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Present Tense Novels

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Margaret
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Post by Margaret » Thu September 16th, 2010, 8:46 pm

It had a modern day thread written in past tense and a historical thread written in present tense. Conventional logic might indicate that's backwards. I remember doing a double-take when I first started reading it, but after I settled in, it began to make sense to me and I was surprised not to be bothered by it.
That's a bit intriguing. I wonder if the author might have been thinking of past-life regression, in which the regressed person might well speak in present tense while "watching" the events of the past life unfold.
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Divia
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Post by Divia » Thu September 16th, 2010, 9:43 pm

I'll be hoenst I cannot recall every reading a present tense novel.
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Post by LoveHistory » Fri September 17th, 2010, 12:38 am

[quote=""keny from prague""]very true. but i used to devour those as a young lad. its probably a guy thing, but there was something incredably satisfying about feeling like you had some control or influence over the events of the story. interactive reading. teachers hated the books but i loved them. and id read every possible ending.[/quote]

Actually I loved those books too. Didn't run across many, and that may have added to their appeal for me.

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Present Tense Novels

Post by RichardWarrenField » Fri September 17th, 2010, 4:58 am

I think it is difficult to write an entire novel in the present-tense and have it not seem awkward. There is a screenplayish element to it - but a screenplay is a set of directions for a bunch of people making a movie. I think sections in the present tense can be very effective as a contrast to the general narrative of a novel. It might be used as a character seizes the narrative voice, taking over in first person present from a third person single viewpoint past tense. But I am not fond of an entire book in the present tense. I feel almost out of breath as I try to absorb the story.

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Vanessa
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Post by Vanessa » Fri September 17th, 2010, 8:30 am

I don't think I take too much notice. As long as I'm enjoying the story, it doesn't really matter to me, although I do have a preference for book written in the first person. I feel like they're chatting to me!! :rolleyes: :D
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MLE (Emily Cotton)
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Post by MLE (Emily Cotton) » Fri September 17th, 2010, 8:41 am

I dislike present tense. The only book I ever read written in that tense was Wolf Hall, and like sweetpotatoboy, the pronoun issue was evenmore annoying than the present tense, but I didn't like the book at all. I might not have disliked it so thoroughly if those two issues were removed. But the whole thing smacked of 'cleverness', and any hint of contrivance will put me off.

If the Help was written in present tense, I missed it entirely (odd, because usually if a book is written present tense, I won't even read past the first paragraph.) But I can't go check my copy as it is in California, and right now I'm in France.

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Madeleine
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Post by Madeleine » Fri September 17th, 2010, 10:22 am

I must admit I'm not that keen on present tense, although if it's reasonably well-written and a good story then I'm OK with it.

I don't mind first person at all, I agree that it can seem as if the narrator is talking to me personally, although first person means you only tend to get one side of the story.
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Post by Michy » Fri September 17th, 2010, 2:26 pm

[quote=""Madeleine""] although first person means you only tend to get one side of the story.[/quote]

True, although if an author is really good they can manage to make other characters' feelings come through. I'm thinking of what Daphne du Maurier did with My Cousin Rachel.

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Post by Miss Moppet » Fri September 17th, 2010, 10:35 pm

[quote=""Michy""]True, although if an author is really good they can manage to make other characters' feelings come through. I'm thinking of what Daphne du Maurier did with My Cousin Rachel.[/quote]

Or get some plot mileage out of the central character's misinterpretations, as du Maurier did in Rebecca. She certainly was the queen of first-person.

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Post by Misfit » Fri September 17th, 2010, 11:07 pm

[quote=""Miss Moppet""]Or get some plot mileage out of the central character's misinterpretations, as du Maurier did in Rebecca. She certainly was the queen of first-person.[/quote]

Yes she was, and the male voice at that.
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