Do you ever read books that happen to take place where you live, or someplace you’re very familiar with?
Sometimes when you’re familiar with a place, it’s obvious when a movie that’s set there is not filmed there, or it has some things that make it unrealistic that only locals would pick up on. I was wondering if people ever experience this with books.
What books have you read that feel very accurate to the location you’re familiar with? What books feel like the author has never even been to the place the book is set?
by Comprehensive-Fun47
7 Comments
[The Golden Couple](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57693416-the-golden-couple?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=E7lZjavMeM&rank=1) is the only book I can remember reading that took place in Maryland. It specifically stated that it took place a bit outside Baltimore, which is maybe a half an hour-an hour from where I live. (I forgot the name of the actual place.) It’s rare mostly due to the fact that Maryland is exactly a very popular place, so it makes sense. But it’s still nice to see the home of Crabs and Old Bay be featured as a home every once in a while.
I really enjoyed Boy Parts for this reason (amongst others). Very few notable books are based in Newcastle or written in the local lingo. Was nice to be able to relate to the space/ vibes of the author so naturally.
I do like books places in places I know. And sometimes I visit places I read about in books. I have this book with 19th century diaries, and I found the grave of the couple in it on the local cemetery. Was a fun hunt.
Also let me know about books that contain your mothers maiden name, publication date matching your date of birth, first family pet name and why not, a book you can read why standing in line at your preferred, and named, bank. :p
I have read a bunch of historic books about my hometown. About notable personalities and such. But it’s not great literature or anything.
I like to read books about a place I’m about to go on vacation to. We’re going to Paris in March and the I’m reading Lolita right now (more of a happy accident, it’s a reread and I forgot it starts in Paris) and the hunchback of Nôtre dame is next on my list.
Gray by Lou Cadle is set in Idaho. It’s a post-apocalypse survivor tale. Some of it wasn’t bad, like a group of survivors take over the university campus and that’s quite reasonable. The book talks about the buildings being brick and that’s why they didn’t burn, have some resources still intact, etc. But he missed the 10-story brick hospital with basements and sub-basements that’s right across the river from the university. And the legendary tunnels under downtown. And the hot springs.
Other things he got wrong could have been corrected with a basic map (the survivors left a small town and headed east to Boise, but that town is north-east of Boise). The worst for me was every time the main character would be sad about all the trees being gone in southern Idaho. Boise has a lot of trees, but the area around it (which they were referring to) is high desert. There’s no trees to mourn.
I live in Knoxville so it was really interesting to read Demon Copperhead and understand some of the location references!