I guess it's not ENTIRELY new. But I've realized more and more that if a book has a bunch of different narrators and/or intertwining stories, I will forgive it a lot of other problems it might have. And while I've been focused on my resolution criteria, I have not been seeking out multiple POV books, yet I've still managed to read 7 books with multiple narrators/POVs this year alone.*
Sometimes I like seeing the same events from multiple characters points of view. It's a good reminder that everyone is bringing their own interpretation to a single experience.
Sometimes it's not necessarily that I'm experiencing the same event multiple times but just seeing how a number of different stories intersect with each other and how something insignificant now can have huge effects later.
Sometimes I think I just get distracted easily and need the characters to shift to keep my interest. Or rather I know I get distracted easily. I got distracted for 5 minutes minimum while writing this sentence.
The nice part of this reading preference is that it can fit in with any of my resolutions. Or any genre. Oh man, I like preferences that don't require me to give up other things.
Mostly the point is "I want to write another blog post but don't feel like reviewing The Passage right now because my Kindle is upstairs and that is faaaaaaar" but my OTHER point is crowd sourcing for some recommendations. So, any multiple POV books I should check out? Bonus points if they're by non-white and/or non-US people OR published before 2000 cos gotta keep the resolution going.
*Oh, did you want a list? OF COURSE
A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin
California by Edan Lepucki
The House Girl by Tara Conklin
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty
The Passage by Justin Cronin
chowmeyow 4p · 508 weeks ago
That doesn't get any of the bonus points though - so I'll also recommend Lisa See's books, if you haven't already read them. I can't remember if ALL of them have multiple POV or just some, but I really enjoyed them all. They focus on Chinese and/or Chinese-American characters.
What Red Read 121p · 508 weeks ago
readingrambo 112p · 508 weeks ago
"Sometimes I think I just get distracted easily and need the characters to shift to keep my interest."
Yes. That is why. Just letting you know. That is why Game of Thrones books get read by people.
What Red Read 121p · 508 weeks ago
Martin is a smart man. I can't imagine trying to get through the whole GoT series (or like, a single 1200 page book) if it was all from one character POV. Of course that would obv never work with GoT cos the characters die too often...
jennysbooks 89p · 508 weeks ago
Other ones:
One Plus One, by Jojo Moyes (which also is super heartwarming and the author is British!)
Sea of Poppies, by Amitav Ghosh (the author is neither white nor American!) - kind of dense but very good
Half of a Yellow Sun by Adichie if you can bear the sadness
Fingersmith, by Sarah Waters (British!)
I...thought I would have more than that. I love multiple POVs also! They're so great! But I guess not as common as I'd like them to be.
What Red Read 121p · 508 weeks ago
glynis · 507 weeks ago
What Red Read 121p · 507 weeks ago
Charlotte · 507 weeks ago
What Red Read 121p · 507 weeks ago