Monday, August 1, 2011

What Makes a Great Title?

Great titles are largely subjective. One person's great title is another person's pile of hot, steaming letters. Here are a few of my favorites and why I like them. Put yours in the comments below and you can win a copy of Shut Out by Kody Keplinger!

One of my favorite titles of all time is Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. I love titles that sound a little familiar but different enough that they are intriguing. I also like that it connects to a symbol that's used throughout the book. And, it's clever. The name pokes fun (mocks) the brutal and controlling government that the protagonist challenges.

Another one is Vegan Virgin Valentine by Carolyn Mackler. You can't beat that alliteration! And, it tells you exactly what you're going to get in the book. If you're interested in those things, this book is for you.

So, what are your favorites? This is a great week to play because I'm giving away two copies of Kody's book to two different people. "Shut Out" is also a great title. It has a great, halting, sound and a connection to sports, which are important in this book.

So, what do you think? Remember to leave me your email address!

16 comments:

  1. I love the title Divergent. It conveys an important clue about the values of the society created in the novel and it is central to Tris's questions about who she is and the choices she makes.

    And it sets up nicely with the title for the next installment Insurgent!

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  2. I have many favorite titles, but rather I have many favorite series. I love The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins too (and can't wait for the movie, by the way). Then I love Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead, The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare and of course Harry Potter by J.K.Rowling. But right now I am madly and desperately and irrevocably in love with Fever series by Karen Marie Moning. She is goddess. Seriously. :D But if I have to choose just my favourite titles, they would be Mockingjay, Shadow Kiss (or Blood Promise or Spirit Bound - I can't make this decision :D - all titles in Vampire Academy series are amazing) and then definitely Shadowfever - the last book in Fever series. Ok, I admit - I am obsessed with this series and the author. :D
    Thank you very much for the chance to win a copy of Shut Out by Kody Keplinger. I am really curious about this book. :)
    Nikita
    bookworm.nikita at gmail dot com

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  3. I really love The Fault in Our Stars title for John Green's new book. I don't know, there's just something about it that I love. I also love The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks because it's so intriguing and also connects well with the story. Apparently I like long-winded titles. :)
    Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
    ~Mallory

    lilredshood(at)gmail(dot)com

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  4. I love intriguing titles as well. Mockingjay is a great example because its familiar but different enough. The same goes for Divergent, Starcrossed, and Delirium. All of these have only one word titles, and are familiar to most people but enough to entice you to want to see more. They also leave a good sense of what the book might be about. I prefer one or two word titles, because it's easier to talk about after you read it. Similarly to titles, book cover art can be just as important too! -Colette, Lettersie17@gmail.com

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  5. I loved The Hunger Games. More of my favorites are Vampire Academy and The Truth About Forever. I could mention more but it'd be a long list.

    Thanks for this giveaway! I'd love to win a copy of Shut Out, hope it's international.
    Rosea2468@gmail.com

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  6. My favorite titles are probably some of these:

    -The 13th Reality: The Journal of Curious Letters because that's intriguing and it's just fun to say :)
    -Sea Change because it's a gorgeous title and I'm instantly captivated by anything having to do with the sea.
    -Living Dead Girl because it was an oxymoron and creepy, which conveyed some of the book
    -A Blue So Dark because it's lyrical, creepy, and beautiful.

    I'm a sucker for the beautiful titles. I did like LUSTSTRUCK before Kody changed it to SHUT OUT but I like them both. :)

    Grace

    wordslikesilverblog@gmail.com

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  7. Thanks for the giveaway!
    I often pick out books based on their title. Here are some of my favorites!

    The Lying Game by Sara Shepard
    Pretty Little liars by Sara Shepard
    Choker by Elizabeth Woods
    Forgotten by Cat Patrick

    All of these titles just sounded really intriguing to me, and I loved them!
    Thanks!
    candycane16 at roadrunner dot com

    PS to all of the Pretty Little liars fans like me- did you know it was originally going to be called 'Beautiful Liars' ?

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  8. I'll have to say Die For Me by Amy Plum. Though it's not one of my favorites, it's a really good book and you should check it out if you haven't!

    When I first read the title, I thought: "Aww, how romantic! I love it!" since I presumed someone would die for a loved one or something like that.

    After reading the book, I loved it even more!
    If you've read it you know that the love interest (Vincent) in this book and his friends are Revenants. People who die (but not necessarily!) saving other peoples lives.
    But do not fear! They come back again, and after some rest (going dormant, as it's called), they're as good as new again!

    So he's not only ready to die for her because he loves her, it's also his job! Aww, I just love it!

    And I love all your titles! Especially A Blue So Dark! :)

    /Z

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  9. I think A Need So Beautiful is up there with great titles, because I immediately wanted to know 'what is this need? What's going on? What's it about?'
    Divergent was a great title because it's not a word often used in everyday conversation, but I think it pairs particularly well with Insurgent, the sequel. I like the rhyme.
    I also really like Paranormalcy because it tells you it's a paranormal novel about a character that just wants to be normal. How cool is that?

    alissa.bilyk(at)gmail(dot)com

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  10. I think one of my favourite book titles would have to be Across the Universe by Beth Revis. I'm a major space nerd so anything that alludes to space is a winner for me.

    Thanks for this giveaway!
    bookluver1208(at)gmail(dot)com

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  11. Oh, I forgot my email. x)

    super_girl7@msn.com

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  12. along for the ride.... Fits very well with the theme and its very Catchy

    The I'll tell you I love you but I'll have to kill you series is very creative how she adds and takes away words from quotes

    Lyan Mora
    Qbanchic@hotmail.com

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  13. I love the title The Hunger Games. I also love Melissa Marr's titles such as Wicked Lovely and Radiant Shadows and Lesley Livingston's Wondrous Strange and Darklight b/c it's a beautiful image to have opposite words :)

    jadedlittlegirlx [at] gmail [dot] com

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  14. What a hard question!!!

    One of my favorites is Across the Universe. It gives just a hint of what to expect.

    Thanks for the giveaway.

    Amanda
    amanda(at)lettersinsideout(dot)com

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  15. Thanks for the giveaway! :) I love the title Across the Universe. It promises something big. Like Across. the. Universe. It is fascinating. :D
    Cassia
    cassia.talkinawhisper (AT) gmail (DOT) com

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  16. Thank you to everyone for participating! I emailed the winners - please check back, I've still got a lot of BEA books to give away over the next few months!

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