What do people think of the recent trend of naming novels after songs (as practised e.g. by Douglas Coupland, Murakami & various chick lit authors)? Does it pique your curiosity or irritate? Seem fresh and contemporary or merely cliched?

I'm thinking of doing this myself, since one particular song title encapsulates the theme of the novel I'm trying to write - but am wary, for the reasons stated above.

I suppose it's the modern equivalent of taking a line from a poem - I'm thinking of 'Far from the Madding Crowd' but I'm sure there were others.

I think the irritation factor might depend on the song title or line taken from a song. Probably best to stick to something fairly classic.

>>I think the irritation factor might depend on the song title or line taken from a song.

I find that's true, but what might irritate me, will delight someone else, and vice versa. I wouldn’t worry though.

When a publisher wants your book, there’s always the chance that they’ll want to change the title anyway. But if you feel the song captures the theme, and that’s right for you, maybe you want to go ahead and call it, if that’s your instinct. There’s no harm in naming a work in progress.

I think it really depends on the relevance of the song, otherwise it's a marketing gimmick. For those who know the song, it makes the book easy to remember. For those who don't (but probably do at the back of their mind) they see something familiar, so it's enough to spark curiousity. For others, certain songs have a certain nostalgia, and as the song title brings back an immediate good feeling they associate that with the book.

It's a cheap trick really, and nothing at all to do with my next novel "A Hard Day's Night"

I hope you've, ahem, been 'working like a dog' on that one...

Useful views. Thanks.

As someone else said, it's a bit like taking a line from a poem. I think the tv series Californication has a fantastic name, but my husband tells me it was the name of a song originally (well, who knows who came up with it first, but they both bear that name).

Deb

Red Hot Chill Peppers album, that was, and the title track. Good stuff!

Cool series too! Most amusing!

JB

Yes, the series manages to be very amusing in a surprisingly subtle way considering the subject matter. David Duchovny is very good in the role. Well written.

I like RHCPs too, but didn't have that album so hadn't registered till my husband mentioned it...

Deb