
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that was originally created by The Broke and the Bookish but was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
This week’s topic is Settings I’d Like To See More Of.

July 23rd: Settings I’d Like To See More Of
I don’t think I can come up with ten different choices today because I am not that imaginative lol! But I would like to see the following:
Books with a realistic hospital setting for the long term ill
Frequently I find in books that we get a sanitised version of what being a long term patient of a hospital is like and therefore I would like books with more of an authentic feel. I would also include in this settings for doctor appointments be they for physical and/or mental health struggles.
Translated books set in the author’s native country
I think books from outside traditional English speaking regions should be highlighted more as reading a book from a country foreign to your own is a great way of understanding and learning about our modern diverse society.
Books set in alternative histories of our world
I just love alternative histories when they are thoroughly researched and therefore have fantastic world building.
Books set in libraries and book stores
Can never have too many books about books!!!
Books set in single place
I really love the idea of a book where the action all happens in real time in one room.
And that’s my list! I am happy that I came up with five ideas. I will probably read loads of posts by other bloggers today and be like ‘oh why did I not think of that’ lol!
If you have any recommendations of books that fit any of the settings from my list can you please let me know in the comments below. I would really love to get some great book recs today.

As someone with a long term condition, unrealistic hospital settings drive me MAD. I especially get annoyed when they’re romances, because unless I’m going to the wrong ones beautiful people don’t tend to strike up conversations in waiting rooms and fall madly in love with you…
I love bookish books too! Have you read the Paper and Hearts Society? It’s fab 💜
Amy x
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HAHAHA OH MY GOD YES!!!! I have never once caught eyes with a dreamy looking guy across the waiting room because I am too sick and stressed to care about such things in those types of situations. It’s just like no… Ugh those books drive me batty!!!
I haven’t read paper and hearts, been undecided about wanting to read it. Need to read a few reviews first I think :)))
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I love alternative histories and I wouldn’t say no to more. 🙂
Lauren @ Always Me
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Right!!! They’re such a really cool idea. I’m hoping to stumble across another few titles fitting that description:)
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I love your list, Emer! It’s quite an imaginative one! especially books set in a single place. I don’t remember reading a book like that.
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Thanks Nastassja! I don’t think I’ve read a book like that either but I just think it would make for such an interesting character study.
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This is a great list! I love a good book about books, libraries and book shops–can definitely never get enough of those. Books set in alternative histories of our world sounds really interesting too. I can’t actually recall reading any books in that setting but I’ll have to check out some!
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I read The Calculating Stars recently that was an alternative history exploring the space race which is really what got me wishing there were more books out there like that! But even my frothy recent arc American Royals is also alternative history …but it just needed more world building for me lol!
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Wow, American Royals is an alternative history? My interest has been piqued! I’ll check out The Calculating Stars first 🙂
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American Royals doesn’t really explore the alternative history that much though. But it is a fun read. But the calculating stars is definitely interesting and worth a read.
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As a library employee, I’d love more books set in libraries!
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Libraries are just the best places in the world 🙂
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Yes to more books in authors’ native countries! Also I definitely get not being able to hit that 10 settings aha. This post took me hours!
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Haha glad I’m not the only one who found this week’s topic a challenge 🙂 Was still a lot of fun though
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I do love an alternative history! Great picks!
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Thank you so much 🙂
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This is a great list! I think all of them would be fun to read about!
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Aw thank you 🙂
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Oh there are some great ideas here! I’ve heard of a few bookshop-y books but haven’t got around to reading them yet so not sure what they’re actually like but there’s Pages & Co by Anna James which is middle grade and the Bookshop Girl series (YA) by Chloe Coles who is a bookseller herself but I’m not sure how much is actually set in the bookshop…
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Ooh thanks so much for the recs! I’ll definitely check them out 🙂 Thanks for popping by my blog today :))
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Couldnt agree more about reading books that have been translated. I set out to do this a few years ago – it’s hard getting them from certain countries but I’ve still read from more than 40 countries.
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I try to read as many as I can but typically I just end up reading some of the ones from the international Booker list because they are the easiest to source.
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I love alternate histories too – and library settings. Have you read the Genevieve Cogman books? They combine the two. The library acts as a conduit to a multitude of places and eras and they’re all slightly different than the versions we know of.
Lynn 😀
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They are on my TBR but haven’t gotten around to buying them yet. They do sound brilliant. Thanks for reminding me about them Lynn! 🙂
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I should have added bookstores/libraries to my list. It seems to be very popular today.
My ttt
http://www.thehauntedgravebooks.com/2019/07/top-ten-tuesday-setting-i-would-like-to.html
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It’s so interesting to see everyone’s different choices though. I love the variety. Checking out your list right now 🙂 Thanks for popping by my blog today
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I love the alternative histories choice! It’s not something I would have thought of, but would want to read.
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I read The Calculating Stars a while ago which was an alternative history featuring the space race and I was intrigued by it! So that’s why I thought more books like that would be awesome 🙂
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Nice! 🙂
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I also included libraries on my list (yay), but I LOVE the idea of alternate histories. I haven’t seen that on any lists so far and think that’s a really awesome concept that I’d personally love to read! Great selections!
If you’d like to check out my list (my first TTT in 7 months!!!) you can do so here: https://nerdnarrationblog.wordpress.com/2019/07/23/top-ten-tuesday-book-settings-i-live-for/
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Thank you! Definitely need more books with libraries 🙂 I’ll check out your TTT right now, thanks for popping by my blog 🙂
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Hooray for libraries and book stores!
I’ve seen more diversity in books recently, but it’s still usually books written in English. I agree that I find modern translations fascinating.
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You are right about the authenticity in translated novels. I wish we had more of that.
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It would be so great if they were more widely available and publicised. I do like the international Booker prize for highlighting some books but those really tend to be literary fiction. It’d be great to see a variety of genres better highlighted.
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You are right about the authenticity in translated novels. I wish we had more of that.
https://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/2019/07/my-favorite-settings-in-paris.html
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Great list! Reading a book set in entirely one place would be great fun – I love films like that, like Dial M for Murder, so it’s crazy there aren’t more books like that.
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I know right!! I think books like that would be so atmospheric and interesting to read 🙂 thanks for popping by my blog
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Hospital/medical dramas are my favorite. Have you read the Queen of Hearts by Kimmery Martin? It’s mostly hospital setting and was really fun and dramatic.
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Ooh no I haven’t. Hadn’t even heard of it. Definitely adding it to my TBR. Thank you so much for the rec 🙂
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I totally agree about books set in hospitals – they could definitely be more realistic. And a book set in one room would be awesome! Great list!
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Thank you 🙂
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Your whole list sounds fabulous to me. Good job with it.
My TTT.
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Thanks Lydia! Checking yours out now 🙂
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Lock Every Door had a great closed setting!
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Great! I’ll add it to my TBR. Thank you :))
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You’re welcome!
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I love alternative histories!! As much as I don’t really like Philip Roth, he did write a pretty good one called The Plot Against America. Great list 🙂
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Ooh I haven’t heard of that! Going to add it to my TBR. Thanks for the rec 🙂
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