The Country Ahead Of Us, The Country Behind - I haven’t actually read this, I just love the title. And feel no need to spoil my enjoyment of it by reading what might be a less-than-satisfactory book.
I’m sure there are more but those are the two that I think of when I’m grouchy and want to cheer myself up.
They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?. Mysterious, until you see the movie, when all becomes clear.
Stars in My Pocket Like Grains of Sand by Samuel R. Delany
I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream by Harlan Elllison. Ellison is a master at great titles (Crazy as a Soup Sandwich; The Beast that Shouted Love at the Heart of the World; Repent, Harlequin, said the Ticktockman), but this is his best.
Christopher Hitchens was on tv a while back saying how he wanted to name his recent book that took a critical view of Mother Theresa Holy Cow because it was a triple entendre. Alas the publishing company wouldn’t let him. Pity
I like Sharon Kay Penman’s titles, such as: The Sunne in Splendour When Christ and His Saints Slept
I also like Alexander McCall Smith’s titles: The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency
Morality for Beautiful Girls
In the Company of Cheerful Ladies
The Kalahari Typing School for Men
The Full Cupboard of Life
Tears of the Giraffe
Blue Shoes and Happiness
The Good Husband of Zebra Drive
I’m surprised, Lissla, you like That Hideous Strength. I’m nonplussed by that and many CS Lewis titles – Till We Have Faces and Mere Christianity being two others. I never really get comfortable with them, either, even after years of being familiar with the books.
But you did say you like when a title is interesting. I like it more when they have a grand sound.
Great Expectations
A Tale of Two Cities
Of Mice and Men