op Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. This week’s theme:
October 15: Extraordinary Book Titles
I didn’t post last Tuesday because I was in Budapest, so I’m excited to be back and sharing some strange and brilliant book titles this week. These titles all struck me as either completely off the wall or absolutely brilliant (or a bit of both), even though I haven’t read them all.
The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat
OK but how did he mistake her for a hat? How is that even possible?
Was he seeing things? Did she actually transform into a hat?
This title does a good job of making me want to read the book to find out.
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
I found this title pretty random (in a good way) until I actually read the book. Once you read it, the title makes perfect sense.
Whether you’ve read it or not, though, you can’t deny it’s inventive.
The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern
What does this even mean?
Is the cat eating a modern Danish pastry, or is it inhaling a type of artwork called Danish modern?
I’ll probably never know (since I don’t plan to read it).
The Elegance of the Hedgehog
I mean, it’s true, hedgehogs are pretty elegant.
Please tell me more.
The Sound and the Fury
I don’t find this title particularly weird, but I do find it pretty epic.
It’s just got the right syntax and the right themes.
Although I’ve not read it, the title alone would make me consider it.
Juniper Lemon’s Happiness Index
This title has such a good ring to it. Imagine being called Juniper Lemon? What an excellent name.
The Smell of Other People’s Houses
I love this title because other people’s houses really do have a smell! Not necessarily a good or a bad one, just an indefinable scent that you find difficult to describe, but it’s always there and it’s just their house.
The Hundred-Year-Old Man who Climbed out of the Window and Disappeared
This title is doing its job correctly because, although I’ve never read the book, the title always sticks in my mind. It’s intriguing and unique. And also probably the longest contemporary fiction title I’ve come across?
How to Avoid Huge Ships
Haha, what?
I assumed this book was a skit or satirical comedy, but no, it’s not. It’s an actual book about how to avoid massive ships when you’re minding your own business, cruising in your small trawler.
I can’t even.
This is How You Lose the Time War
More like This is How you Title a Book. This title means business. It was what first drew me to this book and it sounded so epic that I knew I had to read it.
Now I have it checked out of my library and have started the first chapter. Titles really can be make or break.
What are some of your favourite book titles? Are there any titles that have made you go “but what does this even mean”?
coffeeinonehandbookintheother.wordpress.com 
I’ve always loved the title The Smell of Other People’s Houses, because you aren’t right, they really do all have their own smell and feel.
Yeah! You read the title and you just know exactly what the author means!
Great list! The Hundred-Year-Old Man who Climbed out of the Window and Disappeared, The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and The Smell of Other People’s Houses are all brilliant titles.
Thanks Jess! Haha I’m glad you think so; I find those ones so oddly quirky and endearing 😀
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep is such a random title, I’m actually really curious to know the answer haha. I love the title for The Smell of Other People’s Houses because it’s so comforting in a weird way. There’s something cosy and quite intimate about that title, at least that’s what my weird mind thinks.
It’s a great title – one of my favourites actually! I don’t want to tell you if they do or don’t in case it spoils anything from the book 😛 Yes! ‘Comforting in a weird way’ is exactly how I’d describe that title, you’ve got it spot on!