This poll is so straightforwards, I don’t even have a preamble.
[A] YES TO CHAPTER TITLES. They add an extra hint of the author’s flavour to the book.
[B] NO TO CHAPTER TITLES. I’m here to read the book. Even if there were chapter titles, I wouldn’t notice.
[C] IT DEPENDS. Some books benefit from titles. Others don’t need it.
I’m firm in the “it depends” camp on this one. A lot of the time, I don’t even notice what chapter I’m on, never mind if there are chapter titles. But with humour books in particular, I like when the author adds in witty titles.
What it comes down to for me: the title should enhance the work, not detract or distract.
Cast your vote in the comments!
Are books better with comments? Do you have a favourite book that uses chapter titles?
Yes, chapter titles, please.
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I think it depends too. I guess I never HATE it when a book has chapter titles, but sometimes they don’t add anything, and what’s the point?
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I’m definitely in the it depends category too. I totally agree with them being able to add a lot to humorous books. Sometimes when it’s just generic (like a chapter about the first day of school is just called “first day”) I end up not reading any of the titles!
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I agree about the generic titles adding nothing. Especially if the book has a generic title and no title numbers. I don’t remember what chapter I’m on *and* the name isn’t interesting.
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I’m firmly in the “I ignore chapter titles” camp. I’ll read the little “excerpts” from fictional books at the top of the pages, but the only time I pay attention to chapter titles is when I’m listening to audiobooks.
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Yup, same here. I read the excerpt (unless the previous chapter had a cliffhanger, then nope, I’m zooming forwards) also.
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I love the clever and funny chapter titles. Gail Carriger’s can be really funny. But if there’s art for each chapter, I do want a chapter title even if it’s more of a general type. For example, Harry Potter or Nevermoor. 🙂
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Oh yes, chapter titles pair really well with books that have concept art. That’s a good point.
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I love a chapter title personally, I could be in the depends camp at some point in my life, but so far I am yet to find a book in which I dislike the chapter titles. The ones I have seen are often humourous and give the book a little more flavour. But there’s surely some out there that are a waste of time 🙂
Great post ❤
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Thanks Maisy! Yes, a lot of the titles I have spotted have been humourous and those are my favourites so I can’t complain either.
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I love well-thought of chapter titles! But as you said I will probably only realize they are there near the end of the book.. I just want to know the story!
(www.evelynreads.com)
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YES. As long as I get the story, I’m happy.
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it depends
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all i got was… two words 😥
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AND ANOTHER COMMENT oh right u know that responding to that now then
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and a good book w titles is… oh i can’t remember the name but the ending is ‘of you and me’ and it’s a really funny book w a yellow cover and black writing and gah i don’t remember!!! will let u know
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and more words! okay. happy now.
wait. the literal last words of the book are “of you and me” but you can’t remember the title or the author?
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yay
okay I remember now (saw it in the library the other day lol) and I was close… ‘me being me is exactly as insane as you being you’ is the title, by todd hasak-lowy
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YESSSS (I’m not sure why I got so excited) I have heard of that book beforeee.
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I think it depends too! Sometimes chapter titles feel irrelevant in certain books, but I usually like them because it adds a little extra intrigue to the story.
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Chapter Thirteen:
‘The Unlucky Chapter’
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It depends. I don’t care if chapter titles are missing, but I have read books, where the authors used them really well
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I prefer fun and descriptive titles!
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I’m strongly in the “it depends” category as well. There are some books that I wish would have chapter titles, and others that are so bland that I never end up reading the chapter titles because I don’t find they add anything, However Rick Riordan’s titles are the best, for sure!
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I love his titles too!
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C. I gotta be honest and say that a lot of the time I usually don’t notice chapter titles, but other times (like in Rick Riordan’s books) they add a lot of value and humour.
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Having grown up worshiping Harry Potter, I wholly say yes to chapter titles! They’re very entertaining to notice especially upon re-reads. 🙂
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I love chapter titles if they’re clever, like in the Percy Jackson books. ❤️
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I love chapter titles, especially when the meaning of them becomes clear 🙂
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The clever titles are the best.
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They really are 😃💜💜
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Definitely A! I love chapter titles and how, as the chapter goes on, everything gets explained!
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Gonna have to go with [C] too. Like you, I usually don’t process chapter titles, but do appreciate them when they’re done properly in humor books.
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Definitely depends for me.
I don’t like it when the titles give away what happens in the chapter…but I like it when they are cheeky or funny.
That being said, I mostly like them in (and see more often) in the MG books I read. Where they are cheeky and cute.
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