Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

Are there settings in time or place that you particularly like to read about?

For example, do you like books set in the Middle Ages, the Regency period, contemporary times, etc.?
Do you like books set in New York City, France, Australia, outer space, etc.?

I’m pretty eclectic on setting I like just about any setting as long as the book is interesting. Regency period is one of my favorite time periods in romances when I was younger. I like urban and rural settings.

Right now I’m really into ancient Chinese Xianxia settings in my books and shows. I love the way they create the Heavenly Realm and the other realms in both book and show.

As long as the setting is used to further the story or give it flavor. I’m not really picky.

I like either reading contemporary books, or fantasy/scifi set up in worlds similar or better than RL. So not high fantasy so much, and not dystopian.

I will read almost any setting if the book is good. For instance, I don't generally read Westerns, but I loved Lonesome Dove. However, some times and places appeal to me more. I am attracted by anything in England or France set in about 1650 (musketeers era in France and Civil War in England) thru about 1920's. I especially like Regency and Victorian England. I'm not a big fan of medieval and older (again with exceptions). Sometimes it is great to learn about a whole new culture, as in The Island of Sea Women.

I’m a pretty eclectic reader - will read almost any setting as long as the characters and plot “fit” the setting.

Only my silly chick-lit novels. I can't help myself. If it takes place in the UK there is a good chance I will pick it up. I blame it on Maeve Binchy, Sophie Kinsella, and Marian Keyes. I feel like I grew up on them.

Otherwise, I like a variety. I got a sick of the WWII Historical fiction for a bit because I over did it but am fine again. Suburban America is feeling a little old at the moment but that too will pass. I love a variety of genres and a variety of settings.

I also read a lot of nonfiction, and I don't really care when those are set, I care more about if the subject interests me and if the author can hold my interest with out boring me.

I'm not picky about setting at all, but since I do tend to read mostly fantasy, I end up in medieval-esque European-ish settings quite often. I've been trying to branch out into non-Western settings for fantasy (she says as she's reading Paladin's Grace).

Recently though, I've discovered that I'm a sucker for any book that takes place in my home state of Wisconsin having read two already this year.

I like books set in WW ll. I read a lot of historical fiction.

I don't have a favorite setting but I do like a variety and I like books with multiple settings. My interest is more in the ideas and the quality of writing.

I like all settings and times. The roaring '20s are always fun. I like the 1980s for nostalgic reasons (I was a kid in the '80s). It's funny that The Police came up on my playlist as I write this. I particularly enjoy books set in the '80s with lots of pop culture. Or just lots of pop culture in books in general (The Martian, Ready Player One, etc.).
As for places, I really like books set in Brooklyn for same growing up there reasons. I love when they mention neighborhoods I know. The book Modern Lovers is set the closest of any book I have read to where I grew up.
But I also love books set any place unfamiliar to me. Also really love books set in Ireland and Scotland. If the sense of place is good I will enjoy it, no matter where it's set.

I love any setting that feels a bit haunted, a bit eerie, especially if it's beautifully described. I love most any setting if it works with a great story, though.

I forgot to mention that I really like books in extreme cold settings. No idea why, it's just something I always enjoy.

Amanda wrote: "I'm not picky about setting at all, but since I do tend to read mostly fantasy, I end up in medieval-esque European-ish settings quite often. I've been trying to branch out into non-Western setting..."

Hi Amanda, there are a few of us Wisconsinites here, I am actually in your town! I will send you a friend request. Wisconsin books I have liked include

Shotgun Lovesongs
Raft of Stars
Crows Over a Wheatfield
Crossing to Safety
A Gate at the Stairs
Just read 1st in a mystery series
Old World Murder for a local library book group - takes place at Old World Wisconsin historical site

My favorite genre is science fiction and I love books that take place on other planets or on space ships. I think there's something so fun about slowly discovering what's different about an alien planet in a good sci fi book, learning about the plants and animals or the weather patterns or how the alien species' culture is affected by their planet's ecosystem. Books set on earth in the future can sometimes also have this effect, but then it's usually more about finding out how human society is different rather than the planet itself (but not always!) Fantasy books can sometimes give me this, too, but for some reason I feel like most fantasy settings aren't quite as compelling to me? I'm not really sure why that is, but some of them definitely work for me — Piranesi was a perfect example of the kind of setting I like.

But I also like real life settings. I don't think there are any particular time periods or countries that I'm especially drawn to, but I do deliberately seek out stories that are set in times or countries that I haven't read about yet. I keep a settings map to keep track of the locations for all the books I've read and I find it very satisfying to fill in the sparser areas. There are a good number of books I've added to my TBR just because they're set somewhere interesting that I've never read about before.

