Books by Patricia Cornwell

Re: writing in 1st Person (Scarpetta telling the story)

by jknnej on Thu Nov 26, 2009 7:13 pm

I, too, completely agree-I just began reading these novels a few months ago and I just started Blow Fly. I am SO disappointed that I no longer hear from Kay herself. Without her narration, the book means nothing to me. I don't want to be in the killer's head and hear their thoughts-Cornwell could just as easily used dialogue and inference to accomplish what she wanted to, I think. The reason I love these novels is because of her and I am very disappointed. Please, Patricia-give us Kay in first person again. I feel like I've lost a best friend. :(

Re: writing in 1st Person (Scarpetta telling the story)

by kimhays on Wed Sep 30, 2009 3:04 pm

You are right Lenkster...we do get to know the other characters much better this way, and that is a good thing. I'm sure I will get used to it and love Patricia Cornwell again! I hope so anyway, it has been a struggle to get through some of the books, I am re- reading some now and they are getting better.

Re: writing in 1st Person (Scarpetta telling the story)

by BazzaDarwin on Tue Sep 22, 2009 10:56 pm

And Blowfly, which is the book PC started writing in the third person, could not have happened in the first person for obvious reasons (ie Kay only re-encounters Benton in the last few pages). We would miss completely the background to his reappearance.

Like many, I found it difficult at first but am used to it now. Lee Child (Jack Reacher series) is another who has written in the first and third person in different books. Jonathan Kellerman has done so in the same book with Dr Alex Delaware narrating in the first person when he's the central character but the story switches to the third person when other characters are involved away from Alex.

Re: writing in 1st Person (Scarpetta telling the story)

by Banana on Tue Sep 22, 2009 5:08 pm

I agree. I loved the first person narratve but I really like knowing what's going on inside all the other characters heads. I don't think the stories could have progressed with real legitimacy without thr third person.

Re: writing in 1st Person (Scarpetta telling the story)

by Lenkster on Sun Sep 20, 2009 4:06 pm

Hi kimhays,

If you check Q & A on this web site, you'll find out, that PC said she felt that writing in 1st person was limitating her on what she could write about the other characters. I found it very hard at first as well, but later on I have got used to it, and now I would not have it any other way. Its interesting to "get into other characters minds" anyway. LOL

writing in 1st Person (Scarpetta telling the story)

by kimhays on Fri Sep 18, 2009 11:12 am

Am I the only one who wishes Patricia Cornwell would go back to her original writing format?? I thought the books were so much better when they were written in first person, or Kay Scarpetta telling the story. I would love to know why she changed this and I wish so much she would go back to it! I found the books much more enjoyable that way!