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Clever Titles

hobbit 21 Feb 09 at 1:32 p.m. GMT

I recently re-read major pallgrave's thread discussing 'Why Didn't They Ask Evans?' and was reminded of the point that had arisen about the importance of good, capturing titles which say something about the work. I was wondering what other people's views were on this.

'Why Didn't They Ask Evans?' has to be one fo my favourite titles (though I found the book itself rather unexciting) because it, for me, completely captures the sense of mystery of the novel and the context in which it is said, for those who have read the book, is extremely grim and intriguing.

I also like 'The Moving Finger' (a quote from a poem I believe) as I found the multiple ways it applies to the book (different villagers pointing the finger of accusation at each other, the single finger used to type the letters, the symbolic 'moving finger' of the poison-pen writer etc.) rather clever.

What are your favourite titles? (please try and give reasons, if possible!)

Hobbit

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43 replies

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brendamonks 01 Nov 11 at 12:32 p.m. GMT

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brendamonks 26 Oct 11 at 3:57 p.m. GMT

Only just become a member of this web site so am scrolling through the various categories and adding my thoughts/comments. I've always been an avid Christie reading/viewer. The cleverest title (which is also my favourite book) has to be "And Then There Were None" of course.

NightRayDuck 22 May 11 at 5:56 a.m. GMT

I've been wondering if the "Ordeal by Innocence" idea evolved from "Trial by Ordeal" procedure back in the Middle Ages.. 

Tommy_A_Jones 20 May 11 at 3:38 p.m. GMT

I love the Title Ordeal By Innocense one of the proposed was Cat Among The Pigeons which would have worked Just as well.

Tommy_A_Jones 21 Jul 09 at 11 a.m. GMT

I personally liked 'The Clocks' and haven't read 'Murder On The Links' or 'Three Act Tragedy' yet but I agree with you about the others Frnorfoe but like you I might read them again especially 'The Mystery of The Blue Train', 'Halloween Party' and 'Elephants Can Remember', three books I can't really remember but knew I didn't like them much, I am on the Last Chapter of a Book I will never read again and I ended last year on a book I will never ever read again (Although I was out of my comfort zone as it was a Science fiction book I was reading as IO read very few people finish it so mI wanted to see if I could) and my Sister gave me a Murder |Mystery I will never read again, I am thinking of never reading other books written by Authors whose books I have put on the list but I like Betty Rowlands Books and one of them I really couldn't get on with.

Frndorfoe 18 Jul 09 at 4:34 p.m. GMT

There are books by other authors which are on my "never re-read again" list but not many Agatha Christie books are on it. I've read all of Miss Marple's novels and short stories and none are on my list either. As for Poirot I think The Murder on the Links, The Mystery of the Blue Train, Three Act Tragedy, The Clocks, Hallowe'en Party and Elephants Can Remember come pretty close to being on the list. But then again someday I might read them again to remind myself why I disliked them so much in the first place!

Tommy_A_Jones 18 Jul 09 at 1:25 p.m. GMT

That's the same for me, There are some books I really hated and wont read again, but at the Moment no Miss Marple's are on the List just about 4 Poirot's Definitely; 'Lord Edgware Dies, 'The Murder of Roger Ackroyed', 'The Big Four', Third Girl and maybe 'The Blue Train Mystery' all though I can't remember too much about it as I reads it such a long time ago. Some Non-series Books are also on the List; Endless Night, Passenger To Frankfurt and Death Comes On The End. I haven't read all the Books in any Catagory yet so only time will tell 

Frndorfoe 18 Jul 09 at 12:47 p.m. GMT

I could read Nemesis again. too. in the future. I have a habit of re-reading books. Books I've loved, books I've liked, it doesn’t matter. I don't really like Nemesis and yet I've read it at least two-three times. The "never re-read again" sign is only reserved for books which I've really hated.

