Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created
by The Broke and the
Bookish
January
26:
Freebie Week! Pick a topic near and dear to your heart! Something you wished
was on our official list!
Oooh
Good…cuz ya know Freedom is good. (imagine William Wallace (Mel Gibson) crying
FREEDOM!!!! here.)
So my
Top Ten: Top Ten Best TITLES. The book
may be good, mediocre, terrible, or unread….but the Title is superb.
Bit of
commentary first before the list, which is inspired by most most recent read:
The Sheltering Sky. I love this title. The book was quite good as well. We all
know you can’t judge a book by its cover, but actually you can sometimes, cuz
the cover of the first version of The Lord of The Rings I read, with cover art by Barbara
Remington is magnificent (click here to view)…like the story. But I digress. This is about judging a
book by its title. The only book that hooked me with just its title, is #1 on this
list. The others are all just titles that I think are fabulous. Most I have not
read yet, though all are in the "to be read" stack.
10. Atlas
shrugged
9. Something Wicked this Way Comes
8. Of Mice and Men
7. Jude the Obscure
6. The Spy Who Came in from the Cold
5.
The House of Mirth
4.
A Confederacy of Dunces
3.
A Dance to the Music of Time
2. The Sheltering Sky
1. If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler (The book is also very good, rather unusual, metafiction I believe. And to top it all off, even the author’s name is exquisite…Italo Calvino.)
1. If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler (The book is also very good, rather unusual, metafiction I believe. And to top it all off, even the author’s name is exquisite…Italo Calvino.)
.
Totally loved the Braveheart reference. That's my favorite part, too. Sometimes I find it on Youtube just to watch him yell, "...but they can never take our FREEEDDOOOMMMM!"
ReplyDeleteAnyway, titles are a huge part of a book, right? I wonder what goes through a writer's mind when they have to come up with the best title for their story. So interesting. It should totally grab the reader and tie up the story, like a big bow.
Indeed...I have a definite preference for titles that give some hint, a tease even, literal or allegorical, about the content, vs a title that is a simple synopsis...A Tale of Two Cites (wonderful title, brilliant book) vs David Copperfield (title? meh...though the book is still excellent)
DeleteI'm going to comment on the two I've read. Jude the Obscure. Hardy always writes great male lead characters. But be prepared to feel like you've been punched in the gut. He takes tragic endings to a new height here. The House of Mirth is Wharton at her finest. One of my favorite books ever. I'm currently reading Cry, The Beloved Country which I think qualifies quite nicely for your list. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the feedback Lisa, and if I was willing to redo my list, I'd have to give a place to Cry, the Beloved Country now.
DeleteI am so guilty of this at times. I only picked up my all time favourite, I Capture The Castle by Dodie Smith, because I loved the cover.
ReplyDeleteGreat list!
Cora @ Tea Party Princess
Thanks!
Deletewhat a great idea for this week! Excellent selection of titles too :) My TTT
ReplyDeleteThanks Carrie.
DeleteI LOVE the "They may take our lives but they will never take our FREEDOM!" I watch it on days, I am really upset with the Corporate world I am part of! Anyway....great idea and I think you will really enjoy Atlas Shrugged (Its very in the line of FREEEEEDOM!) Mice and Men is wonderful...Steinbeck at his best!
ReplyDeleteYes...Mice and Men is one of the others here I have read...and love. Many don't, and I understand why, but to me it is a bittersweet portrayal of sacrificial love. George loves Lennie. He is misguided, but in his simplicity...he loves him and does the only...terrible thing he can think of for his friend.
DeleteGreat list! Very original! I believe my favourite would have to be Something Wicked this Way Comes it sounds so awesome!
ReplyDeleteSomething Wicked is one of the others I've read...long ago. Due for a reread. It was terrifying as a child. I think Bradbury is a genius at short story, but this was an excellent novel from what I can remember. There is a pretty poor film adaptation...don't bother.
DeleteGreat list idea! Those are all fascinating, juicy titles.
ReplyDeleteThanks.
DeleteI really like this topic! I've only actually read one book on the list, though. I still really need to read The Spy Who Came in from the Cold! :)
ReplyDeleteCheck out my TTT.
Thanks Lauren...I'll check your list.
DeleteI love the title of "If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler." I bought it last year and hope to read it this year. Prior to buying it, I thought I didn't know the title of the book and instead knew only the part of the first line.
ReplyDeleteIt's a magnificent, but quite unusual tale. Thanks Zezee.
ReplyDelete