There are plenty of unique books that are oddly formatted to keep things interesting. The structures give the novels a fresh twist. Even overdone story lines can seem new when the story is told in a new way. If you’re tired of the same repetitive formats that you’ve been accustomed to since childhood, you’ll want to pick up one of these unique books.
1 House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
House of Leaves, written by Mark Z. Danielewski, is an oddly entertaining story. Some of the pages contain only one word, while others require you to use a mirror to read them. It’s a long story that will challenge your intellect. If you’re interested in reading unique books, House of Leaves is your best choice. Just don’t expect to fly through it.
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2 Only Revolutions by Mark Z. Danielewski
This is another book written by Mark Z. Danielewski. It’s written in all prose and follows a young couple’s growing relationship. In order to read the book, you have to do a lot of page saving. You read the first chapter in the boy’s point of view, then flip the book upside down and read the first chapter in the girl’s point of view. This method tests the narrator’s reliability, proving that one story can be told in a million different ways.
3 The Lover’s Dictionary by David Levithan
This unique book by David Levithan is written entirely in dictionary entries. It starts with A words and works its way down to the end of the alphabet. Due to the format, the story is told in chunks and can be a bit difficult to adjust to reading. However, it modifies original romance novels and gives readers an interesting way to hear a story. If you’re sick of traditional, go original.
4 Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan
John Green cowrote this novel with David Levithan. They each created their own separate story about a boy with the same name, but have no relation. They alternated writing each chapter; Green wrote the odd and Levithan wrote the even. The only part of the story that they planned out together is that the two Wills would meet at one point and that it would have a significant impact on both of their lives. This novel shows that a novel can be put together by using teamwork.
5 Dracula by Bram Stoker
The structure of this novel by Bram Stoker is called epistolary. It tells the story of Dracula by including different diary entries and letters from characters in the novel. Dracula remains mysterious and his point of view is never shown. If you want to read a classic novel that's written in an unique way, check out this book. You won't regret your choice.
6 Hyperion by Dan Simmons
Dan Simmons wrote this science fiction novel. It's a frame story with various time-lines and characters. Six different tales are told from six different points of view. If you're a fan of scifi, you're sure to enjoy this novel. Why not give it a read?
7 The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
This is another epistolary novel. It's written by Stephen Chbosky and has recently been made into a film. The story follows a teenage boy in high school that struggles to socialize. It's easy to relate to and can keep anyone occupied. Read it and then check out the film.
If you’re tired of reading novels with the same traditional structures, it’ll be nice to read something fresh. Have you ever read any of the books mentioned above? Are there any others that should’ve been included?
