Sunday, May 5, 2013

Blogger Book Swap Link Up

Hey All!  For today's Blogger Book Swap Link Up, we're supposed to talk about cities we love to read about.  Martie over at Spunkyrella, for instance, tends to gravitate towards books set in New York City because of her love for that town.  I browsed through the lists of my favorite books and realized that my tastes really go all over the place.  I think I might be attracted to books that take place travelling or in multiple places rather than in specific cities.  I also seem to be drawn to books where the setting doesn't necessarily matter; where it's more about the people and the changes they are going through and what they're experiencing.

To keep with the theme of the Link Up though, I picked a couple books that I have loved in large part due to their settings.  Here they are!

The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America
The Devil in White City by Erik Larson

I cannot say enough about this book.  It's one of the best, most compelling non-fiction books out there.  The descriptions of Chicago are gritty and fantastical and beautiful and you really feel like you can see, smell, and hear everything that Larson is describing.  I love visiting Chicago as it is today and it was really interesting to learn about how it was then and to learn about the fair that I never knew took place there.
Bangkok 8, Bangkok Tattoo, & Bangkok Haunts by John Burdett

I think I wrote those in the wrong order, but I'm too lazy to fix it.  I just woke up, alright?  Regardless, these books are incredibly exciting, compelling, and terrifying due in much part to their setting of Bangkok.  Burdett describes the surroundings in an incredibly static, frightening, and mysterious way which really sets up the feel for the entire book and its many mysteries.  It makes you want to visit Bangkok....but with a really buff guide to protect you.

Do you guys have a favorite setting for your books?

16 comments:

  1. I've not heard of either of these books, but you have my intrigued! I tell my Husband all that time that I want to travel to Europe -- particularly Scotland -- with Gerard Butler and Australia with Hugh Jackman, both being my personal tour guides in their respective home countries. Husband usually rolls his eyes at me. HAHAHAHAHAHA What do you think? Cute and buff enough?! Happy Sunday. =)

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    1. As long as Hugh wears his Wolverine side burns, I'm in!!

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  2. Val, thanks so much for linking-up. I never heard of your picks but especially the first one sounds fascinating! I heard a lot of good things from stories taking place in Chicago lately :)

    Happy Sunday!

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    1. Oh man, it's a good book! I recommend it to everyone!

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  3. I've always wanted to read The Devil in the White City! It's been on my wishlist forever!
    ~Sara

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  4. Yay, a Chicago book! Havebt read the Bangkok series yet but they have been on my radar.

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    1. I really liked the Bangkok books. You get immediately sucked in and invested and you don't want them to end. I love those kinds of series.

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  5. never heard of the ones you picked but the first one sounds good.

    x Audrey
    fashionhightea.blogspot.com

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    1. It is really good! I don't usually read non-fiction, but this one is really good.

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  6. I picked up a copy of The Devil in the White City, a few weeks ago after I heard a great recommendation from a good friend of mine. I grew up in Southeastern Wisconsin, so I often took the train to Chicago and I can't wait to read this gritty novel :)

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  7. "Devil in the White City" is wonderful! I've met Erik Larson actually. (He is tennis partners with the Rabbi at the temple I work at-random, right?)

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    1. That is so random! Can we also talk about the image in my head of your Rabbi playing tennis? Love it!

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  8. Devil in the White City still gives me the shivers!

    Thank you for sharing!

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