Am I Weird for disliking first person books?

darearkin · 05-10-2012, 04:39 AM

Okay, so first off I'm gonna apologize in advance if this is in the totally wrong place, is inappropriately random, or anything of that ilk. (I've a talent for screwing up forum postings.)

But am I the only one who picks up an interesting looking novel, starts to scan the first few pages, sees that it's all in first person, and puts it right back down? I mean, I know I used to like it, but more and more I'm finding that I prefer to be watching the story, not being 'told' it by someone...

So do other people think this way, or am I just a freakin' oddball?

Dr. Drib · 05-10-2012, 06:16 AM

No, your post is not inappropriate at all for this forum.

I do suggest, however, if you have a propensity for "screwing up forum postings," that you (re)read our Posting Guidelines in order to minimize any possible screw-ups and to maximize your enjoyment here at MobileRead.

HAVE FUN!

Don
(Moderator)

Apache · 05-10-2012, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darearkin

am I just a freakin' oddball?

Yes.

I could not resist.

I do like and even prefer 1st person.
Apache

kennyc · 05-10-2012, 07:50 AM

I'm with Apache here. I can understand how some readers might not like it. Different strokes for different folks, eh? It's like 2nd person is almost never used, but one of my favorite stories is in 2nd person - "The Story of Your Life" by Ted Chiang

http://marianaeggers.com/files/tiechang.pdf

and not only that it's in future tense. It's amazing.

fjtorres · 05-10-2012, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darearkin

...am I just a freakin' oddball?

Yes.
Nothing wrong with it, though.
Plenty of us oddballs out here; you just happen to be an oddball in a uniquely odd way.

Now, if you were having issues with second-person narratives you might find some sympathy.

orlok · 05-10-2012, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apache

Yes.

I could not resist.

I do like and even prefer 1st person.
Apache

What I was going to say, but I did resist

.

DiapDealer · 05-10-2012, 09:42 AM

Actually, I'd say your preference is in keeping with the majority of people (how slim a majority I wouldn't say) who read mostly fiction for entertainment. I prefer first person narratives myself—and judging by my various online experiences... I've always considered myself the oddball in that regard.

I know "third-person omniscient/limited" certainly seems to make up the vast majority of fiction being written, anyway.

applesauce · 05-10-2012, 10:17 AM

I like first person, a major reason I hate YA stuff being a forty something woman. Just creepy. I do tho have to say The book I am reading at the moment is nuts it has changed first person character more than a dozen times and just leaves you hanging. It is like it was written by a dozen different people. It is a dime store read, But still it is very odd considering there is I think 80 books in the deathland series. It is so disjointed.

first person rocks total immersion glug glug glug

applesauce

pidgeon92 · 05-10-2012, 10:30 AM

I never pay any attention to which person novels are written in.

Ntsimp · 05-10-2012, 10:45 AM

I don't think the point of view is an issue one way or the other for me. I just finished reading Rite of Passage by Alexei Panshin. It was written in first person, from the point of view of a 14-year-old girl. Although I'm male and much older than that, I really enjoyed the book.
Then again, I hated The Catcher in the Rye. So it's really just a matter of taste.

Asawi · 05-10-2012, 11:03 AM

I'm not crazy about first person books. I think many times they are too limiting in not being able to show different perspectives enough. Some books go between first and third person and I like that. Or first person, told from different persons, as long as it's reasonably clear who's telling (it's OK to demand a little bit of an effort from the reader!).

RainingLemur · 05-10-2012, 11:04 AM

There are some books I can't get into when they're written in the first person. I like reading them and "watching" the events of the book play out in my head with me as the main character. Sometimes, I can't get into a book where the first-person person is a female (I don't have the required equipment, and I'm no RuPaul).

applesauce · 05-10-2012, 11:14 AM

I have no problem stepping into a guys shoes but teens and kids feels pedo like. I actually prefer any romance from the male point of view less likely for sniveling and people dont have to throw me strange looks for constantly mumbling get a can of harden up princess.

applesauce

fjtorres · 05-10-2012, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asawi

I'm not crazy about first person books. I think many times they are too limiting in not being able to show different perspectives enough.

Uh, usually *that* is one of the main reasons good writers *choose* first person narratives; it is an effective way to steer the reader through the story.

Some stories work best by keeping the reader above the fray (as it were) with a godlike third-person omniscient view, others work best by imposing a bias on the reader's experience. So it's not a mattter of one style being better than another, but whether it is the most appropriate one for the story being told.

ProfCrash · 05-10-2012, 02:11 PM

It depends on the book. I liked the first person perspective for the Dresden Series for a while but now I am bored with it. Mainly, I want to get a better feel for what is happening with the other characters and how they are responding and the first person perspective does not really allow me to do that.

