Sort of in Defense of Silly Titles

Anne Marble · Joined: 22 Mar 2007 Posts: 593

Note: Edited to add a poll (once I finally figured out how to make it work Laughing

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Today, I was shopping for ebooks at the eHarlequin site, and some of the titles really got on my nerves. Just how many billionaires are royal princes are having surprise babies with virginal secretaries? Sheesh. On top of that, the titles start to blend together. And they turn off a lot of readers.

But while I like to complain about silly titles, I don't always hate him. I have more of a love/hate relationship with them. Sure, the titles are goofy, but at least they often tell you what the book is about. If you hate amnesia or secret babies, the titles can help you avoid books about secret babies with amnesia (or whatever). If you like royalty books, you'll buy a book with a title like The Illegitimate Prince's Baby. (Although shouldn't that be The Prince's Illegitimate Baby?... Razz

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Also, when they aren't generic, these titles can be eye-catching. I'll take a wild title over a generic one. For example, here's a recent Silhouette Desire title that caught my eye: Jealousy and a Jeweled Proposition. At first, I rolled my eyes. But then ... isn't it at least memorable? And it manages to be memorable and tell you something about the book, all without using words like Billionaire and Mistress.

So where do you stand on goofy titles? And generic titles? Do you find that sometimes a title that should drive you nuts somehow works? Or do you avoid buying these books because you find the titles stupid or embarrassing or even insulting?

And what's the line that divides an overwrought title that works over one that is just too too much? Jealousy and a Jeweled Proposition kind of works for me in its own way, but Big Spankable Asses is just too much. What is your dividing line for titles, and is it ever enough to keep you from buying a book you otherwise wanted? Have you ever written to complain to publishers about really bad titles?
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willaful · Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 1468

I was tempted to vote "I love them" just because they are such prime fodder for mocking. But really, I can't stand how generic they are, and I think they may contribute to the stories becoming more generic too. Moreover, they're not always even accurate, which you'd think would be the LEAST you could expect.
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Anne Marble · Joined: 22 Mar 2007 Posts: 593

Laura V · Joined: 23 Mar 2007 Posts: 302 Location: UK

NoirFemme · Joined: 22 Mar 2007 Posts: 1397 Location: America

Hate them.

Didn't realize how much I did until I remember the titles of Jillian Hunter's regencies, Kresley Cole's paranormals, the new Harlequin Presents-esque titles H/S has been "christening" some of their Harlequin Historicals with, and the coming HP's.

It's just too much and the titles sound like they come from a book title's generator. Rolling Eyes

Kass · Joined: 23 Mar 2007 Posts: 722 Location: under a cockatiel

IMO a title needs to be reasonably related to the book's content. I have found that often, the overwrought nonsense titles are not. For example, I own a Kasey Michaels Silhouette book that's pretty good. Its title is Bachelor on the Prowl, which has nothing to do with the contents of the book. The hero is not "on the prowl" trolling for women, which is why he's attractive.

On the other hand, I've actually rated books a little higher than their actual content merits if they have clever titles, like The Apostrophe Thief. Very, very boring book, but excellent title.
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Cyl · Joined: 22 Mar 2007 Posts: 130 Location: Mississippi

I don't even pick up the book to browse through it when the title is stupid. For me, maybe the saying should be "don't judge a book by it's title"

Nana · Joined: 02 Apr 2007 Posts: 889

Removed b/c of photoshop dreams with the same concept

Schola · Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 1867

Kristie(J) · Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008 8:23 pm Post subject:

two words

Hate Them

three more words

With A Passion

NoirFemme · Joined: 22 Mar 2007 Posts: 1397 Location: America

Lynda X · Joined: 05 Apr 2007 Posts: 1249

I can NEVER remember romance titles, and a BIG part of the problem is that they are not only over the top, stupid, but they are interchangeable. I think not only does such titles encourage contempt for romances and may indicate that the business does not hold its readers in high esteem, but I suspect that books could sell more with better titles; however, seeing that usually things like this are tracked and researched by the publishing companies, I'm probably wrong.

I think Jennifer Crusie's old titles are the best. "Bet Me," "Welcome to Temptation" and others help me remember what the book is about. I would also nominate "Lord Perfect" and "Miss Impossible" for good titles, but then both of these women are top writers in every criteria.

Schola · Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 1867

Audrey · Joined: 22 Mar 2007 Posts: 186 Location: Alberta, Canada

My bookstore has online inventory, so if the book's not on the shelf I ask them to go in the back and get it for me. I wish some of them weren't so embarrassing. I don't mind asking for say, The Lady In Question by Victoria Alexander, but really hate asking "Do you have um, Master of Ecstasy by um, Nina Bangs?" This doesn't stop me of course. I'm old so mock me at your peril.

I've just added Electra Galaxy's Mr. Interstellar Feller by Candace Sams to my July TBB list just because of the title.