Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Top Ten Settings I'd Like To See More Of

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and Bookish


Top Ten Settings I'd Like To See More Of (or at all)

1) Under The Sea - I love when books have scenes that take place under the water, whether it be mermaids, scuba diving or sustainable cities in clear domes on the ocean floor.

2) Gothic Mansions - ManderleyChâteau Valmy or even Thornfield Hall, are all huge rambling estates with big creepy houses that became almost a character in their stories. I want more of them.

3) Australia - Whether it be deep in the bush, or along the ocean, I adore reading books by Australians that take place in their country (which is also a continent). 

4) Traveling the globe - Central America, Europe, or a far off place that is completely different, I love when the setting of a story is travel. When it is about someone leaving their home and exploring somewhere else, wherever that may be. 

5) Dystopian/Sci-fi books set in recognizable locations - This is what I like to call The Planet of the Apes effect. (Ignore that statement if you've never seen that movie.) What I mean, is that I am particularly fascinated when a book takes place in the future, but you can still see signs of what once was. For instance, Divergent is set in Chicago and a lot of the original city still remains - but it also isn't the same. That type of setting gives books a realistic quality that both fascinates and creeps me out.

6) Thisby - One day I will find this island and watch Sean race for myself. But until that happens, I would love to read anything set in such a fantastic place: where the characters mirror the island and the sea, and I can sense the wind and the rain and the salt and the sand. Whenever I open The Scorpio Races, I'm pretty sure that I can feel the setting through the pages of the book. 

7) The world of witches, wizards and Hogwarts (after the Dark Lord is defeated, of course) - Like most people, I was fascinated by the magical world that JK Rowling created, and the fact that it is just under our noses, but most muggles will never know it's there. Maybe it really does exist? 

8) In my backyard - Okay this will sound selfish, but isn't it always fun to read a book set in a place you know? Whether you've lived there, or visited. I especially love books set in New England that can capture the feel of a small town. Because I know the place so well, the story becomes even more real to me. 

9) Well imagined fantasy worlds - I am fascinated by an author's ability to create an entire world in their head, with a landscape, society, culture, politics and people. Then describe it in words to their readers. Some of my favorite recent fantasy worlds are Lumatere, Attolia and Eretz.

10) New York City - As I start planning for BEA, I've been thinking how much I love books set in the city. What are some of your favorites? One of mine is about a rocker and a classical musician. 



What are your favorite book settings? 



32 comments:

  1. I loved reading about Australia in The Fraction of the Whole, but I think it may be the only time I've read something from "down under."

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  2. Australia is on my list as well! :) My TTT list: http://aliceinreaderland.wordpress.com/2013/01/21/settings/

    Alice @ Alice in Readerland

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  3. Great list! More Gothic mansions/inspired-locations would be awesome to read, I think it's been a while since I've read something in that setting...

    Here's my 10 places for this week's TTT =)

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  4. I love Fantasy worlds as well! I'm a sucker for a good fantastical read that takes me somewhere!

    Theres a good adult novel by Anna Scarlett (YA author Anna Banks) It's called Degrees of Wrong and it's going to be a series soon! It's very good and it takes place on a ship under the seas. Very cool!

    Happy Reading!

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    1. I have read that book! I agree, it was great. Submarines are a great way to go under the ocean.

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  5. I also had Australia. Great list. I agree with all of these.

    Here's mine

    ~Danica Page

    Taking It One Page at a Time

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  6. so many great ones, I would love more books set in Harry's world! Books in your backyard are the best I just read everneath which was awesome since it's in Park City only 20 minutes from me.

    Marissa @ Rae Gun Ramblings

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  7. NYC made it onto my list, as well...and so many people are saying underwater, which I never even considered before! Awesome list!!

    Bree :)
    My Top Ten @ Coffee Bean Bookshelf

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  8. I read LOTS by Australian authors (being Australian!) - doing an Australian Women Writers reading challenge this year - stop by for some Aussie book suggestions :-)

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    1. Oh I will have to look that up! Thanks for telling me about the challenge.

