Fragments From Floyd

I like both titles: the double alliteration is nice. To me "Belonging IN the Blue Ridge" puts a little more emphasis on the sense of belonging than on the place per se. Whereas "Belonging TO the Blue Ridge" seems to emphasize the specific place you belong to. But I can't say why that is.

No doubt about it - "belonging to". According to my beautiful Chiricahua mother, Juarez, you cannot own the land. But the land can own you... it makes a nest within the heart and sings a happy song to the soul that says, "You're home."

I'm with Anne. I like the idea of the land owning the person.

to.

Okay. Did I start this by sending you my thoughts on "to" and "in"? I thought I erased that part. I looked up Belonging In, because it didn't look right. The dictionary convinced me that belonging can just BE, an intransitive verb, one that doesn't need anything after it. So you can just belong, and you can do that anyplace you like.

The "in," then has the feeling of wanting to belong. And there you are in the Blue Ridge, and so that's where you're striving to belong.

Belonging to the Blue Ridge does carry with it the connotation of being owned by the land, being somewhat possessed by it, of having cast your lot with it.

Personally, I like "to," (with the Native American feeling) but I do wonder whether the real sense of Fragments isn't that urge, need, desire to belong...just belong...to a community online, to a hidden valley, to the seasons, to a family, to a quirky and uncertain career...so that "in" really speaks to YOU and THE BOOK.

So count me in for both.

Belonging "to" is more heart-plinking, and my gut feeling goes in this direction (Oh, did you want a decision coming from the brain?)

Belonging "in" just sounds like you had to find a way to fit in with the area and its people. Maybe true, but they'll be looking for a fight scene.

"to" for all the reasons stated above. Not "in", because it just seems wrong to be 'in a ridge' rather than 'on the ridge'. I understand you mean the ridge as more than just a geographical feature, but still, for first-time browsers, a ridge is a ridge is a ridge.

That's interesting, I seem to have parsed it differently. I parsed it not as "Someone belongs (in|to) the Blue Ridge" but as "'Belonging' in the Blue Ridge" --or put another way, "this is a book about what 'belonging' means in this particular place". Of course, I don't know if that has any relation to the book as you've envisioned it, but that would be my vote.

I like "in." "Belonging to" lends itself only to a sense of ownership, or in this case, "owned-by-ship." Your sense of belonging goes far beyond that. Yours is a relational belonging. The IN brand can still carry the sense of being owned or tethered, but also implies shades of having found *meaning* and an intimate connection with place. It leaves the belonging some room to roam. That's just my humble opinion, but be warned that if you don't go with it, I'm not buying your book.

glad to see nate is keeping an open mind *snicker*

I also vote for "IN"

For me, the IN signifies a place of acceptance and welcome, whereas the TO signifies a destination

IMHO, and I'll buy the book either way *grin*

That's fine, Nate you knucklehead. Don't buy the book. But don't expect the keys to the car when you come home this summer! Or clean sheets on your bed! And Tsuga will growl at you! :-}

My honest reaction is that I don't like either subtitle very much. I think both "in the Blue Ridge" or "to the Blue Ridge" excite interest, because it's the sort of place that people aren't famiar with (because it is remote?) but would certainly like to know more about (because it has a reputation for being a beautiful and spiritual place). So "belonging" doesn't quite fit for me. It's a little passive, and seems to imply "we grew up here, so we belong here." Is that really the story? Maybe something more active that promises a payoff for the reader, such as "Our Encounter with the Spirit of the Blue Ridge." Sorry that my recommendation is outside the box of your question! Good luck!

I feel the whole title is too long and 'Here's Home' feels awkward and over sentimental or is it modest (like saying: it's not much but it's home - your book should be valuable from the onset), also if there is a dispute between 'in' and 'to' scrap it. 'Belonging' could be captured by, seduced by (probably a little strong), or something that gives the impression your a seed with roots... I don't know. I've been reading the progression of this story and I suppose I should have come out earlier, now I feel I am pushing against the grain. Anyway, your writing is the valuable part and from what I read I'm caught, paining over the title seems to be blurring our vision of it. How about making a title without all of the words you have chosen and see what happens. You know the famous picasso saying - "if you want to paint a chair, paint a table" - something like that anyway...

My vote for:

Here's Home: Belonging in the Blue Ridge

Good luck with the book.
I'll buy it no matter what the title is.

#2 - belonging TO