What do you think of this title?

aruna · Jan 12, 2012

Last week I started a new novel. Just like my first one, it's set in India and
England and spans several decades, starting in the 1920s - lots of historical references, a poor Indian girl and a young Earl, forbidden relationshops, snobbery, the end of colonialism, love, a family quarrel or two, and so on.

I called it initially Cry of the Brainfever Bird. The Brainfever Bird is a hawk-cuckkoo that lives in Indian; it has a haunting, crazy, ascending cry that it lets out in the night; if you've been to India you have probably heard it. I like this title but it doesn't seem like 'it'.

But then another title popped up. Actually, it was mentioned by a radio announcer on the National Express coach from Stansted airport yesterday, and I at once thought -- that's it!
But now I'm having second thoughts. I'd like your opinion.

The title is "Elephant and Castle". As some Brits may know, Elephant and Castle is a part of London; a busy, nondescript area now, but in the time of my novel it was apparently as lively and culturally alive as Picadilly. And of course Elephants are almost an Indian cliche; I can easily and very naturally work one or two into the story, as well as a castle or two. I can easily have the characters living in that part of London; it's just such an evocative name! And I can imagine a lovely cover to go with it. And then I thought today, that's just silly.

Your honest thoughts, please?

Charlie Horse · Jan 12, 2012

I like it. You do know, however, that if you've just started the novel chances are the title will change and honestly, it's pretty irrelevant at this point. In fact, if your novel gets to the point of being published the editor will have the final say on the title. But if you need to have a title for your work to keep you motivated, then that works fine.

aruna · Jan 12, 2012

I have a particular editor in mind and she always lets me choose the titles; I am writing this book for her. If at all possible..! And I think giving it a great title, even at this point, one that makes her say Ah! Yes! I can see that on the bookshelves! will be of immense benefit.

I do need a working title, one that inspires me and gives me ideas... and this does. I just need to know how it sounds to others!

Phaeal · Jan 12, 2012

Elephant and Castle sounds good. I like the brainfever bird reference, but don't like The Cry of the Brainfever Bird. I don't like the way it scans -- the two anapests at the end give the title a sing-songy quality to me (da DA da da DA da da DA.)

But as long as you don't call it The Brainfever Bird's Daughter/Wife/Mother, I'm cool.

smoothseas · Jan 12, 2012

Of the two, I like Cry of the Brainfever Bird as a working title.

Mark W. · Jan 12, 2012

I vote for Elephant and Castle. It is short, concise, and understandable for the common reader.

aruna · Jan 12, 2012

Thanks all! I should have done a poll.

Dr.Gonzo · Jan 12, 2012

I like it.

Nothing else to add.

Jake.C · Jan 12, 2012

Phaeal said:
Elephant and Castle sounds good. I like the brainfever bird reference, but don't like The Cry of the Brainfever Bird. I don't like the way it scans -- the two anapests at the end give the title a sing-songy quality to me (da DA da da DA da da DA.)

But as long as you don't call it The Brainfever Bird's Daughter/Wife/Mother, I'm cool.

I think, for that very reason, it scans perfectly for me. I prefer this one.

gothicangel · Jan 12, 2012

Honestly?

The Elephant and Castle sounds like a pub to me. I prefer the first one.

Scribhneoir · Jan 12, 2012

Elephant and Castle is okay, but I find Cry of the Brainfever Bird more intriguing.

aruna · Jan 12, 2012

gothicangel said:
Honestly?

The Elephant and Castle sounds like a pub to me. I prefer the first one.

THE Elephant and Castle IS a pub! I want it without the THE, though. That might be the very reason I had my doubts. Without the THE it is more of a place.

LadyA · Jan 12, 2012

Hi aruna!

