I have read two of these books, Atonement and Remains of the Day. They are two of my favourite books, written by two masters of writing. I like books with unreliable narrators as it makes the story more complex and challenges the reader to empathize with the narrator, or not!
Thank you for sharing this essay! I too hunger for an unreliable narrator, even if some of the stories leave me furious also. I watched Life of Pi many years ago, when it first came into the cinema, and as an adolescent I did not resonate with the movie (nor do I remember much). On the encouragement of this essay I will get my hands on the book. Thank you again!
I just rewatched the movie “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” with my youngest over the weekend. While told from the perspective of multiple characters, there is one scene in which Tuco (the “ugly”) is recounting his amiable relationship with his brother to Blondie” (the “good”). What he doesn’t know is that both Blondie and the audience have witnessed the true interaction between siblings in a previous scene. It is such an interesting character development step given the violence and brutality of the rest of the narrative. I’m not sure a modern director would have kept this segment, but the payoff is worth it.
I have read two of these books, Atonement and Remains of the Day. They are two of my favourite books, written by two masters of writing. I like books with unreliable narrators as it makes the story more complex and challenges the reader to empathize with the narrator, or not!
100% agree
Thank you for sharing this essay! I too hunger for an unreliable narrator, even if some of the stories leave me furious also. I watched Life of Pi many years ago, when it first came into the cinema, and as an adolescent I did not resonate with the movie (nor do I remember much). On the encouragement of this essay I will get my hands on the book. Thank you again!
Thank you, I'm glad I encouraged you to pick something up :)
I just rewatched the movie “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” with my youngest over the weekend. While told from the perspective of multiple characters, there is one scene in which Tuco (the “ugly”) is recounting his amiable relationship with his brother to Blondie” (the “good”). What he doesn’t know is that both Blondie and the audience have witnessed the true interaction between siblings in a previous scene. It is such an interesting character development step given the violence and brutality of the rest of the narrative. I’m not sure a modern director would have kept this segment, but the payoff is worth it.