Books With One Word Titles: Top Ten Tuesday
It’s yonks since I last did a Top Ten Tuesday topic but this week’s prompt isn’t going to demand much brain power, so let’s give it a go.
The topic is “books I’ve read with one-word titles.” I was spoiled for choice that I decided to challenge myself with two self-imposed rules:
- choose only books read in the last five years
- avoid titles containing personal names, place names or names of organisations
Drift by Caryl Lewis
This has just been named as the Wales Book of the Year, an award that is richly deserved. This is a highly atmospheric and haunting tale set alongside the Welsh coastline.
Latecomers by Anita Brookner
No-one captures loneliness quite like Brookner. This novel is the tale of two Jewish refugees who meet at a boy’s boarding school and remain friends for 50 plus years. Review is here
Beartown by Fredrik Backman
I never thought I would appreciate a book that features sport. Fortunately this novel is more about a town that takes sides when a crime is committed. It’s a thought-provoking tale. Review is here
You by Phil Whittaker
A father recounts his emotions as he travels towards the daughter he has not seen for seven years. The novel is a plea for more justice for fathers separated from their children as a result of divorce. Review is here
Wilderness by B E Jones
Look out for the Netflix adaptation of this thriller featuring a vengeful wife. It’s coming to your small screen soon. Review is here
Milkman by Anna Burns
This novel set amidst The Troubles in Ireland, is one of the strongest winners of the Booker Prize in recent years. See my review here.
West by Carys Davies
The shortest title in my list but don’t let its length fool you. Carys Davies packs oodles of emotion and atmosphere in this tale of a widowed settler who sets off on an expedition from his Pennsylvania mule farm in search of animals whose gigantic bones had been discovered in a swamp. Review is here
Love by Hanne Ørstavik
An intense novel that looks at the relationship between a mother and child. Ørstavik’s narrative forces us to think whether a mother’s responsibility extends only to meeting a child’s physical needs. My review is here
Little by Edmund Cary
Cary’s fictionalised account of the life of Madame Tussaud is an extraordinary story of survival. My review is here.
Becoming by Michelle Obama
I rarely read memoirs but when I do I want them to be as thought-provoking as this one. Michelle Obama’s open and honest account of how it felt to be a First Lady was interesting but it was what she had to say about the experiences that shaped her and influenced her attitudes that had the most impact. Review can be found here.
Now you’ve seen my list, what one word titles would be on YOUR list???
WordsAndPeace
Very nice!
I was surprised how many I had read recently that fit the theme:
https://wordsandpeace.com/2023/07/18/top-ten-books-with-one-word-titles/
BookerTalk
I had the same reaction.
Susan
DRIFT sounds intriguing! I’ll definitely have to take a closer look at that one.
Happy TTT (on a Wednesday)!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
BookerTalk
I was surprised how much I enjoyed it because it had a touch of the unreal which normally doesn’t interest me at all. But this was handled so well
Calmgrove
What fun! Just this year I’ve read Galatea, Simulacrum, Wakenhyrst, Maya, Rooftoppers, Darkhenge, Dogsbody, Ivanhoe and Babel (though one or two authors of course spoil things by adding a subtitle). And a little before that there was Fludd, Orlando, . . .
BookerTalk
The only one I’ve heard of from this year’s list is Ivanhoe (not that I’ve read it though)
hopewellslibraryoflife
Great list Beartown and Milkman are both still with me–amazing books!
BookerTalk
Initially I found it hard to get into Milkman – the lack of character names was disconcerting. But once I got over that, the book grabbed me and wouldn’t let go
hopewellslibraryoflife
I think it was a book that was made for audio–the cadence was everything
BookerTalk
That’s an excellent point – I did find my ear had to tune in to fully appreciate it
margaret21
An interesting challenge, from which, just for a change, I’ve read several, from which Little may be my favourite.
BookerTalk
The illustrations were also wonderful weren’t they?
margaret21
They made it. I still like an illustrated story.
A Life in Books
My last one-word title was James Clammer’s Insignificance. Someone commented on my doorstopper post just the other day recommending Beartown so that’s now added to my ever lengthening list.
BookerTalk
I hadn’t heard of Backman until he was chosen for the book club. I also have A Man Called Ove which could be good
Claire 'Word by Word'
The last two books I read had one word titles, Permafrost and Boulder, both by Catalan author Eva Baltasar, translated by Julian Sanchez. A kind of literary triptych, the third one yet to be translated.
BookerTalk
I’ve not had a great deal of success with Spanish authors so will make a note of this name for future reference. Thanks Claire
Carol
Oops! How could I have forgotten Beartown in my list?! I need to make my list 11 or knock one off 😂😂😂
BookerTalk
Ha Ha, I changed my list a few times too
Carol
I just added it, so I have a list of 11 😂🤷♀️
Lydiaschoch
Milkman sounds good.
Here is my Top Ten Tuesday post.
BookerTalk
It is unusual in that she doesn’t give the characters names – they are known as “youngest sister’s boyfriend” for example so it was confusing to begin with. But I soon got beyond that.
John Davies
Straight away I can think of two novels by one of my favourite authors, David Lodge: ‘Thinks’ and ‘Therapy’. And if you look up the almost-forgotten mid-20th century novelist Henry Green, you’ll find that nearly all his books have one-word titles … Anyway, I agree about the wonderful West by Carys Davies (no relation)
Lisa Hill
*chuckle* not forgotten by me, or by Stu at Winston’s Dad. He introduced me to Henry Green ages ago with his Henry Green Week, and since then I’ve read Loving, Nothing, Caught and Doting, with one more on the TBR!
BookerTalk
I shall show my ignorance here – I’ve never heard of Henry Green. Oh well, off I go to dig out some info
Lisa Hill
Oh, he’s wonderful! Try Caught, the one he wrote using his experiences as a fire warden during WW2.
BookerTalk
Will add this to my wishlist…
BookerTalk
Interesting, I’ve not heard of those books by Lodge. He used to be one of my favourite authors but his more recent work hasn’t held much appeal to me. Wish he was still writing books like Brazzaville Beach