Usually, on the cover, the reader can understand what awaits him. However, the ridiculous title of the book often turns the contents into a riddle. At least, such compositions cheer you up, which is wonderful.
Who gives awards for ridiculous book titles?
The existence of "anti-prizes", which give for dubious merits, can boast of many areas of art. Literature did not stand aside. The Diagram Prize, founded by the eponymous company and magazine The Bookseller, is awarded for the funniest title of the book.
The author does not receive any prizes other than increased attention. But the reader who nominated the winner book is awarded a bottle of wine or champagne.
What lies behind the shocking names of the three winners?
The funny title does not guarantee that the contents of the book will be just as funny. It is worth evaluating at least three famous winners of The Diagram Prize.
- “Cooking with poop” (2011). The author did not mean anything bad! In fact, Pu is her name. By fateful accident, the word Poo in English does not mean “crab” at all, as in Thai, but the slang name of feces. Thanks to this, the ordinary culinary collection received an award for the funniest title of the book.
- “People who do not know that they have died: how they become attached to unsuspecting outsiders, and what to do about it” (2005). The strange and even frightening name is justified. The book is about the spirits of the dead and how to get rid of them.
- “How to Poo on a Date” (2013). The content of the book is absolutely obvious from the original title. Surprisingly, an employee of The Bookseller magazine noted the opus not only for a funny name, but also for useful content. Although another editor did not agree with him, he only drew attention to the fact that "feces receive rewards."
How do you like these children's books?
Adults, of course, have their own quirks. But what guided the authors when choosing such book titles for children?
The Tale of the Mole
It is unclear why the topic of feces so attracts fans of the epistolary genre. But not paying attention to the book by Werner Holzvars is difficult. After all, his children's fairy tale “About a little mole who wanted to know who had done it on his head” is a real study.
The plot is rather unpretentious. The mole climbed out of the hole to meet the dawn. And at that moment a “strange oblong object resembling a sausage” lands on his head, the recognition of which will not cause difficulties for the reader. Further, the poor creature will seek the culprit, studying in detail the process of defecation of various living beings.
The German opus about natural processes could not see the light immediately. However, after publication, it even became the basis for a theatrical production and was translated into 27 languages.
Aunt Misha, Uncle Tanya
Unlike the previous book, "New Dad's Wife, whose Name Is Robert" is written for a serious purpose. The author positively explains to children who are homosexuals and helps to mitigate the consequences of same-sex marriage of one of the parents. In the story, the father of the protagonist leaves the family to live with a new friend.
The use of the book is doubtful. Therefore, while it is known only as a story for children with the strangest name.
What else should children know from childhood?
If a child can really face the issue of same-sex marriages in his youth, then what about drugs? The authors of the American book “It's Just Weed” are sure that they can explain to the child what is already possible from the age of 3!
The main character Jackie wakes up from an unfamiliar smell that leads her to her parents bedroom. Mom and Dad, spending leisure time smoking cannabis, without hesitation, arrange for the child an excursion into the world of marijuana.
Pay attention to the fact that this book forms a positive attitude to the drug. “It's just weed!” - the author claims. Although it indicates that small children still should not use it.
As you said?
The ridiculous title of the book is not always the author’s choice. Sometimes awkward situations arise when a person first hears about a work. Most such blunders are heard by librarians:
- “Three in a boat, poverty and dogs,” D.K. Jerome.
- “Crime in Kazan”, F. M. Dostoevsky.
- “At the Block in the Pants”, V.V. Mayakovsky.
- "Over the Walrus Precipice," D. D. Salinger.
- "Woe, O Fog," A. S. Griboedov.
Some books with strange titles have interesting and useful content. But more often this move serves only to attract the attention of readers. Perhaps their authors should take an example from the classics and rely on quality, not shocking.