06-18-2008, 08:07 AM
MysteryMind Wrote:Having lived in New England and being awed by the setting there, I love reading American gothic novels set in New England. I prefer them to be historical, but if it is contemporary from the 50s-60s I enjoy them also. Although I love the New England of today, it does not have the same atmosphere as it would in the past. Much of New England is rural and the feeling of isolation lends itself to an eeriness that you can’t get in a major metropolitan area.
I've not been to New England, but I think I can understand the sentiment. I enjoy stories set in New England because of the ambience the good authors are able to capture. Also, it's our link to old England obviously. Would like to visit New England, particularly Maine and Vermont. But I reside in the Desert SW and with the current fuel prices...
The Midwest (born/raised there; moved away 16 years ago) is also rural of course, so I might have an inkling of what you refer to. However, the open prairie land turned agricultural fields (mostly) doesn't lend to much eerieness. But there are large copses of trees along river banks, massive stormclouds and violent thunderstorms. The most interesting Midwestern setting for a Gothic I've encountered was in House on Crow's Nest Island: A gloomy mansion set on a Mississippi River island. That's rather clever; I wouldn't have thought of it (despite it bordering my home state).
Just now recalling my small Midwestern hometown possesses two authentic Victorian mansions (registered), another two large wealthy homes from the late 1800's...and previously two "big spooky old houses" (torn down in the early 1970s; a pity). But the only place a frightened heroine could run to is...the outskirts of town and the nearest corn field.
Not very chilling, huh? Lol.Quote: I think too much technology destroys the suspense sustained when the characters are unsure of what is happening around them.
Definitely. One reason I didn't enjoy the film Underworld. Vampires and werewolves with tracking chips, cellphones, internet...sheesh. Where's the suspense when you know everyone's whereabouts and what's around the next corner?
