Books I Loathed discussion

I am not fond in general of novels written in first-person narrative, but I am particularly averse to novels written in first-person, present tense. Recently I have become more and more frustrated as I peruse the bookshelves of Barnes & Noble searching for a new series in which to immerse myself, only to find that every hit series seems to be written awkwardly in first-person, present tense.

The Hunger Games, Divergent, and Something Borrowed are just a few that I've recently wanted to get into because I've heard good things about them. But then I open to the first page, and BAM, there it is: "When I wake up, the other side of the bed is cold." Or, "...I sit on a stool and my mother stands behind me with the scissors, trimming." Dreadful.

For whatever reason, I am strongly opposed to this style of writing. I guess I find it harder to relate to because: I'm sitting in a warm chair reading this book, not in a cold bed, nor standing in front of my mother having my hair cut. Maybe it's easier for writers to write about things happening right now, but it's difficult for me as a reader to relate to a story told in this way.

Does anyone else find the apparent trend of first-person present tense annoying?

I actually prefer first person present tense. It makes it so that I feel more connected to the protagonist and I feel more immersed in the story. It makes me more sympathetic to the characters if I am inside their heads.

If poorly done, I find the style not only off putting but a way to distance the reader from the character(s) in the story. It makes the story colder. There are only a few books I've read in which the style is successfully used, but I much rather have the first or third person be in past tense format.

On occasion, I really like being able to get "hear" other characters' thoughts on the action too and FPPT does not allow for that sort of thing unless you've got an author who can make his characters' voices and personalities distinct and individual. Not all authors are able to do that, though.

Also, I already live in the present tense, I don't want to have to do that when I'm reading too.

I don't mind it if it's done well. I sort of like seeing through the person's eyes- literally everything tells you about the character because it is what THEY see, not what the author sees.

I have to admit that I don't pay too much attention to the tense. Or maybe all the books I've read have been written in the past tense. But I just found out that I don't like too much about the first-person narrative.

Also I'm not sure if I even want to "feel more connected to the protagonist", because one of them was Albert Speer... But there are some books that "should" be written in first person, of course. Hmm, I wonder if that is the YA "style" I keep seeing mentioned? I don't read (YA) dystopia, it doesn't interest me one bit.

I learned at a Cape Fear Crime Festival session that in the mystery genre, it is usual for the book to be written in the first person, past tense, therefore it is what I am used to when reading a mystery, but for the most part, I prefer the third person.

Anything written in the present tense annoys me, as it seems as if the author were trying to write a television show. Generally awkward and off-putting. I can relate to someone telling me what they DID, but not reciting what they are doing right now, if that makes sense. It is too much like getting those Tweets from your friend that say, "Eating a bagel. Driving to work. Parking the car. Pushed button on the elevator and just have to tell you about it. I am regretting the bagel." I mean PLEASE! You are writing a book, author, not a TV show or a Twitter feed.

I usually don't notice the tense much but I like first person more than third. I feel more connected to the character and you don't have to deal with so many hes and shes.

This is the sort of thing that bothers me, too. I love epistolary novels, and and other formats where there is a clear purpose for first person narration--diary novels come to mind. But outside those, I generally agree. I prefer the third person, and the less omniscient, the better.

However, one of my favorite novels ever is Jane Eyre, and that is definitely first person. So, I think it's one of those things where it has to be done with a skilled hand.

I'm with you, Alisha. I've tried to read books in present tense, but I can't get past a couple of page. I usually read the first chapter on Amazon before I buy a book now because so many are in present tense.

I was like you before. I felt not only present tense, but 1st person pov in general be awkward, shallow, and offending my sensibilities in general.
Then I realised that actually judging a whole book by pov is more shallow and kind of stupid, and after discovering a couple of favourite books in 1st person pov, I realised that it only feels awkward and unnatural when you're not used to it and are prejudiced against it.
Some stories have to told in 1st person present tense, and I just wish it wasn't associated with YA and dystopia.
Also, recommend this article
https://www.theguardian.com/books/201...

I don't think it's shallow or stupid to prefer one type of writing over another. I've tried to read many present tense books because they are so popular, but I find myself very distracted by the tense.

While I realize not liking present tense is in the minority these days, I don't think it makes me shallow to prefer one type of writing over another.

I know readers who prefer third person, those who prefer first person, those who don't care. Same with genre, some hate romance, some love it, some hate suspense, some love it, and so on.

I'm one that doesn't care if it's first person or third. I read most genres but suspense and mystery are my favorites.

However, I don't care for present tense. It throws me off when I try to read it, and I've tried many of the very popular books and many of the ones that aren't so popular. I've tried reading some of my favorite authors who have books in present tense, and I still don't like it.

I've edited manuscripts in present tense, and I've critiqued friend's manuscripts in present tense. They aren't wrong for writing in it just like I'm not wrong for preferring past tense for the novels I read. It's a matter of preference just like genre and first or third person. Nothing more.

Marcy wrote: "I don't think it's shallow or stupid to prefer one type of writing over another. I've tried to read many present tense books because they are so popular, but I find myself very distracted by the te..."

