Monday, September 14, 2009
Bright Lights, Big City by Jay McInerney - TW- M/Th. P. 3
Mclnerney's use of a second-person "you" narration in the novel is considered one of the book's most interesting features. What effect does this way of telling a story have on you as a reader? (Post one comment using MLA/Html format-no less than 300 words.)
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Jay McInerney has a certain style of writing that is evident in Bright Lights, Big City. He writes the entire novel using the “you” narration, making the reader feel more in tune with the character. The thoughts of the main character are then forced on to you, and you feel somewhat a part of the story. However, there is still the question that asks why he may have decided to use this style. When authors write a novel from a characters point of view, one of their goals is for the reader to understand the character a little better. McInerney may have wanted his character a little more likeable and understandable. If he succeeds, the reader can then enjoy the story more since it’s being told through the eyes of a loved character. The author also may have wanted this to contribute to his style of writing. It is very direct, to the point, and he spends little time describing scenery while spending more time on the characters thoughts. When using the “you” narration, he magnifies that style and makes it more prominent in the book. Lastly, the author could have just wanted to put the reader in the character’s shoes. If they could hear what he heard, feel what he felt, and touch what he touched, the reader could actually feel a part of the story. This is always a good element to include in a novel because it makes everything feel more real and possible. Readers often take novels as a way to get out of their own world and live in another. Bright Lights, Big City makes that possible and more easily done. Overall, the book allowed the reader to become one with the story and enjoy their read. It made a drug user, lazy worker, and exclusive guy more likeable and did a great job of doing so. It kept the reader interested and always wanting to turn the page and figure out what they, the character, would do next. These aspects of the novel turn a simple school assignment into a read that may be unforgettable.
Bright Lights, Big City is a novel about a man who is trapped in between two worlds; the enthralling, fantastical world of his night life and the more realistic, blue collar working day he tediously plows through. The writer, McInerney chooses to recount this story by using the second-person narrative. This form of narration is both unusual and effective and is one of the main features that the book is known for. This unique style of writing tells the reader something about the narrator or main character. Referring to himself in the second person is red flag that something is wrong. It is not normal to refer to oneself in the second person and although this does not mean the main character is mentally unstable, it does mean that everything is not quite right in his mind He appears to be figuring out his problems by talking and referring to himself in the second person which signifies his distress and perplexity over his situation. The use of the second-person has a compelling effect on the reader, it makes them feel sympathetic to this convincing character and crafts the basis on which the novel builds its interest off of. McInerney’s exploitation of the second-person “you” gives the reader the impression that the main character is talking to them, and this creates a sort of intimacy between the reader and the main personality. This intimacy renders the confusion and distress the main character is feeling more realistic and easier to relate too, therefore making the novel a more interesting read. The second person narrative forces the reader to imagine themselves in the main protagonist’s place. Every time the main character makes a decision, says or does something and then retells it in the second person, it makes the reader feel as if they have just done that drug, rejected for the thousandth time, or lied about the whereabouts of Amanda. Using the second-person “you” is a very interesting and gripping way of unfolding Bright Lights, Big City to the reader.
I agree to what Hulai said about Jay McInerney’s use of the second person in the novel Bright Lights, Big City.She stated that his use of style was used to show the relationship between the character and the reader and I totally agree with that point. The use of the second person in this novel made my mind drift away and wonder as a reader. It made me wonder how and why an author would use such a unique style of writing in the novel. The use of the word “you” in this novel impacted the meaning of it tremendously. This writing tool expanded the dept and the meaning that this novel upheld. Within using second person in this novel I have gained more intellect on to what the author’s main purpose was for writing this novel. Usually the author’s main point in a novel is to teach the reader a lesson or to show the reader about what not to do. The role of the second person in the novel Big Lights, Big City signifies a lot to McInerney’s style of writing. However Jay McInerney wanted his reader to feel more connected and in touch with the characters in the story. Having a connection to the character in a book is a great aspect and it shows that the author has done their job. Maybe McInerney wanted his reader’s to put themselves in the main character’s shoes and experience what he experienced as they went on reading more into the novel. This novel has showed me how different styles of writing can play many roles within a piece of writing. Jay McInerney’s style of writing has left me still wondering why and eager to read more in of his novels and to find out how he was able to accomplish writing such a terrific novel that has inspired many.
Jay McInerney used a very good technique while writing Bright Lights, Big City. He used only second-person or “you” narration. I actually liked the fact that the story was written this way because I actually felt like I was in the story and like it was actually my life being told from my own point of view. It took me a while to get used to it because the character is a man. Overall though it makes you understand the story better because “you are actually in it and living the life of the character.” Jay McInerney may have wanted us the readers to understand the character and to actually feel what he is feeling. As the reader I felt like I was the character and as if I was in another world living another life. I really understood what he was going through and how he felt. For example when he got bitten by the animal I could feel the pain he was going through. Also when he was about to get fired I felt nervous as if I was the one was sitting in Clara’s office. Jay McInerney also does not mention the characters’ name not even once throughout the entire novel. I think this is because the character is probably Jay McInerney himself or he could have also done this so that the readers would be eager to find out if he mentions who he really is at the end of the novel. Jay McInerneys’ technique, of writing the book in second-person, really makes the story seem realistic and personally it made me want to keep reading until the last page. This really is one of the most interesting and unique features throughout the entire novel. It is the only way in which the reader and the character can connect and understand each other.
