What books have you read that were not formatted in the traditional chapter style? How was it done? Do you recommend doing it? What books have you written that you want to format differently? Are there rules for this?

I know about books and parts. I've read books where there were no chapters, just parts. In Donna Jo Napoli's Zel, the 'books' were like really long chapters. Within them they were in sections told from three different veiw points. Nothing was numbered. So it would be like,
"creative descriptive name"
MMC name
MFC name
SFC name

Sometimes there would be more than three parts to a 'chapter'. The order changed around according to the narrative. It was really cool.

I frequently see books where each chapter switches view point. 'Ever' by Gail somebody Levine does this in a similar style to 'Zel.'

Scott O'Dell's "The King's Fifth" was done in a similar style to how I want to do Lightning Ranger. each "part" began with a journal entry by the main character; the story was told entirely from his point of view. The chapters were about the adventure he was telling you, he was writing it all down in prison. The journal entries were like prologues, keeping you informed on current happenings; the process of his trial.

Now we get to the really weird part. You know, how in some books, the header at the top is sometimes the name of the chapter? Sometimes its the book title, sometimes it's the author title, sometimes there's nothing there, but sometimes it's the chapter title. this particular book, (can't remember what it was) I think was either in parts or had no specific divisions, but every header was different. Like every page had it's own chapter name. Is that weird or what? I can't remember what book it was, Dickens or somebody like that.

Anyone else encounter odd ways of formatting?

Hmm... Can't say I've encountered any weird ways of formatting except for some books I've read that was divided into two parts, or volumes, but where both in the same book. But I guess that's normal. Wait, now that I think about it, LotR is like that. Never-mind.

Some of what you've encountered is really strange indeed. It would be fun to write something with 'page chapters' like that last one, but I wouldn't want to do anything too extravagant in fear of it messing with the flow of the book. Where any of those that you read hard to follow?

I might like to read an old book like that sometime, but I don't think I'll be able to find any here.

I've read some books with odd formats.

One was written before our modern form of paragraphs came into being, and so it could get confusing trying to figure out who was the 'he' or 'she' and who was talking, etc.

Dracula and The Woman in White were both written in the style of journal entries and other assorted writings from the characters involved.

Several books had numbered little mini-chapters in each chapter.

Then there was a book that was written from one point of view for the first half and another point of view for the second half.

@Jaynin: I've read Zel and Ever and liked them. (I've read a few of Levine's works.) :3 The styles are interesting.

I tried to read "Phantom of the Opera" and couldn't do it. I couldn't stand the characters and author narrating the story. It always threw me way off. I was sad since some of my friends raved about the book.

I couldn't get past chapter one in "Sense and Sensibility" by Jane Austen. Her style is something to be acquired as well. I am currently reading "Pride and Prejudice" and find it readable and enjoyable. ^^

Aside from the sorts of formatting already mentioned, I've read several (contemporary) novels written entirely in the form of emails back and forth. So there were no chapter divisions, no true breaks at all, just messages flying back and forth.

So, from a writing perspective, find what suits your novel and work with it. I think with an alternate format, you may find it more work to make it readable...but well worth the effort.

Calenmirel, I love Jane Austen! Pride and Prejudice is my favorite, but the others are enjoyable as well. She does have a distinct style, influenced by the era in which she wrote, but the books are well worth the read. There are some excellent film adaptations too. Have you seen the BBC mini-series version of Pride and Prejudice?