I started reading The Hobbit to my kids yesterday. And I totally got sucked in again. I love that book. As a child, I must have read it at least three or four times, but reading it again yesterday and today was such a pleasure. I enjoyed everything about it. (As someone who has been to Hobbiton itself, that probably goes without saying 
)
There is definitely something to be said for the omniscient author if done well. Terry Pratchett and JRR Tolkein are both masters. There is a friendliness, a between-friends atmosphere that they are both able to create as they spin the tale, much as if they were relating a personal story to you by a warm fire after a good meal.
I know a lot of fantasy authors have taken on this style of narration, but where they fall down, and don’t reach the heights of Pratchett and Tolkein, I think, is due to their lack of the personal, that closeness and intimacy that especially is found in Tolkein. He writes like he’s a good friend telling you a scandalous tale.
Another author I’ve been reading a lot of lately is Agatha Christie. I also love her method of telling the tale through the imperfect narrator, usually Captain Hastings, and the way she slyly reveals his flaws and conceits through his comments and reactions. That first person narration, which was popular in her era, done as well as she does it, is as satisfying as the deep 3rd person point of view which is my favorite way of telling a story.
I know many readers don’t think too much about the style of narration when reading a story. They don’t mentally note that the story is told in the first person, third person or by an omniscient narrator. I can’t help it, as an author. But to all the readers, do you notice, do you care, and what is your favorite style of narration?
I could never get into Tolkien, though I’ve tried several times. Not even in my pre-writer days when I devoured pretty much anything written. I’ve tried one of Terry Pratchett, and same thing. I was at the library yesterday, and on a book flap, the publisher compared it to books by Mary Stewart. That got me excited but I didn’t care for the description of the book.
I was a huge Agatha Christie reader. Her writing was so tight. I think I’ve read every book of hers. My favorites were Miss Marple. I loved the way she observed so much. I think I have a bit of that, too. The Harley Quinn stories were another favorite. There was something very sexy about the mysterious Quinn.
For my own writing, I prefer third person, deep POV, from more multiple characters (in their own scenes), past tense. But for books by other writers, I’m open to whatever works for the book.
Edie, there is always so much subjectivity involved. Books others tell me are their absolute favorites, I couldn’t finish. It’s the way it goes.
Like you, I prefer 3rd person deep POV myself, but love reading different styles if they are done well.
Michelle Diener`s last blog was …Discussing scenes
I’m not sure when I started noticing narration style but it does affect my buying habits. I have become incredibly wary of 1st POV, especially in the Urban Fiction genre. I must have missed the memo written in stone that said all stories must be written in 1st POV or the writer will be kicked off the UF island. Now, it’s like trying to distinguish difference in a herd of zebras. The funny thing is that I’m now totally squicked out by sex scenes done in 1st POV. LOL.
LOL, CK, I don’t read much UF, and am trying to remember if any of them were not in 1st, but the only ones I’m coming up with are more paranormal romance, I think, which is a slightly different beast.
Michelle Diener`s last blog was …Discussing scenes
Tolkien is pure story. That’s what I like about him. I wonder if books like the Harry Potter books would have existed without Tolkein.
Joe, I agree that Tolkein created the epic fantasy novel, or at least popularized it and made it a commercially successful genre.
Michelle Diener`s last blog was …Discussing scenes
Hi Michelle.
I write in both first person POV and deep third. My suspense books work better in 3rd, my light paranormals and urban fantasy in 1st. It’s fun to switch them up and I enjoy reading both as well.
Very cool that you could share your favorite book with your kids. My favorite classic is To Kill A Mockingbird, and last summer, my boys and I read it together. Like The Hobbit, TKAM continues to touch readers young and old alike.
Misty, I LOVE TKAM as well. What a wonderful, wonderful story. My kids are a little too young for it still, but it’s in their future.
Michelle Diener`s last blog was …Discussing scenes
I don’t usually care, as long as the book is good! I haven’t read The Hobbit! How sad is that?
Very sad, Lori!
Have you read Lord of the Rings?
Michelle Diener`s last blog was …Discussing scenes
Michelle, I like reading books in both 1st person and 3rd and have found a few I enjoy in omniscent as well. I read a really fascinating novel once that was written in first person plural (“we did this…but we found we didn’t like the way it felt to us…” etc.) — it always interests me to see if I’m drawn in by a style like that vs. when an unusual narration will distance me from the story too much.
Marilyn Brant`s last blog was …Versatile Blogging
Marilyn, I so agree. It is all in the execution.
Michelle Diener`s last blog was …Discussing scenes
Reading to our children is a great way to revisit the books we loved when we were kids. I was lucky to be sent to Story Book Hour at our local library and had an eleventh grade English teacher who read us A Tale of Two Cities one semester.
As for which I prefer, first or third, I don’t think I mind if the story is handled well. First person suits certain styles … the humor of Janet Evanovitch for instance. I understand why you love the deep third person, the ability to move the POV to give a new perspective to the reader. My first love was Nancy Drew, Agatha continues to be the Dame of Mysteries and I have read almost every one of her over one hundred books. Loved reading poetry to the children, infected my son with fantasy with his first book by Pears Anthony and he still has his original boxed sets of Tolkien and Narnia. All Things Great and Small for animal lovers, or London’s The Call of The Wild, made my son cry. It is a wonderful legacy you pass on to your children, not to mention how much you will learn reading these great classics aloud
Thanks for the memories.
florence fois`s last blog was …Rocky Road To Me …
Florence, I have to admit I cheated and kept reading The Hobbit, even after my kids were in bed. I couldn’t stop. And it was a wonderful trip down memory lane.
Michelle Diener`s last blog was …Discussing scenes
Hey Michelle. Sorry I’m so late in commenting. Was pretty much off line yesterday.
Personally, I like reading UFs in the first person. There’s something intimate about it. There are times when I have a hard time enjoying a book in third person. Never used to like first person, but am a total convert now.
I remember reading the Hobbit a long (loooooong) time ago. It may be time to dig up our copy again.