My book, Twilight, is written from Bella's perspective- first person. I think it being written from her point of view adds a lot to the book - because Edward's actions seem weird, rude, sweet, and puzzling all at the same time, Bella not knowing what each means adds more suspense to the book and makes people read more! If it had been written in second-person it would have sounded like an instruction booklet on how to tell who was a vampire and who wasn't! It would have lost Bella and her character, which I quite like because it has a very individual taste to it.
'I've decided what I want to do,' I told him. 'I want to hear more about you.'
With this small passage I can tell directly that the book is written in first person because Meyers uses 'I'. But in the next passage it's much more indirect.
'I didn't look up as I set my book on the table and took my seat, but I saw his posture change from the corner of my eye. He was leaning away from me, sitting on the extreme edge of his chair and averting his face like he smelled something bad.' No dialogue, but the perspective is still quite clear.
If it had been written in third-person omniscient it would have revealed Edward's feelings and lost all the great suspense the book has going for it, because, as I said before, the whole suspense relies on Edward and his puzzling actions and words. If you knew why he said this and that it would ruin it! Really, it would.
Third-person objective would have been just as bad. Bella's feelings give the book good feeling, the emotions setting the scene and meaningful looks saying it all. Imagine not knowing how Bella felt when Edward held his nose when sitting next to her? Not knowing if she felt offended, irritated, or even indifferent? it would be torture, really, especially for a nosy nature like mine.
All in all, I think Stephanie Meyers picked just the right narrative for the book. Fist Person is perfect in this case.
