Question: Using real locale

[jinkang.livejournal.com]

I was reading up a novel and realized the author lives in my home town. And that's because I recognized the streets and some of the buildings he described. It was done well, but I realized I walked the streets that the main characters were walking.

Now, when this happens, do you find the fiction you were reading somehow less real or more real?

Because sometimes, when I read, I am immersed in the fictional world and rather not be reminded of the reality. Some other times, I realize such things build realism, because they are in fact based on the real world geography.

By the way, I don't mean by really famous places like Eiffel tower or Swiss Alps, or Machu Pichu. (personally only been to two from the list), but more of some random streets or a neat side street that only 'local' people would know.

Comments

[greyyguy.livejournal.com]

From reading interviews with authors, it is common for some of them to visit real towns and use them in their stories. With Google Maps and streetview, they don't even need to leave their home.

I don't see anything different in using a real place in a story than in using real people such as politicians or celebrities. Though for the purposes of a story, I can see how using a real place would make world building easier. You don't need to make a map or populate it with businesses or create geography. I don't know if it makes the story any more "real" though. I think it depends on how the author uses it.

[jinkang.livejournal.com]

I guess another way of asking my question is, if you recognize that place personally, would it jolt you out of the story?

[greyyguy.livejournal.com]

It might if the real place is supposed to be on a different planet, or it was my hometown and the writer filled it with evil people, but otherwise I don't think it would bother me.

[sara-nade.livejournal.com]

that's an awesome thought! I'm writing a novel that takes place on Long Beach Island, New Jersey, but I am from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I've never been to Long Beach Island, but I've done tons of research, even so far as to google earth it and find the exact street that my characters live/work/go to school on. I made up a few fictional places and set them in the area, but I really think it makes the story ultimately more real. I think it's awesome when an author can do that. (It's really really hard though!) I'm not sure how my efforts will work out. I will be visiting New Jersey this summer,so I'm quite excited to see how it will affect my writing. :)

[jinkang.livejournal.com]

I'd like to point out though, that places are more than just geographical names. There are always certains mood permeating in the air, which is why I'm a little concerned of using a street that you look up on a map, be it google map or not, unless you know about it, have been there, or you are only using the name--it could have been any other name.

Imagine, Rosevalley Road (made up) is on a sleepy little town called Haliban (again, made up). From the google map, it's a beautiful road covered in flowers and trees, like someplace where you might walk with a loved one.

Of course, the imaginary townfolk might know the street is haunted and that this particularly beautiful road has too many bumps that killed motorists and might call it something else, a Siren Road, for instance.

[nae-k.livejournal.com]

There are pros and cons.

I've read several books by an author who situates his stories in the city in which I live.

On one hand, I remember feeling terribly excited whenever he mentioned restaurants I'd visited, streets I'd driven down, etc. On the other hand, when he mentioned things that I knew didn't exist (fictional stores, etc) I felt a disappointed. I swung between 'my home town!' and 'that's not my home town'.

So there you go. Not very helpful, I'm afraid! (But I think there's a lot to be said for completely fictional settings. You won't disappoint anyone. Well, unless you can't bring it to life and then transmit that vision to your readers.)

[amethystrse.livejournal.com]

I haven't experienced reading a book that takes place somewhere I know. But the novel I wrote takes place in San Diego and describes places most tourists wouldn't know about. lol I often wonder what someone from San Diego would think when reading it. Too bad I don't live there anymore.

[cat-mcdougall.livejournal.com]

I think it depends on how big the city is.

Using places like San Francisco, San Diego, New York, etc is one thing. (Tanya Huff uses Toronto in her books, Kathy Reichs uses Virginia/Montreal, Patricia Cornwell used Virginia, DC, Miami, etc in her books) It increases the likelihood of someone in those places picking up the books and going "Heeeeeeeeeeeey".

However, for my '06 NaNo, I used my own home town. I used familiar places, and didn't name them. Except for local names (For example: the protag went to the spillway, and then down to docks), I didn't name them. Would someone local recognise them? Absolutely, or, at least I hope so. Would someone who isn't local recognise them? Most likely not. Simply because I didn't give them place names that are recognisable.

So, when using real places, it really is a 'maybe'.

Please note: All of this goes out the window the minute you declare it to be on another planet/in another realm/whatever. This is strictly for urban fantasy/contemporary works.

[ceirdwenfc.livejournal.com]

Personally, I love it. I like recognizing places in stories (and movies as well). I like when the story becomes more real even if the story is science-fiction or fantasy. I like the idea that I could have been there.

[fifi-bonsai.livejournal.com]

I'm all for accuracy and realism.

In my case it's the total opposite. Even when reading fantasy or sci-fi I want my fiction to ring true. I don't appreciate the cynical notion that reality is not quite as good as. The pact btw the reader and the author where the reader agrees to suspend disbelief is only sealed if the author aids in that suspension.

Thinking about it (I'm finding out stuff even as I type) I guess it has to do with what you use literature for. If you use it to be entertained and to escape, always escape reality as some bizarre dissociative tool, then I guess you'd be jolted out. If you use literature to be entertained and find out about things and as an experience like any other (you don't stop living while you read) then I guess the added realism would just be helpful. I don't know, I think I'm just rambling here.