Christine Kohler

Nov 18, 2012 1:39 AM EST

I realize fiction is by its nature not fact, but it still needs to contain truth, IMO. I've been conned, lied to for good and bad reasons, sometimes I base decisions on what I'm told. Once I catch a liar I never trust them again, and that carries over to my reading. Don't enjoy being deceived by a person in my life, or by an author.
Your blog does a good job of presenting this lesson for writers, makes it all clear. This felt reliable. Well done.

- Pat Hughes

Nov 18, 2012 5:31 AM EST

Thank you, Pat!

- Christine Kohler

Nov 18, 2012 6:48 AM EST

I recently picked up Bret Easton Ellis's AMERICAN PSYCHO at a used-book sale, not knowing about its grisly, graphic violence. The narrator's unreliability isn't made clear on p. 1, but I had a growing suspicion as I read stream-of-consciousness contradictions that the crimes hadn't actually happened and were the fantasies of a delusional psychotic. But maybe not. We never find out for sure.

- Jackie Horsfall

Nov 18, 2012 7:25 AM EST

Jackie, did you feel satisfied or unsettled at the end of the story? Did you ever sympathize with the main character?

I wonder if the narrator was an unsympathetic character throughout?

This is why I don't like anti-heroes, especially in children's lit. The author works at making a disreputable character sympathetic to the reader. If the reader identifies with the character, then it's easy to cross the line in our own moral judgements to justify immoral actions.

- Christine Kohler

Nov 18, 2012 10:02 AM EST

Actually, I felt creeped out at the end of American Psycho. The main character portrays himself as a wealthy young investment banker, but by the story's end I wasn't even sure if that was the truth. The book is a head game, for sure, and a brilliant example of an unreliable narrator.

- Jackie Horsfall

Nov 18, 2012 11:43 AM EST

Thanks for telling us about this example, Jackie. I'll pass reading this adult novel because of the "grisly graphic details." I don't watch "Hannibal Lector" type movies--can't stand the nightmares. I'm a very visual person.

However, I looked up AMERICAN PSYCHO and found some interesting info about it that may weigh differently for others trying to decide whether to read it:

1. It's a social commentary. The violence is not meant to be gratuitous, but rather a reflection of the violence in our present day society.

2. It's curious that S&S cancelled the contract. I don't know what stage this happened. Or if it happened because of controversy. The author ended up getting Vintage to publish his novel.

3. It's part of a series. A movie was made from the novel.

- Christine Kohler

Nov 19, 2012 4:54 AM EST

I love unreliable narrators. They make me think as I read. The world of the story (and reality) is filtered through the narrator and it's up the the reader to decide what is true and what isn't. A good writer will leave clues for the reader, but this doesn't necessarily mean that there is a conclusive answer. In Poe's "Ligeia" the narrator, in telling his story, unintentionally gives clues about his mental state. Here's a man who has no clue where or how he met his beloved wife Ligeia. Hmm. I can overlook a little forgetfulness, but this isn't normal. But Ligeia isn't exactly normal--the narrator portrays her as a living mystery, larger than life, steeped in arcane knowledge, a woman who seems to control all aspects of his life. We learn later that he uses opium which certainly casts his perception of reality into question. Ligeia becomes ill then dies and he marries Rowena, whom he claims to loathe. She falls ill as well and is mysteriously poisoned? Or is she? The narrator claims that he saw the drop fall out of thin air into Rowena's glass.How is the reader to interpret this? Later Rowena dies, but seems to metamorphose into his dead wife Ligeia, whose will the narrator believed extended beyond the grave. Is the narrator crazy? Is the opium to blame? Or did it really happen as he claims? What is real and what isn't?

- Jo Ann Hinkle

Nov 20, 2012 5:56 PM EST

I have not read Poe's "Ligeia" but you make me want to, Jo Ann! I would think the rules for unreliable characters in adult lit might be different than children's lit, even YA. In children's lit writing can't be as oblique/obscure/subtle. However, YA is rapidly becoming more like adult lit, so I wouldn't say 'never.'

I challenge someone to cite an unreliable narrator in children's lit, YA, included, where the the reader had no clue it's an unreliable narrator until well into the story.

- Christine Kohler

Jul 09, 2013 7:06 PM EDT

I read YOU DON'T KNOW ME by David Klass for an ALAN panel I'll be on Nov. 2013 at NCTE in Boston. It has an unreliable narrator. btw, I loved the book.

- Christine Kohler

Feb 06, 2020 2:47 PM EST

One unreliable narrator is a dog, the lovable cow dog Hank who tells us how wonderful he is at solving problems. (Hank the Cowdog series.)

- Karen Meyer

Feb 06, 2020 3:47 PM EST

I haven't read HANK THE COWDOG, but it's a huge favorite for elementary children in Texas. Thank you for adding this, Karen! And congratulations on your new MG novel CHOOSING SIDES, showing light on an interesting piece of Ohio (and national) history.

- Christine Kohler