Extraordinary Book Titles

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that is now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. “It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.”

I do not often think about book titles, but there are a few that have really stood out to me over the years. I love that feeling when you are reading a book and you have that aha moment when you discover why the title is significant. The titles I chose are all meaningful and in no way generic- and I love that!

The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating by Elizabeth Tova Bailey

This is such a special and sweet memoir about a woman who finds herself bedridden with only a snail for comfort and companionship. The presence of the snail is a much needed distraction and it sparks her interest in snails and their behaviour. The story part memoir part nature writing about snails. I think that the title perfect summarizes the contents of the book and sparks a curiousity in the reader!

Waiting for Tom Hanks by Kerry Winfrey

I picked up Waiting for Tom Hanks solely because of the title, and that does not happen to me often! I mean, who doesn’t love Tom Hanks?! I read his short story collection just because he was the author and I am currently listening to the audiobook of The Dutch House simply because he narrates it.

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

This title is a bit long-winded, but it also memorable. Something about it perfect reflects the story inside. At the core it is a long story about a group of beings travelling to a small, angry planet. It is also one of my favourite books of all time so I might just have a bias here!

The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker

The title of this book alone is powerful. The Silence of the Girls is about giving a voice to women in stories where they are often silenced and used as props. It is a feminist retelling of The Song of Achilles and I very much appreciated the perspective- I will never look at the original story in the same way.

Calypso by David Sedaris

The entire time I was reading this hysterical memoir, I kept wondering to myself why it was called Calypso. Then this moment happens where it is explained and it made me laugh out loud- it is just so random!

Women Talking by Miriam Toews

I adore this title for many of the same reason I love The Silence of the Girls- it is about given a voice to the voiceless. Women Talking is based on the real life of experiences of these women in a Mennonite community and she does a fantastic job of imagining what they might say and do if given the chance.

The Beauty That Remains by Ashley Woodfold

The Beauty that Remains is one of my favourite YA novels and is an interesting look at the different ways we deal with grief. I think that the title is powerful- it is about seeing the light through the darkness, seeing the beauty that remains after ugly times.

I Am, I Am, I Am: Seventeen Brushes with Death by Maggie O’Farrell

The title is actually based on quote from The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath:

“I took a deep breath and listened to the old brag of my heart. I am, I am, I am.”

There is something so meaningful about that one simple line.

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera

I have never read another book where the title is a spoiler- it makes for an interesting reading experience. You know that the inevitable is going to happen but it still crushing when it does. I have never experienced anything quite like it!

The Smell of Other People’s Houses by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock

This is a quite book that follows the lives of many individuals. The title is very appropriate because it feels the reader is giving a chance to peek at the lives of normal, everyday people, each with their own stories, motivations, and struggles.

What is your favourite book title?