Where You Are

I was going to title this as Where Are You? but then realized that sounds pretty stalkerish. Not that I'm above stalking, I do it pretty frequently. This will be relatively short, but I wanted to get this out here because when I'm curious, I get impatient quickly.

On the day-to-day basis of my life, when I read, I'm on the treadmill. It's the only time of day that I really feel is mine and I won't feel guilty because I'm combining exercise and reading. Win-win, right? Now that it's summer, I need to work on my stupid farmer's tan (I'm not really a farmer) so maybe some reading in the sun will be great. To be honest, I don't have many stipulations on what my surroundings must be like when I read. The only must is that I must be comfortable. It's a given, right? Well, if I'm on the treadmill, I actually don't want to sweat. So I feel myself getting sweaty there or even unbearably hot outside, I'm out. While it's not a must, I do enjoy listening to music while I read. The music depends on the book most of the time, and since I'm a mood reader, I'm a mood listener too.

But I was wondering, don't books become more treasured or enjoyable when you're in a better setting? For me, the best thing about being at a hotel after the free breakfast is to sit beside the pool, soaking in the sun, and read. That book becomes so much better than before. And of course, since I'm a mood reader on a usual basis, I tend to go for more sunny, summery books when I'm beside the pool. Contemporary, please.

Music, no music, sunshine, air conditioning, nearby water, inside fireplace...they're all changes in our surroundings that people like or dislike. While I do love reading at the beach, I also mourn when I have to work when it's raining because that means no pleasure reading. In Florida summers, we have thunderstorms. Thunderstorms are perfect for movie-watching or reading pleasure. Trust me. 

Of course, this is where my impatience comes in. If you've stuck around this far, thank you. I'm trying to process my pondering. Here's a little informal survey: are you particular about your setting? Do you have to be in a certain spot to really enjoy reading? Do you hate a specific setting? Weather? Music? For whatever odd reason, I get sick in the car when I read sometimes, while other times I'm perfectly fine for hours. Can you read in the car? Do you look forward to multitask your reading (tanning and reading, exercising and reading, etc.)? WHAT DO YOU LIKE? 

Top Ten Tuesday: Settings I'd Like To See More

Hosted by The Broke and The Bookish

I know, I know, don't even pay attention to the date on this. I absolutely forgot to put a reminder for this after being out of town all weekend. But I couldn't pass this one up. I get to share ten settings I would love YA lit to be in!

1. 1920s

Or really, anywhere from the 1920s to the 1960s. I LOVE that era. I think of the flappers, Captain America, the World Wars, great music, and fun. Lots of fun. So if someone could produce more books in this setting, that would be much appreciated.

2. Ireland

I think I have read only one book set here. One. Ireland, my friends, would be a great place for characters to be! We have lots of London and other European countries, but Ireland? We can have cute men like in Leap Year, beautiful scenery, and lots of adventures. Besides, I have lots of Irish in me so it definitely can't be a bad place. 

3. Victorian England

My absolute favorites series in the Adult genre is set here and really, how could you not like this era? I can't think of a single YA book placed here. 

4. Africa

Not only am I determined to go there one day, I'm determined there will be more African books out there. Once again, I have read only one book set there and it wasn't really focused on the African setting around it. The wild animals, the village children, the safaris. Let me have something African!

5. The Carnival

Since I get Alice in Readerland's posts in my email (it's a wonderful thing), I saw her Top Ten Tuesday and ever since I saw this amazing point, I thought: YES. It can be magical or creepy or fun or all of the above. I haven't seen The Notebook. but I do know they meet at the carnival. So come on, let me have books at the carnival!

6. The Jungle

Think The Jungle Book or Tarzan! You can fight for survival, have desperate times, or be raised there or find your way around. Overall, it would be nice to read about the jungle for a change. 

7. College

Usually YA books end when they go off to college. Why can't I read about them THERE? And not the crazy, wild stuff. Sure, some people have not-so clean experiences in college, but I know plenty of people who DO. So clean college. Yes? Please?

8. Rome

It can be Ancient Rome or just Rome. It's a beautiful place with lots of opportunities of romance!

9. Christmas

Does anyone else feel like it's really hard to find good Christmas-y books? New York at Christmas time would be even better!

10. Egypt

Oh, Egypt. Pharaohs, pyramids, mysteries, and more. I love the idea of Egypt. The next best thing to visiting it is to read about it. 

~*~

So that's my list of where I want more YA settings to be in. What are YOURS? 

To conclude, here's a song that makes me pull even more for #8.