I was thinking today that authors have it easy these days with regards to setting. I can summon up a mental image of pretty much any setting from TV and movies I've seen. Historic Scotland? Yep, I've seen Braveheart. Regency England? I'm sure I've seen every Austen adaptation ever made. Contemporary Japan? Lost in Translation.
There are lots of books out there where the author does little more than tell you where the story is set, and gives almost no description. Obviously this isn't ideal, but it can work. Back 50 or 100 years ago, authors had to make a little more effort. :) And it makes me appreciate all the more when an author goes to the effort of creating a well-crafted setting.
Everyone's got favorite book settings. Some people like contemporaries, some people like historicals. I like historicals best--my favorite settings are ancient Rome, regency England, and colonial/revolutionary America. I can't really explain why. I just find them the most interesting and romantic.
Anyone else have favorite settings?
10 comments:
That's a good question...though I'm not sure I have a good answer for you. lol. I'm not sure what my favorite settings are. I do like historicals and fantasy settings and stuff...I'm going to have to think on this some more. lol. :-D
I love contemporary books set in Europe. It's very underutilized, I can think of only a few books set there. Actually, any contemp set outside the US would do, not because I have any problem with the US as a setting, but because most of the contemporary romance I read takes place there, and I'd love to see a bit more of the world.
Hmmm, I never really thought of it like that. You know with TV helping out the authors. But I have noticed how much less discription is in the more recent books. Hmmm.
Well I don't really have a favorite setting. I love all contemps, historicals all of them. But with descriptions? I like the was historicals go into more details.
Okay when doing my reread real quick I just have to ask, did anything I write make sense? lol.
Good question Jennie. I don't think I have an answer. LOL I'm okay with almost any setting.
You know what I'm a snob about though, the hero's job in a contemporary book. :P
I'm a contemporary romance girl, so I like it set in our time. I also do like fantasy books, but they need good world building.
If we are talking Romance then I like Historicals, unless it's Urban Fantasy or Paranormal. That can be in today's world.
In Fantasy novels I like other worlds to be either historical like [think Lord of the Rings] or like Victorian steampunk. If Sci-fi I'm good with future type worlds with lots of technology like I Robot or Minority Report.
Yeah, very picky. LOL.
...or like Victorian steampunk
Be still, my heart. :D I'm still waiting for publishers to pick up more romances - if any - set in that world.
my favorite settings are ancient Rome, regency England, and colonial/revolutionary America.
These are actually my least favourite settings. Ha. :D I don't have any particular favourite settings as my moods tend to affect (read: dominate and control) my interest.
If I had to choose ... hm ... contemporary Hong Kong (pre- and post-handover), but that's only because I lived there for two years, so novels with the Hong Kong setting has that special flavour. I'm not so familiar with it, like how I am with Scotland, that I'd be supernitpicky enough to tear the book apart.
Unfortunately there aren't many romances set in that country.
NO! NO! Don't ruin my steampunk with Romance! I just died a little. LOL. ^_^
Now I'm going to have nightmares that the Romance genre will ruin steampunk just as it ruined vampires. LMAO!!!!
Ohhh Scotland, perty! I met a lovely Scottish lady not too long ago who was rather [and freakishly] surprised I didn't think she was English or Irish. I mean, dude, have you heard the accent?!?! I don't think it's THAT hard to tell where she was from. Freaky lady. Nonetheless she was quite nice and funny too! ^*^
Oh and I am also very meh about colonial anything. Not big on that at all! >.>
Hmmm, that's a hard question. I always switch favorites. I think it depends on my mood. I like Egypt, regency england is good sometimes too, southern settings, etc etc.
I agree with Sam, this is a hard question because it really depends on what mood I'm in...though, I would probably have to say Contemporary, books set in our time now, since those are the books that I read the most.
But I'll read anything. =) That was a sucky answer, I know but it's the only one I got at the moment. =)
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