Discussion Post: Alternating POVs

We've all seen it. Alternating POVs. You know those books where the chapters alternate between two different people. Books like the Legend series by Marie Lu (alternates between June and Day's perspective), the Courier's Daughter series by C.J. Redwine (alternates between Rachel and Logan), and recently in Allegiant by Veronica Roth (alternates between Tris and Four). Some people hate it. Some people love it. I really like it, but only if it is done well. Writing a book this way is tricky. Each character really needs to have a distinctive voice. Normally in the chapter headers, if you're reading a book like this, it will tell you which character the chapter belongs to. Which is great and helpful. But honestly, I don't think you should need them as a reader. If the author has successfully written dual POVs it should be immediately clear whose head you are in as you are reading.


What I like about alternating POVs is being able to see both sides. I also feel like I get to know both MCs a lot better and I enjoy watching both characters develop throughout the story. I think it's a great way for authors to really allow their readers to connect with the characters and grow attached to them. It's also a great way to keep the readers informed if the two MCs are separated.  

Marie Lu does a great job of this in the Legend series. I never once questioned whose head I was in while reading the books and I got to know both June and Day so intimately. Being able to be inside both of their heads allowed me to connect with each of them and understand both of them. C.J. Redwine does a pretty good job as well in her books. There have been a couple times where I'm unsure whose head I'm in, but then a sentence or two later I go "this is definitely Rachel" because of the way she thinks, speaks, and acts. Veronica Roth tried this style of writing out in the final book in the Divergent series, Allegiant. It didn't work for me. Each character didn't have a distinct voice. I was constantly flipping back to the chapter headers to see whose head I was in because they sounded exactly the same. I think a big problem she had was that the rest of the series had only been from Tris's POV so her readers didn't really know Four. I mean, we knew him, but not intimately like we got to in the third book. We saw a side to him that I don't think most people would have guessed and it ended up being kind of a let down for me.

Those three books are examples of first person dual POVs, but what about 3rd person? It's a little easier with third person because the character's name is bound to be said soon so you don't have the confusion of whose head you're in. But what about third person omniscient? I personally am not a fan of this perspective. I think it gets too confusing to see things from everybody's perspective and it reveals everything to the reader. I like to be surprised.

So tell me, what is your favorite perspective to read from? Do you like dual POV? What are some books you've read where dual POV works and some where it hasn't?