What’s the most unique format for a book that you’ve ever read? How did it impact the telling of the story? Did you like it or find it distracting?
For example, I am currently reading The Book Of Difficult Fruit by Kate Lebo, which uses an A-to-Z format to share stories/memories of her life inspired by “difficult” fruits and intertwined with recipes for each fruit. I absolutely love it and am now inspired to try some of these recipes to “share” in the memories with a stranger!
I just read The Color Purple by Alice Walker with my book club and we spent so much time dissecting the letter-writing style as a form for prayer throughout the book and how it shaped our POV on each character in the way a typical third-person narration couldn’t.
I also just listened to Brandi Carlile’s autobiography and after each chapter, she intersperses music (both her own and covers) that relate to what she just shared. This unique format choice made her autobiography seem even more personal, raw, and intimate.
On the flip side, my book club also read My Government Means To Kill Me by Rasheed Newson earlier this year and I felt the footnotes format was more distracting than helpful. At some points, it felt condescending and other times, it felt like there was plot happening there and we didn’t understand why the author didn’t just include it in the story.
So, I’d love to hear about clever or unique formats that you think have really helped tell a story in an important way that a “typical” first or third person narration couldn’t.
by hotsauceandburrito