From: Judith O'Malley <jomalley>
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1998 16:58:22 -0600

I've just finished Jack Gantos' Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key, and that book uses point of view in very interesting ways, I think. Told in first person, the reader is aware of how Joey's family and teachers react to his hyperactive behavior, but we also are with Joey in the moment, when he is unable not to act out his attention deficit disorder, and we share his concern about how others see him and how he views himself. In this book, the point of view allows for self-awareness that increases empathy with the protagonist, as well as understanding of his problems.

Judy O'Malley Book Links

In a message dated 98 12:31:18 EST, Megan Schliesman wrote:

<<So I'm wondering not only what people think about the effectiveness of point of view in books we have already mentioned but also what are other books in which you find point of view is used to great effect.>>

Walk Two Moons, by Sharon Creech, used Sal's viewpoint to create a mystery
(what really happened to her mother?) and to make the reader connect with Sal's emotions. I have heard that Ms. Creech changed the point of view in the finished version of the book from an earlier draft that used Sal's friend Phoebe as the main character.

An omniscient viewpoint creates a fairytale world when used in The Moorchild, by Eloise McGraw. The book reminded me in some ways of two classics written in the 19th century by George MacDonald: The Princess and the Goblin, and At the Back of the North Wind.

I keep thinking of books that use point of veiw effectively. Can anyone think of books that fail because viewpoint is mishandled?

Once a book is on the shelf, it's easy to analyse the author's selection of point of view. From the writer's "moccasins" however, the choice is not so clear.

Lee Sullivan Hill
Received on Mon 16 Nov 1998 04:58:22 PM CST