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  9. Great list, I would love to see more stories set under the sea, in gothic mansions, the worlds of witches and wizards and well imagined fantasy worlds as well.

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  10. Three cheers for more Australia! Also, totally with you on the hometown thing.

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  11. I am toats going with you to Thisby, just so you know....!
    The Life and Death of Charlie St. Cloud is local-but almost TOO much....soo many references.
    Also, didn't we just have that Gothic House conversation by the fire last week at Panera? ; ) DEF one of my top 10 settings.
    Ooooh, I love these lists! : )

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    1. Oh lady, you are right about Charlie St. Cloud. It was almost funny how many references were packed into that book. Clearly the way NOT to do it. Subtle is better.

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  12. Great list! Thisby... I would love more of that setting :)
    Underwater would definitely be a fun setting, I don't know if I have ready any books that have an underwater setting yet.

    My TTT @ The Quiet Concert

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    1. You should look up RENEGADE by J.A. Sounders. Great underwater setting.

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  13. Good list! I would add fantasy stories set in the past that have a recognizable global setting, along the lines of Sea of Trolls. I love the idea of an imposed alternate history on a real place.

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    1. I haven't read SEA OF TROLLS, but will have to check it out. Have you read anything by Juliet Marillier? I love her Sevenwaters series that starts with DAUGHTER OF THE FOREST. Alternate reality of historical Ireland. GREAT books.

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    2. Ooh, thank you! I will have to search it out!

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    3. I have a blogger friend who did not like OUTLANDER, but she loved DAUGHTER OF THE FOREST. They are really nothing a like, except that they are both historical fantasy set in the British Isles. DoTF is a fairy tale retelling.

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  14. I've seen Australia on a lot of lists... so I've suggested The Thorn Birds a lot. It's a great book.

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    1. I keep hearing excellent things about that book! It is a classic, right?

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    2. It's a "modern" classic, published in 1978, I think. It's a long book, but totally worth the time. The characters are fantastic. I'd read it again.

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  15. I LOVE Thisby and Hogwarts and books set in Australia and Gothic Mansions are some of my favorites! Manderley!<3 Great list, Lauren!(:

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  16. Okay, I think my list would be identical to yours! I love books that take place where I'm familiar. So here in the Pacific NW. But even if it's a place I have visited it still works cause I can picture it all.
    I love dystopians with familiarity, like you explained. And Australian books are some of my favorites!
    Love Gothic Mansions too!

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  17. Love this:

    "One day I will find this island and watch Sean race for myself."

    Me and you both, chica! That made me smile:)

    Fave NYC setting books: gotta go with the dynamic duo of Rachel Cohn and David Levithan's Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist and Dash and Lily's Book of Dares:)

    Awesome list, L:)

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    1. I haven't read either of those, but I keep hearing good things. I'll have to read Dash and Lily when Christmas comes around again.

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    2. Of the two Dash and Lily is my favorite, which is surprising considering Nick and Norah is music themed and I am such a fan of those type books:)

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  18. Yay to Australia! I put that on my list too. Also, I would love more stories with classic gothic mansions as well. :)

    ~Allison @ Good Books & Good Wine

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  19. I completely agree with you on #8. Great list.

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  20. Love that you included Gothic mansions! Why aren't there more books like Rebecca and Jane Eyre? Make that happen! I had Australia on my list too - mostly because I've been in awe over how amazing Aussie authors are.

    If I could write on this post, I'd totally draw a big huge heart over Thisby. I read Scorpio Races for the first time last year, and it was probably my favorite read of the year. The setting in that book was a character in its own right. Such an amazing book!

    I included Hogwarts too (even though I just read those recently too), and I love that so you did as well! I SO wish it was real. Minus the Dark Lord part.

    I spy Lumatere on here :)

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