Someone asked me why I prefer to write in first person rather than third person in my novels. Well I am most definitely a fan of using both, however I believe that, if written well, first person narratives can connect you to a character so much deeper than third person. You can feel more emotion and motivation as the tale is told directly to you, instead of through the omnipotent third person.
One great example of this is Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games. The Hunger Games is an amazing tale told from the point of view of a teenage girl living in a post apocalyptic society. The character Katniss Everdeen is one of the most well told characters of the last few years. Seeing her world though her eyes is an incredible experience, one I suggest everyone should take. This is told in first person and because of this you feel the pain, torment, love and loss that she endures in this violent and jarring, high-charged novel.
Now I have talked about James Patterson before, so I will not really get into him much. I would like to say that his character, Alex Cross, is a great example of first person narrative. Patricia Cornwell is another strong first person author. Her character, Kay Scarpetta, is a fantastic, strong, female character that anyone could relate to.
The true master of the first person narrative is, of course, Anne Rice. The way she can make you feel when you read through the eyes of her characters is amazing. Her craft has been honed to a fine point and has been an inspiration to me, and I am sure to others as well.
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