Novel help: Intermixing past and present

[arrowsmithbt]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, "Saitaina" <saitaina at f...> wrote:
> Since many of us are avid readers and all of us
> have read at least one book in our lives, I
> thought I'd toss this question out:
> 
> If you were to read a book that combined past and
> present (ie: Two characters current lives and
> their pasts), how would you like to see it done?
> Note: Both are important to the story so I can't
> cut either out.
> 
> Alternating chapters between current time (now)
> and the past.  Such as, Chapter One: New York,
> 2004, Chapter Two: Romania, 1756 (examples, not
> actual dates)
> 
> Flashbacks to only the major issues.
> 
> The characters telling others of their own pasts
> without actually seeing it (which leads to very
> long monologues...)
> 
> Any other ideas?

Personally I prefer 'the present' and 'the past' to be
shown in sections (multiple chapters) - it aids the
flow, helps the reader to keep track and to get
involved with the storyline. Too much or too frequent
to-ing and fro-ing can make a tale seem disjointed.
Maybe 5 or 6 such sections at most, preferably fewer.
All down to personal tastes. 

Some writers are very good at the expositional approach,
monologues that explain past actions, thoughts etc. One
of the best being George V. Higgins - he's got a
wonderful sense for speech rhythms too. Highly recommended
if you haven't read his stuff.

Kneasy