Is this a pretentious title?

seun · Jun 26, 2009

I'm kicking around the idea of changing the title of my WIP to:

The Death and Life of Benjamin Harwood.

I'm probably overthinking it but as much as I like it, something about it strikes me as pretentious. Anyone else think so?

RJK · Jun 26, 2009

Your title pretty much tells the story. If it doesn't, then it has no meaning. I don't know if I'd be drawn to a book where the title tells me the outcome. JMHO.

MDei · Jun 26, 2009

Not really. If anything, I'm intrigued about why it comes in that order. Death, then life. Is he dead and reborn? Is her the reincarnation of someone? How can you die before you have life? That's done intentionally, right?

NeuroFizz · Jun 26, 2009

I'm with MDei. With that convention reversed, I'm going to be looking for something very unusual or unique in this man's story. Does the story earn that aspect of the title?

It's kind of an interesting concept now that I think about it, and I'm flashing on all of my titles. Do the stories earn the titles?

seun · Jun 26, 2009

It's a deliberate reversal and I do like it but there is something...I'm not sure what. It feels a little smug.

Probably just overthinking it. I do that sometimes. Or do I?

megan_d · Jun 26, 2009

It makes me think of Benjamen Button, and other like titled books. Pretentious? Well, maybe a little. But I don't think a little pretension ever hurt anyone.

Exir · Jun 26, 2009

It makes me think of Benjamen Button, and other like titled books. Pretentious? Well, maybe a little. But I don't think a little pretension ever hurt anyone.

Second the Benjamin Button analogy, ESPECIALLY since your "Death and Life" suggests a reverse chronology.

Exir · Jun 26, 2009

BTW, what makes a title pretentious?

:Shrug:

mlazzer · Jun 26, 2009

I don't see it as pretentious no. But it does make you think of Benjamin Button as mentioned above. A real pretentious title however, would be "A hundred reasons why this author is so much better and smarter and awesomer than the reader."

Fuchsia Flower · Jun 26, 2009

Yeah, like the others my first thought was Benjamin Button. If it had a different character name I'd like it

kaitlin008 · Jun 26, 2009

I had the same first thought, about Benjamin Button. I didn't think it sounded pretentious, though.

Etola · Jun 26, 2009

I don't think it's a pretentious title, but on a related note, it sounded somewhat familiar. I did an Amazon search and came up with "The Death and Life of Bobby Z" and "The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud." It's a cool idea, and following NeuroFizz's comment the reversal piques my interest. But you should probably be aware that it's not 100% never-been-done-before.

seun · Jun 26, 2009

Etola said:
I don't think it's a pretentious title, but on a related note, it sounded somewhat familiar. I did an Amazon search and came up with "The Death and Life of Bobby Z" and "The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud." It's a cool idea, and following NeuroFizz's comment the reversal piques my interest. But you should probably be aware that it's not 100% never-been-done-before.

Interesting. Glad you mentioned this. I'll have to rethink it.

maestrowork · Jun 26, 2009

I think it's a bit too close to "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button."

Alpha Echo · Jun 26, 2009

MDei said:
Not really. If anything, I'm intrigued about why it comes in that order. Death, then life. Is he dead and reborn? Is her the reincarnation of someone? How can you die before you have life? That's done intentionally, right?

I would be thinking the same thing. I like it, and I'd be curious to read the book and find out why the book was titled that way.

seun · Jun 26, 2009

maestrowork said:
I think it's a bit too close to "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button."

I never considered that when I thought of it. Now I can't stop seeing the similarity.

BigWords · Jun 26, 2009

Other books using the reversed phrase:
The Death And Life Of Charlie St. Cloud
The Death And Life Of Malcolm X

Film:
The Death And Life Of Bobby Z

If other titles are too close to the title you are thinking of, you might want to change it to something else. A title doesn't necessarily have to describe the novel - even using a theme or emotional link to name the work in abstract.

Fokker Aeroplanbau · Jun 26, 2009

seun said:
I never considered that when I thought of it. Now I can't stop seeing the similarity.

x2

katiemac · Jun 26, 2009

seun said:
I never considered that when I thought of it. Now I can't stop seeing the similarity.

Really, I think the only similarity is that your character's name is Benjamin. I'd be more concerned with the other "death and life" titles, since it suggests yours is no longer original.

scarletpeaches · Jun 26, 2009

Am I the only one who's thinking of Reggie Perrin?

BigWords · Jun 26, 2009

scarletpeaches said:
Am I the only one who's thinking of Reggie Perrin?

Yes.

scarletpeaches · Jun 26, 2009

Well you all are now! BWAHAHAHAHA! :e2teeth:

jst5150 · Jun 26, 2009

When your book comes out, the Benjamin Button phase will be past and those other books don't matter.

Great title. I'm sure you'll do a bang-up job making sure the writing supports it!

Wark · Jun 26, 2009

The editor will change it if they want to. Keep it if you like it.

Stunted · Jun 26, 2009

Benjamin Button.

Is this a pretentious title?

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