I don't know why the split times plot is so popular these days, when so often justice is not done to at least one of the stories.

I know. Originally I liked the whole split times thing but the more I am reading it the more I am starting to dislike it. Right now I would rather read a book from one time period that really gets a chance to develop. Usually with split times books I always enjoy the storyline from the past more than the storyline from the present.