Each day when I drive over to my son’s school to pick him up I read a couple pages of whatever book I’m enjoying. Today, it was Empire Falls and I noticed something interesting.
Of course, I know I’m not the first to notice this, so please forgive may enthusiasm for the obvious.
The book is written from several points of view. It’s third person, but the tense changes with certain characters. I’m sure I’ve read other books like this, but they would have all been before I started writing fiction myself because I’m keen on noticing tense and person. It’s fascinating to me what an author chooses and if they employ this choice in most of their work.
The success of the device, I feel, is hinged on the storyline of the character in present tense. And it is successful due to Tick Roby’s story being the most unnerving of all the characters.
My only criticism so far would lay it the use of italics for large sections of the past. It’s not an easy font style to read and it leaves me wanting to skip those parts, though so far, I haven’t.
I’m very much liking this novel and would suggest it.
