A book that is a story within a story

[Janette]

Would Into the Water work for this prompt Into the Water

[Nadine in NY]

Janette wrote: "Would Into the Water work for this prompt Into the Water"

meh - not really, but kinda sorta? if you squint and look at it just right. It's a murder mystery, and the woman who died was writing a book, and you read excerpts from her book as well as follow the murder investigation, but it's all connected, it's not really separate stories.

[Ramona]

Janette wrote: "Would Into the Water work for this prompt Into the Water"

I counted it.

[Shirley (stampartiste)]

Would The Complete Alice in Wonderland count as a story within a story (as her adventures take place in her sleep)?

[Pioup]

stampartiste wrote: "Would The Complete Alice in Wonderland count as a story within a story (as her adventures take place in her sleep)?"

I'd count it, but it's really up to you.

[Desi]

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo fits - it's Evelyn telling her life story to Monique, who writes the memoir!

[Cheri]

Rachelle wrote: "Moonglow what about this???"

I think this counts! I used it for the unreliable narrator prompt, but I debated between that and story within a story.

[Jai]

What about The Devil in the white city by Erik Larsen? Can that be considered a story within a story?

[Jackie]

I wouldn't count Devil in the White City. It's not really a story within a story so much as two concurrent story lines. They coexist, but one is not a frame for the other. If this is the only prompt where you can fit it, you could slot it in as a stretch. It's a great book; I highly recommend it.

[Jenn]

Kirsten **Be A Dragon** wrote: "Jenn wrote: "I'm reading Trigger Warning: Short Fictions and Disturbances by Neil Gaiman for this. It's a compilation of short stories, which I think fits the criteria."

Uh... no. ..."

I hated it anyway so I'm going to read Wuthering Heights, which has been on my TBR list for almost 5 years

[Lyra]

What about LaRose? There are several stories within the main story - the passing on of ancient legends.

[Victoria]

Does anyone think The Notebook would fit this prompt?

[Nadine in NY]

Victoria wrote: "Does anyone think The Notebook would fit this prompt?"

Sure. It's an elderly man telling his story. It's all one story, their story, but their young story is framed within their elderly story.

[Victoria]

Nadine wrote: "Victoria wrote: "Does anyone think The Notebook would fit this prompt?"

Sure. It's an elderly man telling his story. It's all one story, their story, but their young story is framed w..."

Thanks! I think I'm going to read this.

[Nancy]

I just finished reading "The Night Ocean" by Paul LaFarge, and it occurred to me that there are several layers of stories in this novel. It has five narrators, books within the book that turn out not to be what they seem, etc. I didn't read this book with a challenge prompt in mind, but to me it fits this one. Anyone else read it? What do you think?

[Heather]

223 comments and I *think* no one has mentioned this one yet: The Secret History of the Pink Carnation or any of its sequels. A grad student in the present is digging through documents about English spies in the Napoleonic wars, and their stories are interspersed.

[Margaret]

I just finished Midnight at the Electric by Jody Lynn Anderson. I would highly recommend this read (and it's not a huge book, either!)

[Amanda]

I've read The Princess Bride by William Goldman for this one, and I'm glad I did.

[Debbie]

Sara wrote: "I think a lot of the books set in two time periods also work for this.
Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah

Thanks for these suggestions. I was going to do Princess Bride but then I decided that I like the movie SO MUCH that I don't want to confuse myself by trying to read a confusing book.

So, I am going to give Winter Garden a try.

[Sammy]

if you like a wee quick read Podkin One-Ear is a new release and is a kids book but reads like Watershed Down crossed wih the Hobbit. It's a story of a rabbit bard telling the legend of Podkin One-Ear to little rabbits so cute and very well written!

[Mikaela]

I just finished reading Melissa Anelli's Harry, a History: The True Story of a Boy Wizard, His Fans, and Life Inside the Harry Potter Phenomenon - what are your thoughts on this qualifying for a story within a story? I'm curious, as it's a book (not necessarily a story) about the hysteria and experiences of the fans of the Harry Potter series, but I could be persuaded either way on the topic. I have other books I could read for this topic as well, but was just curious to see what the community thought!

[Malaraa]

I didn't realize until after I'd started it, but The Refrigerator Monologues has a frame story that the short stories are set in, so that's an option for anyone still looking.

[Theresa]

Julia wrote: "Would Commonwealth work for this category?"

I personally did not think so. I slotted it instead into book over span of character's lifetime as opens at Franny's christening and ends in her life 50 years later, the current day.

[Theresa]

Michelle wrote: "I currently have Big Fish by Daniel Wallace for this one."

Excellent idea! I read it for last year's challenge [book from library] and considrred it one of best reads of my year. Loved it. And it is short.

[Theresa]

I think The Invention of Hugo Cabret fits nicely here. - which is a blend of graphic novel and fantasy fiction.

So does The Sherwood Ring - a great YA historical ghost story published originally in 1950s.

I would say The Night Circus could fit.

So could several Tana French's Dublin Murder Squad series.

[Theresa]

The Red Leather Diary: Reclaiming a Life Through the Pages of a Lost Journal special!

[Betty]

What about The Cottingley Secret by Hazel Gaynor that just came out? It sounds like it would fit...

[Juliebean]

I've read two stories that would fit this. And I would actually recommend them both.

One is Delicious!. I did not think at the beginning that it would fit this prompt, and I've already read my book about food (this one would count there too). It's about a young woman who goes to work at a cooking magazine and finds something that leads her to the story of a young girl from the 40's. Even though the previous story was mostly told in letters, I'm counting it.

