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

Use this forum to discuss the February 2018 Book of the Month, "The Reel Sisters" by Michelle Cummings.
Post Reply
User avatar
Ria710
Posts: 452
Joined: 11 Jan 2020, 20:52
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 166
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-ria710.html
Latest Review: The Magic Lantern by Charles Townsend

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

Post by Ria710 »

Personally, it didn't matter to me that it was in present tense. And if it was in the past tense, I think I would have equally enjoyed the book.
User avatar
NovaFly
Posts: 99
Joined: 08 Feb 2019, 08:40
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 10
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-novafly.html
Latest Review: We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies by Matthew Tysz

Post by NovaFly »

I don't think the tense affected my experience very much.
User avatar
Damis Seres Rodriguez
Posts: 528
Joined: 17 Feb 2020, 14:34
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 46
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-damis.html
Latest Review: Cynthia and Dan by Dorothy May Mercer

Post by Damis Seres Rodriguez »

I am not a big fan of narrative in present tense, but it was okay for me. I had way more issues about the first person choice for all of them.
Radhika_puri
Posts: 265
Joined: 12 Apr 2020, 21:12
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 22
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-radhika-puri.html
Latest Review: Divided World by Kenneth Pickering

Post by Radhika_puri »

ACtually it doenot matter really. The story was good and i nevr have problem with tense thing.
VictorKE
Posts: 70
Joined: 11 Apr 2020, 12:02
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 153
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-victorke.html
Latest Review: The Hand Bringer by Christopher J. Penington

Post by VictorKE »

The present tense made ,The Reel Sisters more lively. I appreciate the author of this book for the nice job.
User avatar
Yearly Joy Besoy
Posts: 217
Joined: 09 May 2020, 04:57
Favorite Book: We are Voulhire: Someone Else's End
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 34
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-yearly-joy-besoy.html
Latest Review: Beating Death (resubmission) by Sean O’Banion

Post by Yearly Joy Besoy »

It's okay. The tense that the author used in the book did not impede my flow of diving in the story.
User avatar
Bookreviwer2020
Posts: 351
Joined: 16 Mar 2020, 08:18
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 120
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-bookreviwer2020.html
Latest Review: Puzzle of Fate by A. Reza Kamarei

Post by Bookreviwer2020 »

I guess it makes it more interesting, and it's as if we are with the character in the present. It is so normal to read past tense narration of things, so I guess reading in the present makes everything more unusual
Reading gives us somewhere to go when we have to stay where we are
User avatar
QiA
Posts: 18
Joined: 08 Dec 2019, 16:42
Favorite Author: Terry Pratchett
Currently Reading: Nine Perfect Strangers
Bookshelf Size: 31
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-qia.html
Latest Review: Masters and Bastards by Christopher J. Penington
fav_author_id: 2791

Post by QiA »

Freshly reviewed this insightful book! And the first person narration is one of the many positive aspects of this book. I like how the mixture of diary entry and thinking out loud puts me in the role of that character. Each character could've had a stronger voice to reflect their personalities and histories.
User avatar
Teddyquam
Posts: 175
Joined: 02 Feb 2020, 15:31
Currently Reading: We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies
Bookshelf Size: 27
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-teddyquam.html
Latest Review: Zonas de quema by Jorge P. Newbery

Post by Teddyquam »

Honestly, I barely even noticed. The tense you write in is a stylistic choice. We just so happen to view the past tense as the norm in writing when if you think about it, it makes more sense to write in the present tense as the character is experiencing things as we read along.
Do you ever feel like you spend too much time reading? Yeah. Me neither. :lol:
:reading-4:
Barbara Larkin
Posts: 243
Joined: 03 Mar 2020, 22:04
Currently Reading: The Raven Boys
Bookshelf Size: 55
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-barbara-larkin.html
Latest Review: We are Voulhire: The Flesh of the Mind by Matthew Tysz

Post by Barbara Larkin »

I don't usually see any problem with tense. This time was no exception. I think what makes it so uncomfortable is that you seem like you're doing the action or taking part in the story, or the author is telling you what you're doing, which it what makes it so weird.
User avatar
gelli_baranda
Posts: 162
Joined: 23 Feb 2020, 17:03
Favorite Book: Killing Abel
Currently Reading: Man Mission
Bookshelf Size: 34
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-gelli-baranda.html
Latest Review: We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies by Matthew Tysz

Post by gelli_baranda »

The usage of present tense is fine for me as well. It allowed me to fully immerse myself in the story happening real-time.
Happy reading,
Gelli xoxo
Magnify3
Posts: 1109
Joined: 23 May 2019, 14:46
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 45
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-magnify3.html
Latest Review: Love, Grandma by Ann Morris

Post by Magnify3 »

I don't think that I had a problem with the book having been written in the present tense.
User avatar
Gabrielle Sigaki
Posts: 1275
Joined: 19 May 2020, 10:08
Currently Reading: Business Basics BootCamp
Bookshelf Size: 279
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-gabrielle-sigaki.html
Latest Review: Zona: The Forbidden Land by Fred G. Baker

Post by Gabrielle Sigaki »

The present tense didn't really bother me. I even think it makes the book more livid and dynamic.
User avatar
Reader-247
Posts: 325
Joined: 10 May 2020, 08:12
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 21
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-reader-247.html
Latest Review: Randy the Irresistible by S M Goodier

Post by Reader-247 »

CommMayo wrote: 21 Feb 2018, 12:20 Funny, this didn't even register for me as I was reading the book. I guess I just get a little blind to tense. I know I have major issues switching back and forth between tenses in my own writing. It is a terrible habit I have to really watch myself about.
I didn't notice it either, thank goodness I am not alone :). I too do that with my wrting, we should stop though :D
Janet Kimetto
Previous Member of the Month
Posts: 1071
Joined: 12 Jan 2021, 15:24
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 81
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-janet-kimetto.html
Latest Review: Zona: The Forbidden Land by Fred G. Baker

Post by Janet Kimetto »

I love stories written in the present tense. I didn't even give it much thought, because I'm used to it. I like living the story with the character, in the present tense and in the first person!
“Be wary. Be clever. Be good.”
Rachel Gillig, One Dark Window
Post Reply

Return to “Discuss "The Reel Sisters" by Michelle Cummings”