Ok, who else in the group has seen a book with a strange (or catchy) title by an author you knew nothing about and HAD to buy it? And how did it turn out?

The big one I can think of that I did was called Bimbos of the Death Sun and, despite the title it turned out to actually be a mystery. The Bimbos referred to in the title was a hard sci/fi book that the amateur detective wrote. The events of the mystery are taking place during a sci/fi convention. (I'm sure we've all been to a few cons, and can understand the madness that happens there, right?) Never mind that silly "What happens in Vegas" stuff, lets get down to it and admit that that saying really originated for fan conventions of any type. Lol, I still remember one con I attended (and worked Night Ops on) where those of us in Ops had pens made that said, "there's a WHAT on the 9th floor?"

SO, come on and share some of your crazy book purchases

I did that with Moon called and was glad I did . The Mercy series turned out to be one of my favorite series.

Title - pretty much never, at least in this genre. The titles are usually really vague, have little do with the story, and sound really stupid/cheesy/embarrassing.
Cover, maybe. Though they're usually just as embarrassing.

The title makes me pick it up then I read the back and if it still looks good I read page 99 and if that is a go then I buy it.

I did that with the Rachel Morgan series and I did it with the BDB so sometimes it can work.

I've definitely done this quite a few times. I bought Bitten, Moon Called, the first in the Keri Arthur series, Death's Daughter... I think there have been more lol. I just browse the shelves at B&N and pick up whatever looks good. I think the only book I bought on the spur that I disliked was Dhampir. ick. Otherwise I've been pretty good.

Winkie by Clifford Chase. A poor little Teddy gets arrested for terrorism. Turned out quite well! I enjoyed it.

Although I have yet to read the one I own (it's on my challenge list for April though), I would buy anything by Mario Acevedo. I just couldn't pass up titles like The Nymphos of Rocky Flats,The Undead Kama Sutra and Jailbait Zombie. Plus the covers are brilliant as well.

I did with "Colors Insulting to Nature." Thought that was a great title, but I haven't had a chance to read the book yet, and I've kinda forgotten what it was about...

Stars in My Pocket Like Grains of Sand by Samuel Delany. That sf title captured me instantly. I haven't read it in years. Thanks for the reminder.

I'm not usually an impulse book buyer (I swear!) but I can be suckered into picking something up by a good title or cover. If the blurb and first few pages intrigue, it goes home with me.

Just remembered! I did that with Snow White and the Seven Samurai by Tom Holt. Haven't read it yet.

And Undead and Unwed was also a random purchase based on the title and cover. Now I love MJD.

I tend to read the first page of a book while standing in the bookstore-just to see if the writing style might be to my liking. I can not trust the blurbs at the back of books anymore. There are so many poorly written ones! I take it more as a guideline than a true indication of what the book will be like.

This is how I discovered one of my very favorite series: Immortality Bites. Plus with book titles like "Fanged & Fabulous" - how could you go wrong? They were great reads.

I bought this short story not necessarily because of the title but because the description reeled me in like a shark to a bucket of chum...

Not in Kansas...Gliders and Wizards and Sex Droids… Oh My!

Lol

I bought Outlander because of the title. Well, okay, the title grabbed me, I read the cover copy, and had the library order it. Then I bought my own copy after I read it. There are probably other books I've picked up to look at because of the title. I usually don't BUY just because of the title, but it can get me to pick it up...

I'm with DarkHeart about Mario Acevedo's titles. I discovered the latest one (Jailbait Zombie) first, but now I want to read them all. A title that shows the book has a sense of humor will always get my attention.

A non-fantasy book I picked up because of the title was The Arsonist's Guide to Writers' Homes in New England.

Adolf in Wonderland by Carlton Mellick III