Pov?

[Ludmilla]

[quote=""Margaret""] The "storytelling" nature of a first-person narrative tends to have the effect, at least in the beginning, of making me feel like I am with another person who is telling me his or her story, putting me at one remove from the character rather than right inside. [/quote]

The 1st person PoV technique that is a hard sell for me is when the person telling the story is an ancillary character (I call them 3rd Party Narrators, but I don't know if that's the correct term for them). I do usually like the ones where the the PoV character is the protagonist or at least has some major role in the story.

Present tense is hit or miss with me, and as already mentioned, one of the crucial factors is whether it feels natural or labored. I read All Quiet on the Western Front for the first time recently, and thought that was an excellent example of (mostly) 1st person, present tense that is highly effective.

[EC2]

[quote=""Ludmilla""]The 1st person PoV technique that is a hard sell for me is when the person telling the story is an ancillary character (I call them 3rd Party Narrators, but I don't know if that's the correct term for them). I do usually like the ones where the the PoV character is the protagonist or at least has some major role in the story.
[/quote]

Yes, I can identify with that. I borrowed The King's Gold from the library - forgotten the author without going to get the book but it's the Captain Alatriste guy. I started reading this but it's all narrated in a very dry style by Alatriste's squire/sidekick. I kept thinking 'Come on, when's the novel going to start?' I gave up and put the book down. There was neither spark nor immediacy.

[Alaric]

Arturo Perez Reverte is the author of Captain Alatriste.

[EC2]

[quote=""Alaric""]Arturo Perez Reverte is the author of Captain Alatriste.[/quote]

Thanks Alaric. Yes, that's him! I was really surprised at the style because I've heard so many good things about Reverte. Perhaps I've picked up a dud. There was just page after page after page of this squire chap blathering on about politics with the odd reported moment about Alatriste having done this or that in the past. Virtually no dialogue. I was baffled as to why they are considered so good. Perhaps I'm on the wrong wavelength or have picked up the wrong book.

[Leyland]

[quote=""EC2""]Thanks Alaric. Yes, that's him! I was really surprised at the style because I've heard so many good things about Reverte. Perhaps I've picked up a dud.[/quote]

I really enjoyed his Flanders Panel and Seville Communion. SC has some crazy and eccentric characters - a fun read for me! I'm just about to start his Nautical Chart. You might want to try him again, EC.