What's in a title?
It's more than a clever turn of phrase, it's a syllabic hook that embeds itself into our psyches and draws us to pull the book off the shelf as if we had a choice in the matter. That is exactly how it happened with my favorite title, I, Coriander by Sally Gardner. For me, the title suggests a personal account that is somewhat exotic and extraordinary (the gorgeous book cover, didn't hurt, either!). A good title is a keyhole into the kingdom, a glimpse of ink and glory. It should never be a pretentious or flowery ornament, but rather what I like to call the golden gist--take The Black Stallion by Walter Farley. It doesn't need a single word more to sell the story. The title says it all.
What's your favorite title?
The Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe I haven't read a book with such an awesome title! Thanks for sharing.
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