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I don’t know about you, but sometimes all it takes is a really different book title to grab me. I’m certainly a lot more likely to investigate a book with an unusual title than I am one that’s run of the mill. This week the ladies from The Broke and the Bookish have set a Top Ten Tuesday theme of “Unique Book Titles,” and what could be more fun! My list includes only books I actually finished. Some I liked. Others I didn’t. I’m excited to see what titles come to mind from others out there and who I might overlap with.
Boy, Snow, Bird by HelenOyeyemi
Publisher: Riverhead Books (March 6, 2014)
Length: 320 pages
My Thoughts: Very loosely based on Snow White, this book lived up to the promise of it’s unusual title.
Grade: A-
Dear Fang, With Love by Rufi Thorpe
Publisher: Knopf (May 24, 2016)
Length: 320 pages
My Thoughts: Fang proved to be a minor character in this lovely story of a father’s love for his bipolar daughter. (my review)
Grade: B+
The Diver’s Clothes Lie Empty by Vendela Vida
Publisher: Ecco (June 2, 2015)
Length: 224 pages
My Thoughts: Every bit as odd as it’s title, I loved this book about a woman stranded in Morocco trying to find a new identity.
Grade: A-
Frog Music by Emma Donoghue
Publisher: Little Brown and Company (April 1, 2014)
Length: 416 pages
My Thoughts: Set in 1876 San Francisco, this story of two women’s lives just didn’t work for me. Yes, frogs were a big part of her story.
Grade: C
Gold Fame Citrus by Claire Vaye Watkins (debut)
Publisher: Riverhead Books (September 29, 2015)
Length: 352 pages
My Thoughts: A weird, weird book. Told in three parts, the first and third were good, but the long second tanked this story for me.
Grade: C-
Goodbye, Vitamin by Rachel Khong (debut)
Publisher: Henry Holt & Co. (July 11, 2017)
Length: 208 pages
My Thoughts: The darling of many readers this summer, Khong’s debut just didn’t quite live up to the hype for me. (my review)
Grade: B-
Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley (debut)
Publisher: Simon & Schuster (June 7, 2016)
Length: 320 pages
My Thoughts: A book that was both outrageously funny and deeply sad, Lily and the Octopus was one of my favorites from last year. (my review)
Grade: A
Rabbit Cake by Annie Hartnett (debut)
Publisher: Tin House Books (March 7, 2017)
Length: 338 pages
My Thoughts: I love this quirky story of a family dealing with grief. And, yes, there were rabbit cakes, many, many rabbit cakes! (my review)
Grade: A-
Tigers in Red Weather by Liza Klaussmann (debut)
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company (July 17, 2012)
Length: 368 pages
My Thoughts: Love this title and liked the multi-generational saga of two cousins and their times on Martha’s Vineyard.
Grade: B
Woman No. 17 by Edan Lepucki
Publisher: Hogarth (May 9, 2017)
Length: 320 pages
My Thoughts: The title brings to mind a famous perfume, but for me this story wasn’t nearly so sweet.The two story lines just never quite worked together. (my review)
Grade: C+
What are your favorite unusual titles?
Disclosure: There are Amazon Associate links included within this post.
So funny – I was not a fan of Frog Music and don’t remember the frogs in it!
But – you’re right…all these book titles have me curious about what the heck the title means!
Remember, she’d go mucking around getting big frogs and sell them to restaurants!
I love the idea of Frog Music but have never felt inclined to pick it up. Great list and some very unique titles.
Thank you and thanks for stopping by.
ok, Dear Fang did it for me?
What could the author possibly mean?
Heres mine: https://bookishowlette.wordpress.com/2017/10/24/top-ten-unique-book-titles/
Have a nice week!
It was a really great book. I definitely would recommend it.
I loved “The Diver’s Clothes Lie Empty” but found the title ponderous.
As a San Franciscan and an Emma Donoghue fan, I was greatly looking forward to “Frog Music” but simply could not get into it.
I’m with you on both those titles. Frog Music was a big disappointment for me.
Love all these titles!! Great choices!!! I think my favorite would have to be: Woman No.17 Sounds very interesting!! Great post!!
My TTT:Unique Book Titles
Thanks, Jessica.
Rabbit Cake sounds awesome. The cover is pretty great, too!
https://carabosseslibrary.wordpress.com/2017/10/24/139/
Rabbit Cake was a super fun, quirky story. One of my favorites this year.
So many weird titles. I haven’t read any of these, but I have heard of most of them.
Love all these titles , my favorite (title) is Dear Fang With Love, i dont know why haha Haven’t read any though!
I loved Boy, Snow, Bird too. Once you’ve read the book, the title makes perfect sense. But before then, it’s certainly strange and intriguing!
I agree. It was fun seeing how the title really made sense for the story.
I have been a fan of every audiobook I read. I never miss a chance to get my own copy whatever it takes. The “Dear Fang, With Love” and Lily and The Octopus” are really great. I have done listening to those last week. I gave it the +10 rate, I really like tho, you must try those.