The second was recommended previously. The Marvels. The story is not at all what I expected it to be, and it was my first story by Brian Selznick. I will say that the first half is told entirely by pictures, like a beautiful silent movie. The second half is prose. I found myself thinking of it days and even weeks after. I've bought his other two but haven't cracked them open, waiting for a chance when I can savor them.

[Sam]

Pioup wrote: "Michelle wrote: "I'm thinking of reading Count of Monte Cristo for this prompt, however I'm not sure if it fits. Has anyone read Count of Monte Cristo and would it fit for this one?"
Unless I've co..."

I wouldn't classify this as a story within a story. It's one of my favorites but I don't think it works for this challenge.

[Jo]

For this I read The Power :)

[Claire]

Jo wrote: "For this I read The Power :)"
Oh, thank you, I didn't know The Power would fit here, and I really want to read it! I'd picked The Name of the Wind for this category but am not feeling too excited about it, so it's great to have an alternative.

[Jo]

You're welcome, Claire :) I didn't much like The Name of the Wind, glad to have rescued you ;)

[Claire]

Jo wrote: "You're welcome, Claire :) I didn't much like The Name of the Wind, glad to have rescued you ;)"

:-) that settles it then, definitely scrapping Name of the Wind!

[Johanna]

For fans of Jodi Picoult, she has written a novel with her daughter that perfectly fits this genre. Between the Lines is a story of a teenage girl who is able to communicate with the prince in a Fairy Tale. Interspersed through the novel, is the actual fairy tale as well. So you get two stories in one.

It could also be used for the prompt of a book written by multiple authors.

[Naina]

just finished Lies She Told -- fits this prompt really well and is about an author and the book she is currently writing (the story within the story)

[Elyse]

Claire wrote: "Jo wrote: "For this I read The Power :)"
Oh, thank you, I didn't know The Power would fit here, and I really want to read it! I'd picked The Name of the Wind for this..."

Name of the Wind is awesome! You should go back to it at some point.

[Chris]

Elyse wrote: "Claire wrote: "Jo wrote: "For this I read The Power :)"
Oh, thank you, I didn't know The Power would fit here, and I really want to read it! I'd picked [book:The Name of the Wind|1..."

I agree, Name of the Wind is one of my all-time favorite books, and I'm not a big fantasy fan.

[Claire]

It's a funny one, people seem to either be very passionately for or against Name of the Wind :-)

[Cornerofmadness]

Claire wrote: "It's a funny one, people seem to either be very passionately for or against Name of the Wind :-)"

I was thinking that myself. I was underwhelmed by it myself. I didn't hate it but thought it in no way lived up to its hype and was way too long to say nothing.

[Minna]

In the Night Garden is a perfect example of a story within a story; it's more like a hundred stories within a story, all nested like matryoshka dolls.

[Taylor]

Did anyone else struggle with this prompt? Like, I really don't know what it means to have a story within a story. I used The Butterfly Garden because one of the characters is telling the story of her kidnapping while being interrogated. Is it similar to two different time periods or flashbacks?

[Nadine in NY]

It's a story within a story! :-) For example, The Thirteenth Tale is an older woman who has hired a younger woman to write her biography, much of the book is the older woman's story of her youth, interspersed with what the younger woman is doing when she's not listening to the older woman's story. Or The Princess Bride is a grandfather reading the story of The Princess Bride to his grandson who is home with a cold. Or The Romance Reader's Guide to Life is the story of two sisters, interspersed with chapters from an adventure story one of the sisters is reading.

[poshpenny]

Magpie Murders is about the publishers of a new mystery novel, and that novel is inside of the main novel, which you get to read as his editor does.

[Taylor]

Nadine wrote: "It's a story within a story! :-) For example, The Thirteenth Tale is an older woman who has hired a younger woman to write her biography, much of the book is the older woman's story of her youth, i..."

Thanks for clarifying Nadine! That makes perfect sense - I think I was just over-complicating it!

[Cindy]

Thank you Sara for suggesting The Winter Sea - Susanna Kearsley

[Anna]

does all creatures great and small by James heriot count for this?

[Jackie]

Anna wrote: "does all creatures great and small by James heriot count for this?"

No, it's just a collection of short stories; there's no framing story. All of the stories are from his experiences as a vet, so there's definitely recurring characters and a consistent setting to the stories, but they're not told within a broader story.

I loved James Herriot when I was kid. I had All Creatures Great and Small and James Herriot's Favorite Dog Stories.

[Lindsey]

Sarah wrote: "Everything I Never Told You doesn't fit for this category. However, it's an amazing book that I highly recommend."

Does it work for any of the categories?

[Nadine in NY]

Lindsey wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Everything I Never Told You doesn't fit for this category. However, it's an amazing book that I highly recommend."

Does it work for any of the categories?"

2017 categories that it might fit (some of these will vary by reader, of course):
recommended by a librarian
author of color
author from a country I've never visited (if you've never been to the US)
main character is a different ethnicity
two time periods (it jumps around quite a bit in time, in my book that counts but others may differ)
recommended by an author I love
about an immigrant (okay this one is THIN, the father's father is an immigrant, and part of his experience as the son of an immigrant is at the core of the story)
about a difficult topic

[Lindsey]

Nadine wrote: "Lindsey wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Everything I Never Told You doesn't fit for this category. However, it's an amazing book that I highly recommend."

Does it work for any of the categories?"

2017 cate..."

Who was the author you love that recommended this book?