Until I Find You by John Irving

 John Irving writes about unusual subjects, but that must be what I love about his books. Until I Find You is dysfunctional families at their best.

The story is about Jack Owens. It begins in the present day as he is growing up, going to school, dealing with a single parent and then the novel hits a point where Jack is older and remembering what happened in his childhood, but as an adult and from others' view points. It's said at one point that Jack's mom made up her own version of Jack's life and I guess that is what Jack was living when he was growing up. Now that he is an adult he is figuring his life out, from his point of view, not his mom's.

I believe this book directly addresses perspective. Most books touch on this area, how what happens actually depends on who you ask. Such is this book.

It's by Irving, how could you not like it?
 

 Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult

Jodi Picoult's Vanishing Acts is a beautifully written novel from not one but five character perspectives. Picoult's writing draws in the reader immediately and never lets go until the very last page. Vanishing Acts is Delia's story and occasionally flashes back to her childhood based on current events in her life. Delia was kidnapped by her father when she was six years old. She learns about this twenty-six years later when her father is arrested for the kidnapping. Vanishing Acts explores how life might not turn out the way we imagined it; how doing the right thing could turn out to be the wrong thing and how the memory we thought had vanished could return as a threat. Picoult writes about family situations so realistically, you feel like you know the characters. This novel has everything from magic to current events. Vanishing Acts is one of those books that will make you want to read everything ever written by Picoult.