Sears begins with a paragraph of dialogue, which, naturally is in first person. In chapter 2 under Sears’ named subheading, Straub fascinates me with his narratorial dexterity. Sears James is introduced in his own subheaded chapter (43ff) in this way: “…Ricky honored tradition by waiting… to ask Sears the question that had been on his mind for two weeks” (43), showing that we’re starting out in Ricky’s head and then moving to Sears’: “She irritated Sears…,” “Sears approved…” (44). First-person story embedded in omniscient third Yet he still pulls in close with phrases such as, “My God, thought Ricky: he can do whatever he wants…” (34). This first instance of head-hopping establishes the third person Straub is using as external omniscience. The first paragraph, after telling of Ricky’s appreciation of Sears James’ home and library, states: “But they felt it: each of them, Ricky Hawthorne perhaps more so than the others, had wished to possess such a place for himself” (31, emphasis mine). With the next subheading, “Frederick Hawthorne,” chapter 1, you would think the limited subjectivity would continue. Part One, section I, “Milburn Observed Through Nostalgia”-a sort of prologue-introduces Ricky Hawthorne with more external description: “What he chiefly liked to observe was Milburn itself…” (28).

Through chapter 6, Wanderley’s thoughts and actions are still being described externally: “He supposed that David…,” “The girl probably knew he was holding the knife…” (24) these surmisings stick to a limited, subjective POV, but we still don’t know whether it’s omniscient. Straub finally names him “Don Wanderly,” an author, on pages 11–12. Straub provides a hint of external narration with “She leaned back into the seat, waiting for him to do whatever he wanted” (9)-a reason the man could not know. The filtering continues in chapter 3: he “wished,” “saw” (9). In the second scene he identifies himself as the nephew of Edward Wanderley (7). The narrator uses omniscient technique of filtering right off (“he thought” ). (Which is to say, we can’t tell whether the narrator is omniscient or close third.) Straub’s use of third person subjective (from the unnamed man’s point of view) quickly becomes apparent, but it’s not clear for some time whether the narrator is external or internal to the story. Discovering the book’s POVĬhapter 2 of the Prologue (3ff) presents in an opening frame a man who has abducted a young girl.

Is this because it’s written in omniscient POV? That’s not the only reason, but it’s a primary one.Īs I mentioned in Third Person Subjective Omniscient POV in Hell House, sometimes you must read for a bit before you fully discover what POV the author is using. Peter Straub’s Ghost Story is one of the best horror novels I’ve ever read.

Ghost story by peter straub