Friday, June 17, 2011

Romance Passport to the World


I'm fortunate to have had many opportunities to explore the world.  By the time I turned twenty I had visited more than half of the states in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the European continent.  Those were the places I had visited in person but there were many more locales with which I was familiar;  the cities, regions and countries visited through the pages of the books I had read...and there were many.




I can close my eyes and see the exquisite light of Tuscany as dawn breaks over the Renaissance splendor of Florence.  I can hear the city come to life, the shopkeepers opening their stores on the Ponte Vecchio as voices rise and fall in the beautiful language of Italy.  Those are real memories that I hold dear.  But, long before I ever visited the Caribbean, I could feel soft tropical breezes on my face, hear the gentle lapping of crystal clear waters on sandy beaches, the cacophony of voices on market day and the sultry heat of summer in the tropics.  Those memories came from the pages of historical romance novels and while I had not experienced them in reality, they were no less real to me.  And, while I've never traveled to Scotland, I can feel the cool mist of morning, the warmth of peat fires and hear the haunting strains of bagpipes in the wind.  I'm certain that my first trip to the  Highlands will feel like coming home because of the many times I've "visited" them in countless books. 



As I pondered the places I've been, both in reality and through the pages of novels, I began to wonder if there was a correlation between the two. Is there the possibility that my desire to visit certain countries stems from books that are set there?  Or, conversely, do I tend to read certain books or authors because they set their stories in areas I've enjoyed visiting...or want to visit?  While Mr. Impossible is one of my favorite Loretta Chase books, it's never left me with the desire to visit Egypt.  On the other hand, every Highland novel I've read has me wanting to board the next plane to Scotland.  Is it the books that have me wanting to visit the Highlands?  Or do I read those books because the Highlands call to my soul?  I wonder.

How about you?  Do you find yourself gravitating to books set in areas with which you're familiar or those places on your vacation wish list?  Have you ever not read a book because of it's setting?  What are your favorite locations for romance novels? What makes them appealing to you?  Where would you like to see more romances set?  This curious mind wants to know!

~PJ

21 comments:

  1. PJ

    I know how you feel although I have not travelled very much at all I do love a book set in The Highlands of Scotland and around Ireland because these are places I so want to visit and yes can really feel the surrounds when i am reading these stories.
    Reading books have always meant that I travel and not just to other countires but back in time into the future and to wonderful Cities all over the world in contemparies.
    I am not sure there is any place I would like to see more stories set in I love to travel lots of places

    Have Fun
    Helen

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  2. Great post, PJ! I love travelling and I have had the chance to visit most of western and central Europe.

    Sadly, I have yet to visit Britain, but I have thought about the places I'd like to see there based on what I've read. The Highlands are definitely on my list as well as the Lake District in Darbyshire. I like the idea of visiting the estates of the peerage like Elizabeth Bennet did.

    I would really like to see some historicals set in Africa. I think there's a lot of potential for great stories. "Out of Africa" is a good example.

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  3. I read Agatha Christie & I want to go to Egypt. I read Wuthering Heights and I have a hankering for wild moors. The list is endless: I am obviously easily susceptible. I can't recall NOT reading a book because of location.

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  4. I agree with Helen, I love to read about many different places, that is about as far as my traveling goes but I have always wanted to visit the British Isles. Nothing makes me happier than reading about Scotland and Ireland.
    I often say at work that I read to escape and as long as I am escaping I may as well travel to another time period too.

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  5. Helen said, Reading books have always meant that I travel and not just to other countires but back in time into the future and to wonderful Cities all over the world in contemparies.

    Exactly! How fortunate we are to have so many gifted writers whose words can take us to these places.

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  6. Antonia said, I would really like to see some historicals set in Africa. I think there's a lot of potential for great stories. "Out of Africa" is a good example.

    I've read a couple romances set in that region but it's been some time and I don't remember the titles or who wrote them. I do remember lots of mosquito netting though! ;-)

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  7. That's me too, Marybelle! Well, for the most part. I've just never been all that interested in visiting Egypt even though I've really enjoyed the romances I've read that were set there. I think it's all that sand. I prefer my sand at the beach. ;-)

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  8. Dianna said, I often say at work that I read to escape and as long as I am escaping I may as well travel to another time period too.