05-10-2012, 04:39 AM	#1
darearkin Member Posts: 11 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2012 Device: Kindle	Am I Weird for disliking first person books? Okay, so first off I'm gonna apologize in advance if this is in the totally wrong place, is inappropriately random, or anything of that ilk. (I've a talent for screwing up forum postings.) But am I the only one who picks up an interesting looking novel, starts to scan the first few pages, sees that it's all in first person, and puts it right back down? I mean, I know I used to like it, but more and more I'm finding that I prefer to be watching the story, not being 'told' it by someone... So do other people think this way, or am I just a freakin' oddball?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Looking for Good Books Told in First-Person POV	miyabyaofb	Reading Recommendations	28	06-16-2017 06:09 AM
Organizing books by Reader? (Person, not e-reader)	Catalytic	Calibre	7	12-19-2010 04:18 PM
Reading Recommendation-Weird, Stange Books	ctol	Reading Recommendations	40	10-05-2010 07:39 PM
Weird two tier pricing for some Kindle books?	bfollowell	Amazon Kindle	17	09-29-2010 05:51 PM
Weird problem with metadata in converted books?	jjje555	Calibre	3	12-28-2009 05:55 PM

05-10-2012, 06:16 AM	#2
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,331 Karma: 59447733 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: KINDLE: Oasis 3, Scribe (1st), Matcha; KOBO: Libra 2, Libra Colour	No, your post is not inappropriate at all for this forum. I do suggest, however, if you have a propensity for "screwing up forum postings," that you (re)read our Posting Guidelines in order to minimize any possible screw-ups and to maximize your enjoyment here at MobileRead. HAVE FUN! Don (Moderator)

05-10-2012, 07:50 AM	#4
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,891 Karma: 119230421 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	I'm with Apache here. I can understand how some readers might not like it. Different strokes for different folks, eh? It's like 2nd person is almost never used, but one of my favorite stories is in 2nd person - "The Story of Your Life" by Ted Chiang http://marianaeggers.com/files/tiechang.pdf and not only that it's in future tense. It's amazing.

05-10-2012, 09:42 AM	#7
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 28,356 Karma: 203720150 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	Actually, I'd say your preference is in keeping with the majority of people (how slim a majority I wouldn't say) who read mostly fiction for entertainment. I prefer first person narratives myself—and judging by my various online experiences... I've always considered myself the oddball in that regard. I know "third-person omniscient/limited" certainly seems to make up the vast majority of fiction being written, anyway.

05-10-2012, 10:17 AM	#8
applesauce Addict Posts: 387 Karma: 3553492 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Perth Western Australia Device: kindle oasis	I like first person, a major reason I hate YA stuff being a forty something woman. Just creepy. I do tho have to say The book I am reading at the moment is nuts it has changed first person character more than a dozen times and just leaves you hanging. It is like it was written by a dozen different people. It is a dime store read, But still it is very odd considering there is I think 80 books in the deathland series. It is so disjointed. first person rocks total immersion glug glug glug applesauce

05-10-2012, 10:30 AM	#9
pidgeon92 Wizard Posts: 3,144 Karma: 8426142 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Device: Kindle PW2, Kindle Voyage, Kindle DXG, Boox M90, Kobo Aura HD	I never pay any attention to which person novels are written in.

05-10-2012, 10:45 AM	#10
Ntsimp Groupie Posts: 150 Karma: 1215642 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Utah Device: iriver Story HD, Android	I don't think the point of view is an issue one way or the other for me. I just finished reading Rite of Passage by Alexei Panshin. It was written in first person, from the point of view of a 14-year-old girl. Although I'm male and much older than that, I really enjoyed the book. Then again, I hated The Catcher in the Rye. So it's really just a matter of taste.

05-10-2012, 11:03 AM	#11
Asawi Gadgetoholic Posts: 1,467 Karma: 3865860 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Sweden Device: Kobo Libra2, Tolino Vision 6	I'm not crazy about first person books. I think many times they are too limiting in not being able to show different perspectives enough. Some books go between first and third person and I like that. Or first person, told from different persons, as long as it's reasonably clear who's telling (it's OK to demand a little bit of an effort from the reader!).

05-10-2012, 11:04 AM	#12
RainingLemur Spork Connoisseur Posts: 2,355 Karma: 16780603 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Nook Color	There are some books I can't get into when they're written in the first person. I like reading them and "watching" the events of the book play out in my head with me as the main character. Sometimes, I can't get into a book where the first-person person is a female (I don't have the required equipment, and I'm no RuPaul).

05-10-2012, 11:14 AM	#13
applesauce Addict Posts: 387 Karma: 3553492 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Perth Western Australia Device: kindle oasis	I have no problem stepping into a guys shoes but teens and kids feels pedo like. I actually prefer any romance from the male point of view less likely for sniveling and people dont have to throw me strange looks for constantly mumbling get a can of harden up princess. applesauce

05-10-2012, 02:11 PM	#15
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	It depends on the book. I liked the first person perspective for the Dresden Series for a while but now I am bored with it. Mainly, I want to get a better feel for what is happening with the other characters and how they are responding and the first person perspective does not really allow me to do that.

Advert

Advert