You pick a book after reading its title. A title is what catches your eye first. Here are some extraordinary book titles that are really strange or may be cool. These are the titles that tell you what to expect in the book or want you to know more about the title from the story. These are the titles that may make you laugh or just think and evoke discussion. These are the titles that are simply ridiculous and leave you with no choice other than to jump to conclusions. In short, these are the titles that do not follow the normal title trends but are extraordinary in some way. Let’s take a tour of the ten I feature, shall we?
1. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer, Annie Barrows
This surely is an eccentric and unusual title but you understand its relevance once you read the story!
2. Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
Who hasn’t wondered if God was there and if He knows what’s going on in our life? I think this book title is simply interesting.
3. The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Other Clinical Tales by Oliver Sacks
An utterly fascinating title which will make you think that it’s a humorous story but it is an informative work on neurological disorders.
4. The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender
How can a cake be sad? This title is very intriguing and certainly wants you to know why and how.
5. We Wish to Inform You that Tomorrow We Will Be Killed with Our Families by Philip Gourevitch
Oh God! Why? What can I do to save you? The title compels you to start thinking even before you read the blurb of the book. And isn’t that amazing? But it is one book that you will read with your heart in your stomach.
6. The Girl Who Could Move Sh*t With Her Mind by Jackson Ford
Wow! Can one do that? How did she do it? Where did she learn it? Which shit? The book has had you thinking already and the beautiful cover will make you pick it up immediately.
7. We Are All Completely Fine by Daryl Gregory
Oh, I’m worried already, and I don’t even know who all are in danger. Why are they telling me they are okay? Clearly they’re not okay. They should tell me about it. This is a brilliant book title which will make you dive into it right away.
8. They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
A book title that is a spoiler! You know that the inevitable is going to happen but you still want to know and when you do, it is devastating. I have never experienced anything quite like it!
9. The Gutter Prayer by Gareth Hanrahan
Gutter and Prayer in one sentence!! Something about this one just stands out to me so much – it’s so unique!
10. Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal
Oh, this is such an awkward title. You wouldn’t want to be seen in public with this book in your hand. The title is misleading, but, well… not entirely! The story has much more depth than the title might suggest.
Bonus Extraordinary Titles : Here are some more extraordinary and unusual titles. More about them later, but till then you can just enjoy these cryptic, intriguing titles.
- Who Could That Be at This Hour?by Lemony Snickett
- Who Thought This Was a Good Idea? by Alyssa Mastromonaco
- Eating People Is Wrong by Malcolm Bradbury
- How to Make Money in Your Spare Time by 673126, J.M.R. Rice
- The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating by Elizabeth Tova Bailey
- How to Make Love While Conscious by Guy Kettelhack
- How to Read a Book by Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doren
- How to Tell if Your Cat is Plotting to Kill You by Matthew Inman
- The Name of This Book is Secret by Pseudonymous Bosch
- How to Avoid Huge Ships by John W. Trimmer
- The Utterly Uninteresting and Unadventurous Tales of Fred, the Vampire Accountant by Drew Hayes
- The Bachelor Girl’s Guide to Murder by Rachel McMillan
What other extraordinary book titles have you found? Which one is your favourite extraordinary book title?
28 Responses
I found all the books you mentioned here are extraordinary.. I found no.1. eccentric 2 interesting and 3. humorous ..4. funny 5. Suspense 6. Curious 7 gave me a worry, 8 sad 9.strange and 10 embarrassing. Thanks for sharing, I was smiling as I read this post.
Very interesting titles! The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender particularly sounds intriguing, yes.
I have tried to read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (I just don’t remember this title) but couldn’t finish. I watched the movie later.
I have heard of a few books but haven’t read any.
Curious titles, indeed. I was not aware of them except It’s me Margaret.
Wow Shilpa, these are some really interesting novels to pick this time. Have you read all of them? I am actually finding the last novel the most interesting and as you said it might not be the same as the title suggests.
Nice list, Shilpa.
Never knew of these books.
Interesting & eXtraordinary book titles indeed!
A good compilation. I haven’t heard of these. Must surely check out some of them.
Very interesting titles.
I haven’t heard of any of these. Some very intriguing titles. If I were to pick one I want to read it would be #2.
What a list. I’m impressed by your collections. I hardly know any of these titles, and they’re all so interesting!
Intetesting titles indeed. I found this one very intetrsting
The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman
This one was truly an interesting compilation. Other than potato peel and erotic stories, I have read none. I also watched the movie of potato peel society.
Wow …an extraordinary list ….
So the phrase- don’t just the book by the its cover is pretty right. Some titles here give no clue of what is inside.
The pregnant King- is an interesting title – book is equally good!
This is an interesting compilation, Shilpa. The bonus ones were equally fun. I quite liked Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows. It is a lot more than the title suggests.
Such extraordinary and interesting titles. Thank you for compiling them into a blogpost. Loved reading it.
Loved reading the titles! Am familiar with most but haven’t read them as yet.
And I am putting these all in my TBR. Wonderful brainstorming over this list.
Great suggestions Shilpa. Leaving 1 or 2 I don’t know these books. I am quite interested to read the book where the cake is sad.
Wow, Shilpa, these are some really amazing selections. I would definitely want a few for myself. Thanks for the amazing suggestions and a well-written post.
— rightpurchasing.com
the very first title in the list made me think of a title…”The Dabba Discotheque, Pumpkin Seeds Chutney Club by Anagha Yatin”… and I died laughing at my own not even penny worthy quip. But couldn’t resist sharing it.
Jokes apart, the titles are intriguing, unusual as well as inviting.
Never heard of these titles…But now reading them and given a choice – I would like to pick the 4th one. the 3rd cover page mad eye think of Charlie Chaplin.
Some great titles there. I’d love to know why the lemon cake is so sad!
X is for …
Wow! Those are some really catchy titles indeed. Some made me laugh, some got me worried and some were just downright weird! Thank you for sharing. 🙂
Wow what a great collection of titles… I haven’t heard of these books… Glad you brought them up… The only book I have read whose title I found to be different so far is “The monk who sold his Ferrari “
So many great titles! Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret was one of my favorites as a girl. Weekends In Maine
Really…it took me so long to digest each title. Loved The Particular Sadness of a Lemon Cake and the cover says from the author of The Girl in the Flammable Skirt…wow!!
Am I allowed to add one of my favorite titles? It’s a cookbook, “Gluten is My Bitch” by April Peveteaux — Btw, being gluten intolerant has definitely been a challenge for this household during the Pandemic. I could go on and on about it. #atozroadtrip2020