How do you feel about the present tense in the book?

[ayoomisope]

I think quite a few authors have used present tense especially in stream of consciousness narration. So saying , I think the tense could be an intentional ruse , possibly a symbol to signify the ever changing , transforming nature of our lives, fates and characters. Past tense would be a dead end , fatalistic attitude to life, rendering flat characters with no scope for growth. However being in the present demands us to be aware , to be vigilant, to adapt to the vicissitudes of life.

Interesting. I've never thought of it this way. Your opinion on how the present provides an option to adapt and a possibility of growth could sometimes be desirable to some authors.

[DustinPBrown]

(Are you talking about a specific book?)
[This is really my opinion]
While a majority of writers and readers start out with past tense because it appears to be easier, some people have started moving on onto present tense because it's truly simpler; you may find it's a lot easier to use writing techniques such as metaphors and similes, as well as describing settings, feelings, etc.

This is a good point. Sometimes when you're writing, it can be really awkward to phrase some things, especially if you have to delve into the future or the past within the past tense. That's when you get into the infamous "had had had" territories, ha ha.

[Jeyasivananth]

I think quite a few authors have used present tense especially in stream of consciousness narration. So saying , I think the tense could be an intentional ruse , possibly a symbol to signify the ever changing , transforming nature of our lives, fates and characters. Past tense would be a dead end , fatalistic attitude to life, rendering flat characters with no scope for growth. However being in the present demands us to be aware , to be vigilant, to adapt to the vicissitudes of life.

Interesting. I've never thought of it this way. Your opinion on how the present provides an option to adapt and a possibility of growth could sometimes be desirable to some authors.

Thanks.

[Rosemary Okoko]

I liked that it was written in the present tense because it made me feel that I was right there with them.

[mingyums]

I felt that it took a bit of getting used to, so it wasn't my favourite choice at the beginning. However, when I got into the hang of it I did like it, it felt made the narrative more dynamic and lively. It's also now a feature of the book that I vividly remember.

[HeatherTasker]

I feel like present tense narration is the new trend in writing. I am reading more and more books written in that tense...

...and it drives me nuts. Perhaps I am a traditionalist who likes the comfort of past tense, but I can't help it. I think the present tense does give it this sense of "in the now" and urgency. However, I find that I keep looking for the author to slip up and lose their consistency. Maybe that's the English teacher in me. And when I am too busy trying to look for the verb tense mistake, I lose the storyline - the ultimate crime in reading.

So if I had to decide how I felt about it, I would have to say that I would discourage writers from using it unless they do so PERFECTLY. Otherwise, it sounds like a mess to me.

I'm with you. I really don't like reading in this tense, unless it's microfiction.

[Cristina Chifane]

I think the use of present tense is suitable for this book. There are many technical details about fly fishing and in a book that would have been only about fly fishing, such descriptions would have been given in the present tense. What I am trying to say is that it is perhaps a matter of register and finding the correct balance between fact and fiction. I see the present tense in this book having more than one function (generic, habitual, etc.). For me it is a good choice and I also noticed the use of the past tense for flashbacks so the balance between the two was a good thing.

[bluegreenmarina]

This can be a risky choice for an author, as they really have to be able to stay in the moment on behalf of their narrator. I am curious to read how it was handled in this book!

[CommMayo]

I think the use of present tense is suitable for this book. There are many technical details about fly fishing and in a book that would have been only about fly fishing, such descriptions would have been given in the present tense. What I am trying to say is that it is perhaps a matter of register and finding the correct balance between fact and fiction. I see the present tense in this book having more than one function (generic, habitual, etc.). For me it is a good choice and I also noticed the use of the past tense for flashbacks so the balance between the two was a good thing.

I feel the same way. Using present tense and while utilizing past tense for flashbacks is a great tool.

[Anirudh Badri]

Using the present tense in books is one of those little things that irks me unless there is a good reason for it. If the book is written like a diary, then it makes sense, but the choice of present tense for storytelling seems odd to me without a good reason.

[JPbrar]

I enjoyed the author's use of present tense in the book, as it gave a sense of immediacy to the novel. You could sense the change in the characters throughout the novel, and it allowed me, as the reader, to better empathize/connect with the characters.

[micoleon13]

I don't often find books written in present tense, but I personally find them a lot more difficult to get involved in and the story has to be worth it . I much prefer past tense to read.

[Jkhorner]

Generally I’d shy away from present tense because, as others have mentioned, it is very easy to mess up. If the author really did pull it off, then I wouldn’t mind trying to read this one, as tense should fade into the subconscious as you read.

[GabbiV]

I like present tense because you are experiencing the environment with the characters. I like that past tense would be good for historical novels or genres similar to that. I think that some people are used to the past tense that when a book is written in present tense it makes it more difficult to read.

I 100% agree with you, I enjoy experiencing the story along with the characters, especially with books full of actions - I feel like it helps with the pacing more often than not. As a kid reading an action-packed book written in the present tense, I felt more adhered to the characters and stressed with them over their problems.

[Roggyrus]

The style here is one that describes the scene while the occurrence is in progress. We are only accustomed to narrations of stories that already happened, as though a recollection, a reminiscence. And as we always hear the start of the story "Once upon a time" then it must be told in the past tense.