A review by mattdube
Narratology: Introduction to the Theory of Narrative by Mieke Bal

4.0

It's not as if this book has a lot in it to surprise-- I think most people who come to it know what they are getting into, a famously "systematic" take on narrative theory, with a share of complicated symbols, etc. But despite some sort of short-sighted statements, like the claim that a narrative is a among other things, a text with a first and last word, this is a remarkably durable book, and one that seems at least open to the possibility that readers process texts as they go along, not only at the end.... this is important to me, at least, and not only because I think it really reflects the process of reading anything longer than Poe's famous one-hour short story.

I like, too, the way that Bal dispenses with that sort of ludicrous when you think about it claim that stories are consistent in their point of view. Or that they should be.

Really, a wonderful book that is, if anything, even more revolutionary than she thinks.

Matt