The title did not immediately conjure up religious associations for me. I see it more as a turn of phrase with a particular mythological origin. I’m known to use phrases such as “on a wing and a prayer” even though I don’t pray and I lack flying appendages, or “let the mountain come to Mohammed” even though I’m most decidedly not a Muslim. 

I would on the other hand, draw the conclusion that it was of a religious nature, but I suspect my religious background is a bit different from Sadie’s.

Despite my very religious background, I think the concept of one’s “cross to bear” has become a part of our culture.  The metaphor is not necessarily religious and for that matter, does not appear in the bible (as in; “X was his cross to bear).

Being a Christian, I would not be surprised if every Christian that passed it on a Barnes and Noble shelf would assume that it had religious content.  Take it from me the sheeple will certainly assume it.

Religious.

My first reaction, just seeing the title of the post, was “metaphor.”

Based on the title alone, I would have guessed that the book was an inspirational coming-of-age story about troubled teenagers, but I don’t trust titles as a rule.

It depends on what section of the bookshop it was in.

You could change ‘cross’ to ‘burden’ or ‘bear’ to ‘bare’.
I know the fundies wouldn’t know the difference but some others might.
You could even try and make-up a Max Headroom type thing using the load-bearing analogy or metaphor.

Or mangle something from this one.

Truly, man is always at enmity with himself - a secret, sly kind of hostility. Tares (tare is the weight of the vehicle without the cargo or passengers – so he means us without our baggage which doesn’t make sense – I think the translator meant to refer to our cargo or baggage – I may have it completely wrong.), scattered no matter where, will almost certainly take root. Whereas the smallest seed of good needs more than ordinary good fortune, prodigious luck, not to be stifled … Faith is not a thing one “loses” - we merely cease to shape our lives by it. (The Diary of a Country Priest – George Bernanos)

metaphor, go with it.

The cover image will set the context of the phrase

When I hear the phrase myself my first thought is rarely religious because it’s usually used as a platitude when someone else is bitching about life’s little annoyances.

Plus what DC said, the cover image will go a long way toward establishing the context. I also wouldn’t worry about it too much because once you do find a publisher you’ll probably find that the editor will have some suggestions on titles and covers. Go with it for now and be open to suggestions if someone comes up with a better idea.

It’s a common enough idiom outside of religious circles and so is not too misleading. 

As Distant Claws said, the cover art, publisher’s blurb, etc. will set the context and make it more obvious that the book is not meant to be religious.

On the other hand, if you sell a few more copies to some religious people that will buy it only for a title, is that a Bad Thing? 

Your novel is your expression.  Don’t compromise the title just cuz some people might take the wrong way.

First image to me is a religious one and speaks of an underlying Christian culture. More importantly, it doesn’t draw much interest in the book, well at least for me. I immediately think of yet another inspirational Christian message/story. You know, the kind your mother sends you in a spam email.

I guess it really would depend on your intended audience.

I agree with the others that the cover image and subtitle (if any) and section of the store will have a lot of effect on the immediate reaction.

I’d probably suspect it had at least some religious element to it, but I wouldn’t be surprised or offended if it didn’t.  Some folks would doubtless take offense at someone “stealing” the religious theme (a book title has more declarative impact than a passing metaphor), but I wouldn’t worry about it.

I was thinking, people sometimes read books (fiction and fact) when it inspires thought that would help them study a situation, to work out what they would do or how things work, fiction has the ability to create imaginary scenarios, mainly for questions over dealing with people, factual on the other hand deals more with questions over the system you’re operating in such as how, why and what.

How much the book would compliment someone’s current line of thought is assessed by assessing the context and how much that applies, so some of the more successful media are successful because they apply over a broad range of contexts, dealing with issues on many levels where it’s much more likely that at least one of those will help a particular buyer

I think first impressions generally count more for books than people when there is more choice for reading a book than dealing with a person, the consequences of that impression are much more immediate and possibly terminal for something like a book where 1) the assessor has the choice and 2) where an immediate decision is asked of them (buying). “don’t judge a book by it’s cover” can’t be abided by when a quick decision is required. I guess it applies more to people in situations similar to that like job interviews or dating someone you don’t know well - an immediate decision is asked of the person making the assessment, making them rely on the first impression as the best they have.