Jay McInerney, a creative writer, is the author of Bright Lights, Big City. The reason why I say that he is a creative writer is because of the style of writing that he used in his book. In his book he puts the story’s point of view in the second person. He does this by starting every sentence with “you”. While reading this book it made me wonder why he would put so much effort into completing this book, while continuing to use this form of writing. However, while reading the book the question soon came to answer itself. When I first started reading the book, I was really taken aback on how interested I was in the book. It was like I was reading a book about me. I felt that I was reading a story of me. It was like he gave me a whole new knowledge, personality, and state of being and that I do not have. It was as if I was reading a story about myself. I also felt like I was being given a new experience or memory that I have not actually lived in my life. This leads me to say that I believe Jay McInerney wrote this book to give readers a character they can enjoy and make their own. For instance, when u read a book you may sometimes get confused on what the main character looks like. However, in this book you already know what you look like, so all you have to do is just create the setting and you are there. Another reason why I think he wrote the book this way was because he wanted people to feel the book as if they are there. As they picture themselves in the scene, readers will feel a sense of belonging to the book. This way readers can own the book and be able to claim a character as their own.
I agree with both Hulai and Asia about Jay McInerney’s use of the second person in the novel Bright Lights, Big City. They both stated that his use of style was used to show the relationship between the character and the reader and I whole heartily agree with that point. The use of the word “you” in the text made me the reader feel as if I were in the text myself. When reading the novel Bright Lights, Big City the question (what inspired the author to write in second person came to mind). While reading Jay McInerney’s Bright Lights, Big City I gained so much more respect for authors who write in second person. I can not wait to read more of his novels.
By writing in the second person Jay McInerney made his main character more relatable than most authors, and makes the reader connect with the main character. I think that he wrote his book in second person so the readers could feel something for the main character. I think that if Bright Lights Big City were not in second person, a reader would feel less sympathetic toward the character. I believe that if Bright Lights Big City was in anything but the second person the character would be unlikable and redundant. When you first start to read Bright Lights Big City, it is very disorienting, because many people have not read a book that has been written in the second person. It takes a few chapters to get used to, but once you do, you realize how much you can relate to the character. There are many reasons for this. For one Jay McInerney writes in short, choppy, simple sentences. By doing this, it makes the book more casual and less formal, which is how many of us think. When people think about things in their head they do not give a lot of detail, they usually have thoughts that are straight and to the point, and this is how Jay McIerney writes. What also helps the reader become closer to the character, is that a lot of times when the character is talking to someone he drifts off and stops listening to the person. Many people do that very often. When reading this book the reader also starts to feel as if they are the character. They feel almost as if what the character is experiencing, they themselves are experiencing as well. Writing a book in second person connects the character to the reader. When I finished this book I felt closer to the character than when I started, and I wanted to know how the main character ends up.
Jay McInerney’s use of the second person “you” in Bright Lights, Big City is a very unique style of writing. I do not remember ever, reading a book with this type of narration. I agree with both Asia and Hulai, that Jay McInerney’s writing makes the reader feel more in tune with the narrator. It gives the reader a personal connection with the main character. When the main character (who has no name) says, “On Bleeker Street you catch the scent of the Italian bakery” (9), he is sharing pleasant senses that the reader is encountering at that moment because of the “you.” It felt like the story was reality, that it was the present day. So the second-person style used by Jay McInerney has a positive effect of making the reader have a close feeling toward the author. At the same time, he gives a negative feeling. In Bright Lights, Big City the reader encounters many disturbing scenes. The scenes in bars, when he is taking drugs, and when there is conflict between people are all very intense. I remember one scene on a bus when a homeless man is harassing people. He sits on an old woman and he doesn’t get off her. Here, when the author uses second person I almost jumped to my feet. He writes, “You stand up. At the same time, the man stands up. He brushes his coat with his hands and then walks down to the far end of the car. You feel silly standing there. The old lady is dabbing at her eyes with a Kleenex. You would like to see if she’s all right, but at this point it wouldn’t do much good. You sit down.” (13) In this scene, of chapter two, I felt extremely awkward because it felt to me, as a reader, that the narrator was literally telling me to stand up. I do not like to be told what to do when I am reading a book! This scene in Bright Lights, Big City made the author sound like he is speaking to me, in person, that creates a connection, but it also feels like he is manipulating my brain. These kinds of scenes occur throughout the book. I do not want to take drugs or alcohol, so I do not appreciate when the main character makes me involved into his addictions such as, when he writes, “At the other end of the bar you order a vodka. You finish it and order a second….” (45) In conclusion, sometimes the second-person “you” is enjoyable but other times I felt like I was being told to do things that aren’t enjoyable for me.
