Epistolatory Novels
Traditionally, these are a stories told through a series of letters, but it has grown to include other documents such as emails, dairy entries, transcriptions, and newspaper clippings. They are even beginning to integrate phone messages and texts. I am always amazed at how well authors can make the story flow using these formats, and I especially love when the book is a combination of one or more the aforementioned media. I have so many favorites that fall in this category! It's such a wonderful way to share a story with that personal touch.
Verse Novels
I was a little leery of this format. I am not a huge poetry buff, but I have found that I really enjoy narrative poetry. I find it quite impressive the way the author can capture the mood and voice of the character in this format, which could seem limiting, but when done right, can be so wonderful. I have not read too many books in this format, but I plan to read more.
Mixed Media Novels
These novels have a little bit of everything. These are true hybrids mixing many of the things we see in epistolatory novels, but also add transcripts, poetry, parts of plays/screen plays, graphics, and more. This format is such an experience. I guess there may be some books, where they just jam the extra stuff in there, but the ones I have read seem quite thoughtfully curated. Each thing was specially picked to enhance the story and the reader's experience, and it definitely takes the story to the next level for me.
Oral Histories
These books usually read as transcripts and combine information from many different people gathered via interviews. They are interesting, because each person who contributes information about a past event based on their personal memory. So, we all know memories may be colored by the viewer, and that gives an interesting perspective to a story.
For me, it's a YEA for alternative format books. Now it's your turn!
YEA or NAY for alternative format books?
Let us know in the comments!
I say yea! I like when books add in social media or emails - it makes me feel like I'm getting a little deeper into the story and characters.
ReplyDeleteMe too, and it's really interesting to see how this format has evolved. From all letters to emails to a mix of fb posts, tweets, IMs, and even Instagram type posts.
DeleteI like alternate formats in books I read. I would include Sleeping Giants to this list, since it also features the interview style with recaps of vidoes. Kinda like Illuminae but a completely different story. I like to be surprised in the way a story is laid out, as long as it is a good story.
ReplyDeleteGreat topic!
I have heard so many good things about Sleeping Giants. I plan on doing a big back list thing next year, and that is one I want to read.
DeleteI loooove alternate formats! Like you said, sometimes it just shakes things up, especially when you read as much as we all do! I don't do *as* well with verse, but I don't hate them either.
ReplyDeleteI am trying to do more books in verse. I have had success with Sones' books, and am reading more for my reading challenges (which are good for me, they make me read more widely). I just am amazed at the ways the authors can make the style work and seem cohesive. But then again, I love mixed media art and fusion things in general. It's like a best of both worlds type of thing.
DeleteI do like books that are a bit different so I usually like alternative formats. I read And We Stay and don't remember it being in verse. I just checked my review on Goodreads and something about it being poetic so it must be my memory.
ReplyDeleteI had read that book quite a while ago, and when I was looking at lists for all the different formats, it popped up. A there I was thinking I had only read Sones' books (which I love).
DeleteFrom the other comments, it looks like I'm going to be an unpopular opinion on this topic. I've tried reading books that are primarily screenplays and I was not a fan. I like an email or letter here and there, but I don't think I could enjoy a novel that's only made up of those. I've also read novels that tell the story in form of diary/secret blog entries and even though it was fun it's not something I actively look for C:
ReplyDeleteDifferent books for different readers. I have never read a full-on screen play (though my co-blogger read many when she was earning her BFA), but I like that little something different mixed in there. I guess it goes with my love for collage and mixed fabric clothing.
DeleteI love alternative formats especially epistolatory and mixed media. Verse isn't my favorite and I want to try oral history type novel.
ReplyDeleteI have only read three oral histories (that I know of), but they were great. It's an interesting format. Strohm used it to facilitate the comedic tone of the story, but Griffin's reads like non-fiction. I think my favorite example is still the Illuminae Files books. They have some many different formats to enjoy. It takes the experience to the next level for sure.
DeleteI really love Epistolatory novels. I think it's amazing how well an author can flesh out story lines and characters just through texts, emails, etc. One of my favorites of that type is Meg Cabot's The Boy series...they're just so much fun to read and I love the romance in them. As for verse novels, I need to be in the right kind of mood for them. They're just not my favorite, and the only one's I regularly read are Ellen Hopkins. Great post, Sam! :)
ReplyDeleteRight? I read the first book of The Boy series, and sort of did a little internal giggle, because it's all emails, which was the big thing back when it was written. It's actually fascinating to see how that format, in particular, has evolved as our forms of communicate evolve. I have the Crank series on my list to check out, because I am intrigued by the format and story, but also that this series was influenced by her personal experiences with her daughter.
DeleteBigYAY from me. I think alternate formats are terrific. I actually didn't like Illuminae that much, but it was because of the plot, not because of the formatting! Two very slim volumes that I have always been fond of are Seedfolks, which uses what you're calling the oral history method to tell the story of a community garden, and Witness, which is a novel in verse with many different narrators. Karen Hesse, the author, does a beautiful job at differentiating voices and points of view.
ReplyDeleteI just read the synopsis for Seedfolks and it sounds beautiful. Witness sounds very powerful. Thanks for putting these on my radar.
DeleteI particularly like Mixed Media and Epistolary novels. :) Great topic!
ReplyDeleteThe more variety, the better, I say. That definitely contributed to my overall enjoyment of Illuminae and Hello? I thought the use of different formats was brilliant in these books.
DeleteSometimes a book can really stand out for being written in a different way. It makes it interesting and you enjoy the thought which went into as much as the story itself. I know I adored Illuminae not just because it's a brilliant story but it's a very original way to write it. Same goes for Attachments, it made it interesting. Books written in verse don't work as well for me. I just can't get into the writing in the same way, but maybe I just haven't found the right book for me. I love when a book includes texts and that. I think my first experience of epistolary books were Meg Cabots books with Boy Next Door and I can't remember the rest of the books, but there were a few of them and I adored them. I've had a soft spot for them ever since.
ReplyDeleteIlluminae was such a feast for the eyes. I loved having all that different stuff to look at. Yes! The all email Boy Next Door. I really liked that book. Love, Rosie was done in a similar fashion - emails, phone messages, letters, and it span like 35 years.
DeleteI completely agree with you. I need to mix up the genres sometimes to keep myself reading along. I really enjoyed Illuminae I actually started it on audio, but the book was the only way to really enjoy this one.
ReplyDeleteI did hear the audio for Illuminae was incredible, but I couldn't imagine experiencing that book except in its physical format. It was so beautiful and intricate.
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