When I was a kid I was an avid watcher of Gumby. My favorite part of any episode was when Gumby, along with his pal Pokey, dove into a book, and emerged in that fictional world.
What novel would you want to jump into?
19 thoughts on “Reader Friday: What Fictional World Would You Want To See?”
That’s a tough question. Most of my favorites novels are set in worlds without adequate medical care, clean drinking water, or Wi-Fi. The first two are negotiable. The third is a deal breaker. The books that do have these things are usually set in sci-fi worlds ruled by evil robots or dark overlords.
That being said, I hear Narnia is nice this time of year.
Tricky. There are so many good ones. I think my top three destinations are Oz, Wonderland, and Hogwarts.
I agree, Staci. I’d love to see Oz.
I second Hogwarts!
This is a tough one. It would have to be a happy place with minimal evil elements. I’m going to go out on a limb and say, Whoville – post Grinch’s conversion
Easy choice. I’d be jumping straight into Zane Grey’s “Forlorn River” precisely at the time they are building a natural trap for the wild horses down in the lava caves. The thrill of wild horse chasing, and then to be the owner of so many horses would be a dream come true!
And, like Ben Ide, when the time came to have to break and sell them, I’d have an extremely hard time parting with any of them.
I think if I had an opportunity to jump into a fictional novel, it would be Planet of the Apes. 🙂
Didn’t humans have a hard time in that world, lol?
Farewell, My Lovely
I’d like to see Springfield. I don’t know WHICH Springfield, but it’s the Springfield of my all-time favorite novel, Harrison High by John Farris.
It suits me: 50s, white bucks, White Shoulders, English Leather, Aqua Velva, Old Spice, Brute, Friday night sock hops in the gym after the game where the cheerleaders play 45s on an RCA 45 Record Player with the speaker pointed toward the public address microphone and no kissing, cheerleaders who led actual cheers, the bop, jitterbug, The Stroll, the Box Step, letter sweaters, long sleeves tucked once, DAs, white socks with loafers, chopped-top deuce coops, Annette, and, speaking of Annette, the opportunity to see what Anne Gregor and Ricky Summers actually looked like, and sanity in society.
There aren’t many eras in which it was comfortable being a woman, is one consideration. The world would also have to have discovered antibiotics and basic surgery techniques (I’m a practical and comfort-seeking gal, in any era). Perhaps The Source, which opens in 1963 and then spans multiple times and eras, opening up the possibility of being a time traveler. Of course I’d have to be a glamorous archeologist and scholar. That sounds perfect! (Except for the fact that I worked at a dig one summer and found that in reality, working a dig was hot and miserable work. So Maybe not). ?
Working a dig sounds horrible. Out in the dirt, dust, sand. heat, cold, whatever weather. Grit in your mouth and up your nose, in your ears. My mother got skin cancer on her face so I try to stay out of the sun.
London in the 1920’s sipping tea with Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot together.
Oh yes!!
I’m with you!
Had to jump in there with my imaginative child POV and say, any of the thirty-three L. Frank Baum and Ruth Blumly Thompson’s Oz series. Way before the more sophisticated world of Harry Potter. I never did get into the movie, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (italicized), because I found it too syrupy. Sorry, all you lovers of the classic movie.
I’d like to visit the brownstone that Nero Wolfe lives in. Beautiful orchids, fantastic meals, strict hours, grumpy genius and charming Archie and me eavesdropping on clients through the hole in the waterfall painting.
Or The Hollow from Agatha Christie’s book of the same name
Or 221B Baker Street.
Yes, I love traditional mysteries!
For me it’d have to be Narnia or Dr. Who
I’d love to have the money and social standing to hob-nob with Lord Peter and Campion, at least till my conscience starts convicting me about how the other half lives. Just had a picture of Lugg and Bunter as covert revolutionaries while holding their “day” jobs.
That’s a tough question. Most of my favorites novels are set in worlds without adequate medical care, clean drinking water, or Wi-Fi. The first two are negotiable. The third is a deal breaker. The books that do have these things are usually set in sci-fi worlds ruled by evil robots or dark overlords.
That being said, I hear Narnia is nice this time of year.
Tricky. There are so many good ones. I think my top three destinations are Oz, Wonderland, and Hogwarts.
I agree, Staci. I’d love to see Oz.
I second Hogwarts!
This is a tough one. It would have to be a happy place with minimal evil elements. I’m going to go out on a limb and say, Whoville – post Grinch’s conversion
Easy choice. I’d be jumping straight into Zane Grey’s “Forlorn River” precisely at the time they are building a natural trap for the wild horses down in the lava caves. The thrill of wild horse chasing, and then to be the owner of so many horses would be a dream come true!
And, like Ben Ide, when the time came to have to break and sell them, I’d have an extremely hard time parting with any of them.
I think if I had an opportunity to jump into a fictional novel, it would be Planet of the Apes. 🙂
Didn’t humans have a hard time in that world, lol?
Farewell, My Lovely
I’d like to see Springfield. I don’t know WHICH Springfield, but it’s the Springfield of my all-time favorite novel, Harrison High by John Farris.
It suits me: 50s, white bucks, White Shoulders, English Leather, Aqua Velva, Old Spice, Brute, Friday night sock hops in the gym after the game where the cheerleaders play 45s on an RCA 45 Record Player with the speaker pointed toward the public address microphone and no kissing, cheerleaders who led actual cheers, the bop, jitterbug, The Stroll, the Box Step, letter sweaters, long sleeves tucked once, DAs, white socks with loafers, chopped-top deuce coops, Annette, and, speaking of Annette, the opportunity to see what Anne Gregor and Ricky Summers actually looked like, and sanity in society.
There aren’t many eras in which it was comfortable being a woman, is one consideration. The world would also have to have discovered antibiotics and basic surgery techniques (I’m a practical and comfort-seeking gal, in any era). Perhaps The Source, which opens in 1963 and then spans multiple times and eras, opening up the possibility of being a time traveler. Of course I’d have to be a glamorous archeologist and scholar. That sounds perfect! (Except for the fact that I worked at a dig one summer and found that in reality, working a dig was hot and miserable work. So Maybe not). ?
Working a dig sounds horrible. Out in the dirt, dust, sand. heat, cold, whatever weather. Grit in your mouth and up your nose, in your ears. My mother got skin cancer on her face so I try to stay out of the sun.
London in the 1920’s sipping tea with Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot together.
Oh yes!!
I’m with you!
Had to jump in there with my imaginative child POV and say, any of the thirty-three L. Frank Baum and Ruth Blumly Thompson’s Oz series. Way before the more sophisticated world of Harry Potter. I never did get into the movie, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (italicized), because I found it too syrupy. Sorry, all you lovers of the classic movie.
I’d like to visit the brownstone that Nero Wolfe lives in. Beautiful orchids, fantastic meals, strict hours, grumpy genius and charming Archie and me eavesdropping on clients through the hole in the waterfall painting.
Or The Hollow from Agatha Christie’s book of the same name
Or 221B Baker Street.
Yes, I love traditional mysteries!
For me it’d have to be Narnia or Dr. Who
I’d love to have the money and social standing to hob-nob with Lord Peter and Campion, at least till my conscience starts convicting me about how the other half lives. Just had a picture of Lugg and Bunter as covert revolutionaries while holding their “day” jobs.