But the alternative -- omniscience -- can be a still harder approach. Old-fashioned omniscient narration is out of style, though it did well enough for writers from Homer to Dickens; what one gets now is more often some variety of limited omniscience, the "constitutional monarchy" of narrative government. The author may potentially know all, but tethers their power to a particular character or series of characters, not disclosing too much before the characters themselves are aware of it -- but enjoying the possibilities of controlled surprise, foreshadowing, or neat symmetries. Plot is much easier in this mode, as one can simply "make it so" -- and the camera, if you will, of the narrative's perspective is capable of zooming in and panning out as needed. Pacing, too, is more manageable -- one does not have to do every event "in voice," and time can speed up or slow down as needed.
Either way, one has to bear in mind the most experienced readers know all the tricks already. So you have to have just one more trick up your sleeve.
It's worth noting, too, that the choice of narrative can be closely linked to genre. Horror fiction, mysteries, and a good deal of fantasy and YA fiction are at home with the first person, the identification with which is so vital to their development. Modern literary fiction tends toward limited omniscience, with a healthy dose of dialogue intermixed with some psychological interiorities. High Fantasy, a là Tolkien, is one of the few areas where good old-fashioned omniscience is expected and reveled in -- after all, if one has created a universe, perhaps one has a right to speak and act somewhat as its god.
So who is your favorite first-person narrator? Are you excited or frustrated to open a new book and find that it's told in the first person? And, as a writer, which would you choose?
I actually love the first person narrator in Why I live at the P.O. My favorite line was when Uncle Rondo shoves past her and says “Sister … get out of my way, I’m poisoned.” That’s just pure gold to me. The reason I love this first person narrator is because she serves as a classic case of “reader beware.” The perils of the first person are such that your perspective is being told through the exclusive world of that narrator. Essentially you are in the narrator’s blind spot and you have to be aware of that to sift through and determine their biases. Eudora Welty was illustrating how a story told from the first person can be inherent with a skewed view point and if the reader isn’t paying attention, could fall into that trap.
ReplyDeleteI do feel that the first person can be more intimate and bring the reader closer to the main character, but it better be a good character. I find that if the narrator doesn’t pique my interest within at the least the first chapter, I’ll close the book for good. Personally, I tend to lean toward a limited omniscience for my writing; I just find that it’s more forgiving and flexible. But the voice of a narrator is heavily weighed by the type of story the author is looking to tell. In the end I feel “if the shoe fits,” write it.
Forgot to add my name :)
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite first-person narrators is Anonymous, whom is the write of books such as "Letting Ana Go" and "Lucy in the Sky". I find that the writing of these books gives me such vivd feeling and the ability to actually feel the emotions of the character telling the story, that I become involved. As for most people, when they read, they find themselves inside of the book, but I find that when a story is told first-person you get a sense of originality because it seems as though you are reading the persons every thought and hopefully getting to feel their emotions as well as go through life with them. I am open to almost every kind of story, I have read many decent ones that are told in second and third person, all for different reasons aspiring me to read more, but I do like when I pick up a book and find that it is in first-person because I enjoy seeing things in other perspectives and being directly connected to the character instead of looking on. When writing myself, I usually write in third-person because it makes my writing flow better to make up something about someone else, compared to always using "I" and then including details about myself out of habit. -- Samantha Boehm
ReplyDeleteMegan Cahill-Assenza
ReplyDeleteI have never been particular if I open a new book and find it is told in person. What’s most important to me is the story and how well the author tells it. As a writer, I do not have a preference to write in first-person or third-person. It would depend on what I feel inspired to write. I also cannot say one is one is harder than the other. I know the way which one writes a story gives a direct point of view or a limited point of view. When the point of view is limited, it can allow for reader to imagine, self-reflect or self-examine, or allow them to think or question. When the point of view is first-person, I think the reader can experience same thing with a limited point of view, but it may be different. For example, the novel, The Round House, is told in a retrospective narration of Joe as an adult. His voice though is when he was a thirteen year old boy. Readers do not know for sure what Geraldine’s thoughts and perspectives are, because the story is not told by her. The story does allow readers to self-reflect, think, and question too through first-person narration. It gives the story a bit of a twist, when it is told by a thirteen year old boy, when the theme of the book is about women issues.
