Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Top 10 first person narratives

Kathryn Erskine was a lawyer for fifteen years before turning to her first love: writing.

Her debut novel, Quaking, was one of YALSA’s Top Ten Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers. She is the author of Mockingbird, winner of the 2010 American National Book Award for Young People's Literature.

One of Erskine's top ten first person narratives, as told to the Guardian:
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

What could be more fascinating than a story narrated by Death himself? Set in one of the most gruesome of human arenas, the Holocaust? In a real tour de force, Zusak has created empathy for our ultimate enemy, death. As cold as Death tries to be, there's a crack in his armor, a begrudging respect for humans, or at least good humans. One might even accuse him of caring about brave young Liesel, the book thief, who fiercely seeks knowledge and understanding in a time of agony and ignorance.
Read about another book on Erskine's list.

--Marshal Zeringue