You may not realize it, but the location of every book you read leads to your perception of the story in many ways. It is a pair of colored lenses you put on. While part of this may be due to how the author describes the setting, a lot of it is due to the already preconceived notions you might have of the place. This will affect how you judge the dynamic of the story and even the personality of the characters. That being said, there are some destinations that are more commonly used than others either because of what they communicate or because of how familiar their audiences are with them. Here are my top 5.
#1 New York City
Five cities in one. The city that never sleeps. A bustling metropolis. This location feels like it is used in every other movie, tv show, novel, or song. And for good reason. With more than 8 million residents, it quadruples the population of Chicago. It has 5 million more people than the entire state of Georgia. With so many people in such a small space, there is a lot of different varieties of backgrounds, lifestyles, and personalities packed together. On top of that, the place has developed its own culture. We all have a sort of stigma or expectation that pops up when we hear about the city. We think of their accents and down-to-earth nature. We often consider them unusually hurried or rude.
This makes New York City an ideal location for books. With so much happening all the time, pretty much any character or event can fit into the setting. In addition, the place is so bustling that magical events or unexpected crises can go on unnoticed. It is an easy setting to describe because we already have a notion of what it is like. We also typically have an immediate fondness for the city because it is a major “hub” of our country. In addition, many authors have lived there or do currently so they have first-hand experience of the place. This is the place where Percy Jackson was born and The Great Gatsby raged its finest parties.
#2 The Midwest
Cowboys have been so popularized that they have become their own theme at parties and costume days. They have their own movies and genres. In fact, the entire idea of the Midwest seems to be a fascination to our culture. It is a place greatly lacking in plants, fresh water, and honestly a large number of people. And yet, this area seems to have unlimited charm. Its rural nature, which requires its inhabitants to be strong and independent, its solitary atmosphere, which adds interest to the setting, and its unique geography, unlike anywhere else in America, makes it an iconic destination for many people.
This interest carries over to literature. The ruggedness of the area makes for characters that are extremely resourceful and independent. They survive in conditions we would never be able to persist in. Because of this, they become incredibly interesting and someone that we can be impressed by. If there is ever a need for a setting that is isolated or a survival crisis of some sort, this seems the best location to place the story. I see this in one of my personal favorites, The 100 Cupboards series. The characters are strong and resourceful, something I appreciate greatly. Other popular classics featuring this area might include The Little House on the Prairie series or The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
#3 London
The British version of New York City, you can probably already guess at some of the reasons why this city might be a popular spot for novels to take place. However, there are some subtle differences. England is a much smaller and more condensed country than America and lacks our variety of different kinds of terrain. Because of this, instead of London having a completely independent culture, it shares the culture of the rest of England but is heavily enhanced due to its denser population. Almost everyone in England is going to have to pass through London at some point. Because of this, it is a great place to really experience the British culture while also having your choice of activities and lifestyles to explore.
This makes it an ideal place for British stories to endure. Nearly any type of character can be found in London without taking away from the picture of England the author wishes to paint. It is a familiar place to Brits and gives them a feeling of enjoyment when they hear about it. It requires little to no introduction and can only add to the story. Great classics originated here, such as Sherlock Holmes, A Little Princess, or Paddington, but we also see many modern pieces of literature taking place here, including Harry Potter and Neverwhere.
#4 Islands
Most of what you probably know about the experience of being on an island is a vacation from your busy life and work at home. But for some people, islands are their place of work. They can live difficult lives. Most of them have very physical jobs that depend heavily on things outside of their control such as the weather. These fishermen are typically very impoverished and struggle for every penny they get. They are extremely isolated and lack a lot of resources because of this. They learn to live constantly reading nature and the elements. And unlike our hardy Midwesters, they do not have an abundance of land to pull from.
Islands are often used in stories to emphasize the isolation of the characters involved in the story. Sometimes it might be that they are separated from the people that they know and love. They might be going on an adventure where they cannot call for help from the outside world. Other stories emphasize how a character feels trapped, living on an island that relies on tradition to continue life. Whatever the use, islands enhance our understanding of the characters’ feelings of isolation and lack of outside help. Some popular stories that use this technique include And Then There Were None, Treasure Island, or Peter Pan. Two of my recent book reviews have featured island settings: The Light Between Oceans and Jacob Have I Loved.
#5 The South
The South is a fascinating place. Somewhere between New York and the Midwest in density, It has a rich and charming history and culture. While it has some very rural areas, there is still a busy combination of types of people. Southern people are known for their hospitality and extreme kindness, but are also very protective of what they consider theirs. They are dedicated to tradition and do not mind a little dirt in their lives.
This interesting combo, backed up by years of history and tradition, makes for some very telling stories. The seemingly at-war principles that have guided the South for centuries create a dynamic that mirrors much of the infamous conflict we all feel inside of us. There is also a lot of fondness and sentimentality that is tied with this setting. Most people have experienced some form of love or kindness by the hands of a Southerner and know the homey feeling that is promoted there. Some popular classics from the South include To Kill a Mockingbird and Gone With the Wind, but we also see newer novels such as Where the Crawdads Sing and A Painted House featuring this area.
Some of the most enjoyed and easy to adapt spots for literature include New York City, the Midwest, London, islands, and the South. Each one of these has its own culture and charm that draws readers and authors alike. This does not mean in anyway that a book is lesser quality if it does not include any of these places. It simply means that these are most commonly featured. Do you have a different spot in mind? If so, comment and leave your thoughts below!