skygiants

I read Sherman Alexie's The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian in a day. It's an amazing book, for three main reasons:

1.) Possibly most importantly, it depicts the complexity and awfulness of the reservation situation without giving any answers, because there aren't any answers to give. Arnold/Junior is a hero for braving the white, middle-class school at the same time that he is a traitor for leaving the reservation and his people behind. It's constantly a both, not an either-or.

2. Like Larklight - yes, I know, this is an odd choice of comparison, but hear me out! - it hugely benefits from illustrations to capture the tone and feel of the story. Junior's comics add as much to his characterization as the text.

3. Again like Larklight, the tone of the first-person voice pretty much makes the book. I know a lot of people have problems with first-person narration, and when it's badly done it can be awful, but I actually find myself more and more appreciative of well-done first-person novels these days. Having a fallible, flawed, unique voice tell me the story gets me immediately involved in the character and in what's happening, and I love when there's a balance between what the character believes or chooses to tell you and what you can infer around the edges. (I also, predictably, love snarky narration.) It works especially well for me in YA books, because using a voice is a great way to do complex themes and keep it YA in feel - The Homeward Bounders and Bloody Jack are a few more examples of books where this really works for me.

Anyway, I am curious now about what you guys think about the first person in books and stories now - both as readers and as writers, as many many of you are. So: bookpoll!

[Poll #1277800]