1. Do you go into a novel with the assumption that the narrator will be reliable? Why?
Yes, because they usually are.
2. Do you actively assess a narrator's reliability? Do you do it often? Are there triggers that make you stop and judge the narrator's reliability?
I do. Third person obviously makes this easier, so I'd compare what different characters say about the same thing.
That said, first-person narratives often make me wonder about the reliability of the narrator. If we're only getting one side of the story is there a reason for that? We Need To Talk About Kevin is a great example of this.
3. Do you prefer books with unreliable narrators? Why?
Prefer is the wrong word. I do enjoy them for the mental gymnastics the reader often has to do. And because I like judging people.
*MySmiley*
Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read. - Groucho Marx
Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read. - Groucho Marx
Unreliable narrators: yay or nay? Or neigh? And if so, and you are a horse, how are you typing?
- 12/03/2010 05:20:09 AM
776 Views
Re: Unreliable narrators: yay or nay? Or neigh? And if so, and you are a horse, how are you typing?
- 12/03/2010 09:12:23 AM
594 Views
I enjoyed reading the Bayard.
- 12/03/2010 11:55:09 PM
530 Views
Re: I enjoyed reading the Bayard.
- 14/03/2010 10:56:54 AM
594 Views
Re: I enjoyed reading the Bayard.
- 16/03/2010 10:37:35 PM
564 Views
I think it's fairly logical that genre fiction doesn't employ it as often.
- 12/03/2010 01:21:06 PM
750 Views
Hm. Yeigh?
- 12/03/2010 05:15:41 PM
646 Views
I think that unreliable narrators tend to be written by more experienced or skillful authors.
- 12/03/2010 06:56:06 PM
534 Views