Glens Falls (NY) Online Book Discussion Group discussion

How do you feel about flashbacks as part of a story?

Flashbacks often tend to confuse me. The time shifts are difficult to deal with unless they're done well.

Flashbacks also tend to halt the forward motion of the story and that sometimes frustrates me.

This is a subject seldom discussed. Yet I often think about whether they serve a story well or not. I know they provide necessary background at times, and they're found in many novels, but I've never been a fan of flashbacks.

How about you?

Amen. Flashbacks are easier to deal with in books that tv or movies. One prime example is 'Heros', the comic book-based tv show I got started watching and am to dumb to quit. The thing has so many THREADS, which are an even bigger irritation for me, and there always jumping back and forth thru time. I guess, on the whole, I'm in favor or flashbacks being used, but not OVERUSED.

Some of my favorite books have multiple flashbacks throughout the story. I like the blending effect it has, in other words, a flashback that pertains to whatever is going on in the story at the moment is welcome. Yes, it can get confusing on occasion, especially in a book like The Sea by John Banville. The narrator uses that method, intermingling several time lines with the present. It all adds to the texture, but I know it's not everyone's cuppa.

Earl wrote: "Amen. ... I guess, on the whole, I'm in favor or flashbacks being used, but not OVERUSED."

I agree, Earl. Moderation in all things.

Pontalba wrote: "Some of my favorite books have multiple flashbacks throughout the story. I like the blending effect it has, in other words, a flashback that pertains to whatever is going on in the story at the mo..."

Pontalba, my theory on flashbacks is that some authors do them better than others. Perhaps the authors who don't do them to my satisfaction are so engrossed in their story, that they don't realize that the readers may find their story hard to follow. That's what editors are for (in part), to facilitate the understanding of the story.

IMO, a few short connecting words would help at points. And they're so easy to insert. Why should a book become more of a puzzle than a good story? I'll never understand why authors make books more puzzling than necessary.

Joy wrote: I'll never understand why authors make books more puzzling than necessary.

LOL I like those sort of puzzles. A quote from my favorite author, Vladimir Nabokov says...
"Curiously enough, one cannot read a book; one can only reread it. A good reader, a major reader, and active and creative reader is a rereader."

A theory I definitely subscribe to. :)

Pontalba wrote: "LOL I like those sort of puzzles. A quote from my favorite author, Vladimir Nabokov says... "Curiously enough, one cannot read a book; one can only reread it. A good reader, a major reader, and active and creative reader is a rereader."

Pontalba, it's interesting that you like books which are like puzzles. (BTW, by puzzles, I'm referring to books which are difficult to understand.)

As for Nabokov's quote, I'll never have time to reread. I want to taste so many other books instead. I've never enjoyed rereading.

"Different strokes for different folks!" Never was a truer expression coined! :)
(I wonder who coined it.) :)

Joy, that's one reason I love some discussion threads, it gives me a chance to get other views, and dissect a story down to the bare bones. From the time I was a young child I've always wanted to know "Why?", what is a person's/character's motivation for whatever act they commit. It has lead down some interesting paths.

I used to reread far more often that I do nowadays, but I do have my favorites that I can get something new out of at every reading. It's like revisiting an old friend. :)

Pontalba wrote: "Joy, that's one reason I love some discussion threads, it gives me a chance to get other views, and dissect a story down to the bare bones. From the time I was a young child I've always wanted to ..."

Pontalba, yes, I too enjoy reading different points of view on the discussion threads.

BTW, I googled and found the following, written by a fellow at WordWizard online:
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"The earliest use of DIFFERENT STROKES FOR DIFFERENT FOLKS that I could find was from 1966 (see quote below) by boxer and world heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali (Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr.). [Clay said:]: ”I got DIFFERENT STROKES FOR DIFFERENT FOLKS.”)

"Rhythm and soul singer Syl Johnson (father of Syleena) released the single titled ‘DIFFERENT STROKES’ in 1967 with the line also appearing in the song.

"But its appearance in Sly and the Family Stone’s 1968 big hit single Everyday People is probably what put the phrase on the map.

"Additional exposure of the expression was burned into our collective psyches with the television comedy Diff’rent Strokes [1978-86:]..."
ABOVE IS FROM: http://www.wordwizard.com/phpbb3/view...
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Amazing what we can find out from the Internet.

Like Earl, I'm not against flashbacks per se, but I'm against overusing them. They work well, IMO, if they're employed when the writer wants to dramatically convey information about the past where it sheds light on the present (and where that relationship would have been lost, or less vivid, if he/she had used a strictly chronological narration), and where it's made very clear that they ARE flashbacks. Also, there are cases where pacing and literary effect make it necessary to start a story after the time when certain influencing events took place; and the readers are more interested in those events if they've already built up a rapport with the character(s) before going back to view the events in terms of the perspective they've gained from the contemporary narration. (Hope that makes sense!)

I use relatively long flashbacks twice in Lifeblood, strictly for the reasons mentioned above (not just to be using them for their own sake!) One reader has told me they supplied information just at the right time that he was becoming curious about it; but of course I don't know how well they work for other readers.

One of my favorite books, Lord of Light by Roger Zelazny is mostly a flashback. There are 8 parts; 1 starting in the present, 2 flashing back & then chronologically working forward through part 7. Part 8 is the new present & ending. It confuses some first time readers, though.

Mostly I don't mind flashbacks unless it's hard to get back and you must go back to before the flashback to reinforce the main theme of the story. It has to be a very good writer to handle this.

I'm with Nina on this. In the hands of a good writer, flashbacks can be very entertaining.

If overused or poorly written, they can sidetrack your train of thought.

I usually have a love or hate relationship with flashbacks in books. I agree that they do halt the main story line and sometimes it slows down the plot of the story. On the other hand, I do like the fact that it does provide us with more background information on the characters.

Ronyell wrote: "I usually have a love or hate relationship with flashbacks in books. I agree that they do halt the main story line and sometimes it slows down the plot of the story. On the other hand, I do like t..."

Ronyell, those are all good points you made. In fact, everyone who posted here made good points about flashbacks. It all depends on how they're used.

Joy H. wrote: "Ronyell wrote: "I usually have a love or hate relationship with flashbacks in books. I agree that they do halt the main story line and sometimes it slows down the plot of the story. On the other h..."

Thanks Joy!