You know, thinking about it, I read a lot of biographies that are first person, but when it comes to totally fictional books I tend to find first person off-putting. Not always, but generally speaking - no idea why!
In fanfic, I think you're right about the familiarity of the characters making it more comfortable to read. I certainly prefer Rodney when it's first person, as he's the one I'm most familiar with, though other characters are usually fine too. OC fics in first person are less attractive to me - so, yes, I think it's to do with familiarity! *g*
Of course, I'm reading a novel atm that is first person and not having any problem with it - hadn't even realised it was first person until I thought about it just now!!! - so, sometimes it isn't jarring in original fic!
Actually, the more I think about it, the more I think it's to do with genre more than anything. Something that reads like an autobiography will usually work for me in first person, but if it's sci-fi, fantasy or historical fiction, then not so much!
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In fanfic, I think you're right about the familiarity of the characters making it more comfortable to read. I certainly prefer Rodney when it's first person, as he's the one I'm most familiar with, though other characters are usually fine too. OC fics in first person are less attractive to me - so, yes, I think it's to do with familiarity! *g*
Of course, I'm reading a novel atm that is first person and not having any problem with it - hadn't even realised it was first person until I thought about it just now!!! - so, sometimes it isn't jarring in original fic!
Actually, the more I think about it, the more I think it's to do with genre more than anything. Something that reads like an autobiography will usually work for me in first person, but if it's sci-fi, fantasy or historical fiction, then not so much!