This weeks BTT is:
"Are there any particular worlds in books where you’d like to live? Or where you certainly would NOT want to live? What about authors? If you were a character, who would you trust to write your life?"
An interesting one although I am pretty happy with where and how I live now!
The first thought that popped into my mind when thinking of where I'd like to live was that of The Culture in the Iain M Banks books where humans and AIs live together. I think it would be really interesting to live in a society where you don't actually have to do anything yet you can choose to if you want to. Where you can change your body into fantastical shapes, change your abilities, where information is so easily available, leisure opportunities are almost infinite and money is no longer required.
I'd also love to live in a close-knit community like the ones in the Miss Read books - small village life at its best where everyone knows everyone and support is there if needed.
I would not want to live in medieval times unless I was super-rich and influential. Which is statistically very unlikely. It must have been very difficult for those on the lower rungs of society with life expectancy and quality of life both very low. The inequality of the sexes would also be very frustrating and I'd no doubt end up being tried as a witch!
In terms of recentish books I've read, I don't think that the island of Bouganville as presented in Mister Pip would be in my list of places to live - even if the idea of a lush tropical island does appeal. Looking at the post I linked there I do quite fancy taking my canoe out on the north-western coast of the USA as featured in The Highest Tide though!
I've just realised that this week's BTT also asks what author I'd trust to write my life story. I'm currently reading Claire Tomalin's biography of Jane Austen and you really could not ask for a better author than her. Great attention to detail presented in a very engaging manner.
10 comments:
Nice to hear you enjoyed the question. Culture was my first thought as well, or the world of Charles Stross books (Glasshouse, Accelerando, Singularity Sky, Iron Sunrise).
Your answer is well thought out. Thanks for sharing.
I picked Jane Austen too - happy ending guaranteed. =) I've never read any Iain M Banks but that sounds like an interesting read.
I know living in Oxford during the tourist season is never very fun ... I always wish for Philip Pullman's 'His Dark Materials' multiple worlds to be true. Two Oxfords one on top of the other, one for tourists and very slow walkers, the other for the rest of us!
In terms of actualy worlds, Jane Austen is always a must, as is the world of Brideshead Revisited!
I can't stand Austen. Yes, I know I am in the minority!
Here is my BTT post
Thanks for all dropping by!
Mikko - great minds and all! I've not read any of Charles Stross books but he is definitely on my B2B (Books to Buy) list. I'll have to nudge him up if only to see where else I should consider living!
oxford-reader - I did think about Philip Pullman's Dark Materials worlds and I bet if I lived in Oxford I'd wish for a parallel version too!
Gautami - not everyone has to be a fan of Jane Austen even if she is one of my favourite authors. :D
I completely agree about not wanting to live in medieval times...yes the chances are not good for either of us.
Wow The Culture novels sound like an amazing place to live, I've never read any of Ian M Banks books but I am going to now.
I would love to live in a small, close knit community for a bit. The ones I've read in some contemporary English novels sound cool.
Love your answers to this weeks question. I love how you listed why you would like to live in the world of each book you mentioned. There is something very endearing about the small communities in books.
Do they exist in real life?
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