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I am Lover of romance, who indulges in the romantic adventures of literature

My name is Renee, and I am the host of this site. I am a 34 year old woman, on the prowl for her mate, searching out the best of books, exploring the wilds of the imagination and delving into the heart of a beautiful love story.

 

Tea and Biscuits Discussions: POV’s To Love

by | Jul 31, 2017 | Tea and Biscuits Discussions | 21 comments

When it comes to reading fiction, authors have to be careful in how they choose what point of view they want to put in a story because having a certain POV can either make or break a story for their readers. Each point of view has its advantages and disadvantages. I don’t think that any of them are bad in any way, it just depends on the story and how the author wants it to effect the experience of their readers. Because each point of view can really change how you look at a book. Now I will be honest, until the past five years or so, I didn’t really have a chance to read anything other than the the third person. This point of view has been the most common, for novels for many many years. The first time I experience the first POV was when Twilight came out when I was in my early twenties. I will be honest, it took me a long while to get used to it, and at first I SO didn’t care for it. I had never experienced it, and so it was quite different. Through the years I have had become more accustomed to it, but its not a POV I gravitate towards even today. I do realize, that its probably one of the most popular forms of point of view especially when reading romance, but quite frankly, it still displaces me at times. Since I don’t read it all that often. However, over the years I have learned to adapt to various points of view when reading a story, and actually now a days, enjoy all of them. Because they each can add a unique experience for the reader.

Types of Points of View (Definitions)

Omniscient

This is where there is more of a “narrator” set up here. Your view is not intimate or close to the character cast in any way. Its like watching from a “distance” and it can feel out of place, and a bit dispassionate. It has a more focused view on the events of the plot line, and on occasion you can see the thoughts of a character at times, but its not very frequent. There are reasons some authors will use this. It is most often used in Fantasy or Science Fiction when a author is try to do aΒ a HUGE job of world building. This view is really used by authors for only a few reasons: the first is a big information dump for the reader. Especially when they are trying to describe a whole world and history of a people. So it can be very overwhelming at times. Another reason authors may use this type of POV, is when the author wants a story to have aΒ more humorous set up. Because your viewing a story in a whole different way. We have what the cast of characters thinks is REAL and on the other side we have what we KNOW to be real for the story and so it adds a few levels of irony and humor that you couldn’t find in other types of POV.Β  This type of view is probably my least favorites. I like being able to connect with a story, and this POV makes it so HARD to do that. I have read a couple of science fiction novels when I was a teen that was like this, and didn’t care for it too much, it kept me too off balance. Third person is the type of view I prefer the most to read.

First Person (Past Tense)

I have had a chance to read a few books like these, but they don’t happen very often. This is where the narrator of the story, is remembering past events and relaying them to you. We are inside their mind and seeing their thoughts and feelings of their “memory” as they convey an events or series of moments that occur in their memory. I see this most often with a mix of first person present tense or even mixed with Third person at times. It can be both a positive or negative experience here. There isn’t anything wrong with this style of POV, in fact sometimes if you know the ending before the series of events, it can prove to be an interesting experience seeing how events get laid out in their memory or how they viewed how events occur.

First Person (Present Tense)

This POV is the one that you see the most (lately) , and most of the time in contemporary and new adult romance is where I see it the most. I rarely see it in historical or paranormal. Although sometimes I do see it in those genres, but its not very often. This is where we see a story from one person and how they view and annalyze how events and circumstances happen in their mind, thoughts and feelings at the present time. This is where we see how certain events effect this person we are receiving a narrative from, and how they react to their change in circumstances as they go from one moment to the next. I will say that it still takes me time to adjust to this form of narrative in a story. I have been reading romance for fifteen years (and holy cow I feel old hehe) however most of the time I have read the 3rd person. So first person, still takes time for me to adjust but I have found I enjoy it at times. I like it most when it alternates between the couple or even three people, if there is a third person, a friend of the couple or even a villain.

