Why We Love Unreliable Narrators

[@JesstheBookFreak]

I like unreliable narrators especially when it's unexpected because it makes me reevaluate the story from a new erhh more true perspective. The books recs I've read are ones I've enjoyed too. ( My cousin Rachel, life of pi, Lolita, gone girl, the catcher in the rye, we have always lived in the castle) ❤

[@PageTurnersWithKatja]

That's great to hear, Jess. I think I'll start with My Cousin Rachel.

[@zoezheng1908]

fan of unreliable narrator too! I think every fan of unreliable narrator has one book that first hit us with a revelation: oh it is not what i think it is! And all the sudden, the story stop being writer's solo dance, it became a chess game between writer and reader, an active game. All the thrilling and fun aside, it can also provide a deeper understanding into human nature, how our mind limit and expand our perception at the same time. My favorite type of unreliable narrator is not the bias one, i love the twisted one, the one who don't acknowledge the difference between their mind and the reality. They are not trying to deceive us intentionly but they are not totally innocent either. The classical one would be in Pale Fire. Nabokov is king of unreliable narrotor!

[@PageTurnersWithKatja]

Thank you; Pale Fire is definitely on my reading list now. I'm so curious! 🧐😊

[@zoezheng1908]

@@PageTurnersWithKatja Definitely try Pale Fire, it's really complicated but truly fun time for anyone who love literary puzzle and untraditional writting form. 😛

[@CharlieBrookReads]

I am not always a fan of unreliable narrators but there are some I love particularly DDM. Always interesting to hear your thoughts Katja 😊

[@PageTurnersWithKatja]

Thanks, Charlie!

[@jenniferlovesbooks]

So many of those recommendations i have really enjoyed! I prefer an unreliable narrator who doesn't see their own unreliability. The Remains of the Day is a great shout.

[@PageTurnersWithKatja]

Me too. I just have beef with the intentional ones 😆 There are so many I haven't read! I'm excited to get to them ✨️

[@reading_MOVIES]

Great video. Interesting topic too. One book missing from your list, 'The Sense of an Ending' by Julian Barnes. Short read which i couldnt put down which explores the unreliable narrator idea in a novel way. Read it so many times, it tightly written whereby no paragraph is wasted and is integral to the plot. Nice cover too. Probably somewhere between a naive, biased and distracted narrator. Essentially human.

[@PageTurnersWithKatja]

Thank you! Actually, that sounds so familiar! Thanks for the recommendation; I'll add it to my list.

[@novelideea]

I think I agree with the Biased or Naive narrator being my favorite type. I really appreciate the lack of intension behind misleading narrative. I just read Rebecca West's Return of the Soldier - narrated by a cousin of another of the characters and she was biased unreliable.Have you read it? I didn't end up loving the story.

[@PageTurnersWithKatja]

I've not read Return of the Soldier, but might skip adding it to my reading list. My TBR is massive 😅

[@novelideea]

@@PageTurnersWithKatja The great thing about it is it is short! under 200 pages. BTW - I read Samurai's Garden! (not an unreliable narrator, just came to mind !

[@PageTurnersWithKatja]

I've not heard of that one before. Did you enjoy it?

[@novelideea]

@@PageTurnersWithKatja everything except the sex scene and the thinking about the sex after,😅 It was slow, and thoughtful, and philosophical

[@novelideea]

I would not enjoy Collins as a narrator (too cringy), but I might enjoy Mrs. Bennet or Miss Bingley whose prejudices would be rewarding to see foiled or fulfilled.

[@PageTurnersWithKatja]

I can barely imagine it because it would be so skewed 😂 Mrs Bennet would be all like, and then my youngest made the best match - of course not in the best way (too small a wedding) but she's shrewd like her mother so it all worked out in the end 🤭

[@novelideea]

@@PageTurnersWithKatja 🤣

[@novelideea]

I really like your hair today.

[@PageTurnersWithKatja]

Thank you 😊💛