Hi, sorry. I didn't mean to imply that someone else is, I only meant to say that once I thought it about myself. People feel/think things for various reasons. In my case, I had a period when I went on and on how I dislike one style of pov, and then when I actually found books that I liked in this exact style, I realised that I personally was only being shallow and stupid with the regards to the issue, and didn't actually have a reason to dislike it, other than I was simply not used to it.
It doesn't mean I think that other people who still dislike same thing I did are shallow and stupid. They can have their own reasons/preferences.

Sorry I took it wrong. I may still find a book I like in present tense, but so far I haven’t.

I agree with Alish. It is a passing trend in pop lit
It’s the fad.
And what I believe is the cause is the advent of smartphones and being every where at any given time. There is narcissism and then there is 1st Person Present tense Narcissism.

Narcissism just sounds better to the readers ear, and I am
hoping not to offend anyone, this is the best way to explain ‘why’ psychologically the tense is used. Hmmm. When you read the tense it is like a ‘voice’ in your head. And like you said it may be harder to reprogram yourself to allow the suspension of disbelief to take hold because you are sitting in a warm chair and the writer is telling you it is a cold chair.

We are programmed to listen to people tell us stories in different tenses.

This is modern and just like Gothic novels or Romance novels or Neo-Realism and even James Joyce’s prose in “Ulysses” caused many critics to fear they would jump out a window!!

My only complaint is that I’m this modern language and it is a language. Contemporary as much so as Valley Girl y’all was in the 80’s. There is no suspense in 1st person present tense and so there is no surprise. I remember reading choose your own adventure books when I was a kid. It seemed like I was in control but when the scary thing happened I was not afraid . I was just wondering how I could go back and forth and change the ending. But like those books neglected suspense for the sake of novelty. It’s a form and it will evolve into other forms. I like or would like to share an author I think uses it well. Albert Camus in “The Stranger “
Read the first few paragraphs and see how he shifts. It works. And later he uses it again. It works again. For some reason he is able to do this, but of course the book is not suspense but rather a psychological study about absurdity and the ethics of the death penalty. I digressed. But notice even then i digressed not I digress. There is a big difference and I cannot see my writing so I must have gone too far. Sorry. Too long. Hmmm

Singleton wrote: "There is no suspense in 1st person present tense and so there is no surprise."

Agreed.
Admittedly, first person alone tends to lose suspense also when you come to a life or death situation in the narrative and since there is more book beyond that point, you kind of figure the narrator lives ...

The worst sin of an author writing in FPPT is writing a boring character to the point that everyone around them is far more interesting and you're wishing the author would have explored other characters' perspectives instead.

Pretty much this is most YA.

Emily12West wrote: "Personally, I like story talked in first person present tense, you empathize with the hero more."

Mileage may vary. More often than not, it pushes me right back out of the narrative. Everyone's different. As we say in another book forum I belong to: 🌈

Mary wrote: "Pretty much this is most YA."

A relatively recent development which will, hopefully, die down soon?

Emily12West wrote: "..."

I do enjoy reading some books in first person present, but I especially like writing this way. For so long, we were only exposed to past-tense in books, so it's a good brain exercise to force myself to use present-tense.

In speaking about the first person-present tense, I think a distinction needs to be made between one of the characters in a novel sharing with the reader what he/she is experiencing OR a narrator relating the salient aspects of a novel with the reader.

I'm not at all averse to a character in a novel sharing with me the particulars of the story from his/her perspective. I like being granted that kind of access.

BUT the narrative voice I tend to find offputting. For example, 15 years ago, I started reading the first novel from The Raj Quartet series, "The Jewel in the Crown". I got as far as a few pages past 100, but tired of reading further because the narrator droned on and on, ad nauseum. I JUST WANTED THE NARRATOR TO GO AWAY AND LET THE CHARACTERS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. That's why I've haven't returned to that book for almost 15 years.

There was one other novel that, for me, redeemed itself. And that was "Père Goriot" by Honoré de Balzac.

When I began reading "Père Goriot", I wasn't sure I would like it, because for the first dozen pages or so, Balzac let the narrative voice run riot. Granted, the narrative voice has its place in terms of creating for the reader setting, mood, and characters. But once those elements have been established, I prefer that the narrator step aside and let the main characters have their say.

Thankfully, Balzac spared me further agonies upon introducing the young Rastignac (a rube and law student from Southern France keen to make his mark in genteel Parisian society), the wily and mysterious Vautrin, Goriot himself, and a few of the other characters in Madame's Vauquer's boarding house. They, together with their friends, lovers, and rivals, made this novel well worth reading.

Picasmo wrote: "First-person present tense can be used well in appropriate contexts, but for the most part I find it a problematic perspective to use in literature. What distinguishes literature from other forms o..."

Also works when a character is dreaming, reminiscing, or having a nightmare. A limited perspective use I think is far more effective in a story than a whole book.

good article

Just saw this. I don't mind first person. Some great novels were written in the first person because the restricted point of view assists the narration. David Copperfield, Rebecca, To Kill a Mockingbird are all written in the first person.
But writing in the present tense to me is artificial - always sounds fake to me and I read a few novels where because writing and speaking in the simple past are the normal form for communication, a few glitches - probably errors on the part of the author and editor - slipped into the text. If you're going to write like that, you have to be 100% accurate. But it's just not for me - I don't think I read a present tense book all the way through - it just gets so irritating and fake sounding, I give up.