Do you enjoy books that shift narrative modes?

Zain · Post by **Zain** » 01 Sep 2013, 16:36

To be honest, I believe almost every book changes narrative from time to time. It is something that happens either unconsciously or with intent when writing essential scenes, e.g. scenes that illustrate a character's inner life or the importance of an event or an upcoming secret. It is far more difficult to always keep your limited third person narrative free from omniscent comments. Likewise, you can change the focus and keep the narrative POV. That happens more often than we notice, meaning a story is told in limited third person but the narrator switches, e.g. usually the main character is the focus, then you get an eye witness to illustrate the protagonist's action. That's a shift in narrative mode, too.

Personally, I think that it always depends on the shift and the intent behind it. Some just seem necessary because there are circumstances that prevent a narrator to give a story the optimal "lighting". Then you need to change the camera's position to get a better view on the action. Excuse the filming metaphor. I think it's a great way to give the audience insight into characters, either by hiding something deliberately which leads to a major turnabout or by giving us one especially human moment that could never be as emotional and true if the narrative didn't shift in some way or another.

melakkari · Post by **melakkari** » 02 Sep 2013, 00:16

I do. It's a good way to allow the reader to know more about other characters, events and points of views. There are times that I can't wait to get back to one specific character's view point in some stories, but that's just the effect of a well written story.

laura_askew88 · Post by **laura_askew88** » 02 Sep 2013, 12:19

Most of the books that I read are in third person, I find it difficult to read a first person narrative. I can't imagine if the story shifted between the two.

Megan Young · Post by **Megan Young** » 04 Sep 2013, 19:14

I enjoy first person narrative, I find I relate to the characters more.

Angelwhowasfound · Post by **Angelwhowasfound** » 04 Sep 2013, 20:29

Hi, sweetie! Like several people have previously stated I think it depends entirely on the authors skill level and ability to deliver the story in a non-confusing mess. Personally, I prefer to stay away from shifting narratives as what I like best about reading is when I really get to know the characters quirks and personality. There is something to be said for a character to remain aloof, a certain sense of surprise to it, but overall I fall in love most with the characters that I really get to know. Those who's thoughts and personality get under my skin which I just don't think that's possible with shifting narrative.There's a sort of meandering period after starting the new mode that's disorienting and before you know it things are switching once more. It's true this can be an asset and a tool, a frustrating one, to keep suspense alive. I once read a story that switched from first person of a female teenager being stalked to the stalkers escalating violent diary entries and it certainly got my heart pumping and helped the otherwise normal story rise to a whole new level. So yes, I can enjoy the alternating perspective and style in some forms and cringe from others. I'm very careful about choosing books that use that style though.

Heather · Post by **Heather** » 14 Sep 2013, 16:43

I think if it's written well, it can be great. I love to get more of a look into the minds of other characters.

Gina77 · Post by **Gina77** » 15 Sep 2013, 14:46

I do find it a bit distracting when this happens, however I have read many where one character is speaking in first person, and then the other main character speaks in third person. Sometimes I don't mind if it is written well and if it works with the overall style of the book. However, when it's not well executed it can really take me out of the flow of the book.

saturday+deviant · Post by **saturday+deviant** » 15 Sep 2013, 16:55

I think that changing narrative modes works well with changes of character POV. It helps give the characters their own voices. But I also get pretty annoyed if the reason why it changes isn't clear or done well.

Loveabull · Post by **Loveabull** » 21 Sep 2013, 12:19

My attention span is zoo sometimes. The book I'm reading right now is enjoyable because each chapter is titled by the name of a character. Of course the characters stories are converging but I enjoy each distinctive voice. It's like the movie "Crash", each story plays by itself and then meets at the end.

mcs1040 · Post by **mcs1040** » 22 Sep 2013, 08:12

Can't really say. Didn't come accross that many. The few I read didn't really bother me in that respect.

Jon-Ross · Post by **Jon-Ross** » 22 Sep 2013, 18:11

If if is understandable, I don't mind. If it is done well, I quite enjoy it.

Leoch · Post by **Leoch** » 23 Sep 2013, 10:10

I think this depends on the skill of the author. Changing narratives is a difficult trick to pull. I did enjoy Faulkner's The Sound and the Fury despite -- and maybe because of -- many such changes.

Cshelton · Post by **Cshelton** » 23 Sep 2013, 15:30

As long as it is not confusing... I just finished reading Taking Tia by Melissa Rudy. Each chapter alternates between the core character's of the book. When you read it, you find that a majority of the time there is a clear delineation in terms of which character is currently narrating the story. The only issue I had is that sometimes, you could not tell. For instance each chapter started out with name of the person who was currently narrating... but then in the middle of the text, instead of continuing to speak in the first person as if they are narrating the story, it gets switched to the third person as if the person who is currently narrating is no longer doing so. It didn't happen often, but when it did, I was a little confused.

whybark · Post by **whybark** » 09 Oct 2013, 22:19

yes it keeps it interesting

jsinard42 · Post by **jsinard42** » 09 Oct 2013, 22:25

As a rule, I don't like narrative mode shifts. I think it might be more because I dislike 1st person and when it shifts it just draws more attention to it and irks me. But then again some writers are skilled enough to do a smooth change, which is an ability I respect.