Tommy_A_Jones 18 Jul 09 at 11:13 a.m. GMT

I agree with you Frndorfoe, but for me it isn't rmances it is Books where the Main Character is going on a Journey like Mark Wallington's The Missing Postman or if not a book with a journey a P.G. Wodehouse Book, I too have to care about the Characters to care wether they succeed in doing what they achieve, I did love the book and is one I will read again.

Frndorfoe 17 Jul 09 at 2:27 p.m. GMT

When I read a book I like to feel connected to the characters. I like becoming a part of the flow of the story. If I do not, I cannot enjoy the narration or the conclusion of the story. It does not matter if it is a murder mystery where injustices must be put right or if it is a romance where two lovers must unite (Hey that even rhymes!). Nemesis is one such a story for me. That's why I like it but do not love it.

Tommy_A_Jones 17 Jul 09 at 1:44 p.m. GMT

You can dislike a person and still want injustices to be put right or else many Lawyers wouldn't be employed but I agree if you don't like some of the Characters of a book you can't like the book which is why I don't like Sparkling Cyanide, Endless Night and Death Comes At The End.  

Frndorfoe 16 Jul 09 at 1:01 p.m. GMT

This reply contains spoiler information. Show reply

If one does not feel connected with Michael and Verity, how can one root for Miss Marple to find out who really is the murderer and acquit the innocent? One has to feel sympathetic towards certain characters in order to enjoy stories like these where the guilty are punished and the innocent are set free. Also, I prefer a crisp and clear narrative to a rambling one. Even if the ramblings are a part of the characters.

Tommy_A_Jones 16 Jul 09 at 11:01 a.m. GMT

I suppose Michael and Verity are a side story, a story about a girl who rebels against an stifleing and Claustrophobic atmosphere who sees a man no relative would want as a relation who falls for a girl who thinks she can use him to escape and perhaps change him in the process. What loopholes the type of people the Characters were they would ramble so I didn't see anything wrong with them rambling, the characters were like the ones in 'Postern of Fate' which was also one of the very later books What did you mean by loopholes go_leafs?

go_leafs_nation 15 Jul 09 at 5:18 p.m. GMT

Nemesis was... interesting. Omit the loopholes and its (at times) rambling nature, and it's one of the more interesting Christies.

Frndorfoe 15 Jul 09 at 5:16 p.m. GMT

Don't get me wrong. I love and adore Miss Marple and she is my favorite detective. Nemesis is just one of those stories Agatha Christie wrote during her final years. It tends to be a bit rambling. Also, the characters are not properly fleshed out. I just could not connect with Michael and Verity like one ought to with lovers. I felt dissatisfied and it left me feeling a bit cold. But that doesn't mean I hate it. It is just one of my less favorite Miss Marple stories.

go_leafs_nation 15 Jul 09 at 5:03 p.m. GMT

winne, "Cat Among the Pigeons" implies that one of the people among the pupils and schoolteachers is dangerous.

Tommy_A_Jones 15 Jul 09 at 2:12 p.m. GMT

What didn't you like about it Frndorfoe? I loved the book

Frndorfoe 15 Jul 09 at 11:19 a.m. GMT

I know what Nemesis means and I know that the title fits the story. It is very obvious. What I meant to say was that even though I liked the title I did not like the book. I was intrigued by the title but the story let me down.

Tommy_A_Jones 15 Jul 09 at 11:09 a.m. GMT

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I got that bit but don't understand the explanation go_leafs unless it just means put one bad person in with alot of law-abiding people.

I dissagree with you about 'Nemesis Frndorfoe, Nemesis is the Goddess of Retribution and Jason Raphiel wanted Miss Marple to find the Murderer to avenge the Injustice that wast cast upon his son.

Frndorfoe 15 Jul 09 at 10:45 a.m. GMT

There are several titles that I found intriguing. But the stories turned out to be nothing extraordinary. Elephants Can Remember being one of them. Nemesis is another one of them. There are some books which did live up to their names for me. Sleeping Murder, A Murder is Announced, A Pocket Full of Rye, Cards on the Table, Evil under the Sun, Cat among the Pigeons .etc. are some of them.