Similarly, the Lane Bryant title isn’t a good one. Lane Bryant has neither stores nor name recognition outside the United States. English-language readers in Canada, Britain, Australia, etc. won’t have a clue who Lane Bryant is: divorce attorneys, perhaps? Furthermore, if you’re thinking of future international translations – and you should be! – you’ll probably have to change the title anyway.

Also, I wonder if “Donuts…” is also too specific to North America. Of course, readers in other regions may know what doughnut stores are, but – for example – the UK fattening fast food counterpart would probably be a “chippie”. And “Goodbye, Mr. Chips” has already been used as a title [smile]!

So. A strong vote for Half of Me:… . It’s witty, expresses the theme, is memorable, and brief. As other readers have suggested, perhaps your publisher could work on the cover design and subtitle. Get “blurbs” and quotes to highlight the humour, and “half-portraits” (perhaps the “before” half on the front, the “after” half on the back?) to point to the theme. Those paired half-portraits, combined with the title, will really “pop up”!

The title also works in another way. You are more than your body, overweight or otherwise. And the title alludes to the fact that the “real you” is also your personality, intelligence, smarts, humour, and spirit. There’s more to you than those 200 or so lbs.

Best wishes with your book’s publication!

So: no to the “Doughnuts…” title. It’s too narrow in its appeal. I also don’t find it funny at all.

Also no to the Lane Bryant title for its similarly narrow appeal. Lane Bryant just doesn’t have the same brand recognition as Walmart. Yes, most of the blog-readers know the brand, but readers in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or Britain don’t. If you’re thinking about international book sales – which you and your publisher should be! – you would then have to the change the title anyway. Ditto if the book gets translated.

If it comes to that, although doughnuts are certainly known in other countries, their ubiquity seems particularly North American. And in the UK, “Goodbye, Mr. Chips” has already been used as a book title! [smile]

I’m with the majority of your respondents: Half of Me is an excellent title. Catchy, smart, informative, and witty. Much like your writing, in fact. As “yo” suggested, perhaps what your publisher needs to do is work on the subtitle and the graphics.

Best of luck with its publication!

SO why don’t you make the second half the funny part?

Half of Me: Memoirs of a De-throned Pasta Queen

Half of Me: Memoirs of the Uphill Battle Wearing nothing but Fatpants

Half of Me: The Memiors of My Unthin-ness

Half of Me: Memoirs of the Mahem that is Weight Loss

Ok again, I cant think of anything else. I’ll be back if come up with something more

Donuts–meh. I wouldn’t buy it, because it sounds annoyingly cutesy. Which would be okay if you were annoying and cutesy.

I really liked the “True Tales” bit that someone suggested, and I agree with the 7-book-titles poster about how words referring to the first-person account (“memoirs” etc) are unnecessary if you use “Half of Me” (which seems like a no-brainer). So, how about:

“Half of Me: True Tales of How I Lost 200lbs”

All the T’s are interesting…? Though granted, not funny.

“Half of Me: TT of How I Ate Catfood and Other Weightloss Adventures”

“Half of Me: Motivation Schmotivation. (A Survivor’s Guide to Weightloss)”

Best of luck!

How about: “Chub Rub: A Weight-Loss Memoir” or

“No More Chub Rub: A Weight-Loss Memoir”

It’s simple, kinda silly, and won’t offend us foodies.