#14 - My Choice 3 - Beauty in the Setting of Fiction

It hit me the other day that everytime I begin a new novel, I check to see if there is an illustration of a map of the world of the book somewhere within the first few pages. When there is a map, I become outrageously excited for the novel. I wondered why for a moment. Then it hit me. A book with a map is a book that gives much care to its setting and makes an effort to build a world within the novel. One of the first books I read which contained a map was Tolkien’s The Hobbit. I read it while I was in first grade and it had such a profound effect on me, in part because I was so effortlessly drawn into the world of middle-earth. When an author takes time to provide the reader with detailed descriptions of the setting, I experience the novel on a more visceral level. If I can see in my mind’s eye what the protagonist sees, I can more readily enter into a novel. As a result, I am more affected by what occurs in the novel. I learn lessons from the characters and my heart races when I sense impending doom. I believe that building out the setting is a crucial component to writing a great story.