# Books where you'd like to get the story from another character's point of view **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 28, 2007, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-where-youd-like-to-get-the-story-from-another-characters-point-of-view/420796 "2007-09-28T12:25:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2007, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-where-youd-like-to-get-the-story-from-another-characters-point-of-view/420796/41 "2007-09-29T21:13:45Z")
That reminds me–there was an excellent short story I read once in which Snow White’s evil queen was actually the good one, with Snow White herself being horribly evil. It was told from the queen’s point of view and was very well done. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2007, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-where-youd-like-to-get-the-story-from-another-characters-point-of-view/420796/42 "2007-09-29T22:32:47Z")
I’d like to see _Lieutenant Hornblower_ told from Hornblower’s POV, if just so I can figure out who the hell pushed Captain Sawyer down the causeway. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Helena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c68b51/32.png) [@Helena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2007, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-where-youd-like-to-get-the-story-from-another-characters-point-of-view/420796/43 "2007-09-29T23:07:05Z")
[QUOTE=Left Hand of Dorkness] That reminds me–there was an excellent short story I read once in which Snow White’s evil queen was actually the good one, with Snow White herself being horribly evil. It was told from the queen’s point of view and was very well done. Daniel [/QUOTE] That reminded me of [this filksong](http://blooddoll.livejournal.com/profile) which I see is based on “Red as Blood” by Tanith Lee. Was that it? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2007, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-where-youd-like-to-get-the-story-from-another-characters-point-of-view/420796/44 "2007-09-29T23:57:08Z")
> [@](#): > > Quote: > Originally Posted by FriarTed > DRACULA- Renfield’s POV > > It’s been done at least once: Renfield The site you link to mentions **The Book of Renfield** as yet another case of this: > **[The Book of Renfield: A Gospel of Dracula: Lucas, Tim: 9780743243544:...](https://www.amazon.com/Book-Renfield-Gospel-Dracula/dp/0743243544)** > > The Book of Renfield: A Gospel of Dracula \[Lucas, Tim\] on Amazon.com. \*FREE\* shipping on qualifying offers. The Book of Renfield: A Gospel of Dracula ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2007, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-where-youd-like-to-get-the-story-from-another-characters-point-of-view/420796/45 "2007-09-30T00:58:11Z")
“The Call of Cthulhu” from Cthulhu’s POV. John Gardner wrote a [novel](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grendel_%28novel%29) that tells the Beowulf story from Grendel’s POV, and Leslie Fish once wrote a filksong from the POV of Grendel’s mother. ---
**Author:** ![Flipstrip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f6c823/32.png) [@Flipstrip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flipstrip)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2007, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-where-youd-like-to-get-the-story-from-another-characters-point-of-view/420796/46 "2007-09-30T01:22:04Z")
[QUOTE=Left Hand of Dorkness] That reminds me–there was an excellent short story I read once in which Snow White’s evil queen was actually the good one, with Snow White herself being horribly evil. It was told from the queen’s point of view and was very well done. Daniel [/QUOTE] I believe you’re talking about “Snow, Glass, Apples” by Neil Gaiman. It’s in his “Smoke and Mirrors” short story anthology. ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2007, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-where-youd-like-to-get-the-story-from-another-characters-point-of-view/420796/47 "2007-09-30T01:30:15Z")
[QUOTE=Raguleader] I’d like to see _Lieutenant Hornblower_ told from Hornblower’s POV, if just so I can figure out who the hell pushed Captain Sawyer down the causeway. 😃 [/QUOTE] Hornblower did it, of course. He’d shown several times that he was able to make a tough decision in cold blood. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2007, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-where-youd-like-to-get-the-story-from-another-characters-point-of-view/420796/48 "2007-09-30T22:02:08Z")
> [@](#): > > Quote: > Originally Posted by Raguleader > I’d like to see Lieutenant Hornblower told from Hornblower’s POV, if just so I can figure out who the hell pushed Captain Sawyer down the causeway. > > Hornblower did it, of course. He’d shown several times that he was able to make a tough decision in cold blood. This has actually been done already, in C. Northcote Parkinson’s book **The Life and Times of Horatio Hornblower** , a biography of C.S. Forester’s hero (You wouldn’t think one was necessary, would you?) he includes, as an appendix, a letter supposedly written by Hornblower explaining what went on during the “hidden” parts of that book: > **[Amazon.com: The Life and Times of Horatio Hornblower: A Biography of C.S....](https://www.amazon.com/Life-Times-Horatio-Hornblower-Biography/dp/1590130650)** > > Amazon.com: The Life and Times of Horatio Hornblower: A Biography of C.S. Forester's Famous Naval Hero: 9781590130650: Parkinson, C. Northcote: Books Hornblower confesses not only to pushing the delusional Captain Sawyer over the brink, but to killing him in his bed during the raid re-taking the ship. He reasons that the captain would have destroyed all his officers in his paranoia, pointlessly. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2007, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-where-youd-like-to-get-the-story-from-another-characters-point-of-view/420796/49 "2007-09-30T22:10:32Z")
> [@](#): > > I would like to read the first Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever books from the POV of Lord Mhoram. It’d be pretty repetitive. “Jesus, what a freaking douchebag! Could it get any _worse_?!” ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2007, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-where-youd-like-to-get-the-story-from-another-characters-point-of-view/420796/50 "2007-09-30T22:23:49Z")
