First-personed-out - Page 2

mr ploppy · 04-06-2011, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mentored1

I think there's a little disconnect with 1st/2nd person, because it tries to pull you in and put you in the shoes of the character; what if I can't relate to the character? What if I don't want to think and do the things being narrated? *shrug*

That's a good point for non-specialised fiction. One of my favourite books of recent years was written 1st person present tense, but a lot of the reason for why I like it might be that I can relate to the main character pretty well. The only 2nd person I can remember reading I didn't like it at all, but again how much of that is because the main character was of a type that I distrust in the real world?

dadioflex · 04-07-2011, 06:01 AM

About a third of the exquisite "Veniss Underground" by Jeff Vandermeer is written in second person... and a third in first person and a third... well you get the idea.

I've read tons of novels in first person. Most of the Black Company books by Glen Cook are first person, often alternating different characters.

The tricky bit is when you have a first person narrative that requires background on another character so you get the awkward sections where another character has to "tell their tale". Meh. These things are there to overcome.

horse_girl · 04-07-2011, 11:17 PM

I'm not a fan of 1st person myself, which is why I haven't touched much of the YA books out there that sound so interesting. One book becomes popular and is written a certain way and suddenly all the publishers want more like that because they expect it to sell. Meh. I think this is why I stick to adult SFF and skip the paranormal and most young adult books. I prefer multiple character POVs in third person.

dadioflex · 04-08-2011, 02:05 AM

Oh. Here's funny. When I got my Kindle I downloaded some free books. What did I start reading today? "Heart of Darkness" by Joseph Conrad. Yup, first person.

mentored1 · 04-08-2011, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr ploppy

That's a good point for non-specialised fiction. One of my favourite books of recent years was written 1st person present tense, but a lot of the reason for why I like it might be that I can relate to the main character pretty well. The only 2nd person I can remember reading I didn't like it at all, but again how much of that is because the main character was of a type that I distrust in the real world?

Yep! I think you pretty much summed up what I was trying to say. There has to be a reason for us to connect in 1st/2nd, whereas 3rd feels like watching a spectator sport.

Thanks, ploppy!

Anke Wehner · 04-09-2011, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mentored1

I think there's a little disconnect with 1st/2nd person, because it tries to pull you in and put you in the shoes of the character; what if I can't relate to the character? What if I don't want to think and do the things being narrated? *shrug*

That's what I think about second person, but not first person.

First person puts the main character in front of me, facing me, telling me their story in their own words. That's why it's so important I like them and their voice.

Maybe that's why a generic or bland style is to me more grating in first person than third. In first person it shows me the narrator, who is usually the main character, is generic and bland; in third person it may be explained by the naturally more detached perspective.

kennyc · 04-09-2011, 06:08 PM

One of the most interesting stories I've read in the last few years is The Story of Your Life by Ted Chiang. It is written in second person future tense. Incredible well done IMO.

Available via Google books at: http://books.google.com/books?id=1lg...20life&f=false

As far as first person/third person. I'm not particular as long as it fits the story. First person can limit the author but can be more intimate and is probably easier in some ways for the writer.

BenG · 04-09-2011, 06:27 PM

Italo Calvino's "If on a winter's night a traveler..." is written in the second person.

04-07-2011, 06:01 AM	#17
dadioflex Dyslexic Count Posts: 526 Karma: 5041991 Join Date: Aug 2008 Device: Palm TX, Advent Vega, iPad, iPod Touch, Kindle	About a third of the exquisite "Veniss Underground" by Jeff Vandermeer is written in second person... and a third in first person and a third... well you get the idea. I've read tons of novels in first person. Most of the Black Company books by Glen Cook are first person, often alternating different characters. The tricky bit is when you have a first person narrative that requires background on another character so you get the awkward sections where another character has to "tell their tale". Meh. These things are there to overcome.

04-07-2011, 11:17 PM	#18
horse_girl Enthusiast Posts: 33 Karma: 100001 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Nook, Motorola Droid	I'm not a fan of 1st person myself, which is why I haven't touched much of the YA books out there that sound so interesting. One book becomes popular and is written a certain way and suddenly all the publishers want more like that because they expect it to sell. Meh. I think this is why I stick to adult SFF and skip the paranormal and most young adult books. I prefer multiple character POVs in third person.

04-08-2011, 02:05 AM	#19
dadioflex Dyslexic Count Posts: 526 Karma: 5041991 Join Date: Aug 2008 Device: Palm TX, Advent Vega, iPad, iPod Touch, Kindle	Oh. Here's funny. When I got my Kindle I downloaded some free books. What did I start reading today? "Heart of Darkness" by Joseph Conrad. Yup, first person.

04-09-2011, 06:08 PM	#22
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,901 Karma: 119230421 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	One of the most interesting stories I've read in the last few years is The Story of Your Life by Ted Chiang. It is written in second person future tense. Incredible well done IMO. Available via Google books at: http://books.google.com/books?id=1lg...20life&f=false As far as first person/third person. I'm not particular as long as it fits the story. First person can limit the author but can be more intimate and is probably easier in some ways for the writer.

04-09-2011, 06:27 PM	#23
BenG Home Guard Posts: 4,730 Karma: 86721650 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Alpha Ralpha Boulevard Device: Kindle Oasis 3G, iPhone 6	Italo Calvino's "If on a winter's night a traveler..." is written in the second person.

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