The Elegance of the Hedgehog
By Muriel Barbery
One common method of creating a unique title is carefully combining words that shouldn’t go together, but create the perfect preview of the contents of the book. Originally written in French as L’Élégance du Hérisson, The Elegance of the Hedgehog is the contemporary fiction story of an upscale Parisian apartment complex and its eclectic inhabitants. The title is a reference to an observation made within the book about one of the tenants.
Even though it’s fictional, this book offers profound and thought-provoking observations on community and human nature. As the wildly different inhabitants of the building begin forming friendships, The Elegance of the Hedgehog “teaches philosophical lessons by shrewdly exposing rich secret lives hidden beneath conventional exteriors”
What's Eating Gilbert Grape
By Peter Hedges
First of all, the title is a question, so it’s hard not to wonder what’s “eating” this person. Secondly, the combination of the verb “eating” and the character’s name being a food object, a grape, makes it stand out even more.
Gilbert Grape lives in a tiny town in Iowa. His father committed suicide, which left his mother helpless with grief. He and his siblings must now take care of her, but Gilbert’s siblings have their own problems. And then there’s his special needs little brother, for whom Gilbert acts as a primary caretaker. The situation eats away at Gilbert, and the book is full of his wry, abrupt observations as he dreams of getting out. If you've only seen the movie adaptation, you're missing out.
To Kill a Mockingbird
By Harper Lee
This is one of the most recognizable titles of all time. To Kill a Mockingbird is the coming-of-age story of a young girl named Scout and her little brother, Jem, in the Depression-Era Deep South. Scout and Jem’s mother passed away, so only their father, Atticus, looks after them.
Atticus is a prominent lawyer, and when he agrees to represent a wrongfully accused Black man, he is attacked with violent threats. Scout soon begins to lose her childlike view of the world around her to realize the rampant racism and prejudice taking place in her community.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
By Douglas Adams
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is a science fiction/comedy classic—nominated by PBS’s The Great American Read as one of the best-loved novels in America—and Douglas Adams' work is just as whimsical and fantastical as the title would suggest. The title is a perfect signal of this book's mixed genre: comedy and science fiction. It's also truth in advertising. How amazing is that?
Earth has been demolished to create a hyperspace express route, and an ordinary Englishman named Arthur Dent is the only human left. Provided with a towel, a Babel fish, and a copy of the guide, Arthur must now navigate the universe with only a gang of unreliable aliens to keep him company.
The Unbearable Lightness of Being
By Milan Kundera
This stunning title is an eye-catcher in its ability to capture so much emotion in just five words. The novel is about two stories happening simultaneously: a young woman devoted to her boyfriend, who can’t decide if he’d rather devote himself to her or his many mistresses; and one of those mistresses and her faithful lover.
The Unbearable Lightness of Being is a poignant meditation on humanity, eroticism, love, and truth. Indulging in the pleasures of life is good in moderation, but the title refers to the emptiness the man feels when living only to satisfy his selfish urges.