In the last couple of years, I’ve started having trouble remembering proper names — maybe the last name of someone I’ve known for years, maybe the title of a movie or TV show, maybe a favorite book title. My husband What’s-His-Name tells me this condition is called “anomia”. During my library tenure we’d often get a giggle out of a customer’s mangled requests for a certain title, like “How to Kill a Mockingbird,” “Dog Days Inferno” (Dante’s Inferno), and “What the Cheese?” (for “Who Moved My Cheese?”). What follows here will be a look at some titles that are so odd or unique that they are unforgettable (or are they?).

“The Unbearable Lightness of Scones” comes from the wonderful, prolific Scottish writer Alexander McCall Smith. It’s part of his 44 Scotland Street Series, which looks at a collection of people living in an apartment building in Edinburgh. There’s sweet, long-suffering Bertie, a six year old whose feminist mother is smothering him; portrait painter Angus Lordie, whose dog Cyril saddles him with seven puppies of questionable lineage; Domenica, Angus’ neighbor who sometimes wishes he would propose; art gallery owner Matthew, who’s trying to adjust to married life; and Bruce, the most handsome and narcissistic yuppie ever. All these characters and their friends interact in amusing ways. Now I’m going to say something surprising: Don’t go out and get this title. Instead start with the first in the series, called simply “44 Scotland Street,” so you can get to know these characters in the fullest sense. It’s always — always — best to read series books in order.

Curiosity got the better of me; I picked up “The Good Lord Bird” by James McBride just because of the title. It turns out that this term was once used to refer to the ivory-billed woodpecker, with feathers purported to bring good luck if you found one, or maybe bad luck if you killed one. This semi-historical novel and part fantasy story won the 2013 National Book Award. It centers on the abolitionist John Brown, who is portrayed as a half-mad religious fanatic whose one great mission was to end slavery by any means possible. The story is told by a young slave in the Kansas Territory in the 1850s, a boy named Henry. Brown mistakenly believes Henry is a girl, and he liberates her from her master and takes her on his subsequent missions, leading up to the famous raid on Harper’s Ferry in 1859. For some reason Brown thinks Henry — or “Onion,” as he names her — is his own good luck charm. Henry/Onion realizes that being a girl keeps him safely in the background, observing Brown’s misguided, though noble in spirit, exploits. There’s a curious mixture of history, tragedy, and comedy here.

Now here’s a real mouthful: “The Bar Harbor Retirement Home for Famous Writers (And Their Muses)” by Terri-Lynne DeFino. Alfonso Carducci is a retired literary giant who comes to this special retirement home to die. He’s tended to by Cecibel Bringer, who is a huge and starstruck fan. Cecibel is damaged both physically and psychologically by a horrendous accident years earlier. Each character needs the other in completely different ways. We also meet other retired writers, some of whom have a past history with Alfonso. As all these characters’ stories interweave, we’re left with an impression of just how much love and forgiveness can enrich our lives, even near the end — or maybe especially near the end.

Pick any title by British mystery writer Martha Grimes and you’ll find an intriguing title. Her Richard Jury series titles reflect the names of old pubs all over England. The main character, Richard Jury, is a Scotland Yard investigator with an easy charm, a sharp mind, and an open heart. He’s often joined in his pursuits by the handsome and smart Melrose Plant, a very rich aristocrat who cares nothing for the social trappings and upper-class pretenses that the average British lord is entitled to. Plant’s estate is in the village of Long Piddleton. At their local pub he and his eccentric friends meet and hash out ridiculous scenarios until Jury needs help with a case. Grimes’ books are a blend of tragedy, comedy, and insight. And those weird titles I was talking about — titles like “The Old Fox Deceived,” “I Am the Only Running Footman,” and the first in the series, “The Man with a Load of Mischief.” If you start at this title and go in order you’ll better understand the development of Jury, Plant, and a host of other characters. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Here are some other oddly-titled honorable mentions that you may also enjoy: “Walking Across Egypt” by Clyde Edgerton, “In the Electric Mist with the Confederate Dead” by James Lee Burke, “My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry” by Fredrik Backman; and “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” by Douglas Adams.

All these titles may grab your attention just because they’re odd, but you’ll stay with them because they’re just plain engaging. They might even stick in your mind. Wait — what was I talking about? Well, never mind. Happy reading!

Kaye West recently retired from the Henry County Library System. She enjoys reading, taking daily walks, and spending time with friends.  She lives in McDonough with her husband.