blog

Notes on books and travel.

Food, Family, and Forgiveness in Nigeria with 'Butter Honey Pig Bread'
Food, Family, and Forgiveness in Nigeria with 'Butter Honey Pig Bread'
As you might guess from the title, food — homemade Nigerian food — is as central to this story as the characters and the setting. There's magic and love, turmoil and triumph, salty conversation and sweet forgiveness.
Easy Baked Cake Donuts to Honor the Hardworking People in Newsrooms Everywhere
Easy Baked Cake Donuts to Honor the Hardworking People in Newsrooms Everywhere
Snacks are the fuel that helps hard work get done. And while we know that fruits and veggies are an essential part of every day, there's always room in life for an easy, delicious, homemade, 'you can do it' donut.
Josef Pulitzer and the Crowdfunding Campaign That Saved the Statue of Liberty
Josef Pulitzer and the Crowdfunding Campaign That Saved the Statue of Liberty
Yes, yes, the Pulitzer Prize is great. But did you know that Joseph Pulitzer — a Jewish Hungarian-American and legendary newspaper publisher — masterminded a successful crowdfunding campaign? Well done, New Yorkers.
12 Instagram Accounts That Offer a Different Perspective on Journalism and the News
12 Instagram Accounts That Offer a Different Perspective on Journalism and the News
Most major news outlets have multiple Instagram accounts to help you follow breaking news and keep up with coverage. These accounts offer something different — some lighthearted, some serious, all thought-provoking.
7 Great Books Set in the Newsroom That We Love
7 Great Books Set in the Newsroom That We Love
A lot has changed since the days of William Randolph Hearst, Joseph Pulitzer, and groundbreaking girl reporter Nellie Bly. But their dogged commitment to following the story endures because the truth still matters.
Mongolia, New Miss Marple, Wizard School, Nat'l Book Fest & More: Endnotes 10 September
Mongolia, New Miss Marple, Wizard School, Nat'l Book Fest & More: Endnotes 10 September
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got stunning paper sculptures, 1000 fried rice ideas, Booker Prize winners, awesome travel tips, pie-eating contests, and more.
Get Caught Up in Vampire Gang Warfare in Mexico City with 'Certain Dark Things'
Get Caught Up in Vampire Gang Warfare in Mexico City with 'Certain Dark Things'
This fantasy-adventure-with-heart from Silvia Moreno-Garcia has been out of print — we're thrilled about this new, updated edition. You'll be transported to gritty Mexico City with unusual, unforgettable heroes.
SSoP Podcast Episode 27 — Newsroom: From Clacking Typewriters to Viral Video
SSoP Podcast Episode 27 — Newsroom: From Clacking Typewriters to Viral Video
A newsroom is a thrilling combination of integrity and pressure. Deadlines constantly loom and the stakes are high. Drama! Lady reporters! Scoops and scandals! This episode has it all. Get ready to blow up your TBR.
Verona, Pay Phones, Analyzing Macbeth, Gothic Lit, Gen-X Vocab & More: Endnotes 03 September
Verona, Pay Phones, Analyzing Macbeth, Gothic Lit, Gen-X Vocab & More: Endnotes 03 September
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got luxury hotels and golden age crime novels, a miniature model village, 10 magical short stories, The French Dispatch, and more.
Adventure, Introspection, and Fortitude on the Bering Sea with 'The Alaskan Laundry'
Adventure, Introspection, and Fortitude on the Bering Sea with 'The Alaskan Laundry'
This novel has heart and adventure as big as the state of Alaska. Our heroine Tara is both running away and running toward an indefineable something. It seems only challenges and danger can guide her toward home.
Ferris Wheels, a Powerful Poem, Tacos, Big Fall Books, Mud Murals & More: Endnotes 27 August
Ferris Wheels, a Powerful Poem, Tacos, Big Fall Books, Mud Murals & More: Endnotes 27 August
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got the lost library of Russian tsars, Joséphine Baker, Phantasmagoria of the Enlightenment, a village frozen in time, and more.
In the Novel 'The Waiter,' Everyone is About to Have a Very Weird Day at Work
In the Novel 'The Waiter,' Everyone is About to Have a Very Weird Day at Work
Our sorta hero, the waiter of the title, is having a decidedly weird day. What's unsettling for him is so entertaining for us. He's accustomed to order and his authority; amusing things happen when it's all upended.
Costa Rican Ceviche Inspired by the Memoir 'Wide-Open World'
Costa Rican Ceviche Inspired by the Memoir 'Wide-Open World'
Bright lime juice, fresh fish, and a surprising secret ingredient combine in this simple recipe that will instantly transport you to a beach in Costa Rica. Fresh and flavorful, it's a tropical vacation in a bowl.
5 Great Books Set in Costa Rica That We Love
5 Great Books Set in Costa Rica That We Love
Our perfect Costa Rica day begins with coffee and fried plantains, followed by a hike in the cloud forest on a quest to see the elusive Quetzal. Then, perhaps, a rest under a palm tree on the beach with a good book.
6 Must-Follow Instagrammers to Inspire Your Visit to Costa Rica
6 Must-Follow Instagrammers to Inspire Your Visit to Costa Rica
Brilliant green birds and sweet-faced sloths. Turquoise blue water and treetop hotels. Fried plantains and ceviche. The photos on these Instagram accounts are everything you need to fully understand the pura vida.
Miami Beach, The Tempest, Letters of Note, Travel Posters & More: Endnotes 20 August
Miami Beach, The Tempest, Letters of Note, Travel Posters & More: Endnotes 20 August
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got how fiction improves vocab, Ruth Ozeki's new novel, beautiful abandoned places, the onus of good book translations, and more.
A Mystery Reaches from British Columbia to Japan in 'A Tale for the Time Being'
A Mystery Reaches from British Columbia to Japan in 'A Tale for the Time Being'
This story travels back and forth in time and place with a pleasingly dizzying effect. Set in the forests of British Columbia, modern Tokyo, and a timeless monastery, it's challenging, entertaining, and impactful.
Pan-Fried Plantains & Lizard Sauce Inspired by Short Stories from Costa Rica
Pan-Fried Plantains & Lizard Sauce Inspired by Short Stories from Costa Rica
Costa Rican meals are usually a rainbow of fruits and veggies with rice and black beans making an appearance on almost every plate. This comfort food is gussied up with the ubiquitous elixir known as Salsa Lizano.
SSoP Podcast Episode 26 — Costa Rica: Cloud Forests, Coffee, and Capuchin Monkeys
SSoP Podcast Episode 26 — Costa Rica: Cloud Forests, Coffee, and Capuchin Monkeys
Costa Rica offers a sweet combination of chill (sunny beaches, pura vida) and action (volcanoes! ziplining! surfing!). Join us on a virtual trip to Central America and prepare to blow up your TBR with great books.
Yosemite, Color in Gothic Lit, Polish Tango, Campfire Stories & More: Endnotes 13 August
Yosemite, Color in Gothic Lit, Polish Tango, Campfire Stories & More: Endnotes 13 August
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got iconic poems, weird English spelling, UNESCO World Heritage sites, fictional magical schools, reading at the beach, and more.
There's Mystery and Murder Afoot at Summer Camp in 'The Box in the Woods'
There's Mystery and Murder Afoot at Summer Camp in 'The Box in the Woods'
Summer camp should be a time to make memories and lifelong friendships. But in 1978, Camp Wonder Falls was the site of a brutal murder in the woods. Now Stevie Bell is out to solve the cold case and a new murder.
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.