Hello, everyone! I’ve been fighting a bout of “blogger’s block” this week, but I rather like this idea, so I’m gonna dive right in. Oh, but before I do, if any of you have any suggestions for posts, they would be greatly appreciated! It’s not been my best week as far as coming up with ideas goes. But this is something that I’ve been wanting to talk about, I just forgot the idea! So here goes.
Switching perspectives are usually used when there is more than one main character. (Actually, probably only when there’s more than one MC!) I really like them because I can see from than one point of views – especially when those particular characters are at odds and ends with each other.
For example, in Jake and Lily by Jerry Spinelli, the main characters (Jake and Lily!) are twins that have a sort of a falling out. It was really interesting reading from the different perspectives, because if you have siblings, you know there’s always two sides to every story! Lily said Jake was ditching her, and Jake said Lily wouldn’t let him be friends with anyone but her. Who’s right?! Who’s wrong?!
Most of you have also read The Mother Daughter Book Club by Heather Vogel Frederick, and that’s definitely another great example of switching perspectives when the characters are at odds and ends.
Some books switch perspectives where each chapter is a different character recounting the same scene. The only book I can think of at the moment that’s done this (although I know I’ve read others) is The Candymakers by Wendy Mass. It’s been three or four years since I read it, but I remember hating when a chapter ended, because it was end on a horrible cliffhanger! Then I wouldn’t even see the scene from that character’s point of view for three more chapters! (There were four main characters.) Then the next character would be talking about the same thing that the past character saw… but of course, it’s different because it’s a different view point! I really like this, because it definitely makes for an interesting story line.
Sometimes, I WISH a book had different point of views, because the main character has NO clue what this other character is thinking. I would have loved reading from a different POV in The Selection series or The Ascendance Trilogy.
[learn_more caption=”THE ASCENDANCE TRILOGY SPOILER! (DON’T READ IF YOU HAVEN’T READ IT!!!)”] In the third book, the MC, Jaron, thinks Imogen is dead – when in fact, SHE IS NOT! (What??!) Even the reader is left in the dark until the end, when Imogen ended up being alive. It would be so cool to read Imogen’s perspective during the time Jaron thought she was dead.[/learn_more]Kiera Cass, the author of The Selection series, wrote a few novellas from the perspectives of a few other characters in the books, and it was awesome! In the books, America has to choose between her first love Aspen (or as I called him for the first three books, Aspirin, haha!), or the prince (um, hello! ROYALTY) Maxon. It was just America’s POV for the first three books (the fourth is her daughter, Eadlyn’s selection), but the novellas are basically just a few chapters of Maxon and Aspen’s POV’s during America’s selection. I remember in Maxon’s novella, The Prince, I saw through his eyes his first meeting with America – it was hilarious reading his thoughts (Why is she crying?) versus America’s (more like: He doesn’t have a clue!) (Which boys usually don’t!) 😀
I’ve also read books where only the prologue or, sometimes, the epilogue, is told in another character’s point of view. In one book I read a few years ago (Love on a Dime by Caralynn James; I haven’t mentioned on FtB before, I don’t think, but it was such a cute romance!), had Jack’s POV in the prologue where he broke up his relationship with Lily. It explains a bit further his reasoning for breaking up, but of course the rest of the book is Lily’s perspective, and she’s completely mad at Jack. Being the reader, I knew what Jack was thinking, which made for an even more suspenseful book – waiting for Lily to put two and two together!
I really like switching perspectives. I think they make for interesting little sneak-peaks if it’s only a novella or a chapter, and really suspenseful cliff-hangers in chapters!
what do you think of switching POV’s? good or bad? any books where you LOVED it, or books where you would have wanted it?
P.S. Don’t forget to enter my giveaway for a copy of Melanie Dickerson’s book, The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest, HERE!
I Generally like POV switching. At first, its confusing, unless its announced in the back of the book, like (a beautifully written novel told in the perspectives of 3 young girls….get me?)
When I first read the MDBC, the first 2 or 3 chapters, I thought I was reading about the same girl! 😛
Ohhhhmyyygosh! This post gives me the perfect excuse to get you to read my alllll time favorite series!!!! It’s the Swipe Series by Evan Angler. It’s told in sooooo many POV’s there are soooooo many plot twists and feeeeeels! I end got Brooke to read them!! 😉 Its considered christian fiction/dystopian, so I think you might like it! (And its clean!!!)
