Book one, book two - what's the point?

I'm not sure how definitively this can be answered, but I was curious: what is the purpose behind breaking a novel into books, parts, or sections? Beyond chapters, that is. A friend of mine said to show a change in time, but it isn't always that. What do you think? Or is it just a fancy way to break things up?

I think anything but splitting a novel up to show a change in time is probably just for show. In fact, I'm planning on separating my novella into 'books' or 'parts' soon because I'm approaching the point where I plan to switch POVs and write my main character using first person instead of third person.

Basically, splitting your novel into 'books' is merited either when you're taking a completely different approach to the same story or when you're partioning the story into specific time periods.

-Kylan

Well -- what's the point of chapters themselves? I guess it's just another way to segment the work. It helps sort things out. And it gives the reader one or two lovely blank pages to flip through before resuming the story. A sort of intermission, if you will.

Prokaryote

I think it could also be if a big change has occured, and to showcase that change better. Like if something really big has made the character see things in a different way, or even if it's just the adventure that's changed. Like if they have to go one place, and they get there, but then they realize they have to go someplace else after, the author might break it up to show the change better.

At least that waht I think.
-Kaila

Would you want to read an epic fantasy/whatever all in one book? It'd be an over a thousand page novel with everything crammed together in the same text. Most people would be put off by how much they'd have to digest. By breaking it up, both the reader and writer feel like they have a brand new slate to read/write with, instead of always having the events of the previous chapter fresh in their minds.

That'd be like waiting till you wrote five decent-sized, unconnected fiction stories and published them in the same book.

It really depends on the plot though. My story has my chaarcters going from a huge climax at the end of Book 1, to peace and serenity at the begining of book 2. I don't want to have to describe all of the aftermath of the climax, and what specifically happened in between that time because in actuality it really dosen't matter and should just be skipped so the plot can move along faster. Stephen King wrote this huge, eight-novel saga and he didn't plot ahead of time for any of them, so that when he finished one book, he really only had a vauge idea of the next. Not only does it give the reader a break, but also the writers from uncomfortably starting from one extreme to the next.

I mean, Tolkien wrote his entire novel in one sitting but really, that's because there's no real skip in Frodo's journey. He just switches perspective when needed and so it's more linear compared to today's book.

W, I think she means how in some books they have two or more books in one novel, linked together- same story, just broken into books. I've read fantasies like that. Often wondered about the point of it myself, but the time change one seems most common.

It's neater.

I split FREAK in three parts. All parts are completely different from each other, so it's a neat way to say, "BAM! YOU MUST STOP TEMPORARILY!" Because usually, the parts are a complete cliffhangers. It's awesome. ^^

Well, if my story were published as a single novel, it would have large gaps in time and span several thousand pages.

Switch in POV? It works if it's like a change in perspective (did someone already say that?) or if the new book is of the same story, but from a different angle.

It splits the novel up into manageable, digestible chunks so you can read it over several nights without needing bookmarks!

Also for cliffhangers. As Snoink said, they're way awesome. I love making readers gasp, "Oh no!" and they frantically rush onto the next chapter/book.

I guess it could be for show, but I think it could be like chapters in that it segments he work further, to show story progression, and plot development, in some cases (naming a part or division).

One could just as ask what the point of chapters is.

Cliffhangers, and also who wants to read the Harry Potter series as one whole book? It'd use up a whole lot of trees. Same thing with the Twilight books.