This week's topic is
Top Ten Favourite Settings in Books
I haven't done a TTT in ages, but I just couldn't resist this topic. There are so many fantastic settings in books and I had a hard time narrowing it down to just ten. Note that these are not necessarily places I'd like to live or even visit, they are just amazing settings that I love reading about and imagining in my head. I deliberately left out Hogwarts and Middle-Earth because I wanted to highlight some settings that maybe won't be on everyone's list this week, but they are still favourite settings of mine.
1. Camorr (The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch)
This Venice-like city with its canals, narrow streets and elderglass structures sounds both magical and frightning.
2. London Below (Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman)
Like London Above, only different.
3. Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory
(Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl)
Seriously, who would not want to visit this place?
4. Cemetery of Forgotten Books (The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon)
“Welcome to the cemetery of forgotten books. This place is a sanctuary. Every book, every volume you see here, has a soul. The soul of the person who wrote it and of those who read it and lived and dreamed with it. Every time a book changes hands, every time someone runs his eyes down its pages, its spirit grows and strengthens. In the shop we buy and sell them, but in truth books have no owner. Every book you see here has been somebody’s best friend. Now they have only us."
5. Creagan, Scotland (Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher)
I think I have mentioned it before, but I would love to celebrate Christmas in this charming (fictional) village in Northern Scotland.
6. Cornwall, England (The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper)
Fog, rain, and sharp cliffs don't make for the best holiday experience, but it is a great setting for a fantasy novel.
7. The Australian outback (Several books by Tamara McKinley)
Hot, dusty and unforgiving. I would never want to live there myself, but I greatly admire everyone who does.
8. The Mysterious Bookshop, New York
(Christmas at The Mysterious Bookshop (and other short story collections, I believe))
One of the oldest mystery specialist book stores in America, owned by Otto Penzler. I could probably spend days in here, and can't believe I didn't know about it when I was in New York.
9. Incarceron (Incarceron by Catherine Fisher)
This vast, futuristic prison monitors your every move and can think for itself. Scary yes, but a brilliant setting!
10. The Secret Island (The Secret Island by Enid Blyton)
The story of three siblings, Mike, Peggy and Nora and their friend Jack who run away to a hidden island in a lake and live there all by themselves, was one of my favourite books as a kid. I loved the idea of being on a secret island that no grown-ups knew about (what kid doesn't?).
What are your favourite settings?
9 comments:
Oh! The Cemetery of Forgotten Books! Perfect one!
I've never heard of the Mysterious Bookshop, but it sounds really cool!
Cemetery of forgotten books sounds magical. Love that quote :)
I love Cornwall and the Dark is Rising series--fun list today. Kaye—the road goes ever ever on
London Below was on my list, too. I think Neverwhere is probably Gaiman's best novel (although all of them are amazing). Great list!
I came really close to putting London Below on my list but it didn't quite make it - it would be amazing, though! And good call on Wonka's Chocolate Factory, I forgot about it.
I've not heard of most of these settings, but each sounds more wonderful than the next! I'll be adding several to my TBR list. :) Happy reading!
Wow! Great list. I didn't think of the Cemetery of Forgotten Books - but it could be because that's one book I haven't finished!!! It's stumped me!
http://thebookgatherer.blogspot.com/2011/06/top-ten-tuesdays-settings-in-books.html
Every list this week should include a Chocolate factory!!! The Australian outback would also be a great place to visit. The Mysterious Bookshop sounds intriguing...
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