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Monday, October 5, 2009

Does Setting Matter?


This weekend I read a book from one of my favorite authors. It was a paranormal set in San Francisco, mostly in Chinatown. I love visiting San Francisco and have even enjoyed the Dim Sum experience, but for some reason I just couldn’t connect with the environment. Maybe it was the big city. I’m a rural/suburban girl at heart. I still thoroughly enjoyed the book, but not as much as her others and I know it was the setting and my own personal bias. In the historical genre publishers have slowed down on westerns. In all genres publishers have been more open to settings around the world than they used to be. I wonder where that leaves futuristic romances with whole new worlds which could be either. Have you ever found setting effects your connection to the story? Have you ever thought about where the book takes place before buying it?

3 comments:

  1. Great post! Yes, I love stories set in Scotland best. I like to feel I'm there. But I also like them set in other places.

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  2. Hi Alexis! For me setting TOTALLY makes all the difference! If I see a cover with a hot Scottish Warrior, or a castle or even a flash of plaid- I'm all over it!!!! Scotland is my favorite setting, but I like those set in Ireland, and England too. Most of the books I love are set in medieval times.

    Andrea
    CHRW

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  3. I agree with both of you (Andrea and Nicole). There is something about Scotland that calls to me and I will often try new writers if the story is set in Scotland. I do like other locales as well, but I'm not sure I could list places that don't speak to me. I guess it will just have to be a try it and see experience.

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