I'm assuming you're pitching this at the US market? If so, I think the Elephant and Castle title is a good one. If you want to publish it in the UK though, I wouldn't use it - I'm a Brit and it makes me think of the (not particularly lovely) Elephant and Castle part of London, so others might feel the same.

p.s. Love the idea - Earls, love, and forbidden relationships - swoon!

cwfgal · Jan 12, 2012

I much prefer "Cry of the Brainfever Bird." I think the whole brain fever idea fits with your plot in a way, too. Would "Cry of Brainfever" work (dropping the bird)? or "Call of Brainfever?" "The Brainfever Cry?" I really like the evocative nature of the brain fever thing.

"Elephant and Castle" does nothing for me. As others said, it sounds like the name of a pub. "The Elephant Castle" is a little more intriguing, but not enough to outdo the brain fever thing for me and I'm not sure it would fit with your book.

Beth

Richard White · Jan 12, 2012

Elephant and Castle makes me think of India (since a version of chess I saw had the rooks as elephants with castles on their backs).

Cry of the Brainfever Bird scans a bit long for me, but I prefer short titles. "The Brainfever Bird's Cry" might be less of a mouthful.

Phaeal · Jan 12, 2012

Is papiha the Hindi name for this bird? I'd probably like "The Papiha's Cry," but I may have an unusually high tolerance for non-English words in English-language titles. They make me want to pick up the book and find out what that word means. Other English-speakers could be put off.

Still, Shogun did pretty well, didn't it?

gothicangel · Jan 12, 2012

aruna said:
THE Elephant and Castle IS a pub! I want it without the THE, though. That might be the very reason I had my doubts. Without the THE it is more of a place.

Showing up my Geordie roots. Obviously.

heyjude · Jan 12, 2012

I thought of the restaurant right away.

I loved "Cry of..."

It has a wonderfully exotic ring to it.

Melville · Jan 12, 2012

I really, really like "Cry of the Brainfever Bird" -- literary sounding and evocative.

Elephant and Castle makes me think of the tube stop and the surrounding area of London...

Or, worse, of one of those (wonderful) London Walks where the guide told our little group that one theory is that Elephant and Castle is an anglized version of "Infanta de Castille" -- that when a princess of Spain paid a visit, the site was named after her.

Now... if your character was Spanish...

dangerousbill · Jan 12, 2012

aruna said:
I called it initially Cry of the Brainfever Bird.

The Brainfever Bird would jump out at me from a store shelf.

Elephant and Castle would make me think of London, of Hannibal, or of a weird form of chess.

Your publisher will likely give it another title anyway.

aadams73 · Jan 12, 2012

It's a pretty title, but not a strong one. To anyone not familiar with the location, it's going to be meaningless. They won't know it's a location, it's not indicative of genre, and it tells the reader very little about the story.

Of the two, Cry of the Brainfever Bird is the stronger title. It's much more intriguing. Now I have to Google this bird.

ETA: It's even more intriguing now that I know it's a member of the cuckoo family.

colealpaugh · Jan 12, 2012

gothicangel said:
Honestly?

The Elephant and Castle sounds like a pub to me. I prefer the first one.

Exactly.

I dig Cry of the Brainfever Bird. There's so much going on with it ... it's exotic, might be a lunatic or an actual bird, and the cry has numerous meanings. Really, I think it's terrific.

colealpaugh · Jan 12, 2012

aadams73 said:
Now I have to Google this bird.

Eh, the actually bird is okay, but no Inca Tern or Royal Flycatcher.

Wishny · Jan 12, 2012

I'm new here but here's my 2 cents:
Elephant and Castle could be inturpreted as two close friends: Bonney and Clyde, Simon and Garfunkle etc. If there actually is a close partnership in your story, it could make for a good title.
The more thought provolking title though, is anything with "brainfever" in it.

WriteMinded · Jan 12, 2012

I like Cry of the Brainfever Bird. I'd pluck it off a bookshelf for a look because I'd be curious.
Elephant and Castle makes me think of an African elephant trumpeting in front of a tall, turreted, stone building on the Serengeti plain.

What do you think of this title?

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