Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Top Ten Settings I'd Like To See More Of in Books


The topic that the Broke and the Bookish came up with for this week's blog hop was hard. Looking through my own bookcase it was obvious how many great and varied settings authors have used. While I have found most of these settings in books I've read, I would like to see them show up more often.



1. Farms- I don't think authors understand just what they're missing out on. There's a million different types  of farms they could use, and so many different, entertaining people they could base characters on. Farming has been greatly underused in literature.
I think this would be a fantastic setting for both historical,
contemporary, and sci-fi novels.


2.Hockey games-I love hockey and feel more authors should right about it. The best thing about hockey showing up in more books will be the diverse cultures it would allow the author to use.

3. Chincoteque/Assateque Islands-Yep, O' Henry's fabulous Misty trilogy was set on these islands, as was a very badly researched episode of Bones, but I'd still like to see both islands in more books.

                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                               

4. Michigan's Upper Peninsula-I think I've read one, maybe two books that have even acknowledged the U.P., AND THAT'S JUST WRONG! The U.P. is a beautiful place full of wildlife, copper, mining, pasties, farming, water, and a million other things. Truthfully, I'd like to see Michigan in general appear in more books.


5.County fairs-How come no one writes about a county fair? It's the perfect setting for YA books!


 6.The 1600's-I've been able to find very few books set in this time period, which doesn't make any sense to me. So much happened than, it should be a gold mine of possibilities.

7.  Mummy Crypt's-Mummies are slowly starting to show up in some books, and as far as I'm concerned this is a very good thing. I just want more mummy book, like, right now.
Source: imgur.com via Hudson on Pinterest


8. Pig farms-Okay, I'm a little biased. My WIP happens to be set on a pig farm, but that doesn't mean I don't want more books to come out with the same setting.As an added bonus, hands down hog farmers happen to be the nicest group of people I've ever met.

9.Traveling Circuses-Sarah Gruen effectivly showed what a great setting this can be. I'm hoping more authors follow suit

10.  The World Fair-I don't think I've read a single book set at the World Fair.            

What about you? Do you have any settings you wish would show up more in the books you snuggle up with?

21 comments:

  1. Great list, I love how specific you were. I don't know if you like romantic books or not, but if you do I've heard that Toni Aleo has an interesting hockey based series. I think they are more romance than hockey though. It's called The Assassins series or something like that.

    The Day no More Pigs would Die, I'm pretty sure is about a pig farm. It's sad though.

    Here's mine

    ~Danica Page
    Taking it One Page at a Time

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    1. It's been a long time since I've read The Day no More Pigs would Die. You're right, it's quite sad, but I remember really liking it. Thanks for the recommendation about the hockey series. I'll have to check it out.

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  2. A county fair would be cool. Great list!

    Here's my Top Ten: www.best-of-ya.blogspot.com

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  3. Oh yes, I love books set at a farm too! And, I think Alexandre Dumas's The Three Musketeers is set in the 1600s. Have you ever read it? If not, I'd highly recommend it.

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    1. I love the Three Musketeers! And you're right, it's set during the 1600's.

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  4. Mummy cripts! Yes, that'd be great! :D Cute list.

    Thanks for stopping by ;)

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  5. Travelling circuses, yes! I love the entire atmosphere of circuses and I would love to see it more in books :) Also, I love that you chose farms. I just realized that I actually haven't read many books set on farms, where the focus is, you know, the actual farm life. It would definitely be an interesting setting.

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  6. I just read Exposure by Kim Askew & Amy Helmes, and though not exactly set at a hockey game, the main characters play for their HS team. Does that count? :)

    For me, I think ANY setting that hasn't been overused is welcome. It's just that when a setting works, it works. Though, as you know, I am pulling for more books to be set in Dallas! Go Stars.

    Here's my Top Ten Tuesday

    Audrey @ Ink and Page
    http://inkandpage.me

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  7. Great list! I'd love to read more books set on farms, at county fairs, and in the 1600s. Hopefully we come across more of them in the neat future.

    Thanks for visiting and commenting earlier! :-)

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  8. That is a very specific list you have there. I like the idea of the pig farm, so many things could go down there :)

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  9. I somewhat chuckled every time farms came up as a setting--my husband grew up on a dairy farm in rural southeastern ohio, and the stories he has to tell about growing up there! They would make a fascinating book, though no one would ever believe that the stories (and my father in law) were actually true!

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    1. I grew up on a small farm. It's a crazy, wonderful life.

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  10. The one I'm editing right now (Rescue Operation) has much of the action taking place on an automated horse farm. At least the heavy work (mucking out, feeding, watering, basic grooming) is automated or semi-automated. (Science fiction, of course.)

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    1. Hmm ... interesting. I don't mind doing most of those things, though right this moment, I wouldn't mind an automated bucket carrier.

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  11. A story set in the 1600s would be awesome! I love historical fiction.

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  12. Hockey games! Oh wonderful choice. I have not read many books based on it but gosh I love Hockey as well, would love to read more of these in the future. Mummy Crypts sound exciting as well :D great choices thank you for stopping by.

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  13. You have such unique settings here! I would love travelling circuses too. :D

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  14. Oooh, oooh! I'm writing one set in the 1600s right now! And my debut release involved a farm, though it wasn't a very active part of the setting. What a cool list!

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