Welcome to Tuesday Book Chat.
This is where we encourage book lovers to answer our bookish question of the week.
Today’s question is:
What’s the best setting: small town or big city?
We look forward to hearing your thoughts. Please join in the conversation by commenting on this post or on the blog post shared in our Australasian Christian Writers Facebook Group.
Let’s chat!
For me I don’t have a preference. I probably enjoy small town better but then what I call small isn’t the same as others. To me 5,000 – 10,000 is small where as to some 50,000 – 100,000 is small. I have enjoyed some books in big cities. It really depends on the story.
Your turn.
I look forward to reading your comments here or at the FB group.
Either is fine. Small town books can sometimes be annoying where everyone knows everyone else’s business and gossips about it.
Thats true. Ironically when the book mention a small town of around 5,000 they will have everyone knows everyone and everyone’s business. This is so untrue. I don’t know everyone in my town and am often the last to know some of the things that happen. (Although a big scandal making headlines is different). To me it really depends on the story. I have to admit sometimes when I see what population they have and then what businesses I shake my head. (like a town with around 10,000 not having a hospital only a few beds at the Drs office which only has one dr I really do shake my head. and the closest hospital being over an hour away yes a bigger hospital maybe but there would be a smaller hospital of some sort).
Good question. I guess it depends on the story. For romance I enjoy small town more, but in other genres I like big city settings better. Having said that, I’ve read some city-based romance that I really liked. Narelle Atkin’s Sydney Sweethearts comes to mind. It’s a wonderful way of experiencing a place I might not otherwise see.
I agree. Even Cities have suburbs and almost micro cities where the book is set in one area. But I do like learning about other places. I still remember a book set in Washington DC that talked about the monuments and made me want to see them. I did like Narelle’s books also. Meredith Resce has a series in Adelaide which was fun cos I know the city to a degree.
Hi Milla and Jenny, I appreciate the mentions of my Sydney Sweethearts series. I’ve also enjoyed Meredith’s Luella Linley series that’s set in Adelaide. I like writing and reading books in a range of settings.
In terms of a ‘best’ setting – it’s not an easy question to answer. I definitely have a preference for cozy mysteries to be set in a small town rather than a large urban setting.