Do you prefer reading in first or third person?

[PonderingAuthor]

I’m an author with two published novels, about to embark on writing the next one. I lean towards writing in first person, but I’ve spotted occasional comments on here from people who can’t stand first person and will only read if a story is in third person. I’d love to know how common that reaction is before I decide how to write my new book — do you have a preference?

I’ll add that when I read, I often don’t particularly notice, unless I have my writer’s hat on. If it makes a difference, my books are probably best described as domestic psychological suspense, fairly mainstream stuff. My editors don’t have a strong opinion either way.

(I’ve name changed for this.)

Depends on what you want to do with the voice, doesn't it? I'm coming round up Phillip Pullman's anti-first person stance. It is much more limiting in terms of nuance, or in showing alternative perspectives or perhaps the whole picture.

...,,but sometimes that's not what you want to do. Sometimes it's all about just one character's limited perspective and the limited understanding that goes with that!

I've also had one book published using each. I think I'll probably mainly do third person in the future- but may do my next in 1dt person because it's very character driven!

I'd never considered it, but realise I read almost exclusively third person.

I will read both but it's grating to read in 1st person when the author puts into the narrators mouth knowledge of motives or facts or activity that they w/couldn't know.

I also find 1st person narration can often sound ridiculous when it's too literary for the character. It tends to sound self-indulgent at best and ridiculous at worst.

I don’t really notice. If the writing style and storyline are good, it doesn’t matter.

Third person. Often novels written in the first person become a bit enthralled by the wonder of their creation and I find that off putting and a distraction.

There are definitely times when it’s right decision. Murder of Roger Ackroyd, Gone Girl - the unreliable witness thing.

But I tend towards third person as there’s less change of it being self congratulatory and a bit wanky.

That’s probably not very helpful, sorry.

I will happily read both. I’m reading The Song of Achilles at the moment, written from the perspective of Patroclus, and I think it’s great. I think it’s more difficult to do first person well though.

Oh BulbasaurusRex I love that book!
I think if it's done very well, it's fine. It's the sort of books where it's 'I look at myself in the mirror. My overly large bright blue eyes twinkled back at me, my mop of unruly curls springing all over as usual' I enjoy far less!
It can also feel very interior and claustrophic, which may work for your genre, as I also really enjoy books with a fixed sense of place (ie Annie Proulx) which feels unnatural in 1st person.

Prefer third person for novels but I think first person can make for a really good twist

I prefer 3rd person but have read some brilliant books in 1st person.

@ADialgaAteMyDog I’m loving it! I really enjoyed Circe too though. I’m all about the Greek myths at the moment.

I look at myself in the mirror. My overly large bright blue eyes twinkled back at me, my mop of unruly curls springing all over as usual' 🤣

Generally prefer 3rd which is weird thinking about it now, as my top 9 books are written in first

I think you have to write what you need to write, the way it comes to you (editing aside). I don’t think the process works as well when you are trying to cater to the preferences of an imagined reader.

don't mind
probably prefer a mixture of both

one of my favourite books has 2 teenager's perspectives, both as 1st person.
the whole story is told through their diary entries.
it's genius

3rd person.
And I hate the books where each chapter is written in the first person by a different character.

I like both, but I think I edge towards third person.

And yes I find that first person means the reader misses out on a lot. Especially if the protagonist is young.

I prefer third person but I quite like first person in classic Victorian novels like The Woman in White. Don't enjoy it so much in contemporary books though.

I prefer 3rd generally. I think an author has to be very skillful to pull off 1st person without it grating a bit. Having said that, my favourite book is largely in the 1st person (most of the book consists of the main character relating his back story to some other characters).

I also prefer third person, but can go with 1st person if it's well handled.

I absolutely cannot stand present-tense writing though.

No preference - I enjoy both. The Handmaid’s Tale, The Secret History, Piranesi, Circe, Gillespie and I, Memoirs of a Geisha, the Shardlake Books - just off the top of my head, but all of those are fantastic books written in the first person. I love an unreliable narrator. Sometimes it’s really important to the plot to be inside someone’s head (American Psycho, The Hunger Games). I love the wider perspective of third person too though.

I don't notice half the time.

I prefer the third person (although read both) but it's getting increasingly rare it seems so I might just prefer it because it's rarer. Certainly in literary fiction, I read extracts after extract and think FFS I'd like an all knowing narrator once in a while. I guess third person isn't fashionable and 1st person when done very well can be powerful.

Really interesting replies, thank you. (Also the comment about disliking present tense writing.) I can justify why I’ve chosen first or third person in a given chapter or book for all the usual reasons, but I’m intrigued that some readers might pick up my book in Waterstones, read the first sentence, and reject it based on it being in first person. I know that shouldn’t influence my decision as a writer, but . . . if I’m undecided anyway, plus it’s my commercial fiction that pays the bills . . . Definitely food for thought! Thank you.

I don’t mind either if the writing is good. My pet hate though is when a book has several different narrators and their “voices” are virtually the same.

I have found that in books where it switches between first person and third person, the first person chapters are more engaging, third person can feel a little detached. I used to really struggle reading books written in the present text but I hardly notice now.