am scanning row upon row of books at a book shop or stall, then I find myself stopping when a good sounding title catches my attention. Of course, I read the back to find if I like the book or not! But the title often will be a draw for me. How about you all?

Can you give an example of what you would consider a great title? Just curious.
 
That's really difficult for me to do :)

It's kind of like how you like chocolate "just coz."

I will be scanning a row of books and will see a title. That title will grab me and I will think oooooh that's my kind of book!
 
How about Never Hit a Jellyfish with a Spade by Guy Browning.
Someone at work had this and it caught my eye, started to read bits of it, very funny

Cabrasopa :cool:
 
SillyWabbit said:
We have had discussions before regarding if the cover of a book is an influence to your buying a book.

I am wondering how much the name of a novel influences you? I find that it is quite a big influence on me! If I am scanning row upon row of books at a book shop or stall, then I find myself stopping when a good sounding title catches my attention. Of course, I read the back to find if I like the book or not! But the title often will be a draw for me. How about you all?

I'm a bit of a magpie to I tend to be drawn to 'pretty, shiny books' :D I'm also a a complete name nerd so if the character has a good name then I would pick it up, if I didn't like the name I probably couldn't get through the first chapter.

The title name doesn't really bother me

Alice
 
Oh come on. There must be existing titles that have attracted you that way?

I think "The Secret History" is a great title, as is "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy."
 
What caught my attention many years ago was a book called "The Eight" by Katherine Neville. It seemed an odd title because you normally don't have a number in a noun spot. Plus, there was a big ol' infinity sign on the cover, so between the cover and the title, I was intrigued!

That's the one thing in writing...there's nothing so difficult for me as coming up with a good title!
 
Yes, that can be a difficult task!

The book I am reading right now is The Wind-up Bird Chronicle. The chapter heading titles are all so wonderful! Not only does it have an interesting title but each chapter has marvellous headings ( normally two or three to each chapter ) and they really intrigue and draw you into the given chapter.
 
'Shadow of the Wind'
liked the title loved the cover


4g6gdu
 
I often choose books based on a good title or cover art. I picked up both Kissing in Manhattan because I liked the cover art and No Way to Treat a First Lady because the title sounded fun.
 
I pick up eye catching covers & titles, too, some of my favorite titles have to be, A Confederacy of Dunces, Fear and Loathing in Los Vegas, Fierce Invalids Home From Hot Climates, How to Lose Friends And Alienate People, I seem to like the longer more descriptive titles. I also will look closer at a book because I like the color or style of lettering used on the cover, or yes just because it has a pretty picture on the front.
 
SexyWabbit said:
I find that it is quite a big influence on me! If I am scanning row upon row of books at a book shop or stall, then I find myself stopping when a good sounding title catches my attention. Of course, I read the back to find if I like the book or not! But the title often will be a draw for me.
same here

Martin said:
Same goes as for the cover - it's the cover and the title that grab my initial attention. If either the cover or the title arouse an interest in any which way, I will pick it up. It up to the bookdescription to do the rest.
ditto
 
I am more impressed by the title than the cover of the book. It sometimes happens that I read the complete book without even looking (paying close attention) at the fornt cover.

Some of the titles which caught my attention and made me put them on my TBR:
- Short history of nearly everything
- The third chimpanzee
- Shadow of the window
- Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader

I read the book 'The third twin' just because the title caught my attention!
 
sanyuja said:
- Shadow of the window
I'm not sure if this is a typo or not, but I did laugh out loud! :D

Ahem.

The title does make a difference, I guess. The thing about me is I try to learn as much about a book first before picking it up. I've seldom picked up a book on a whim - I usually already know of the author or the book through reviews or recommendations, so I know what I'm looking for.

I didn't pick up Eye of the World despite always seeing it on the shelves because I thought the title sounded boring and the cover old fashioned. I picked up Wizard's First Rule because of the word Wizard. :)

ds
 
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