Books and the readers who enjoy them come in different shapes and types.
As far as books are concerned, the most basic breakdown of a book’s content is the narrative it employs to tell its tale—1st Person or 3rd Person. 1st Person, of course, is the mode where a story is narrated by one character at a time, speaking for and about themselves. It gives no glimpse into other characters’ inner thoughts and usually features the pronoun “I” throughout. The 3rd Person point of view narrative relates all action using pronouns such as “he” or “she.” With this latter narrator style, multiple viewpoints can be accommodated into the tale.
When it comes to readers, some people tend to like one narrative form over the other. I’m a perfect example of it. I enjoy 3rd Person POV mostly. I find 1st Person to be a bit too arrogant, presumptuous and limiting. Kind of like me. Ha!
There have been several 1st Person books though that I have absolutely loved. Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. The Name of the Wind and The Wise Man’s Fear by Patrick Rothfuss. Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb. And The City & the City by China Mieville.
In contrast, I’ve loved 3rd Person novels like A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin. The Elfstones of Shannara by Terry Brooks. Banewreaker and Godslayer by Jacqueline Carey. And so many dozens of others I won’t list them here. They far exceed the 1st Person POV novels, I can tell you that.
But everyone is different. Including writers. Author Terry Brooks, who has written exclusively in the 3rd Person POV area for almost 40 years, has recently come up with a whole new story that might be better served if written in 1st Person. It’s thrown him for a loop, actually. He wrote the first five or six chapters in 3rd Person, had his epiphany, and gave his editor an early look at what he’s written—something he never does—to get her input if the story might work better if told from 1st Person.
Back on point though, I’m always curious about these things and how you all read. What you like to read. And why.
So here is a poll. A Cage Match, if you will. Vote on what is applicable to you. Then list your favorite books in 1st Person and/or in 3rd Person!
Happy reading and voting!
Jim Butcher’s blog says that 1st person is easier, at least until you get the hang of it. It seems like some authors are naturally good at one or the other. This is reason number 70 I’m so impressed with China Mieville, the guy has won multiple awards from each perspective. Having said that I’ll segue into my fav’s, though admittedly I don’t have a lot I love from the 1st person, usually too centered on a single character and not an overall story.
1st person – The City and the City, by China Mieville, he avoids the arrogant and presumptuous trap, while blowing your mind like he always does.
3rd person – The Song of Ice and Fire books the Bas-Lag Novels, and for the most part the Dark Tower series, though I think Stephen King’s best material is mostly in the rear-view mirror at this point. I’m still looking for a third author working today who is on par with Martin and Mieville.
The worst for me is when a 3rd person novel strays into omniscient narrarator ‘little did he know’ terriotory. Subtlety is too important in a genre where readers expect to be treated like adults.
When I find myself in the middle of a “everything I’m reading is boring me to tears and I can’t find anything I like” kind of slump… I’ve discovered that it’s almost always a first-person narrative that eventually snaps me out of my reading funk. So I’ve learned to seek them out when that happens.
So while I’m sure the majority of stuff I read is still 3rd person (because let’s face: that’s what authors write the most of), I truly have no preference. Good writing is good. I wish the genre stuff being written was a little more balanced on that front, actually.
I’ve was a little surprised when I found out that a lot of people will put down a book if it’s written First-Person. I had no idea there was any kind of reader disconnect there until relatively recently. I just always assumed it was the authors who disliked writing in First-Person.
“I’ve was a little surprised when I found out that a lot of people will put down a book if it’s written First-Person. I had no idea there was any kind of reader disconnect there until relatively recently.”
For some reason, I disconnect with First Person far faster if it’s not done well. In 3rd Person, I’ll give it a bit more leeway and I think it just boils down to the style of it that I prefer. A good observation, Doug. I forgot to add something to my article, which I have to go put back in, that was actually the impetus for the article. Me and chemo brain, joy.
My current project is told in first person because it is a personal account of the protagonist’s adventure. I like the first person view in this story because of how the reader only sees things through the eyes of a Human as he tells us about how he found himself in a strange place surrounded by strange beings who constantly challenged his notions about the universe.
My next project in the series is planned to be told in third person as the story moves between the perspectives of the four main characters, a Human, a Dragon who’s personality has been greatly modified by his relationship with the Human, a Dragon who is a strict traditionalist, and an alien who hates the other three, but who has been assigned the duty of going on the adventure by the leaders of her society. This story will be a challenge because it will include explorations of the inner thoughts and beliefs of the non-Humans.
As far as I am concerned, first person or third person, it does not matter. What is important to me is the story.
Typos! Don’t you hate it when that happens? Here I am, trying to show I am suave and sophisticated, and literate, and then I type who’s instead of whose. Exposed as the extraordinary example of Human imperfection that I am, I must hide my face in shame.
For me the story matters, and I usually connect with a story better through 3rd person, and a character better through 1st person. There are some exceptions for sure. Another thing that was interesting about Butcher’s blog (which by the way is a good primer on how to write your first novel), was that the reason it’s easier for a writer to write in the first person because there are less variables to screw up. Back to Doug’s comment, I find that 1st person keeps things moving too. Suspense and mystery are great for this perspective.
Shawn is your book the Dark Thorn a first or third person? Also, I read that this is your second attempt, was your first attempt a first or third person novel?
i really dont care. if it fits the intention of the author, both styles are equally readable.
what i really find hard to read are books written in “present tense”. but that is probably only because there are so few out there.
Jon, The Dark Thorn is in third person, as was my first effort. For the book I’m planning now, I even considered first person but realized I love writing very different characters and I can’t escape that need. I guess I don’t want to be trapped in one narrative all of the time. That seems boring to me. — shrugs –
I like both and think it really depends on the author. Jacqueline Carey and George RR Martin are two of my favorite authors and JC writes in first where GRRM writes in third. I think with a third person narrative, some introspection can be lost. However, a first person limits the amount of information readers get about any character other than the main one. So, yeah, it all comes down to author and talent for me. I’ll read both if the story is well told.
I’m always conflicted with this and I will use The Name of the Wind as an example. Is it Patrick Rothfuss telling the story in a bit-to-perfect way. Or is it his character Kvothe just embellishing his life’s story? I find first person can make it difficult to separate author habits (both good and bad) from character traits.
To confound the issue for me is the fact that I play a lot of video games and the same debate has gone on there as well. It draws a lot of parallels. First person video games have a few challenges they have to overcome. For example: how do you show the characters hands, or feet, or any number of things that just don’t correlate to a first person perspective. So a lot of first person games are more about action and movement and less about everything else.
Now compare this to video games that are set in an isometric perspective, also called third person view. Often these games have a lot more focus on how a character looks on the screen and we find this perspective in a lot of RPG games.
And each type of game has its own set of fans!
I have trouble with POV issues. While a character is waiting to hear anothers reply about extending an emplyment contract, I have written:
Doctor Green held his breath. Please, don’t say you’re leaving, or you want an unreasonable iincrease in compensation.
In the original the last sentence is in italics to indicate the doctor’s thought process. I’m told there is an improper point of view here. What is it? How would you write the 2 sentences?
Thanks
Frank