…is that I enjoy reading romances and other genre fiction in both first and third person points of view. I like being in the main character’s head in some books while in other books seeing things from both the hero and heroine’s perspective is interesting. For a background on different points of view in writing here’s a link to a POV article. As I’ve mentioned, I enjoy reading books written in first person so today I have a list for you.
Thirteen First Person Reads or Series I Enjoy
1. Kristan Higgins (contemporary)
2. Stephanie Plum series – Janet Evanocvich (contemporary mystery)
3. Lisa Kleypas – contemporary Texas series. (contemporary)
4. Kate Daniels series – Ilona Andrews (urban fantasy)
5. Mercy Thompson series Patricia Briggs (urban fantasy)
6. Josh Lanyon – (m/m)
7. Hard Fall James Buchanan (m/m)
8. Alien Huntress series – Gena Showalter (paranormal)
9. Lori Armstrong – Julie Collins series (mystery)
10. Keri Arthur Riley Jensen (urban fantasy)
11. Bridget Jones Diary by Helen Fielding
12. Something series – Jacqueline Meadows
13. And finally, I’ve written several books in first person: Wanderlust (romantic suspense), The Shadow (contemporary mystery) and Stray Cat Strut (paranormal m/m)
Do you prefer first person or third person fiction best and why? Do you have any favorites to add to my list?
Related posts:
I like first person. And I’m totally hooked on the Twilight series.
by sandra cox July 23rd, 2009 at 4:29 amOh great idea for a list.
I played …come on over if you can find time to visit with me. I’d love your company. Happy Thursday.
by HOOTIN' ANNI July 23rd, 2009 at 4:45 amGreat list! Thanks
http://iamharriet.blogspot.com/2009/07/thirteen-richest-americans-and-some.html
by Harriet July 23rd, 2009 at 5:10 amIt’s hard to find good writing in 1st person. I think YA or Middle Grade has the most 1st person books out.
by Adelle Laudan July 23rd, 2009 at 5:45 amGreat list!
Happy T13!
Great list. I love Bridget Jones Diary. Happy Thursday.
by Stephanie Adkins July 23rd, 2009 at 5:48 amThat reminds me, I’ve been meaning to read Bridget Jones Diary.
by Alice Audrey July 23rd, 2009 at 6:17 amHaven’t read many of those, but those that I have, I really enjoyed. The Stephanie Plum series hooked me for a while (until I somehow got sidetracked).
by Ella July 23rd, 2009 at 6:30 amHappy Thursday!
Awesome post, sugar! You know, it’s funny, but in erotic romance and romance in general I prefer third, but if the book is a mystery or thriller, I prefer first.
Cora’s got us covered this Thursday at the MMC with her 13 Favorite Movie Heroines. Stop by if you get a chance and see if you agree.
http://midnightmooncafe.blogspot.com
by cass July 23rd, 2009 at 7:21 amFrankly, I’m not picky. I like the fact you get more about feelings and motivation in a first person but I don’t care. I remember in high school that we read To Kill a Mocking bird, and it kept switching from 1st to 3rd all the time and it never phased me but some of the other students had problems with it. All I can it that the characters are interesting, yet relate-able and has a good, flowing plot line.
by Amy W. July 23rd, 2009 at 7:28 amHugs,
-Amy
P.S. Hope my surprise helped with your “funk” from yesterday! LOL!
*I said hope, and I meant glad that it helped. Darn distracting husbands.
by Amy W. July 23rd, 2009 at 7:28 amI have to admit, I don’t usually go for books written in first person, except for Kelley Armstrong’s Otherworld Series. Love her books! Oh, and Harry Potter, of course! LOL!
*hugs*
Paige
My TT is at http://paigetylertheauthor.blogspot.com/
by Paige Tyler July 23rd, 2009 at 7:34 amI like third myself… but I do have one first person story coming. Kilt Worthy is done in 1st person, which to me is ironic since it will be my debut release. Then again, it’s a short story. Often times first person doesn’t allow the writer to give a second pov, which as a reader I then miss.
by Catherine Bybee July 23rd, 2009 at 9:29 amI prefer 3rd person. I like seeing what’s going on. I also think 1st person can be very hit or miss. There are some I enjoy (I’m with you on Patricia Briggs, for example – and if you like her, you should check out Faith Hunter), but I mostly prefer third person reads.
by Elise Logan July 23rd, 2009 at 11:24 amI’m more partial to third person, and though I have not read any of these, some first person series I have enjoyed are Twilight by Stephenie Meyer, Sookie Stackhouse by Charlaine Harris and the Undead/Queen Betsy series by MaryJanice Davidson. Lisa Scottoline has also written a lot of legal thrillers in first that were good (eg: Everywhere That Mary Went).
by Heather July 23rd, 2009 at 12:48 pmI read a lot of YA, which has a large quanitiy that is being written in first person right now, so it’s not bothering me as much as it used to. I only write in third, though. :shrugs:
http://christinadelorenzo.blogspot.com/
by Christina DeLorenzo July 23rd, 2009 at 1:35 pmI don’t know how I forgot about the Harry Potter books to add to my list. I’ve also read the first book in the Twilight series.
Cass – I tend to read a lot of mysteries and many of them are first person. I think it’s because the lead character is usually so invested in solving the mystery and we really want to know what they are thinking.
Christina – I’ve been reading more YA this year too, although the last one I read was third – Zombie Queen of Newbury High.
by Shelley Munro July 23rd, 2009 at 1:52 pmAmy – your surprise did indeed improve my funk.
by Shelley Munro July 23rd, 2009 at 1:52 pmNo preference over here, but I did just give up reading a book that I kept expecting to be in first person. Except it wasn’t.
Really weird.
by Susan Helene Gottfried July 23rd, 2009 at 2:37 pmI prefer to write and read in third person, but as long as it’s a good story I’ll read it. I’ve written a few first person and one mixed first/third.
by Babette James July 23rd, 2009 at 4:02 pmHappy T13 :)
I like Patricia Briggs but my favorite so far is the prequel to the Mercy Thomson series. Nice list.
by Lauren Murphy July 23rd, 2009 at 4:21 pmI just started writing in first person last year, and love it!
My favorites in first person are Jim Butcher’s Dresden files and LKH Anita Blake series.
Happy TT.
by Janice~ July 23rd, 2009 at 4:33 pmJanice~
Generally I prefer third person but I have read a few in first person that I really liked.
by Debbie July 23rd, 2009 at 5:18 pmI prefer third person. I even like an omnicient voice that hints of the upcoming plot points because the voice already knows what’s happened – rather like Dr. Manhattan in Watchmen.
by Julia Smith July 23rd, 2009 at 7:25 pmI’m an avid reader but I haven’t really thought about which I prefer. My first thought is third person. I’ll have to make note with each book I read and see if my first thought holds true.
by jillconyers July 24th, 2009 at 3:53 amGreat list! I’ll have to check some of these out.
by Alexia Reed July 24th, 2009 at 5:58 pm