Devon Book Club discussion

I'm interested in talking more about why and how we read - do you read slowly or skim through a book, is character or plot most important to you, does a book have to have a message?

A question to start us off (but feel free to add your own) - how important is place or "setting" in a book. What examples do you have where place has been vividly brought to life for you. How did the author do that?

I love books where the setting comes to life. Some of my favourite books are the ones where the setting is intrinsically part of the story. Off the top of my head the ones that come to mind are: The Hungry Tide, Hotel du Lac, The Sunlit Night, Conclave, all of Simenon's Maigret novels on the streets of Paris. It's impossible to imagine any of these stories being set anywhere else and enough detail is woven in - about sights, smells, sounds and textures - without overdoing it and submerging the plot.

Totally agree about The Hungry Tide. I loved that novel and it made me want to read more by Amitav Ghosh. I'll look up your other recommendations. I must admit I wasn't enamoured with Hotel du Lac, but agree with your evaluation of setting being a prominent feature.

I love all the books Roma Tearne has written and I think that's because she's an artist as well as a writer. When she wrote Mosquito, she apparently painted some scenes first and I really think this comes out in her writing. The vivid detail doesn't swamp the story but enhances it. Same with The Swimmer. I can still picture the river and the kitchen which feature.

I once read a strange little book called Smell Smell. I read it many years ago, but can still remember it quite vividly. It's set on the streets of Paris and the main character has an acute sense of smell, which, as you can imagine from the title is a central theme.

I agree Kathy, when the setting comes alive it can really make a book immensely enjoyable and memorable. It is a very important feature in a novel for me.

I'm intrigued by the sound of Roma Tearne's novels, Karen. I'll check those out. I'm an artist too but I've never painted scenes first. What a fascinating idea. Thanks for the recommendation.

What a great discussion. I agree with you about setting. A really vivid example for me is the thunderstorm in The SteppeThe Steppe and Other Stories, 1887-91 by Checkhov - on of the most amazing and evocative descriptive passages in literature in my humble opinion.

I am also reading for our Nordic Noir week on 11/3 and am struck by the role of place and climate in these books. Light and dark. Cold (and colder it seems). Sets the scene and is almost a character in itself.

It's interesting how we as readers visualise what an author has depicted or described only in words. Possibly, how we 'see' places in fiction relates to our personal histories and interests - our capacity to colour a black and white sketch if you like. You may be interested in an article I wrote for The Historical Writers' Association e.zine 'Historia' some time ago. I was looking at how authors 'create' places as they were in the past. You'll see Devon author Karen Maitland's depiction of an Icelandic cave was my starting point:
http://wp-harlond.jgharlond.com/2017/...

J.G. wrote: "It's interesting how we as readers visualise what an author has depicted or described only in words. Possibly, how we 'see' places in fiction relates to our personal histories and interests - our c..."

How interesting. Thanks - I'll post this on our other platforms too

I've just finished The Great Alone set in Alaska. Setting is everything in this novel. I haven't read anything by Kristin Hannah before and I was impressed by how she brought Alaska alive and how she impressed upon me the hardship of living on a homestead through your first winter. She really does create a harsh landscape, and a very claustrophobic family setting, but also manages to convey the freedom of living off grid and the unique beauty of Alaska.

Karen wrote: "I've just finished The Great Alone set in Alaska. Setting is everything in this novel. I haven't read anything by Kristin Hannah before and I was impressed by how she brought Alaska..."

I really enjoy books that take you into place as well as character - books like A Scots Quair: Sunset Song, Cloud Howe, Grey Granite - a real skill to bring alive a location - and almost make it a character in itself. That has prompted me to ask a question on our other platforms about this too.

Karen wrote: "I've just finished The Great Alone set in Alaska. Setting is everything in this novel. I haven't read anything by Kristin Hannah before and I was impressed by how she brought Alaska..."
Have you read The Tenderness of Wolves, by Stef Penney? It is wonderful, all round ... and a startling evocation of place and climate. Another one in this field is The Solitude of Thomas Cave by Georgina Harding. Both these works were read and praised 'to the heights' by our/my Reading Group - and we are very difficult to please. It's rare we all agree, but these two works were among the few that we have 'all' acclaimed, over our 12+ years together.

DrMama wrote: "Karen wrote: "I've just finished The Great Alone set in Alaska. Setting is everything in this novel. I haven't read anything by Kristin Hannah before and I was impressed by how she ..."

I read The Tenderness of Wolves years ago and loved it. The memory of it has faded, but I can still remember the atmosphere or ambience it created. Thanks for the other recommendation.

I read The Great Alone last month (first KH also) I agree setting was really atmospheric and a really good read. I followed this one with The North Water by Ian McGuire, a re read for me. The places in the book, North Yorkshire, at sea, on the ice all as bleak, miserable, gruesome, atmospheric and utterly brilliant as the characters ! I recommend both. I will try The Tenderness of Wolves next, thanks.

David wrote: "I read The Great Alone last month (first KH also) I agree setting was really atmospheric and a really good read. I followed this one with The North Water by Ian McGuire, a re read for me. The place..."
Thanks for the recommendation. I'll try to get hold of The North Water. It's sounds really good.

Karen wrote: "David wrote: "I read The Great Alone last month (first KH also) I agree setting was really atmospheric and a really good read. I followed this one with The North Water by Ian McGuire, a re read for..."

The North Water is in my local library. It sounds a bit scary! But I'm going to get it this week.

The Tenderness of Wolves, really liked it thanks. Scottish elements added extra for me.

David wrote: "The Tenderness of Wolves, really liked it thanks. Scottish elements added extra for me."

Glad you enjoyed it. I've just started The North Shore. It's a bit of a shocker! My partner read it, and he hasn't read a book in a long time. He couldn't put it down.

Thanks Karen. If your partner enjoyed it I can really recommend a book called His Bloody Project by Graeme Macrae Burnet. Set in NW Scotland real gritty novel. I do read some lighter stuff as well, honest !

David wrote: "Thanks Karen. If your partner enjoyed it I can really recommend a book called His Bloody Project by Graeme Macrae Burnet. Set in NW Scotland real gritty novel. I do read some lighter stuff as well,..."
Haha! Thanks for the recommendation. I'll get that from the library for him. It was good to see him reading again.

The North Water is really well written and it's hooked me.

Thanks David. I've just finished The North Water Not for the feint hearted, it's a violent and gory thriller that had me gripped throughout. I wasn't sure it was for me at the start, but it was really good and everything you said it would be...bleak, miserable, gruesome, atmospheric and brilliant.

Thanks Karen really pleased you "enjoyed" it. I will keep an eye open for any of your future recommendations.