Can you recommend any best nonlinear stories in literature?

One of the great nonlinear short stories is 'An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge' by Ambrose Bierce. It plays with time in a very interesting way, making the reader think the main character escapes only to reveal it's a hallucination in his final moments.

For beginners, 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night - Time' by Mark Haddon is a great choice. It has a simple - to - follow nonlinear structure that helps readers get used to the concept. Another good one is 'The Five People You Meet in Heaven' by Mitch Albom. It jumps between different parts of the main character's life and afterlife in an accessible way. 'The Kite Runner' by Khaled Hosseini also has some nonlinear elements that are easy to understand for new readers.

'Life of Pi' by Yann Martel also has a nonlinear element. Pi tells two versions of his story - one with animals on the lifeboat and one more brutal version. The way the story unfolds non - linearly keeps the reader guessing and engaged. It's a relatively accessible book with beautiful descriptions of nature and an exploration of faith and survival that is both thought - provoking and easy to understand for new readers.

One of the best books with a nonlinear story is 'Slaughterhouse - Five' by Kurt Vonnegut. It jumps around in time, from Billy Pilgrim's experiences in World War II to his later life and even his abductions by aliens. The non - linear structure helps to convey the chaos and absurdity of war and life in general.

One of the best nonlinear stories is 'Pulp Fiction'. It jumps around in time, which keeps the audience on their toes. The different storylines, like Vincent and Jules' adventure, and Butch's boxing story, all come together in unexpected ways.

Well, one characteristic is the manipulation of time. They often jump back and forth in time, like in 'An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge'. This keeps the reader on their toes.

Another is 'The Price of Salt' which later became 'Carol'. It's a story about Therese, a young woman, and Carol, an older married woman. Their relationship develops in a time when such relationships were not easily accepted. It's a tale of love, freedom, and the search for identity.

Kurt Vonnegut's 'Slaughterhouse - Five' also contains nonlinear elements. The main character, Billy Pilgrim, becomes 'unstuck in time' and experiences different moments of his life out of order. This includes his time as a prisoner of war during World War II, his normal life back home, and his abduction by aliens. The nonlinear structure helps to emphasize the chaos and absurdity of war and life in general.

Some excellent nonlinear novels include 'Infinite Jest' by David Foster Wallace. It has a complex structure with numerous footnotes and interwoven plotlines that explore themes like addiction, entertainment, and the human condition. 'Mrs. Dalloway' by Virginia Woolf is also a notable nonlinear work. It follows a day in the life of Clarissa Dalloway through her memories and the lives of those around her. And then there's 'Gravity's Rainbow' by Thomas Pynchon. It's a dense and nonlinear exploration of post - World War II society and technology.

Wilkie Collins' 'The Moonstone' is a well - known classic murder story. It involves a precious diamond, a cursed jewel, and a series of mysterious events and murders. The story is told from multiple perspectives, which adds to its complexity and allure.