Memories of Vito
I’ve spent a great deal of time in deep reflection on the title of my book.
I’ve pondered that Lilian Jackson Braun has made a career out of ‘The Cat Who…’ mystery series, beginning in 1966 with ‘The Cat Who Read Backwards’ all the way to 2007’s ‘The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers’.
Further, I’ve come to the realization that I don’t mind if my book title sounds like a something for young adults. As one wise emailer pointed out, ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’ sounds like a kids book, and who wouldn’t begrudge that sort of success?
But what I am trying to avoid is having a title that immediately conjures up thoughts of a children’s tale, like ‘Sheep in a Jeep’. Not that ‘Sheep in a Jeep’ isn’t a terrific book, spawning such sequels as ‘Sheep in a Shop’ and ‘Sheep on a Ship’, but this memoir is most certainly not a children’s story.
So after much soul searching and endless lists of book title possibilities, I am leaning towards the following, with ‘The Cat Who Wouldn’t Purr’ as a subtitle…
So let me know what you think and if I get enough positive response, ‘Vito: The Cat Who Wouldn’t Purr’ may very well become ‘Memories of Vito: The Cat Who Wouldn’t Purr’.
Facebook comments:
Sounds like a wake or memorial. How about “Vito the Purrless Cat”
“Memories of Vito: The Cat Who Wouldn’t Purr” tips off the reader that they’re in for a weepy ending. The word “memories” implies right off the bat that the title character is no longer with us. I say leave the title as it was — “Vito: The Cat Who Wouldn’t Purr.”
At least, “Marley and Me” wasn’t “Marley’s Ghost.” (What the Dickens…)