The examples I was going to give have already been given, and eloquently, by several other people. So all I can say is: I agree. As I said on twitter, having a reader know what a character doesn't is a legitimate means of building suspense. I don't mind that at all. It's especially effective when the writer is clear and honest about her (his) characters' points of veiw. If I, as a reader, believe in the characters and understand why they don't know what I know, I'm not bothered by that artful dissonance.
But why wouldn't they know what I know? Multiple points of view are often the reason, and that can be an effective tool.
Finally, although novelty and surprise can be engaging, they aren't (I don't think) the primary reason I read. I read for the same reason I write - for story, to be taken on a journey. Sometimes journeys involve going back to familiar places and looking at them in a new way. If that analogy makes sense? Surprising the reader has its place, but it's not the only reason to read - or to write.
Just my two cents!
(This is reminding me of a family story. My little sister came to me one day and said, "M's (our brother's) hiding round the corner, and he's going to jump out and scare me!" In my teenage wisdom, I said, "But how can you be scared if you know he's there?" "He's going to jump out at me!" my little sister said. She knew more about suspense than I did. She would not have been half so scared if she hadn't known he was there!)
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But why wouldn't they know what I know? Multiple points of view are often the reason, and that can be an effective tool.
Finally, although novelty and surprise can be engaging, they aren't (I don't think) the primary reason I read. I read for the same reason I write - for story, to be taken on a journey. Sometimes journeys involve going back to familiar places and looking at them in a new way. If that analogy makes sense? Surprising the reader has its place, but it's not the only reason to read - or to write.
Just my two cents!
(This is reminding me of a family story. My little sister came to me one day and said, "M's (our brother's) hiding round the corner, and he's going to jump out and scare me!" In my teenage wisdom, I said, "But how can you be scared if you know he's there?" "He's going to jump out at me!" my little sister said. She knew more about suspense than I did. She would not have been half so scared if she hadn't known he was there!)