If (for whatever reason) you are dealing with a book or a person more long term though there are many oppertunities for your perspective on it to radically change, not many books and people seem to radically change in reasonable time, but it is entirely possible and if it does happen it makes you think more deeply about the book/person which can only be more engaging.

I agree with what Dave and others have said, cover image, store location will do more to dictate.

The other way to look at it: since it’s your book you should use the title you want to use.  Fuck everyone else.

Ditto what DOF said.

I thought “Religious” when I saw it. I also thought “Bear” as in Grizzly or Black, But that would not keep me from buying a book as long as it is not preachy.

Why don’t you tell us a little about the book, and give us a shot at it’s name. You know...Just in case one of us has a major brainstorm.

I have to admit I thought ‘beer’ at first
Some kind of crossroad that would lead to the wonderfluid

I am surprised at comments such as

I also thought “Bear” as in Grizzly or Black

Obviously it is biblical in origin, but I don’t think anyone on this side of the pond woul;d assume a user was making a direct comparison between the speaker and Jesus.  I would assume that the central character was burdened mentally by something(s). (Effectively what DoF said).

‘All the president’s men’- no one has though of it as repuplican retelling of Humpty Dumpty, nor do many president’s men appear.

“Birdsong"- no one expects a tretise on avian sounds

“Monty Python’s Flying Circus"- No circus, though apparently lots of yank think Monty Python was played by John Cleese.

You could draw on that other great source of English Quotes and call the book “Who would fardels bear?”

Sorry to double dip- but the ‘context sensitive’ GoogleAds- not overly clever are they!

Called to be a monk, nun
priest? Take Free Online test Now! Free vocational retreats too!
vocationsplacement.org

As long as you’re not trying to sell to the Google AI you should be ok KPG!

Paul: Why don’t you tell us a little about the book, and give us a shot at it’s name. You know...Just in case one of us has a major brainstorm.

It’s detective fiction. A private eye in a small town in Michigan, looking for a girl who may have run away or may have been kidnapped. The private eye is a former homicide detective from Baltimore, still dealing with the emotional fallout from his divorce.

The basic theme of the book deals with the way that the past motivates the present and how each character deals with old guilt. One of the key scenes in the story has another character telling the protagonist that he needs to quit wallowing in his past, that we all have our crosses to bear. The phrase triggers the realization that everything in the case is happening because of past events and other characters’ burdens, thus leading to the solution.

The other way to look at it: since it’s your book you should use the title you want to use.  Fuck everyone else.

The problem there is that the idea is to actually sell the damn book. I don’t want potential readers to not pick up the book and give it a chance because they presume they’re going to be preached at.

The problem there is that the idea is to actually sell the damn book. I don’t want potential readers to not pick up the book and give it a chance because they presume they’re going to be preached at.

True true. 

Another thing you might try is a focus group.  Probably something your publisher could set up; but this way you can get a good idea of what a broad range of people think about the title.  The problem with using the opinions from just this website (while it’s a good idea to hear what we have to say) is that we are not exactly representative of the population.

The title strikes me as metaphorical but I would still expect some religious content or at least a reference. Many metaphorical titles have some kind of wordplay....something like a pun but not exactly (I can’t express what I mean very clearly).

The phrase triggers the realization that everything in the case is happening because of past events and other characters’ burdens, thus leading to the solution.

This would negate what I just said but only if the choice of phrase itself and not just it’s meaning is significant and another phrase that meant the same thing would not do. Just my opinion though.

I don’t want potential readers to not pick up the book and give it a chance because they presume they’re going to be preached at.

That’s certainly a valid point. Personally I can’t say that I find the title appealing. Again, that’s just my opinion.

Shak: Who would fardels bear?

I like that.

Just a thought: I don’t buy books because of their title, however there are books I don’t give a second glance to for expressly that same reason.
Shit I hope that makes some sorta sense.

Anyway, on more reflection and with more comments to influence me, I’d insure against any possibility of irreligious people such as I NOT giving it a second glance, purely because of one word in the title which I really know rarely informs one of the contents, by picking something absolutely unrelated to the story - that catches the eye.

Fardels in Baltimore. or
Barely Bearable Fardels in Baltimore.

That’ll do me … I’ll just shake it and put it away now.