Second Person

This point of view is used the least, at least from what I have read. In fact, I am not sure I have actually read a book with the 2nd person POV. This POV is where You are the focus, and you go on a journey or experience a series of events. You hardly ever see this type of POV, because it can be really challenging for a author to implement a cast of characters with the type of form that most readers that enjoy reading fiction, would actually enjoy reading. I do know some authors that have used this, and they use it mostly because they want the reader to experience something different. They want the reader “You”, to experience what the protagonist feels and experiences in a series of events. I think I may have read a book like this once in high school, but honestly can’t remember the title, I just know it was “required” reading and have avoided this POV ever since because I struggled with it so much. And I am relieved that its hardly ever used in romance fiction. I don’t even know if it has been used in romance, probably more so in general fiction or maybe even YA?

Third Person Objective

This is a unique style of seeing the third person, and I have experienced it on occasion, and even though its different and not my preferred POV, it definitely adds something different to your reading experience. In the objective format, its more like reading a documentary of a story. You never get in touch with the characters thoughts or emotions, you just mostly see a series of events and facts are laid out. This is the least emotionally engaging type of POV, because it focuses more on the facts and sequences of events than the internal thoughts of a character. This is where the reader has a chance to form their own opinions on what the story is relaying, and this is also where you definitely need to use your imagination at times especially when it comes to the cast of characters, because there is no emotional connection at all, so if I ever read this style, I definitely need to use my imagination creatively and imagine how these characters would be thinking of feeling during the series of events that happen.

Third Person Limited

This is where we see events that happen through one person with thoughts and emotions but not on a constant basis. Its more like reading a reality TV show per-say. We see how everything plays out, but we don’t have constant connection with the cast of characters all of the time. Its a very limited view of this characters and it can switch from person to person, although its more common to see the focus to be on one sole character. This works really well when you have a large cast of characters, and some world building that makes the reader look at the “bigger picture. I feel like this can bring about a more well rounded experience, since you are seeing things various areas, and its not focused on one person intimately.

Third Person Intimate

This is another third POV that I enjoy quite a bit and I see the most often especially in romance. This is where the view is focused on one maybe two characters, and we events through their eyes but we also see the story from various angles too. It is similar to the first person….but NOT. We see how events play out in their perspective, and are more intimately connected to these characters that we see their views on what is happening. But we also see the story from other angles as well while staying in tune closely with these few characters. I like this one the most, because I am able to connect with a story the most in this POV.

Questions For My Readers:

What types of POV do you read the most? What are your favorites? And which ones do you like the least when reading fiction?

Tell me your thoughts, I would LOVE to know!

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21 Comments

  1. Michele H

    Like you, third person definitely seems to be most common in the books I read and probably what I’m most used to. When I think of first person POV it’s usually New Adult or Erotic Romance. And personally I think it works for those genres. It’s a bit more intimate and gets inside the character’s mind which I like for Erotic stories, and for New Adult it’s more confessional, sort of like a diary entry. I will say that it’s a bit disorienting to switch from a book written in one style POV to another book in a different style. Whew…it can mess with a reader girl’s mind for a few chapters. πŸ˜‰

    Reply
    • Lover Of Romance

      Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this topic Michele. Third person is my favorite, no matter what genre I read. Although its rare to read a new adult romance in third person so I have learned to get used to first person although its not my favorite. There is just something I like most about third POV. I can hear ya about switching to different books with different styles. Although 1st and 3rd are a bit similar to each other. Just have unique qualities that set them apart.

      Reply
  2. Quinn's Book Nook

    I like both 1st person and 3rd person POV, but I struggled a lot with 1st person for awhile too. For years and years I pretty much only read romance, and at that time, it was pretty much all 3rd person POV. Then I got into YA for a few years, and I kept finding books in 1st person. And I also didn’t like it at first. But then I got really used to it. So used to it that when I picked up romance again, and it was primarily 3rd person I had to get used to that! Now I’m used to both. I see more 1st person in romance these days.

