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Originally Posted by HarryT
What I dislike is the use of the present tense. It's just (to my mind) the wrong tense to write novels in. I know the arguments in favour of it - that it keeps the story moving along faster, and makes the reader identify more with the protagonist of the story - but the simple fact is that I don't like it. It always has the feel of "childishness" about it to me, rather than serious writing. I can't really explain why.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by orlok
I have to agree. As soon as I see present tense, I contemplate giving up on the book. It's akin to historians talking about past events in the present tense, which drives me to distraction. So much so that I can't concentrate on what they are saying, focusing instead on their irritating use of the present.
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I thought I was one of the very few to have that problem. The beginning of The Lincoln Lawyer had a hint of the present tense and I decided to abandon the book ASAP. All of the books I used to read as a child used the past tense. It's something ingrained in most readers. Although I did make an exception for two YA books that WERE written in the present tense; Allie Condie's books Matched and Crossed. I liked the first book, even gave it 4/5. A big exception, that was.