    I like the way you think!

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  9. I usually prefer reading historicals set in either England or Scotland, but I don't think I have ever not read a book because of the setting.
    And of course, I would love to go to England and Scotland one day. :)

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  10. Fascinating post PJ-I love it!

    I have been very lucky to have the opportunity to travel. I've been to Europe and parts of Asia. High on my list of places I'd love to visit is Italy, Ireland, Australia, New Orleans,Scotland, and I'd love to go back to Spain and Ireland. I have to admit it is Nora's various books set in Ireland that's enticed me to go, as well as friends and family who've been there and tell me how beautiful the country is, and how friendly the locals.

    I love exploring new and foreign places through books. I got to explore Alaska through NR's Northern Lights, Chicago through Julie James' books, Tortola from Tessa Dare's Surrender of a Siren, etc. etc.

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  11. What a lovely post, PJ! I think part of the attraction of even my earliest reading was the places I could inhabit for the span of a few hours, places far removed from the small-town South in the 20th century. Deep Valley, Minnesota; Prince Edward Island, Canada; Indian Territory in Kansas—these places in the 19th century and turn of the 20th century were wondrous places to a little girl from Georgia. My travel has been limited to the U. S., but books have taken me to some of my favorite places—Regency and Victorian England, Greece—ancient and modern, Ireland—Celtic and contemporary, to name a few. I have to agree with you. I adore Loretta Chase’s books, but Egypt and Albania are not on my list of places I long to visit.

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  12. Trisha, I hope you get there! I love historicals set in England, Scotland and Ireland. Love them!

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  13. Lisa, I have Irish ancestry so that's one place I've always wanted to visit but, like you, Nora's books have heightened that desire. She's exceptionally good at capturing the magic of Ireland.

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  14. Janga, I have no trouble picturing you as a young girl sitting under a tree with a book in your lap as your mind traveled to fascinating places and times. Do you think our small-town upbringing contributed to our fascination with books about all those wondrous places far away?

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  15. I find I do gravitate towards settings described in books. When I'm reading a really good book, I always imagine myself there or check to see which places are real so that I could maybe one day visit. Places of a long-ago era like castles and ruins or modern existing places like restaurants etc. In a sense that is how I interact with books; reading a scene and then going online to see if it really is there.

    When I'm not reading, THE AMAZING RACE is pretty inspiring also.

    Excellent post!

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  16. I read books set just about anywhere. There are some favorite locales that will guarantee I'll read the book. Many of those places I developed an interest in from my early reading in archeology and ancient cultures. It does add much to a story when you have been to the places mentioned in a book. It gives you a different feel for the setting and events. We have traveled a lot in the US and part of Canada and a bit in Southeast Asia. We are planning to travel to Ireland, Scotland, England, and Europe in the near future. There is much of North Africa and the Middle East I would like to visit, but now isn't a good time.
    If visiting an area, I try to read books set there both before leaving and while there. Jennifer Blake has a six book series, Masters At Arms, set in 1840's New Orleans. I read several before visiting and looked for the areas mentioned. While there I read 2 more and sought out the places mentioned. I finished the rest when we got home. In one scene, we had been to the place and I knew right where the heroine was standing. It made both the visit and the books more enjoyable.

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  17. Karyn said, I haven't been overseas yet, but we are planning in the next few years, to go to the UK. Ireland and Scotland are at the top

    They're at the top of my list too. One of these days... :)

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  18. Na said, When I'm not reading, THE AMAZING RACE is pretty inspiring also.

    I love that show! It's reality TV and a fascinating geography lesson all wrapped up in one terrific package.

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  19. Librarypat said, Jennifer Blake has a six book series, Masters At Arms, set in 1840's New Orleans. I read several before visiting and looked for the areas mentioned. While there I read 2 more and sought out the places mentioned. I finished the rest when we got home. In one scene, we had been to the place and I knew right where the heroine was standing. It made both the visit and the books more enjoyable.

    I love Blake's books! If I ever get back to New Orleans I'm sure I'll be doing the same.

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  20. I love books set in the west and also set in Ireland and Scotland.

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  21. And now Paula Quinn's Laird of the Mist is just 99 cents for the e-book. PJ, you just got snookered into Another Scots Romance!

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