Books written in the present tense

[PeachPumpkin]

I suppose I’m just curious about other people’s opinions. I can’t get into books that are written in the present tense and no longer read them.

I’ll give a made up example:-

“She walks across the floor and picks up the phone.”

I prefer “she walked across the floor and picked up the phone”.

Anyone else feel the same way or is it just me?

I'm the same.

I also hate it when people do it on television too when they are recalling an event.

I used to really dislike it to, but at some point it stopped bothering me. All the Ruth Galloway books are in the present tense and I just don’t notice it anymore.

It doesn’t bother me particularly. I mean, good writing will grab me whichever tense is used. And if it’s bad. I’m an equal-opportunities eye roller about present and past tense.

I agree. Never get past the first page

Oh yes, I agree with you!
It's often used in history programmes etc..in a bid to make it more 'relateable'.
It doesn't work, makes it worse, actually, IMO.

I love David Mitchell generally, but he does this and it always makes me want to switch off or stop listening.

I strongly dislike it. It'll make me stop reading a book unless that book is really, really excellent. And even then I feel it would have been better written in the past tense.

It's not quite so bad when written in the first person.

The historical present tense is just so silly. It's the past!

Thanks. I wasn’t sure if I was being unnecessarily picky, so it’s interesting to know I’m not the only one who dislikes it. It’s a shame because I’ve come across some books with great reviews and a good plot, but I’ve read the sample and find the writing style too off-putting.

I don’t like it either, although it wouldn’t stop me reading a book if I’m enjoying the plot.

It's all personal preference I think. There's nothing intrinsically 'worse' or 'better' about books written in different tenses or from different POVs. I prefer past tense first person narrated books, but plenty of people HATE first person and can only read third person.

There are lots of books to choose from, so there's no need to read a book that is written in a style you dislike or find hard to identify with.

In theory I don't like it but actually I've probably read or heard loads that I've not noticed at the time

I prefer the past tense but I have enjoyed books written in the present tense. It gets on my nerves when it’s used on the radio (very frequently!) by someone describing historic events.

I loathe it. It’s one of the main reasons I avoid large amounts of contemporary fiction. Sadly I suspect it’s something most new or emerging writers are encouraged to do by editors as it’s seen as making the narrative 'relatable'. It’s all over current fiction like a rash. There are honourable exceptions (eg Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall trilogy, which I started with extreme trepidation but turned out to be so well-written I forgave her) but let's face it, most people don’t write like Mantel. Unfortunately.

I’m pretty sure that’s Hilary Mantel’s style and with my love of historical fiction I thought I would try it. Absolutely cannot stand it. I cannot touch a book that is written in that style.

I can't stand it and will not read a book where it's used. I also hate hearing it on television or for historical events as mentioned by PP.

I've found my tribe.

I absolutely hate books written in the present tense.

It feels amateur to me.

I'm very judgemental about books and this is one of my criteria to be honest - if the first page of a book is written in present tense, I'll be readying myself to give up.

I loathe it too, but not as much as books written in the second person...

"You walk across the room and answer the phone"

Immediate ick

Def a publishing trend, I was at a lit festival event with a author/founding editor of v well respected press who said she advised authors NOT writing in present tense to really ask themselves why!

Me too. I also struggle with written in the first person but I can manage a bit better with those.

I found Wolf Hall unreadable because of this. I got there in the end but didn't like it at all.

I’ve noticed Americans slip into this a lot, when being interviewed or whatever.

Obviously not only Americans do it, but they slip into it very naturally and keep it going long enough that I find it strangely uncomfortable.

“it’s 2017, I’m 13 and on my first date at the movies. I can hear this weird sound behind me….”

There are so many books now written like this, I've kind of got used to it (I read a lot of books...) but I find it refreshing when I read a good old-fashioned past-tense one!