    Reply
    • Lover Of Romance

      Loved hearing your thoughts and preferences on POV. We have both had similar experiences with POV. I do like 1st person way more now, especially when I am reading new adult and contemporary, and even PNR. But when reading historical, third person is the best option.

      Reply
  3. Karen

    I don’t think about it too much. It really depends on the story and writing for me, I’ve liked/disliked all the various styles at times.

    The only one that throws me totally off is dual POV where it changes – like one character is third person but the other is first. I have to stop and readjust each chapter.

    For What It’s Worth

    Reply
    • Lover Of Romance

      Yeah it is different when they change the styles of the POV, I like it to be the same style all the way through. Alhought sometimes if the author writes it well enough, I don’t struggle with it. It really depends on the author too. πŸ™‚

      Reply
  4. Heidi

    Very informative post. It seemed that everything used to be in third person, but I am finding that I much prefer the first person narrative. I especially like romance stories told with a dual first person point of view. I also tend to be a fan of the stream of conscious view point, but I know it’s not for everyone.

    Reply
    • Lover Of Romance

      Thank you Heidi. Oh I know, when I first started reading fiction, romance especially, every book I read was in 3rd. Only in more recent years have I seen more in 1st perspective. It definitely took me a while to adjust to it and honestly I am still not used to it. It takes a few chapters before I can even get into a book because its not one my brain is used to reading. I do prefer that if its 1st POV, I like it to be dual so we can see both sides to the hero and heroine since that is a bit similar to third perspective.

      Reply
  5. kimbacaffeinate

    Wonderful post. You did a great job of explaining them. For me it depends on the genre, but for romance first person/dual narrative is my favorite.

    Reply
    • Lover Of Romance

      Thank you!! I can see why the first person is a favorite, although if its 1st person, I prefer the dual alternative POV. My favorite is third person since that is what I have read the majority of and what I feel the most at ease with.

      Reply
  6. Blodeuedd

    They all work if done well, but yes I am certainly used to some more than others

    Reply
    • Lover Of Romance

      It is very true they all work, its why I think its important authors have to choose the right perspective. It really makes a difference.

      Reply
  7. Vik BookLover

    I will save this post and forever refer to it. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Lover Of Romance

      aww…thank you for stopping by, and hope you use this. Just compiled my thoughts and research from reading over the years.

      Reply
      • Vik BookLover

        I am a forever procrastinator and planned to do the same but just got sidetracked by a shiny new book so never did. πŸ™‚

        Reply
  8. A Novel Glimpse

    I love how you broke this down! I don’t think I’ve ever really read much second perspective other than when a character is talking directly to “you” for a few moments.

    Reply
    • Lover Of Romance

      Thank you darling!! 2nd perspective is one I haven’t ever read other than in non fiction books. It would be interesting to try one out though, it would be a unique experience.

      Reply
  9. Anna@herding cats&burning soup

    I don’t even notice first or 3rd POV. I always have to look up when someone asks. lol I’m fine with either as long as the author does it well. I HATE 2nd person. I’ve had a review book come with that and it was horrid. I DNF-d it because of the POV.

    Reply
  10. Zeee @ I Heart Romance & YA

    Oh boy, this topic is sooo good! I have a hard time identifying the type of POV except for first and third person. In first person, I usually see this in YA a LOT and since I read a lot of YA books, I find it perfect. I’m usually surprised when I read a YA in third person POV. Another POV I love in YA and even in adult romance is multiple POVs (usually 2) because I love taking a peek at the male POV! πŸ™‚ However, there are problems here when the male POV doesn’t sound male. LOL

    Reply
  11. Sophia Rose

    I don’t have a favorite, but like you I read mostly third person. Second person squigged me out the one time I experienced it. πŸ™‚

    Reply
  12. Carole's Random Life

    I am pretty sure that I have never read anything written from 2nd person. Great descriptions on all of these. I don’t really know that I have a favorite but seem to read a lot of first and third.

    Reply

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