Comments on: First Person vs 3rd Person

By: yualien

yualien — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:57:42 +0000

Also, very rare, but there are novels where 1st and 3rd POV switches in a novel.

“When The Wind Blows,” and “Lake House” by James Patterson. Great stories. It’s science fiction but the amount of research and background knowledge it was written with was incredible. He has a unique writing style too(but this is going off topic.) Anyway, in terms of the POV switch, it just alternates back and forth, pretty normal.

“The Eyre Affair,” by Jasper Fforde is something else. When this book switches briefly to third person, it’s written as if the protagonist is storytelling it. She’s not present in the scene, and (if I remember correctly), she is unaware of the events later, but her wit and sarcasm pop in like the voice of god. It was intricately balanced.

By: Ilona

Ilona — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:49:17 +0000

Thank you, but you’re too kind. Well, Nora Roberts/JD Robb is the most famous one, but there are plenty of people who switch styles.

Here is Patty Briggs switching from first to third, and she does it brilliantly.

http://www.hurog.com/books/BoneCrossedChapter.shtml

http://www.hurog.com/books/huntingGroundChapter.shtml

By: B-ster

B-ster — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:46:49 +0000

Do many authors change writing styles? I’m floored by your ability to write so well. Maybe is it more common than I think, but I figured most authors stick to one style, or change names for a different style.

By: Addled Alchemist

Addled Alchemist — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:35:48 +0000

And once again, I’m just blown away…

By: =A

=A — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:34:39 +0000

very insightful and helpful
…. have you ever read ‘Sam, the Cat Detective’? very creative noir descriptios
=A

By: Yala

Yala — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:18:09 +0000

Very cool post! Thank you, Ilona

By: Ilona

Ilona — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:51:32 +0000

I’m so glad it’s not boring, heh

By: CheeseBK

CheeseBK — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:41:50 +0000

thanks for clearing that up, ilona!!! That really beautifully explains all the differences!

By: ev

ev — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:37:53 +0000

Very intersting. You never really think when your in the middle of reading a book why the author chose a particular style to tell the story, or how that style effects it. You just get caught up or you don’t. I just thought that an author just started writing a particular way and kept to that style for all/most of their books. Never was very good at the particular rules/nuances of English…

and I have to say, I love your blog so much! You never know what it will be about, but you always somehow manage to post something intersting…