Michael Craig's Journal

J.K. Rowling just announced the title of the seventh, and last, Harry Potter book. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I’m a little disappointed that the word “of” does not appear in the title, and I’ll tell you why.

Every book that has a long title needs a short title. A long title with “of” gives you an automatic short title. The first book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone - which was originally titled Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in the U.K. and should have that title restored, as the legendary concept of the Philosopher’s Stone is very cool - was simply known as “Harry Potter.”

Since then, I have enjoyed Chamber of Secrets, loved Prisoner of Azkaban, adored Goblet of Fire, and gloried in Order of the Phoenix.

But “Deathly Hallows”? It sounds like Dark Shadows, that weird horror/soap opera from the early Seventies.

Of course, if you have a great adjective-phrase, you can dispense with the “of.” Half-Blood Prince was excellent, both as a book and as a title.

Kinda like Suicide King.

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 21st, 2006 at 11:58 am and is filed under My favourites:.