Betsy Devine: Funny ha-ha and/or funny peculiar

Making trouble today for a better tomorrow…

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Books with embarassing titles

June 20th, 2004 · 2 Comments

I want to blog about my summer reading list, but before I do….

Have you ever noticed that some books have really embarassing titles? Three examples, two from my past and one from my future:

Liberated Parents, Liberated Children by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish
Sounds like a road map for ultra-PC families who roast tofu marshmallows over a nightly bonfire of burning bras–in fact, it’s good-humored, fiction-ified practicalia based on Haim Ginott’s theories.
Shadow of the Torturer by Gene Wolfe
Conjures up–I don’t really want to say. This sci-fi-fantasy classic would be a non-stop page-turner–but not in public places, not with that title.
What Should I Do With My Life by Po Bronson
It’s on my summer list, but I’m planning to tote it around in a plain brown wrapper. Po Bronson interviewed a ton of people with interesting stories based on that question, and I’m looking forward to reading it, okay?

Tags: Life, the universe, and everything

2 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Lisa Williams // Jun 20, 2004 at 10:37 pm

    You’re in luck! Shadow of the Torturer is now released as part of a two books in one set including Claw of the Conciliator. On the cover? Shadow & Claw. Although there is a weird, slightly paperback-romance illustration of an executioner on the front. Still.

    I think I may have the audiobook of Po Bronson’s book. I should look around to see if I can scare it up.

  • 2 Betsy Devine // Jun 22, 2004 at 6:54 pm

    Thanks, Lisa–I have the audio book, or at least Frank has it, which is where I heard about it.