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Setting Field
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I was wondering exactly how to use the setting field on a book's edit page if the book is not a story. For example, a book on pregnancy like this one:
Your Pregnancy Week by Week, Fifth Edition
On one hand, I would say it doesn't have a setting, but on the other hand it could be said to be set in the United States. What do you guys think?
Your Pregnancy Week by Week, Fifth Edition
On one hand, I would say it doesn't have a setting, but on the other hand it could be said to be set in the United States. What do you guys think?
Sorry if this is a dumb question, but here is a somewhat different example. This book It's All Too Much An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff isn't a story either, but it has a whole lot of stories ("anecdotes" might be a better term) in it, and they all take place in the United States. So would it be okay to put United States in the setting field?
For A Tale of Two Cities, there are two main settings, England and France. So in the setting field of the book data, would you put United Kingdom or France? or would you leave it blank?
I would take the setting field gently by the hand, lead it out the back and put it out of its misery.
SF SQRL wrote: "I would take the setting field gently by the hand, lead it out the back and put it out of its misery."I really like the setting field; I just wish it wasn't so restrictive.
I'm with Squirrel and Rivka. I did like it ok when it was free form and we could type in the setting(s) we wanted but I never used it much.
I add setting to every book I read, but I do agree it needs to be improved. Saying a book takes place in the United States doesn't really tell a person anything.It would be a helpful field for some readers if it could be improved. I know people who like to read historical westerns, others who like ones set in the South. And whatnot. So having that kind of information available, and "searchable" would be nice. Because as it is, it's not very useful.
It's particularly unhelpful for Science Fiction and Fantasy novels. It doesn't have an entry for "Middle Earth" or "The Liaden Universe" or "Mars", just to grab the first few off the top of my head.
I hardly ever use the Setting field for all the reasons listed above!Only if a book is clearly in one setting, and that setting is particularly relevant to the reader, do I insert it.
Perhaps the setting field should be coded the same way the author field is, so multiple settings can be included, as well as imaginary places?
I'm guessing this discussion should also be shifted over to the Feedback Group.