[QUOTE=Lamar Mundane] Rashomon. [/QUOTE] Heh. Cute. Although, to be absolutely accurate, the format of Rashomon the film was actually taken from a different story by the same author as Rashomon, titled In a Grove. Actually, aside from setting the framing story at the Rashomon gate, I’m not sure Rashomon the story provided anything at all to Rashomon the film. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-where-youd-like-to-get-the-story-from-another-characters-point-of-view/420796/51 "2007-10-01T00:44:55Z")
**Harry Potter** series. ---
**Author:** ![veemoffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/35a633/32.png) [@veemoffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/veemoffa)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-where-youd-like-to-get-the-story-from-another-characters-point-of-view/420796/52 "2007-10-01T09:23:08Z")
The plot of \*The Three Musketeers \* from Milady’s viewpoint, and her background story. ---
**Author:** ![Marlitharn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/779978/32.png) [@Marlitharn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marlitharn)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-where-youd-like-to-get-the-story-from-another-characters-point-of-view/420796/53 "2007-10-01T10:32:30Z")
The _Little House_ books told from Eliza Jane Wilder’s point of view. She was a single woman who staked a claim for herself, and Almanzo mentions at one point in _These Happy Golden Years_ that Eliza Jane was for women’s rights. Laura portrays her as an ineffective meddling bitch, but surely there was more to her than that. _Emma_ from Miss Bates’s POV. Of course, then the book would have been about 3,000 pages long. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-where-youd-like-to-get-the-story-from-another-characters-point-of-view/420796/54 "2007-10-01T11:41:09Z")
> [@](#): > > Quote: > Originally Posted by Lamar Mundane > Rashomon. > > Heh. Cute. > > Although, to be absolutely accurate, the format of Rashomon the film was actually taken from a different story by the same author as Rashomon, titled In a Grove. Actually, aside from setting the framing story at the Rashomon gate, I’m not sure Rashomon the story provided anything at all to Rashomon the film. You’re quite right. Both stories were printed in the Grove Press copy of the script of the film, so I’ve read them. Even “In the Grove” doesn’t provide as much as the film does, since the film adds another POV. If you can get your hands on the book, it’s worth it. Besides the script and the stories, it’s got essays as well, along with a partial script of the U.S. remake, **The Outrage**. > **[RASHOMON-A FILM BY AKIRA KUROSAWA (W/OVER 200 ILLUSTRATIONS: Richie, Donald:...](https://www.amazon.com/RASHOMON-FILM-AKIRA-KUROSAWA-ILLUSTRATIONS/dp/B000HF85LO)** > > RASHOMON-A FILM BY AKIRA KUROSAWA (W/OVER 200 ILLUSTRATIONS \[Richie, Donald\] on Amazon.com. \*FREE\* shipping on qualifying offers. RASHOMON-A FILM BY AKIRA KUROSAWA (W/OVER 200 ILLUSTRATIONS ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-where-youd-like-to-get-the-story-from-another-characters-point-of-view/420796/55 "2007-10-01T13:16:18Z")
[QUOTE=Left Hand of Dorkness] I was thinking that _Treasure Island_ from Long John Silver’s view would be good, but then I remembered that i’ve watched the Johnny Depp trilogy. It’s been done, more or less. [/QUOTE] Heh. _Pirates of the Caribbean_ aside, I find this idea intriguing (though I don’t wish to subscribe to your newsletter), what with NaNoWriMo only a month away… 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-where-youd-like-to-get-the-story-from-another-characters-point-of-view/420796/56 "2007-10-01T13:24:30Z")
[QUOTE=Shirley Ujest] **Harry Potter** series. [/QUOTE] I think the books from Ron or Hermione’s POV would be fascinating, especially Ron’s. Anyone else would be pretty far removed from a lot of the action, but a Dumbledore- or Voldemort-centric HP series could be pretty cool as well. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Mapp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miss_mapp/32/369_2.png) [@Miss\_Mapp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Mapp)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-where-youd-like-to-get-the-story-from-another-characters-point-of-view/420796/57 "2007-10-01T13:32:40Z")
[QUOTE=Marlitharn] _Emma_ from Miss Bates’s POV. Of course, then the book would have been about 3,000 pages long. [/QUOTE] Not Miss Bates, but Joan Aiken did write a retake of _Emma_ from Jane Fairfax’s POV. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-where-youd-like-to-get-the-story-from-another-characters-point-of-view/420796/58 "2007-10-01T13:51:33Z")
[QUOTE=CalMeacham] I don’t think I could stand a whole book of “Master says…” “Master is coming!” “Master hurts us!” It would be like reading _Lord of the Rings_ from Gollum’s POV. An interesting book is Fred Saberhagen’s **The Dracula Tapes** , which tells Dracula from _Dracula’s_ point of view. And a great _spinmeister_ he is. [/QUOTE] Read it! And enjoyed it thoroughly! I haven’t read _Renfield: A Slave of Dracula_ BUT I did read Tim Lucas’ _The Book of Renfield: A Gospel of Dracula_, which is MUCH more than that. A great, unjustly OOP novel is KINDA from Dracula’s POV as he starts taking over the mind of Quincey Harker’s grandson - Jeffrey Sackett’s _Blood of the Impaler_- it’s both a prequel (how Voivode Vlad became Count Dracula) and sequel (how his blood taint in Mina reasserts itself in her descendants), ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-where-youd-like-to-get-the-story-from-another-characters-point-of-view/420796/59 "2007-10-01T15:14:07Z")
_War of the Worlds_ from the POV of one of the brave Martian soldiers. Poor misunderstood bastards. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-where-youd-like-to-get-the-story-from-another-characters-point-of-view/420796/60 "2007-10-01T15:23:51Z")
> [@](#): > > War of the Worlds from the POV of one of the brave Martian soldiers. Poor misunderstood bastards. I once wrote a story that was _The Time Machine_ told from the POV of the Morlocks, who have to deal with a pain in the ass who shows up one day and really messes things up. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-where-youd-like-to-get-the-story-from-another-characters-point-of-view/420796.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-where-youd-like-to-get-the-story-from-another-characters-point-of-view/420796.md?page=4)