Jay McInerney’s use of the second person “you” in his novel Bright Lights, Big City had several effects on me as a reader. One of the main and most obvious effects was my emotional connection with the main character. Many stories are written in the third or first person, which by no means limit the quality of the story, but in some situations make a story boring because I ask myself, “Why do I care about this person?” In this story the character receives blow after blow of painful experiences as well as funny ones, and because “I” am the receiver of these experiences, I feel them more and become more involved in the story. Making me feel involved in the story is a great way to hold my attention, keep me absorbed, and expand my short attention span. Another effect of the use of the second person was just variation. I cannot remember the last time when I read a story in the second person. Most stories are about someone but this one was about me, in a sense. That change was just as forceful in connecting me with the story as it was interesting in itself. It was strange yet interesting. The second person use also brought out occasional anger and frustration in me. I wanted to yell at the author, “How dare associate ‘you’ with that character’s actions. That is not something I would ever do! Even in fiction I would never do it!” But these reactions only made the story more enjoyable and I ended up laughing at them. Before this book I never even thought of using the second person to tell a story. In fact, I did not even know it was possible! But now I will definitely use this strategy in future assignments and I hope to read more books written in the second person.
Jay McInerney used a very good technique while writing Bright Lights, Big City. He used only second-person or “you” narration. I actually liked the fact that the story was written this way because I actually felt like I was in the story and like it was actually my life being told from my own point of view. It took me a while to get used to it because the character is a man. Overall though, it makes you understand the story better because “you are actually in it and living the life of the character.” Jay McInerney may have wanted us, the readers, to understand the character and to actually feel what he is feeling. As the reader I felt like I was the character and as if I was in another world living another life. I really understood what the character was going through and how he felt. For example when he got bitten by the animal I could feel the pain he was going through. Also when he was about to get fired I felt nervous as if I was the one was sitting in Clara’s office. Jay McInerney also does not mention the main characters’ name, not even once throughout the entire novel. I think this is because the character is probably Jay McInerney himself or he could have also done this so that the readers would be eager to find out if he mentions who he really is at the end of the novel. By using this technique, of writing the book in second-person, McInerney really made the story seem realistic and personally it made me want to keep reading until the last page. This really is one of the most interesting and unique features throughout the entire novel. It is the only way in which the reader and the character can connect and understand each other.
Jay McInerney has a very unique style of writing and his form of using the word “you” gives the reader a sort of connection. When you first pick up the book and start reading it the “you” narration can get annoying but, as time progresses on, you begin to realize that you are he. You feel as though that you need the soldiers marching around inside of your head because of that stressful firing you just faced. If you know how the character feels inside the book then you get a better understanding. It is as if you had a horrible but undeniable best friend that set you up with his cousin that you can’t help to like. Whenever you read another book like, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone for instance. All you can do is sit there and imagine what it would be like to be in that situation of being the most popular kid in another world you had no idea about.
You just feel as though that you are watching the situation only and you are not really there. McInerney just has that connection with the reader. In the book, Bright Lights Big City, you feel as though that you want to know what you are going to do next, after all some of us actually don’t know what we are going to do next. We only let ourselves go with the flow of life. Who knew that we were going to stand up and yell out Amanda’s name because of all the hurt she has caused you to go through? But then again, how did you even end up at the fashion show, you don’t even like models. The point is that without his use of the “you” narrative we probably would not have gotten the same interpretation if it were done in first person narrative.
Bright Lights, Big City was the first time that I encountered the second person in a novel. After reading through the book, I understood three reasons Jay McInerney would write in this format. One was that it made it seem like the reader was the main character, creating a sort of personal connection to the book. This helped keep me interested in the story, and also made the book more realistic. Another reason was that it gave Bright Lights its own signature style, for most novels today either use the first or third person. Finally, the third reason to write this way is that it conceals the identity of the main character, which adds a certain level of mystery to it. As for the effect the second person had on me, I would say it helped me feel engaged and captivated by the obstacles that the main character encounters, and the way he deals with them. It made the character seem human to me, instead of a fictional person who you can't identify with whatsoever. In a way, it makes you feel sorry for the main character, who, in the course of the book, gets fired, loses his wife, and is forced to re-evaluate his entire lifestyle. The second person also changes the way you think of reading. You have to adapt to it, and learn to understand that this is you that the narrator is addressing. This was at first, a challenge for me, because I had never experienced this type of writing before. However, once I had learned to do this, I started to really enjoy the book, and began to admire the second person. It was a nice, refreshing change from what I was used to, and made the book much more interesting to me. I believe that you have to applaud McInerney for going in this direction, for it shows his creativity. Bright Lights, Big City wouldn't be the same book if not for the second person, and it certainly wouldn't be as enjoyable.
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