St. Martin's Literary Fiction
asked
Bryn Greenwood:
Did you always envision the novel told from multiple points of view? How did you channel those voices for each chapter? Did you have a favorite perspective to write from, and was there a character it was more difficult to find empathy for at certain points?
Bryn Greenwood
Honestly, I envision nearly every story I write from multiple points of view. That's how I learned to write short fiction, by first telling the protagonist's story and then the antagonist's, and revising the one that was more compelling. In case it's not obvious, my favorite narrator for All the Ugly and Wonderful Things is Kellen. Although some of his decisions are terrible, there's something so soothing to me about the way he talks. (A trait I share with Wavy.)
I think the narrator that's least empathetic to me is Butch. He sees so much of what's wrong in Wavy's life and does absolutely nothing about it. Of course, perhaps I chose him because the book doesn't include the points of view of some even harder to sympathize with characters, like Wavy's parents. If you want to know more about how I handle multiple points of view (and why Aunt Brenda doesn't get to narrate), I've got a blog post about it:
https://bryngreenwood.wordpress.com/2...
I think the narrator that's least empathetic to me is Butch. He sees so much of what's wrong in Wavy's life and does absolutely nothing about it. Of course, perhaps I chose him because the book doesn't include the points of view of some even harder to sympathize with characters, like Wavy's parents. If you want to know more about how I handle multiple points of view (and why Aunt Brenda doesn't get to narrate), I've got a blog post about it:
https://bryngreenwood.wordpress.com/2...
More Answered Questions
St. Martin's Literary Fiction
asked
Bryn Greenwood:
This question contains spoilers…
(view spoiler)[
How do you think marriage changes our views of what would otherwise be considered statutory rape?
(hide spoiler)]
Puss'N'Books
asked
Bryn Greenwood:
Hi! I'm absolutely desperate to read ALL THE UGLY AND WONDERFUL THINGS but I can't find it in ebook format anywhere. I'd happily buy the paperback but as I'm considered 'blind' (I can only see around 25% in one eye and the other mostly shadow) I need the ebook format so that I can change the size and colour of the font. Do you know where I might find one? At this point, I'd donate a limb to find a copy, lol!
Nena Gluchacki
asked
Bryn Greenwood:
Hi Bryn! I read AtUaWT two weeks ago and it's still stuck with me. Very few books do that, so first and foremost, thank you for writing such a wonderful book. I thought at times that Wavy, especially in her earlier years, came off as almost feral. Was that intended? Also, I'm intrigued by your mention of a relationship similar to Kellan and Wavy. Would you ever write even just a blog post about your relationship?
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