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▶️ Debates > Multiple POVs: How many are "So Many!"?

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message 1: by Rushali, Head Mod (last edited Apr 21, 2021 09:40AM) (new)

Rushali Gupta (happy_soul) | 5557 comments Mod
What do you think, is reading a book with multiple POVs better? And how many do you think are sufficient?

What's your maximum limit for Multiple POVs in a book, when does it become "So Many!" for you?

Share your views with us!


message 2: by Dreamer (new)

Dreamer  personally, I believe that, the more POVs are, the better a book is! But it also depends on the author, and how well can they write from different prespectives. A Song of Ice and Fire, for example, has 31 (I've counted them) POV characters, and I still feel I would like more :)


message 3: by Erica (last edited Apr 21, 2021 07:34PM) (new)

Erica | 1309 comments I don't have any idea about how many POVs make a good book all I know is it takes one character I don't like to be too many. ;)
a.k.a. the whiny one, the boring one, or the stupid one


message 4: by Meenu (new)

Meenu | 19 comments Multi Pov is my personal favourite.This gives a wider scope to the story. And I can choose my favourite characters and root for them.Most importantly it gives some unpredictability to the story. For example, when there is one protagonist you know who will win at the end. But with multi pov you can't really trust all the povs and anyone can be the protagonist/antagonist.Same case with romance as well.Anyone can end up with anyone.I like diving into something without knowing what to expect and be surprised at the end.


As for the number, I haven't read more than 5 povs. It completely depends on how well the author does it. There is a chance that the characters can be left undeveloped when there are more Povs. So I would prefer it to be a series instead of standalone if there are more than 5. But again it completely depends on the author's ability to write fleshed out characters with multi pov.


message 5: by Shawna (new)

Shawna Finnigan (sugoishawn) | 945 comments I don't really have a preference for the amount of POVs in a book but I really like it when authors use a different font or color of text to distinguish between the different POVs


message 6: by Unknown (new)

Unknown Reader | 180 comments The first book that comes to my mind is ‘the sun is also a star’ and I feel like it did a good job. Multiple POV made all the characters seem like someone with a story rather than just plot points. Also, it was amazing to see how other character’s small decisions can have such a big impact on the main characters and vice versa. The best thing was reading through everyone’s point of views and understanding their feelings and thoughts. Like, I think without those povs, we would never have known their thinking and would have wrote them off as bad.

No amount of point of views is too many if your writing is good and you can integrate into your plot.


message 7: by Unknown (new)

Unknown Reader | 180 comments The first book that comes to my mind is ‘the sun is also a star’ and I feel like it did a good job. Multiple POV made all the characters seem like someone with a story rather than just plot points. Also, it was amazing to see how other character’s small decisions can have such a big impact on the main characters and vice versa. The best thing was reading through everyone’s point of views and understanding their feelings and thoughts. Like, I think without those povs, we would never have known their thinking and would have wrote them off as bad.

No amount of point of views is too many if your writing is good and you can integrate them into your plot.


message 8: by Nathan (new)

Nathan (nathan-93) Multiple POVs [ Suicide Med , the first type I ever read ] is nice. As long as the author can clearly define the boundaries and finally interconnect them without losing anything in between. Each POV, I'd automatically make an assumption, try some guesswork and then read more to see how it unravels...


message 9: by Lisette (last edited Jun 03, 2023 05:00AM) (new)

Lisette (illusie) | 1284 comments Depends. If i am very tired when reading then 3 is too many. Otherwise it does not really matter if the plot is good and interesting.


message 10: by The Wanderer (new)

The Wanderer | 44 comments I don't mind multiple PoV. It's a good way to introduce characters and their motivations. Only one PoV will show characters from their perspective.


message 11: by Lisette (new)

Lisette (illusie) | 1284 comments The Wanderer wrote: "I don't mind multiple PoV. It's a good way to introduce characters and their motivations. Only one PoV will show characters from their perspective."

Does that mean you prefer to read books with more than 1 pov?


message 12: by The Wanderer (new)

The Wanderer | 44 comments Lusie wrote: "The Wanderer wrote: "I don't mind multiple PoV. It's a good way to introduce characters and their motivations. Only one PoV will show characters from their perspective."

Does that mean you prefer ..."


I don't really mind. I have read books with like 3 to 5 different parallel stories etc so I enjoyed it. First person stories I haven't read much but maybe it can become monotonous?


message 13: by Rushali, Head Mod (new)

Rushali Gupta (happy_soul) | 5557 comments Mod
The Wanderer wrote: "Lusie wrote: "The Wanderer wrote: "I don't mind multiple PoV. It's a good way to introduce characters and their motivations. Only one PoV will show characters from their perspective."

Does that me..."


Sometimes it does, if the writing isn't great, so depends on the author according to me. If the MC is portrayed nicely, their POV seems enough then, for a good reading experience. However, I think at least 2 POVs must be there in each book, for proper understanding of the events and thoughts of the characters.


message 14: by Lisette (new)

Lisette (illusie) | 1284 comments Rushali wrote: "The Wanderer wrote: "Lusie wrote: "The Wanderer wrote: "I don't mind multiple PoV. It's a good way to introduce characters and their motivations. Only one PoV will show characters from their perspe..."

I also think it depends on how well it is written.
One point of view can be enough if the writing is good


message 15: by The Wanderer (new)

The Wanderer | 44 comments Rushali wrote: "The Wanderer wrote: "Lusie wrote: "The Wanderer wrote: "I don't mind multiple PoV. It's a good way to introduce characters and their motivations. Only one PoV will show characters from their perspe..."

Yeah maybe writing in first person is difficult because you have to make each character meet the main character in order to talk about them? Generally Most books have multiple pov and smaller sub plots


message 16: by The Wanderer (new)

The Wanderer | 44 comments Lusie wrote: "Rushali wrote: "The Wanderer wrote: "Lusie wrote: "The Wanderer wrote: "I don't mind multiple PoV. It's a good way to introduce characters and their motivations. Only one PoV will show characters f..."

Yeah. Possible. I don't think I've read a lot of single pov


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