A Place To Go

I've lived and visited a lot of places in my life. I grew up in Missouri and can tell you about minute differences you'll find from the Boot Heel to the Rural Centers and the Cities. I've lived in Nebraska and Ohio and can probably answer a lot of trivia about both. Have visited Colorado, Florida, Texas and Louisiana. Grand Cayman, Belize, Honduras, Mexico (three times), Jamaica. Every place I've visited has left some kind of imprint on my life, from admiring a Jamaican sunset over the Caribbean to the out-of-breath feeling of being in Denver's lighter air.

But some of the best places I go are seen from my couch or bed or my zero gravity chair on our deck.

Because every time I open a book I take a journey. I might visit somewhere familiar like Missouri or Iowa or could be swept away to the Middle East or even China.

We talk a lot about character making the story here at WordWranglers (funny how we all think alike!), and I truly think character can make or break a story. But I also live for those moments, as a reader, when an author's voice paints a picture of where the action is happening. I love it when I'm not just reading about a hot, desert wind, but can feel that wind on my face. When the cold of a December snow freezes my toes on a hot summer day in Ohio. Or when the rain over New York City seems like it's just out of the reach of my fingers. Those moments are when I get to visit someplace that I've never seen in my life...but I can still feel like I've been there.

Comments

  1. Oh, absolutely. It made me think of the Little House books, where the writing was so deliciously minimalist and Mrs. Wilder made us know ever inch of every setting in every book. We truly have "been there."

    Great post, Kristi!

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    1. thanks, Liz! That is one of the things I love about the Little House books (and why they're on my list over on Facebook). She had a gift of describing things that still stays with me.

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  2. I love reading excellent setting but have a rough time writing it. One day...But I guess that's why I appreciate it when I read it.

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    1. I *think* I have a grasp on setting ... but I'm nowhere near the masters, Margie!

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  3. I'm not great with settings either. Sometimes I go too far and sometimes not enough.

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    1. I should probably clarify - that by having a grasp on setting, I usually get it 'right' on about Pass 3...lol

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  4. I love "traveling" through the books I read. I've had some great adventures from the safety of my chair!

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  5. I like it when they describe the food! My mom used to read Nancy Drew Mysteries and get so hungry that she'd go into the kitchen and cook up a storm! I just love that feeling when you're reading a book and it makes you feel as if you're inside the story.
    Good post. Good memories. Thanks, Kristina

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