I want the reason without the rhyme.
It's difficult for me to pinpoint what I am looking for, so I will list a few different qualities.
I'll consider most genres.
I don't want a commonly structured novel.
Maybe a major shift in tone(s) that occur unexpectedly.
A weird shift in the story or plot.
A major turning point for a character (or their arc) that would normally happen in the beginning or end to happen in the middle.
I want to read some novels where it is uniquely structured, but with intent.
I know authors are unique and have their own voice. While at the same time, idea's aren't unique. I'm mostly referring to the structure of a novel (I believe) when I am asking for something unique. Something that doesn't feel like it's following a formula.
I hope I'm clear enough.
Edit: And I don't mean unique formatting, btw. Just wanted to make that clear.
by Joe30174
8 Comments
Never read, but want to: House of Leaves
Have read: {{Vellum, by Duncan}}
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters is a historical fiction novel set in Victorian England. It’s in 3 Parts, but Part 1 and most of Part 2 are the exact same story told by two different characters. I.e. we get the same set of events, the same scenes, but from a second perspective.
The Night Watch by Sarah Waters is a historical fiction novel set in 1940s London. It has four slightly connected narratives that are all told in reverse from the end to the beginning, going backwards in time. Not as flash backs, but as if the scenes are literally out of order.
Fall on Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald is a historical fiction book that follows three generations of a family from the early 20th century to the late 20th century. It completely changes the style of the novel for the last third of the book. It shifts from a traditional omniscient narrative to a fictional diary with a frame narrative. Note this book covers extremely disturbing topics. Read at your own risk.
The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez
-Second person POV unnamed character is watching a play of the main plot
-Don’t want to spoil it but timelines that shouldn’t be interacting with each other come together towards the end
**The Name of the Wind** features the main character broken and in hiding, telling the story of his life to a scribe. So it is set *after* the main plot (his life story). I found this to be an unusual structure.
William Burroughs **Naked Lunch** was written in part by collage, taking clippings of writing and shuffling them around into an order that may or may not be random. I found reading it page 1 to the end less engaging than just opening it randomly and flipping around.
Harrow the Ninth (the second Gideon the Ninth book) is a great example of this and the whole series is very uniquely/carefully written.
You might like Trust by Hernan Diaz. I don’t want to give too much away about the structure.
time out of joint by Philip K Dick
Valis by Philip K Dick
HOUSE OF LEAVES I literally just got my second tattoo from that book today, it is exactly what you’re looking for