Top Ten Tuesday:  Book Titles That Would Make Great Newspaper Headlines

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

Previous Top Ten Tuesday Topics

• 5th September: Books That Defied My Expectations
• 12th September: Books Awaiting Reviews
• 19th September: Books on My Fall 2023 To-Read List
• 26th September: Secondary/Minor Characters Who Deserve Their Own Book
• 3rd October: Reading Goals I Still Want to Accomplish Before the End of the Year
• 17th October: Books with Weather Events in the Title/on the Cover
• 24th October: Atmospheric Books
• 31st October: Hallowe’en Freebie – Books featuring spooky hares

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This is a fun little topic! There are some parallels between headlines and book titles I suppose: they both summarise a longer text, intending to grab the attention of the reader in a crowded market, neither can reveal too much or give spoilers… But there is a great tradition – certainly in the more lurid redtops in the UK – of inventive and over-the-top sensationalist headlines. By way of examples

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Let’s have a look at book titles that might show newspaper headline qualities – and let’s have fun imagining what the stories that went with them might have been!

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The Glutton, A. K. Blakemore

What sort of story might this be a headline for?

[Caveat, this has no relation to the actual novels in question!]

A man is discovered with a genetic mutation that means he cannot recognise the feeling of being full and therefore seems to have voracious appetite, unable to go more than a few minutes without craving food.

Or

A politician is caught out spending public money on lavish banquets and excessive entertaining, his expenses made public in a freedom of information request.

The Fraud, Zadie Smith

What sort of story might this be a headline for?

[Caveat, this has no relation to the actual novels in question!]

Continuing with the corrupt politician theme…

A politician has been discovered having lied throughout his career from his employment, his qualifications and school history and value.

Or

Politician changed the election results to win when he failed to achieve the requisite votes… *ahem… definitely not Trump, of course not.

Dead Lions, Mick Herron

What sort of story might this be a headline for?

[Caveat, this has no relation to the actual novels in question!]

A traumatic series of deaths in a safari park.

Sorry to all the animal lovers.

Or

The English football team – nicknames the Lions – fail in the earliest stages of the World Cup and are unceremoniously sent home.

American Psycho, Bret Easton Ellis

What sort of story might this be a headline for?

[Caveat, this has no relation to the actual novels in question!]

Trump again?

Is this post becoming too political?

The Last Devil to Die, Richard Osman

What sort of story might this be a headline for?

[Caveat, this has no relation to the actual novels in question!]

An infamous gang of criminals are incarcerated for life. Over the years, they die off in prison until only the ringleader is left. The press (somewhat macabrely) are waiting for his death.

Crook Manifesto, Colson Whitehead

What sort of story might this be a headline for?

[Caveat, this has no relation to the actual novels in question!]

It’s election time and all the political parties have released their promised budgets and policies and outcomes. No one believes any of them.

Again, is this too political? Too cycical?

Normal Rules Don’t Apply, Kate Atkinson

What sort of story might this be a headline for?

[Caveat, this has no relation to the actual novels in question!]

Thinking back to the events of the last three years, particularly 2020, this seems almost too on-the-nose.

Covid.

I Must Betray You, Ryta Sepetys

What sort of story might this be a headline for?

[Caveat, this has no relation to the actual novels in question!]

This is a slightly dodgy one… the grammar doesn’t fit a headline unless we twist it into a quotation.

“I must betray you” confesses leading politician as he steps down.

Perhaps the story is a little kinder: perhaps the press have hounded the poor politician over some minor issue, putting him in a position where despite the really positive and kind changes he proposes for the government, he feels unable to continue in office. Consequently, his forced resignation is the betrayal of his promises to the country…?

Children of Paradise, Camilla Grudova

What sort of story might this be a headline for?

[Caveat, this has no relation to the actual novels in question!]

Struggling to imagine what the story here might be if I’m honest…

What might “Paradise” be? A cult from which children are rescued? A lost tribe discovered in one of the wilder parts of the world, unspoiled by industrialisation or capitalism or the patriarchy…?

Everyone Dies Famous in a Small Town, Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock

What sort of story might this be a headline for?

[Caveat, this has no relation to the actual novels in question!]

A terrible tragedy in a small town (in America according to the image on the front cover, and I think it is set in America) leads to mulitple deaths that draw the attentions of the world’s media.

Shivers… that is a dark idea.

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Upcoming Top Ten Tuesday Themes

November 14: Mainstream Popular Authors that I Still Have Not Read (Submitted by Rissa)
November 21: Reasons Why I’m Thankful for Books (In honor of Thanksgiving in the USA.)
November 28: Books Set In X (Pick a setting and share books that are all set there. This could be a specific continent or country, a state, in outer space, underwater, on a ship or boat, at the beach, etc.)
December 5: Freebie
December 12: Books On My Winter 2022-2023 To-Read List
December 19: Books.I Hop Santa Brings/Bookish Wishes
December 26: The Ten Most Recent Additions to My Bookshelf (Maybe share your holiday book haul?)