lou's library

To me, the setting of a book is almost as important as the plot. That might sound ridiculous, but the characters can be absolutely fascinating, if the vibes aren’t right then I’m not interested. That’s when I’m trying to decide whether or not to read a book, the first thing I check is the setting. So I thought it might be worth delving a little deeper into the settings I keep returning to!

Books set in Boarding School

I mean, what’s not to love? Harry Potter is the obvious example here, with bonus points for it being a magical school!! Almost all my favourite scenes in the books take place at Hogwarts. I prefer reading about a chill day at the school to the most amazing battle scene someplace else any day. There’s just something about the students lives’ revolving entirely around a school that I love. It opens up a lot of possibilities, because the characters spend all their time at the same place. But often, those buildings just are quite amazing. I mean, Hogwarts sounds like the best place on earth. Can’t beat an old castle for the best vibes!! Another example of a book (partly) set at boarding school is In Memoriam by Alice Winn and, again, the parts at the school were my absolute favourite!! Okay, in a way that’s maybe not difficult seeing as the rest of the book takes place in the trenches of the First World War, but still!!

Books set in Nature

Wow, how very imprecise. Nature, eh? I bloody love the stuff. Give me any book where most of it takes place outside, preferably with the protagonists roaming around fields and meadows, letting days slip away, going swimming and forgetting what day of the week it is!! Even better if it’s a coming of age story with a young person trying to figure out who they are, or having some seminal experience. Some of my favourite examples of such books are All Among The Barley by Melissa Harrison, I’m The King Of The Castle by Susan Hill and The Offing by Benjamin Myers. They’re not all happy books, or uplifting ones. In fact, I find nature the perfect backdrop for cruelty. (There’s a sentence I never thought I’d write.) There’s just something about the beauty of landscape juxtaposed with horrible events. Am I making sense? ANYWAY, moving on!

Books set in Great Britain or Ireland

Bit random, I know. But if a book is set in Britain or Ireland, chances are I want to read it. Even better if you can tell where it’s set, when it’s more than just a backdrop. Mentions of British or Irish culture, politics, different dialects, gimme all of that!! I studied British state of the nation novels at uni, so I guess that’s where that obsession comes from. Maybe it’s also down to wanting to live there, and so if I can’t move there, I’m gonna live there vicariously through characters in books. Perfectly normal behaviour, I’m sure. Some of my favourite books set in Ireland or Britain are Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart, Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie and One Day by David Nicholls (still not over this book, by the way).

Books set in the Past

Historical novels, woooohoooo!! Bonus points if they manage to include some sorcery or magical elements. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon really did feel like it was written for me. Set in the past? Check! Set in Britain? Check! Set largely in nature? Check! I should reread that book as soon as possible, now that I’m thinking about it. Part of me deeply regrets not having studied History at uni, and so whenever I get to read about the past (even if it’s entirely ficiotnalised and highly inaccurate), that makes me happy! The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell is another one of my favourite historical novels, set in 16th century Italy and involving lots of intrigue and suspense. The Century Trilogy by Ken Follett (king of historical novels, in my opinion) KNOCKED MY SOCKS OFF when I read it few years ago. The books are set throughout the 21st century, there are more characters than you can remember (but you do remember them all, because they are so incredibly well written and fascinating) and the writing is ridiculously good. I could not put those books down!! I know lots of people love his The Pillars of the Earth series, but if you ask me, that involves too many detailed descriptions of cathedrals.

So, those are my absolute favourite settings! Anyone who can recommend me a book that includes all of these, will have my everlasting gratitude!!