blog

Notes on books and travel.

Constanta Casino, Future Library, Leaf Sheep, Reading Gargoyles & More: Endnotes 08 July
Constanta Casino, Future Library, Leaf Sheep, Reading Gargoyles & More: Endnotes 08 July
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got an Italian town that treasures personal diaries, AIGA 50 Covers competition, unlikable characters, The Statesider, and more.
5 Great Books Set in South Africa That We Love
5 Great Books Set in South Africa That We Love
Enjoy a virtual trip to South Africa with an award-winning family saga, a gripping urban murder mystery, a YA novel with teeth, a must-read celebrity memoir, and a story of feuding neighbors in modern Cape Town.
SSoP Podcast Episode 38 — South Africa: Nelson Mandela, the Big Five, and Sweet Melktert
SSoP Podcast Episode 38 — South Africa: Nelson Mandela, the Big Five, and Sweet Melktert
If South Africa inspires images of a safari, you're not wrong. It's also a fantastic place to take a hike, splash in the surf (maybe with penguins), or enjoy an outdoor braai. (That's a barbecue, and it's delicious.)
Big Sur, Vintage Travel Photos, Updating the OED, Chorizo Lore & More: Endnotes 01 July
Big Sur, Vintage Travel Photos, Updating the OED, Chorizo Lore & More: Endnotes 01 July
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got a sonnet about Anne Frank, the train from Marseille to Berlin, travelogue cookbooks, a love letter to bookshelves, and more.
Sweet and Savory Banana Pudding Inspired by the 'She Walks These Hills'
Sweet and Savory Banana Pudding Inspired by the 'She Walks These Hills'
Creamy, sweet, and cold from the fridge, banana pudding is just the thing to sweeten an already happy occasion or smooth the edges when life's sorrows come calling. This recipe makes the old favorite even better.
Wolf Romance, Destination Foods, Bookish Newsletters, a Poetry Game & More: Endnotes 24 June
Wolf Romance, Destination Foods, Bookish Newsletters, a Poetry Game & More: Endnotes 24 June
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got famous authors annotating their novels, climate change info via comics, Hilary Mantel's fave books, a summery essay, and more.
SSoP Podcast Episode 37 — Appalachia: Buttermilk Biscuits, Bluegrass, and a Big Blue Moon
SSoP Podcast Episode 37 — Appalachia: Buttermilk Biscuits, Bluegrass, and a Big Blue Moon
If you're into the idea of tall tales whispered around the fireplace, hiking among leafy trees and fields of wildflowers, and eating fresh-from-the-cob corn cooked in bacon fat and cream, this is the episode for you.
Bibliothèque, Treehouses, Gothic Library, Great Vacation Reads & More: Endnotes 17 June
Bibliothèque, Treehouses, Gothic Library, Great Vacation Reads & More: Endnotes 17 June
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got the meaning of food in Cyrano de Bergerac, Lay's around the world, a very unusual book, a Library of Congress visit, and more.
14 Irresistible Reasons You Should Visit the Island of Tasmania Immediately
14 Irresistible Reasons You Should Visit the Island of Tasmania Immediately
There are so many reasons to visit Tasmania — rugged and sandy beaches, majestic hiking trails, world-class cuisine, and fascinating history. But if we're 100% honest, we want to go for the cute-and-cuddly wombats.
South Korea, Book Canvassers, Chocolate Hotels, Reading on Holiday & More: Endnotes 10 June
South Korea, Book Canvassers, Chocolate Hotels, Reading on Holiday & More: Endnotes 10 June
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got magical novels by women, indulgent breakfasts, the glory of Taschen books, Harlem Renaissance, confusing words quiz, and more.
5 Great Books Set in Tasmania That We Love
5 Great Books Set in Tasmania That We Love
Take a virtual trip to Tasmania with true accounts of a raucous sea adventure and a search for the lost Thylacine, a coastal murder mystery, a family story set in a lighthouse, and a magical coming-of-age novel.
SSoP Podcast Episode 36 — Tasmania: The Heart-Shaped Island at the Edge of the World
SSoP Podcast Episode 36 — Tasmania: The Heart-Shaped Island at the Edge of the World
With its craggy coastline, screaming wind, gorgeously rugged scenery, and adorable (deadly) animals, Tasmania is just as fantastical as you'd expect an island at the edge of the world to be. Batten down the hatches.
Isle of Lewis, Summer Thrillers, Historic Pools, Card Catalogs & More: Endnotes 03 June
Isle of Lewis, Summer Thrillers, Historic Pools, Card Catalogs & More: Endnotes 03 June
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got Summer Reading Bingo, miniature globes, the world's longest suspension bridge, moody period dramas, magazine shops, and more.
Ice Cream, Murdery Victorians, Garlic Drama, Campfire Stories & More: Endnotes 27 May
Ice Cream, Murdery Victorians, Garlic Drama, Campfire Stories & More: Endnotes 27 May
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got a Duolingo taco bar, posh int'l hotels, gorgeous drop caps, The Essex Serpent, the French Riviera, a bookstore cat, and more.
SSoP Podcast Episode 35 — Hotels: The Liminal Space with M&Ms in the Mini-Bar
SSoP Podcast Episode 35 — Hotels: The Liminal Space with M&Ms in the Mini-Bar
That awesome moment on a getaway to not-your-hometown when you stroll through the lobby to the reception desk of the hotel? It's so exhilarating. Luxurious or cozy, it's a thrill to take possession of that room key.
13 Beautiful and Delicious Reasons You Should Visit Thailand ASAP
13 Beautiful and Delicious Reasons You Should Visit Thailand ASAP
There are so many reasons to visit Thailand: dazzling cityscapes and peaceful countryside, vibrant food markets and serene temples, peaceful boats and nighttime scooter rides under Bangkok's neon. Take a look.
Cannes, Perfect Chocolate, Library Weddings, Emotion Words & More: Endnotes 13 May
Cannes, Perfect Chocolate, Library Weddings, Emotion Words & More: Endnotes 13 May
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got how books snare our emotions, secret cookies baked by Spanish nuns, a Napa Valley Mystery Train, Bookbinders Museum, and more.
5 Great Books Set in Thailand That We Love
5 Great Books Set in Thailand That We Love
Enjoy a virtual trip to Thailand with a tragi-comic coming-of-age story, a dreamy family saga, a gritty murder mystery set in Bangkok, a fresh look at Buddhism, and a beautiful cookbook that's really a travelogue.
SSoP Podcast Episode 34 — Thailand: Come for the Food, Stay for the Spiritual Enlightenment
SSoP Podcast Episode 34 — Thailand: Come for the Food, Stay for the Spiritual Enlightenment
Thailand engages all your senses with vibrant color everywhere you look, delicious things to eat on every corner, the scent of tropical flowers on the breeze, and the music of gongs hovering in the air. Let's go!
Squamish BC, Translated Comics, TV Bosch, Interactive Stories & More: Endnotes 06 May
Squamish BC, Translated Comics, TV Bosch, Interactive Stories & More: Endnotes 06 May
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got Victorian lady mountain climbers, the dinner of the future, books set around the United States, a magical train ride, and more.
Reykjavik Salmon Salad Inspired by 'The Tricking of Freya'
Reykjavik Salmon Salad Inspired by 'The Tricking of Freya'
The flavors of Iceland reflect its terrain: tangy skyr, silky smoked salmon, grassy herbs; everything is fresh, vibrant, and local. Inspired by Icelandic breakfast, this dish brings a taste of Iceland to your table.
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.