two novels inside one novel?

VeggieChick · Nov 7, 2007

Do you know of any novels that are actually two separate stories told in the same book? For example, one story (fantasy) is told in chapters 1, 3, 5, etc. The other story, set in the present (not fantasy at all) is told in chapters 2, 4, 6, etc. The stories never really cross each other, but somehow answer the questions posted in the other story. Does that make sense? I have an idea for a book like that but I'm having trouble with the practical side of it. I'm sure there must be a book like that out there that I can read to get a good handle on how the author worked out the details. Any suggestions?

Will Lavender · Nov 7, 2007

I'd say crossing genres like that would be a difficult, if not impossible, sell.

However, I know of quite a few novels where many different narratives -- even different kinds of narratives -- spin around one central theme. David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas is a good place to start.

III · Nov 7, 2007

I'd recommend Pastwatch by Orson Scott Card, or my book, Heroes of Old (link below). As much as I like to shamelessly plug my books, I actually do exactly what you've described in Heroes of Old, so it's a relevant plug for a change. And if you don't like it, you'll know how not to write yours, right?

blacbird · Nov 7, 2007

The Wild Palms, William Faulkner.

caw

job · Nov 7, 2007

This is done fairly often in Romance.

A common way this is done is, one story is present day, the one story is in the past. There's some link between the two stories.

These can be organized as alternating chapters or as first one story and then the other.

Done frequently.

badducky · Nov 7, 2007

Wuthering Heights.

Also, there was a Bunnicula book, but I forgot which one.

VeggieChick · Nov 7, 2007

blacbird said:
The Wild Palms, William Faulkner.

caw

This is exactly what I had in mind. I read the description of the book in Amazon (hadn't heard about it before) and it seems perfect. Thanks for the suggestion!

FennelGiraffe · Nov 7, 2007

Ash: A Secret History, by Mary Gentle

VeggieChick · Nov 7, 2007

job said:
This is done fairly often in Romance.

A common way this is done is, one story is present day, the one story is in the past. There's some link between the two stories.

These can be organized as alternating chapters or as first one story and then the other.

Done frequently.

Done in romance as two completely separate stories or in time-travel stories? I've never heard about that before. Could you mention any examples?

VeggieChick · Nov 7, 2007

FennelGiraffe said:
Ash: A Secret History, by Mary Gentle

OMG! This book is 1120 pages!

blacbird · Nov 7, 2007

VeggieChick said:
This is exactly what I had in mind. I read the description of the book in Amazon (hadn't heard about it before) and it seems perfect. Thanks for the suggestion!

Quite a good piece of work, too, one of Faulkner's best, and too little read these days.

caw

mikeland · Nov 7, 2007

A Brief History of the Dead by Kevin Brockmeier

Hard-Boiled Wonderland and The End of the World by Haruki Murakami

Both novels have two stories being told in alternating chapters and different worlds. Both have a nice fantasy/reality blend. But -- and here's the nifty trick -- they both manage to turn the whole thing into a really good cohesive novel by the end.

Oh, and I think that The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood uses a similar structure (though I have to admit that I haven't read that one).

willietheshakes · Nov 7, 2007

Mine. Well, my next one. If you're still wondering in 18 months or so...

job · Nov 7, 2007

VeggieChick said:
Done in romance as two completely separate stories or in time-travel stories? I've never heard about that before. Could you mention any examples?

J.D. Robb's Remember When comes to mind. And DuMaurier's House on the Strand maybe if you're thinking actual time travel.

Pomegranate · Nov 7, 2007

The Secret History of the Pink Carnation might qualify. Half the story is historical mystery/romance and the other half is contemporary, about a girl researching the characters in the historical portion.

Chumplet · Nov 7, 2007

I'm sure giving it a try with one of my WIPs. Alternating chapters told in two POVs - one in the present by the male MC and one in the 70's by the female mc while at school in Spain. She had a crush on him but he didn't know she existed. But he knows now. I hope I can make it work.

VeggieChick · Nov 8, 2007

wow. Thanks for all the great suggestions! Guess I'll be doing a lot of reading!

britlitfantw · Nov 8, 2007

The Shell House by Linda Newbery.

The storylines intersect a little bit, but not very much.

Saundra Julian · Nov 9, 2007

Wrote my second book that way! It's fun and frustrating to write two stories set three hundred years apart!

JimmyB27 · Nov 9, 2007

Iain Banks does this in a couple of stories. Walking On Glass, and later The Bridge.
Walking On Glass is ok, but The Bridge is one of my all time favourite books - definitely check it out.

</Banks fanboy>

lkp · Nov 9, 2007

The danger with this approach is that readers might like one of the novels much more than the other --- I have felt that often with books that flip between two stories.

Wraith · Nov 9, 2007

The house of sleep by Jonathan Coe did this - but the two plots are interrelated as I recall (I think that's a given anyway - it can only be more subtle or more obvious). That book has interesting technique.

I like your idea, and I think I've seen alternate stories done in more books but I just can't remember. I think you should go with it.

What I like about this technique is that it keeps me wondering about the connection between the stories, it makes me think on a more subtle level.

jennifer75 · Nov 9, 2007

VeggieChick said:
For example, one story (fantasy) is told in chapters 1, 3, 5, etc. The other story, set in the present (not fantasy at all) is told in chapters 2, 4, 6, etc. The stories never really cross each other, but somehow answer the questions posted in the other story.

I think it's a fantastic idea, if it hasn't already been done. Good luck. I'd read it. Hmmm now I'm thinking....

jennifer75 · Nov 9, 2007

It's done in movies. I just saw one, "Even Money", is three stories all seperate but related in the end.

dragonmedley · Nov 9, 2007

FennelGiraffe said:
Ash: A Secret History, by Mary Gentle

That's the first one that came to mind for me!

two novels inside one novel?

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