My impression is that it switches between first person narrator (prisoner) and 3rd person narrator just so we can know the rest of the story outside his head. Because what he has to say is often pretty weird and unreliable.

Meaning, it's still him always telling the story, right?
So Spoilers, i guess:




meaning all the attachment we form for the other characters is kind of...fake

[mstigerlily]

No not him telling the story. I didn't get a fake feeling at all. I think the story is primarily meant to be told in third person. I think the purpose of hearing him speak periodically was to gain sympathy for him as a character from his POV.

I would have agreed with you, but when I re-read the final chapter....it's definitely the man in the cell talking about the White Haired Boy out in the yard as the horses were running. There's just no way he could have known anything about that. So going on that notion, I have to assume everything outside the prison is being told by the man in the cell (thus, all in his head).
I would love to be wrong, so if you could cite examples, please do!

[mstigerlily]

Hmmm. Well I'll have to reread. But I don't think there was any other way for her to truly get inside his head without switching between 1st and 3rd person. There is no way for him to know most of the things that happen outside the prison, thus the reason for the 3rd person narrative. I imagine a lot of stuff he says is in his head, but I trusted the other narrative as stated. Still, interesting points to bring up. It doesn't affect my feeling for the story though. It's definitely a rough story though as far as content, it's not for everyone!