Crime Writing Secrets, a Pushkin Theme Park, Unlikeable Characters & More: Endnotes 17 January

Crime Writing Secrets, a Pushkin Theme Park, Unlikeable Characters & More: Endnotes 17 January

Friday, 17 January, 2020

Every Friday, we celebrate the weekend — and all the reading and relaxing and daydreaming time ahead — with Melissa's favorite book- and travel-related links of the week. Why work when you can read fun stuff?!

This post is part of our Endnotes series.

rule

That charming building that looks like the set of a Wes Anderson film is the Hotel Belvedere on the Furka Pass (a.k.a., Furkastrasse) in Switzerland. The hotel was built in 1882 and became a popular tourist attraction because it was located right next to the Rhône glacier. Sean Connery was said to be a fan, and the movie Goldfinger features James Bond in a car chase on the winding mountain road. {more}

The Supperclub Tube in London.
  • Author Monica Rajesh on taking the Trans-Mongolian from Moscow to Beijing: ‘I was privileged to witness how deeply this train carved through the Earth, shining a light into its darkest corners.’

  • Ghent, Belgium, got rid of cars and transformed the city in a decade.

  • Dick Francis was not only the master of horse-racing crime novels, he also wrote great women.

  • This is poignant news: A travel guide written by Anthony Bourdain will be published next October. It’s called World Travel: An Irreverent Guide, and it’s available for pre-order now. (We miss Anthony Bourdain a lot.)

  • Coffee with eggnog and whipped cream? OK!

  • The Week says that pre-ordering books is the best life hack. (Gifts for future-you are a nice idea, and pre-ordering helps authors.)

  • Our podcast: I would be remiss in my duties if I didn’t mention that Episode 0 of the Strong Sense of Place podcast is now ready for your ears. Listen here.

  • Bookish podcast of the week: Shedunnit is a podcast that ‘unravels the mysteries behind classic detective stories.’ One chilly night in November 1912, a group of young women — including Dorothy L. Sayers — gathered together to share their writing. In this episode, host Caroline Crampton introduces us to the writing circle known as The Mutual Admiration Society.

  • Travel podcast of the week: In addition to his radio show, TV program, and travel guides, Rick Steves also produces Rick Steves Travel Talks, in-person events packed with helpful info. This presentation is a mini-class on beginning French phrases for travelers.

Wishing you a fairy-tale weekend and something good to eat.

Top image courtesy of Mohamad Babayan.

Want to keep up with our book-related adventures? Sign up for our newsletter!

keep reading

Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got a Phryne Fisher fan convention, the best places for 2020 travel, fast food around the world, how to be a better reader, and much more.
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got a crash course on Emily Dickinson, jobs at a Scottish castle, tipping etiquette, the romance of the railroad dining car, and more.
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got an ancient caravan stop, comfort-reading mystery novels, real estate listings for hobbit houses, the inside scoop on Fort Knox, and more.

sharing is caring!

Can you help us? If you like this article, share it your friends!

our mission

Strong Sense of Place is a website and podcast dedicated to literary travel and books we love. Reading good books increases empathy. Empathy is good for all of us and the amazing world we inhabit.

our patreon

Strong Sense of Place is a listener-supported podcast. If you like the work we do, you can help make it happen by joining our Patreon! That'll unlock bonus content for you, too — including Mel's secret book reviews and Dave's behind-the-scenes notes for the latest Two Truths and a Lie.

get our newsletter

Join our Substack to get our FREE newsletter with podcast updates and behind-the-scenes info — and join in fun chats about books and travel with other lovely readers.

no spoilers. ever.

We'll share enough detail to help you decide if a book is for you, but we'll never ruin plot twists or give away the ending.

super-cool reading fun
reading atlas

This 30-page Reading Atlas takes you around the world with dozens of excellent books and gorgeous travel photos. Get your free copy when you subscribe to our newsletter.

get our newsletter
Sign up for our free Substack!
follow us

Content on this site is ©2024 by Smudge Publishing, unless otherwise noted. Peace be with you, person who reads the small type.