The Catholic Book Club discussion

4. The story is told from multiple perspectives including; Warda, Fr Antonin, Omar, Ibrahim Reis and Hala. What are the advantages and disadvantages of multiple perspective in storytelling? What, if anything, do the different voices of the novel add to the story?

Well is not a problem for me i have read books as Moon Stone by Wilkie Collins and The Grove by Rynosuke Akutagawa. I have read books with multiples narrators and narratives. Other case might be "Laurus" by Eugene Vodolazkin.

Multiple perspectives are not rare in fiction. I used them in one of my sci-fi novels (Los moradores de la noche).

I would like to read this novel "Los moradores de la noche".

Manuel wrote: "Multiple perspectives are not rare in fiction. I used them in one of my sci-fi novels (Los moradores de la noche)."

I agree. The one aspect here that I found disruptive (that may be too strong a word) is that the story is cast as a long confession, but part of that confession is related by others!!

John wrote: "I agree. The one aspect here that I found disruptive (that may be too strong a word) is that the story is cast as a long confession, but part of that confession is related by others!!"

Look at it this way: the story is a long confession, addressed to the priest. The other chapters are additional information for the reader, rather than for the priest.

Good reflection 🤔.

Manuel wrote: "John wrote: "I agree. The one aspect here that I found disruptive (that may be too strong a word) is that the story is cast as a long confession, but part of that confession is related by others!!"..."

I understand. Multiple perspectives can be an interesting approach to telling a story, but in this case I found it a bit distracting.

In detection novel is very exciting and entertaiment. I want to remember that Mrs. De Maria also has written Detection Novels.

I thought that the multiple perspectives would become confusing, especially as they jump back and forth from 1st person to 3rd and not all speakers are clearly identified in the chapter titles. But, I'm a little under halfway through and so far I think it adds a real richness to the narrative. It also keeps things uncertain, while still forcing the story forward. In the hands of a less experienced author, I think it could have been a bit of a mess, but Fiorella does a superlative job.

It is very interesting to change the voice and the style of the narrator.

I didn't find confusing the change of perspectives. It added depth to the characters to be able to know how they viewed the events and each other.

I totally agree with Mariangeles.