When Does a Book Title Catch Your Eye?

They are only a few choice words, but they're also the often hardest part of a book to write. I sweat over picking titles. Early on, during the novel's first draft, I draw up a list of titles, then shape it as I go along. The new book's working title is just a placeholder, subject to change at any time. And it does.

Anything is fair game since titles can't be copyrighted. But then would you call your book Gone With the Wind? Not me. Some titles get overused. For instance, Deadfall is a popular title for thrillers. I want my titles to stand out from the pack. On the other hand, if I get too exotic, readers tend to forget or mix up my titles. That's no good.

Colors appeal to me: The Blue Cheer, The Dirt-Brown Derby, and The Zinc Zoo. Often a title will pop into my head after I've gone to bed. But I'm too lazy to drag up and go jot down the title. If it's a keeper, I figure it will stick in my head until the morning comes.

Sometimes a key phrase or a heavy piece of dialogue will nail down the book's title. For instance, one of my characters likens his new life in the suburbs to "the zinc zoo." I liked it for a title, so I used it. Maybe there's too much alliteration (the z-z) there, but I still like it now.

What in a title rings your bell enough to try out reading the book?