As far as physical location, I don't have much preference. I love a book that is so well written that I feel like I'm there. It's hard to do, most books don't pull it off.
As far as time-frame, I also like reading about most times. I read a lot of WWII fiction, but I'm really all over the place!

Right now, I'm reading about:
Early 20th century NYC- The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York
Early 20th century and ancient Egypt- Secrets of the Nile
12th century England and France- When Christ and His Saints Slept

I don't really care what place the books I read are set in. I do generally prefer it to be set on our earth, not some different world, but I'm quite flexible. As long as it's a good story with tropes that I like in it, I'm willing to go wherever.

As for time period... I am a sucker for a good historical novel, and probably prefer the past to the present or future. I absolutely love historical romance, and am a big fan of historical crime novels too. I just find it really interesting how so much has changed, but people are still often the same!

I just like a story to take me to a different place and time. If it’s too modern and they start texting and using hashtags I’m out!

Usually the setting doesn't bother me as long as the dialect in the book isn't hard to understand.
If the author is descriptive enough, I can easily imagine where I'd be in the book.
However, a few settings that I find the most intriguing are modern day or a dystopian universe.

I will admit, I'm pretty setting-agnostic, although I do enjoy books set in London and the wider UK, and a well-drawn SF or Fantasy world is always a delight.

What's more important to me is how well the author develops the setting they choose, including the atmosphere of the place. Can I visualise it properly, as I'm quite a visual reader, if that makes sense? Does it make me want to go there?

If the setting becomes a character in itself - like the North Carolina marshes/coast in Where the Crawdads Sing - that's just the icing on the cake.

It isn't often that I choose a setting for the book I want to read...unless it is for a setting prompt.

However, I am partial to books set in Appalachia (grew up in the foothills of Appalachian Mountains), books set in Ireland and Scotland (reminiscent of my home setting?) and books set in places I have been.

However, the setting and the time (age) are not as critical to me as a writer who can string together words in such a way as to capture my imagination and bring me right into the story they are telling.

I don't tend to think about setting much when picking up a book, but having said that I have enjoyed a lot of AtY setting prompts in the last few years - particularly the "three different continents" one last year, as I really tried to pick books from places I haven't read about before. I love living vicariously through books and experiencing places I will probably never get a chance to visit.

I am really into Middle Eastern inspired fantasy right now whether that be the real world or a secondary world setting. I prefer more modern times, industrial revolution onwards and into the future. I guess I like periods of social change.

I am not a fan of suburbia as a setting, unless there is something highly unusual going on.

I like rotating my settings from real world to fantasy world. Other than that, I don't think I have a preference. Oh, but so far I've been avoiding WW2 settings both in books and movies, 'cause it feels too heavy.

Sherri wrote: "I like books set in WW ll. I read a lot of historical fiction."

We're the opposite. I just posted my comment before reading through all the others.

I've been thinking on this one and even after reading through the comments to see if something speaks to me, I'm going to say "nope, I don't have any setting preferences/antipathy at all"

I like reading books set in different places and different time periods, but that's mostly because I like reading different kinds of books, I don't like to get stuck in a rut.


I have absolutely no preference for setting or time period. I also don't care if there is a strong sense of place or if it could take place anywhere. In fantasy, I don't care if there is strong world building or just the barest outline.

The only thing with setting that will drive me nuts is if it is set in a real place that I am familiar with and they get the details wrong.

I do like mythology and some roman empire novels but do not really pick according to setting. It is more likely that a setting will put me off for instance I have read enough World war novels to last a lifetime and I hate slavery fiction

Like some others here feel like I can work with any setting. I have noticed that recently I have read a few books that are set in the 70's and 80's and maybe the 60's that I really enjoyed. I feel like often there are cultural things like music, movies, tv shows or video games mentioned that I have a fondness for.

I enjoy books that do a good job or describing the world I am in but without going overboard.

One of my favorite things about fantasy and sci-fi is the made-up worlds! In other books, like historical fiction and literary fiction, I rarely even notice the setting. Because of this, I don't much like challenge prompts that are focused on setting. Honestly, even after I finish a book I might not able to tell you where it took place!

Anything that's well written historical fiction, I'm going to be all over it.

But it has to be well written. No particular time period, although I don't read much regency. I like stuff that's more recent - so pretty much anything Civil War era and after.

Nadine in NY wrote: The only thing with setting that will drive me nuts is if it is set in a real place that I am familiar with and they get the details wrong."

Oh my gads, yes. THIS.

My favorite setting for books is England.

As far as time goes: I'll read books set in any time period, but have a thing for 12th century, the 1920s, 30s and 40s.

I prefer 1800's to present day (or the future) as a time frame, but I don't particularly care about the geographical setting of the book.

I love the Sea side settings, mountain settings.
Not a particular place in our world or outside in outer Space, but I love more nature-like places or water-y ones, like the Ocean etc.