Javelins in the Half-Light: The Battles for the Schnee Eifel, 1944-45 [off topic]

[edwest2]

I offer no argument that authors and publishers should title their books as they please. However, in this particular case, I take strong exception. Is this a book about javelins? While 'half-light' might be recognized in some countries as having descriptive meaning, to me, it does not. I would urge the publisher to use a plain descriptive title. As it is, this title conveys confusion and would be difficult to find via internet search.

In my opinion, it is a nightmare from a marketing standpoint. Lately, Amazon search is offering a brief descriptive text along with the book listing. This, it appears to me, to untangle titles and get to what the book is actually about.

Scheduled for 6 October.

https://www.amazon.com/Javelins-Half.../dp/1472875265


Usual disclaimer,
Ed

[Chris Goss]

Couldn't agree more. Early on in my writing career, I was advised if you want it to sell, make sure the title gets noticed. I wanted one book to be called "Tip & Run" but was advised to call it "Luftwaffe Fighter Bombers over Britain" with "Tip & Run" the sub-title. I will admit I thought this book was about RAF jet fighters in the 60s and 70s or ancient Greek soldiers ...obviously not!

[Nick Beale]

Agreed on the Javelins—I too thought of the Gloster Javelin. No problem with ‘half-light’ though, just another word for twilight.

[Jim Oxley]

A most confusing title indeed for a land battle!

Until I found this reference:
The phrase comes from Hemingway’s 1944 Collier's magazine dispatch, "War in the Siegfried Line." Describing the brutal combat in the dense, dark fir forests of the German border, he wrote that artillery shell bursts tore through the trees, sending wooden splinters raining down "like javelins in the half-light of the forest".

The author is obviously a learned man.

[Edward]

Originally Posted by Jim Oxley

The phrase comes from Hemingway’s 1944 Collier's magazine dispatch, "War in the Siegfried Line." Describing the brutal combat in the dense, dark fir forests of the German border, he wrote that artillery shell bursts tore through the trees, sending wooden splinters raining down "like javelins in the half-light of the forest".

The author is obviously a learned man.

Best post of the week!

[edwest2]

Leaned man or not, publishers are in the business of selling books. Marketing is directed at potential buyers. Getting it wrong means lost sales.
Is the market strictly in the UK? What about sales to the United States?

Book shelves at the local shop are scanned quickly. If the wrong image begins to form in the mind of a potential buyer, it's on to the next title.

Those born between 1945 and 1955 are getting on in years. Those under 40 are likely to miss the reference entirely. I can almost guarantee non-specialists will.

After 40 years in book publishing, I can say authors are usually the worst choice for book titles. And lately, a few publishers.

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by edwest2

Is the market strictly in the UK? What about sales to the United States

Well, Ernest Hemingway was a celebrated American author and war reporter. Obviously that’s far from guaranteeing that people will recognise the quotation.

[GoranA]

If they really wanted to include the Hemingway quote, then "Like javelins in the half-light" would be better (or even "...like javelins in the half-light")

[GoranA]

... my first thought was - Russian experiences in northeast Ukraine in 2022