Bognanni
uses first person narration, which adds tremendously to the story because it puts readers in Sebastian's shoes and allows us to learn all over again the wonders of gooey processed foods, high school crushes and ridiculously loud rock and roll.
The arcade game's attract screens include a picture of an aged Rastan sitting on a throne (brazenly aping the final shot of Conan the Barbarian from 1982), with
first person narration from Rastan about how he used to be a thief and a murderer, and that he will tell you of his days of high adventure.
After 6 novels narrated in the third person, Cornwell returns to
first person narration by Kay Scarpetta for this book, which I found easier to read, although the constant analysis of Kay's feelings and borderline paranoia did become tiresome.
Sarah is an amazing character, and
first person narration works perfectly here because she can think like other people, but she doesn't speak or listen like others.
It does not help that the film introduces the concept that Nick's
first person narration is the result of him first speaking to a sanatorium doctor (played by Jack Thompson) and then writing down his memories and recollections.
Whenever you tell a story, it is preferable to use
the first person narration.
I liked
the first person narration alternating between the 1970's and the present.
Part Two opens with
a first person narration: Peilan speaks and finally we hear her side of the story, starting with her early life in a small village in China outside Fuzhou.
First person narrations are sometimes hard to pull off but it works so well in this story.