It amazes me sometimes how the simple difference of engaging prose can make or break a story.

I recently finished The Bone People, which was a good book, but ultimately was not nearly as good as it could have been. The prose was the issue. I couldn't relate to it. It osculated from the first, second and third person seemingly at random, making the narrative difficult to follow and the book a chore to read. While I understand the idea and meaning behind what Keri Hulme was doing with the novel, the prose made it really inaccessible to me as a reader. As did, interestingly enough, the present tense.

Now, I have to admit that I am a HUGE proponent of the present tense. The idea that somehow the present tense isn't accessible to readers really bothers me. I think it's a great way of writing... and then I read this book.

Holy crap I take it all back.

I'm reading Purple Hibiscus now and it's AMAZING how much easier it is to read. Equally heavy subject matter, but man, a consistent narrator and tense choice makes all the difference in the world.

The more you know.