Recently, I read four books by Elly Griffiths, 2 from each of her detective series. I liked them a lot, but had to take a break because she writes chapters/sections from the perspective of different characters and it was starting to get samey-samey.
So I got another book – The Burning by Jane Casey. Another detective story, and she did the same thing. Still a good story and it wasn’t too distracting, for the most part.
But now, book 6, The Blonde Identity (bodice ripper disguised as a spy novel – fun, but fluffy) and this author is doing it too.
Is this a common new writing trope? I’ve had my head stuck in Serious History Tomes for a few years and haven’t read much fiction. I’ve read other books that do this, but they used to be few and far between. It’s odd that the last six books I’ve read have all done this.
by MajorBedhead
8 Comments
Not new. Faulkner did it in The Sound and the Fury in 1929
I think it’s pretty common. I just finished one yesterday that was like this (The Soulmate, by Sally Hepworth). Great book. Don’t be fooled by the title, it’s an Australian mystery/thriller.
I’d say it’s more common when changing perspective to be moving on to the next thing without too much retread, but there have definitely always been some stories that do alternating perspectives of the same events.
I think Game of Thrones greatly popularized it.
I think we’re lucky if AI isn’t writing most of our books by 2027.
Switching between different first person perspective isn’t super common outside of YA fiction. If a book is written in limited or omniscient third person perspective it’s pretty standard. Epic fantasy and space operas can have up to dozens of different POV characters in a single book.
I love this style of first-persn writing, especially if it culminates in third-persn action.
there’s nothing new about it. Its been an authorly option for centuries.