Looking for novels (lit fic preferred, but open to any genre) with first-person narrators who have a strong, distinctive narrative voice. Could be distinctive based on narrator’s age, geography, ethnicity, education, personality, or whatever.
Examples of (IMHO) distinctive-voiced narrators:
* Humbert Humbert from Lolita (cultured but disturbed)
* Augie March from the Adventures of Augie March (blue-collar and philosophical)
* Yunior from The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao (vulgar with moments of depth)
* Stevens from The Remains of the Day (formal and repressed)
Examples of (IMHO) weak-voiced narrators:
* Offred from The Handmaid’s Tale
* The Narrator from Rebecca
* Frances from Conversations with Friends
* Death from The Book Thief
These are all books I really liked, so I don’t think a distinct narrative voice (or lack of one) can make a book good or bad. Narrators that are more straightforward and less stylistic are sometimes better at serving the theme or character development. I’m just in the mood for one with a strong, distinctive voice. Thanks!
by ProudTacoman