Which isn't typical for me because I tend to be a very character-driven reader. I appreciate good settings when I read them, but setting is not a story dealbreaker for me. I'm guilty in some ancient WIPs of totally glossing over setting altogether, placing characters in nameless Everytowns and letting their experiences/relationships take center stage.
Hemlock's setting is the fictional town Hemlock, and it's awesome. The world-building for this small town is rich, and I've loved getting to know the residents and streets and landmarks. I've found I really like being immersed in a town while reading, and getting to know the minor-character residents (mayors and baristas and classmates etc.) as well as the protagonists and antagonists. (Maybe this is because I live in a very big place now? Perhaps I miss the community vibe often found in smaller city life?) While reading, it occurred to me that Hemlock reminds me of True Blood's Bon Temps (confession: I've never read the Sookie Stackhouse books nor have I watched past the first season) or The Simpsons' Springfield, one of my most favorite small-town settings of all time. And lo and behold, I was on Kathleen Peacock's website and found this in her FAQs:
Where is Hemlock? Is it a real place?
Hemlock is a bit like Springfield in The Simpsons. Though I’m sure there may well be a real town called Hemlock, my Hemlock exists mostly in my head. It’s a hodgepodge of streets and corners and buildings from places I’ve lived, visited, seen pictures of, or just flat made up.
What sorts of settings do you like to read/write?
6 comments:
It's early and my brain is still asleep, so I can't think of an example at the moment, but I love settings where it feels like I *know* the place - local hangouts, street names, etc.
Like in Daughter of Smoke and Bone and Anna and the French Kiss, only it doesn't have to be on such a grand scale - little towns are great to read about, too.
I was going to mention those books, too, and THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE, but I felt like I've over-gushed all of them. Books like those make me want to read and write better settings.
I love when the setting of the book is almost like a character, like the island in The Scorpio Races or the outback in Stolen. This makes me want to read Hemlock even more since it's just a small town. It's not often a random small town makes you really love the setting. Thanks for pointing it out!
I love when setting is well-developed. One of the reasons I loved the show Gilmore Girls was because I loved Stars Hollow so much (well, that and the witty banter between Lorelei and Rory). It's a bit of a toughie for me to write in my own story, which is a problem that I need to work on.
Hemlock is already on my TBR list and now I'm even more excited to read it :)
Interesting post, and I love reading all the comments, too. I so agree with the other books mentioned and how setting elevates the story. (Also love Tracey's comment about Stolen. So true). I think creating a kind of small-town feel that's unique and compelling sounds more difficult, because it's so easy to just fill-in-the-blank with cliches. Will have to check out Hemlock!
I've always been fascinated by the Outback--I really need to read STOLEN soon!
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