It's all a matter of perspective

[fluffy bunny]

When reading, do you prefer stories told from a first person perspective or a third person perspective? How important is perspective to you? Are some stories better told in a given perspective than others?

 

[bobbyburns]

I like it when writers use more than one perspective, like in if on a winter's night a traveler or a season in hell.

 

[kskyhappy]

i do not prefer one form over another the only important thing is the right perspective is chosen for the narrative. First person can place you closer to the character, scene or action, whereas third person can give a better overall dimension and suits a more traditional narrative, ie the story teller.

ksky

ps what the hell are you doing up at 7 in the morning?

 

[Stewart]

I like all styles of narration. I especially like those that are just that little bit different such as second person (e.g. Calvino's if on a winter's night a traveller, Banks' Complicity) or the collective (first people?) who tell the story in Eugenides' The Virgin Suicides.

 

[VTChEwbecca]

I prefer third person, mostly because I feel that I'm missing part of the story if its in first person. However, I lose that preference for well written books...it really depends on the style of writing and the story. Because I'm so analytical, though, if I'm just reading a random book, I prefer third person so as to feel I've gotten all the information that I need to consider.

 

[warm_enema]

Pynchon's Gravity's Rainbow, has a bit of everything. Nabokov's Pale Fire was an intresting way to tell a story.

 

[Nicola]

I prefer first person perspective, although I wouldn't not read a book if it wasn't

 

[igkuk7]

Makes no difference to me. I actually rather enjoy the second perspective, drags you into the book more.

 

[piedro]

i like first person better though it all depends on how the story is presented.

The story is exposed from a particular point of view in first person. that view maybe be wrong in some cases or against our own which makes it quite dynamic, to read.
In third person, the story becomes impersonal and matter-of-fact.

 

[Martin]

I've never really paid attention to this until recently. I'm reading a book right now which constantly switches between first and third, and this has made me very aware of perspective, something I had hardly notices up until then.

My favourite (in this novel): First person.

Cheers, Martin

 

[Faran]

It depends which is more suitable. In Dickens' Great Expectations,and Defoe's Robsinson Cruesoe, for example, the importance of the story lies largely in the protagonists' reflections on their previous lexperiences; thus it is necessary to write in first person. I do, however, think that first person is often over-used.

A third person may be more appropriate when much of what is written is unknown to the protagonist or another character who might otherwise narrate. Such a category may include Anna Karenina, or The Iliad.