If I had to pick my favorite first-person narrator, I think I would pick Scout, from To Kill a Mocking Bird. There is something captivating and inviting to read a narration from a child’s point of view, though the narrator is retrospective. As readers, we are welcome to be a part of a character’s life and journey to who they are by the end of the story as an adult. I believe it says a lot about the person as a character in the story. The narration of To Kill a Mocking Bird, is connectable and innocent.
In addition, after reading "Why I live at the P.O.", the narration of Sister, would be my favorite for a short story. I enjoyed the humor, the author's language, and how the readers got to know the characters so well, from one person's perspective. If the story was told through the narration from Stella-Rondo, or Momma, for example, then I think the characters would make themselves look good and hide the authenticity and honesty that Sister portrays and gives. This story will stay with me when thinking about first-person narration.
Off the top of my head, I can't think of too many stories I've read with first person narrators, but I love the narrator in the Divergent series. In addition to being first person, Divergent is also told in the present tense, so you really get a sense of all of the main character's thoughts in that exact moment in time. It allows the reader to assume more, because you know just as much about what's happening as the character does.
ReplyDeleteI feel like with a first person narrator, you get in their head a lot more, and it's easier to understand the character and what's going on in their life. But it's also easy to be turned away by a book told in first person if the story or the character isn't interesting enough.
When writing I prefer third person, though I'm not against first person. It just seems a lot more natural for me to describe events and environments through the third person, because with first person, it feels weird for a character to be so deeply observing what's going on around them.
Grace Baldwin
ReplyDeleteGenerally I prefer to read in first-person. Although I am not bias in one way or another, I feel as though first-person connects the reader closer to the narrator. It opens up the option to put the reader in a pick-and-choose position if they can picture themselves as the "I." And if not, then it still leaves room to make it more personal and honestly less formal. I've never minded a story or tale that was about John Doe and his adventures, but my favorites always seem to be the ones that are in first person since it's almost like a friend is telling you what happened to them. In the majority of my own personal writings, I write in first-person, however I do not lean one way or another. It just depends on how close I want my readers to be to my characters.
I like the first-person narrator in "Why I Live at the P.O." for the same reasons that I listed above. I feel closer to the narrator. I can choose if I want to put myself in their shoes and feel what they're feeling, or if I want to read it as a friend telling it to me and I can be the attachment in the sense of I can feel for them, rather than feel for myself.
My favorite book written in first person, is perhaps, Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut. Mother Night is a close second, (Although my favorite by him is Sirens of Titan). The first person perspective flows very well with Vonnegut's writing style, as his sarcastic quips come from the mind of the main character Jonah, rather than the omniscient Vonnegut himself. The characters are strange, yet very likeable. And learning about the fictional Bokonon religion as Jonah learns about it also.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the first person is much harder to write in, just a personal opinion because i have trouble developing other characters besides the main one. Nearly all to be learned about other characters and their backstories must come through dialogue, (In most cases, not all). But finding a good first person story is always different and fun. I find that nearly all of the books that i read are through some sort of third person perspective. Vonnegut has several fantastic books that are written in third person, and many fantastic ones written in the first person.
Jameson Boyd
ReplyDeleteThe best example of a first person narration in a novel is The Catcher in the Rye. The reader is invited to read as the narrator and experiences the bulk of the novel through him and not really invited to analyze him as much as sympathize with him. Those that don't the book, felt it was boring, and if you couldn't identify with Halder, than they were left with a boring plot.
Why I live at the P.O. is a different version of first person narrative. It is so short and the narration is unreliable the reader is forced to look behind the words of the narrator and analyze the character. As writer's we should be aware that short fiction isn't a great vehicle for the reader to sympathize with a first person narrative and that they may be very subjective with our characters.
When I was younger, I would read these history books or "diary's" of a famous person. I loved them. I got 5 or 6 of them.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't mind if a book I opened was written in first person as long as the writing is good.
I myself switch between with each story I write. I like to write different short versions in different narrations and see which sounds the best. I don't favor one over the other.
When I think about first person narrators, Hunter Thompson is who typically comes to mind. The first book I read of his was Hells Angels: A Strange and Terrible Saga. I was completely enthralled with his first-hand account of a year spent living among the Oakland motorcycle gang. Thompson's style would go on to change in many ways, but he never lost his first-person voice.
ReplyDeleteI have no aversion to reading first person stories, and I do enjoy writing this way as well.
William Diodati