'You' in narrative

[kcmay]

How do you feel about reading 'you' in narrative? For instance,

He turned off the light. The afterglow created a ghostly image, like when you're half-asleep and think someone's in the room with you.

As a reader, it jars me out of the story. I see a lot of writers doing it lately. I wonder what the allure is.

 

[Occlith]

When second person narrative is used suddenly within a story told from the third person perspective, I find it disruptive to the text. I usually notice this in the works of inexperienced writers.

 

[beer good]

That's not an example of second person narrative, though. That's just plain ol' generic you.

 

[abecedarian]

I always feel my Junior English teacher, Mrs. Washington, in my head whenever I read or write the generic you. It's one thing to speak that way with friends, but it has no place in formal writing.

 

[beer good]

Luckily, novels aren't formal writing.

 

[Peder]

It is at least disruptive to me -- by seemingly trying to drag me into the frame of the story -- but also sounds amateurish/lazy to me. Unless of course the intention is to present the narrator deliberately as having that speaking style. It sounds to me like he/she would probably also be chewing gum while speaking. But I was probably taught by the brother of Mrs. Washington.

 

[abecedarian]

Luckily, novels aren't formal writing.

True. Sort of. It just seems 'wrong' unless the novel is written in an open letter format. Mrs. W is hard to shake:innocent:

 

[beer good]

by seemingly trying to drag me into the frame of the story

Being caught up in a story is a bad thing now?

Every narrator has a voice, whether it's first, second or third person. It's part of what makes a novel a novel - how you tell a story is part of what the story is. Sometimes, that voice is that of a 19th century scholar. Sometimes it's not.

 

[beer good]

This article from 1953 looks interesting - anyone have access to JSTOR? I like the opening...

One can use an indefinite "You" sometimes, can't you?

 

[Peder]

Being caught up in a story is a bad thing now?

I think you know what I meant.

As for every narrator having a voice, of course they can. Even if it is the voice of a lazy writer that is desired. But yes, every writer can have the page they want.
In any event, I thought it was my reaction or opinnion that was requested, not a normative prescription.

 

[sparkchaser]

This article from 1953 looks interesting - anyone have access to JSTOR? I like the opening...

One can use an indefinite "You" sometimes, can't you?

I know someone who does. I'll see if I can get it for you.

 

[sparkchaser]

And I have it.