I understand what you mean. Whenever I find out that they’re two (or more) different perspectives, and I didn’t know based on the back of the book, I’m always pleasantly surprised. Unless there are like four or more POV’s and I’m like “Whoooaaa, who ARE these people?!” 🙂
Lol. You did? That’s pretty funny. I don’t think I could get them confused because they’re all so different.
OMG, Brooke’s told me about that series many times before. I really need to read it. (TBH, though, I say that about literally every book. Haha!) Thanks for the recommendation!
I absolutely love reading multiple POV books as long as they’re done right. I think what I love most about multiple POV books is seeing all of the characters’ individual stories weave in and out of each other and then finally collide in one fabulous ending. When it’s done right, it ends up in creating such a beautiful and resonant story.
You said it quite well! I think Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein sounds exactly like you described. I know what you mean!
Switching perspectives is hard, because most of the time I will LOVE one character, and just semi like another character. Some authors seem to struggle with making two characters that just don’t seem alike?! Very few books I’ve read actually do a good job with it. Maybe I’m just reading the wrong books. *shrug*
So most of the time I prefer a book without switching perspectives. It kind of depends on the book.
*ends vague and rambling comment*
I never thought about that! I see what you mean; sometimes I prefer one character’s perspective over the other, so when it switches I’m kind of like “Noooo I don’t want to leave this character!” I get you. Some books are better about it, and some aren’t.
Lol! Your comments always make me laugh. Rambling comments are always welcome! 😀
I really like POV switches in some books and in others I get bored in some of the characters heads. For instance in Finding Ruby Starling you were constantly switching from all the characters POV’s that I got really confused sometimes and also bored, but the story itself, and the idea was really cute.
But in Between the lines I loved to read from Delilah’s POV and then to switch to Oliver’s POV (which was my favorite BTW)
So it depends on the book/author on if I like POV switches or not 😛
Yeah, I know what you mean. I was super confused in Finding Ruby Starling at first. But wasn’t it a cute book??! 🙂
I actually liked Delilah’s. And Oliver’s, I guess, too. It depends on what was going on in the chapter.
I love switching POV’s! I like that there are different thoughts for each character, and that we get to learn more about them. In my WIP, there are 4 girls, so I feel like it’s necessary to switch.
I just sent you an email about the BBC and our Monthly Must Reads thing.
I like that, too! I get to know each other individually, instead of seeing the other character through one character’s POV.
Ohh, I’m so sorry I haven’t answered your emails yet! I’m going to get right on it.
I usually like mixing POVs. I read an equal mix of both but I do really enjoy switching POVs. I really enjoyed this post. I remember enjoying Candymakers too. I really need to read those Selection extra stories but I’ve been trying to wait to buy them until Happily Ever After comes out cause then I can get those two and more. I love the short stories in the back of the Lunar Chronicles. They give me a look at other characters at other times. I’m in love with the Lunar Chronicles *swoon*
Sorry I haven’t been texting or anything I’ve been really busy the last few days and I didn’t have my nook.
Same here, although I’d say I read more of one perspective books.
Yeah. The Candymakers was really good. I used to be a HUGE Wendy Mass fan in 4th/5th grade, but now she’s come out with a few other books I haven’t read, although I should.
Yeah. I own The Prince & The Guard. The Queen is only an e-read, and I really want to read it, but I’ve been waiting for Happily Ever After too. Did you know there’s a bonus epilogue for The One??! It’s here. IT’S SO CUTE!! I just read it in May.
OMG, I neeeed to read it. I have Cinder on hold at the library again. 🙂
That’s okay. Sorry I haven’t been texting either. 😛 I’m fixing to in a few minutes.
Every Soul A Star by Wendy Mass.
Yessss! I loved that book in 4th/5th grade. (Still do, actually!) The POV’s came together great!
Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea.
Wonder by RJ Palacio
In a Heartbeat by Loretta Ellsworth
Flipped by Wendelin van Draanen
The Wanderer by Sharon Creech
These are just my favorites.
And of course the MDBC!
Wonder’s switching POV’s was awesome. My teacher read the book to my class in fifth grade, and I loved it! The others I haven’t read, but I’d like to read Because of Mr. Terupt! It looks good!
Yessss the MDBC. Those are good switching perspectives, too!! 😉
I loved Wonder. You should look into the others as well! 🙂
I know! I should! Adding them to my never-ending TBR! 🙂