blog

Notes on books and travel.

SSoP Podcast: A Special Mini-Episode About Our 2021 Audience Survey
SSoP Podcast: A Special Mini-Episode About Our 2021 Audience Survey
With two seasons of the Strong Sense of Place podcast in the books, we're curious about what's on your mind. Please take our short survey to share what you think about the show, website, and where we should go next.
Admont Abbey Library, Locked Room Mysteries, World Cuisine & More: Endnotes 05 March
Admont Abbey Library, Locked Room Mysteries, World Cuisine & More: Endnotes 05 March
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got a punk rock graphic novel from Blondie, the antipodes map, the world's oldest book of English lit, thatched cottages, and more.
It's a Whimsical Mashup of Family Drama and Sci-Fi in Chicago with 'Spoonbenders'
It's a Whimsical Mashup of Family Drama and Sci-Fi in Chicago with 'Spoonbenders'
This story begins as a playful, almost-sci-fi romp, then becomes the heart-warming (and riotously funny) family saga you didn't know you needed — all while transporting you to the Chicago of the 1960s and 1990s.
15 Creative and Uplifting Instagram Accounts to Take You Around the World
15 Creative and Uplifting Instagram Accounts to Take You Around the World
Fire up your creativity with these Instagram accounts featuring whimsical artwork, inspiring travel pics, amazing animals, and sharp design. They'll transport you somewhere new (magical, inspiring) in an instant.
Lake Tekapo, Historic Letters, Typewriters in Film, Paris Cats & More: Endnotes 26 February
Lake Tekapo, Historic Letters, Typewriters in Film, Paris Cats & More: Endnotes 26 February
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got a Jane Eyre reading, famous lit passages, a haunted bookstore, Petrarch's plague letters, a Richard Kadrey story, and more.
Gothic Adventure on the Yorkshire Moors with the Brontës in 'The Diabolical Bones'
Gothic Adventure on the Yorkshire Moors with the Brontës in 'The Diabolical Bones'
In this Gothic mystery novel set on the snowy moors of Yorkshire, the Brontë sisters take a break from writing poetry to poke their overly-curious noses into the dark history surrounding a hidden bundle of bones.
Field Museum, Beinecke Library, Dark Academia, RomComs & More: Endnotes 19 February
Field Museum, Beinecke Library, Dark Academia, RomComs & More: Endnotes 19 February
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got a quiz on 'hello' around the world, muralist Bunnie Reiss, the reader-character relationship, Amor Towles' new novel, and more.
Take a Life-Changing Road Trip From Chicago to Mexico City with 'Caramelo'
Take a Life-Changing Road Trip From Chicago to Mexico City with 'Caramelo'
Our heroine Lala is an astute observer. She'll take you on a virtual trip to Mexico City. You'll smell the corn roasting, hear the music dance in the air, and get caught up in all kinds of (excellent) family drama.
Irish Boxty (Potato Pancakes) Inspired by Timothy Egan's 'The Immortal Irishman'
Irish Boxty (Potato Pancakes) Inspired by Timothy Egan's 'The Immortal Irishman'
It's a well-known fact around the world that you can't really go wrong with potatoes and butter. These Irish boxties are a simple, hearty riff on that adage: tender-crisp pancakes that taste of rebellion and love.
6 Great Books Set in Ireland That We Love
6 Great Books Set in Ireland That We Love
There's so much to love about visiting Ireland: dramatic history, a pint down at the pub, poetry and revolution and tall tells well-told. There's also the crashing surf, the vast green turf, and a wee bit o' magic.
15 Instagram Accounts That Celebrate the Magic and Mystery of Ireland
15 Instagram Accounts That Celebrate the Magic and Mystery of Ireland
Ireland is green and lush and craggy and altogether beautiful. We've collected 16 Instagrammers — photographers, artists, chefs, and other creators — to whisk you away to that lovely island in the North Atlantic.
Chinese Zodiac, NeSpoon's Art, Doughnuts, Lit Live Conference & More: Endnotes 12 February
Chinese Zodiac, NeSpoon's Art, Doughnuts, Lit Live Conference & More: Endnotes 12 February
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got a cities quiz, gorgeous paper dresses, books about girlhood's dark side, Tea Time mag, Irish soundscape generator, and more.
Take a Big Bite of Delicious Family Drama with 'Number One Chinese Restaurant'
Take a Big Bite of Delicious Family Drama with 'Number One Chinese Restaurant'
February 12, 2021, is Chinese Near Year and begins the Year of the Ox. It's a time to feast on good-luck foods and look forward to spring. In this novel, the loving but troubled Han family is also on the brink of change.
Traditional Irish Stew and Irish Soda Bread Inspired by 'That Old Country Music'
Traditional Irish Stew and Irish Soda Bread Inspired by 'That Old Country Music'
We've got the makings of a cozy evening for you: a collection of atmospheric stories to transport you to western Ireland, a comforting bowl of Irish Stew, and a hot-from-the-oven slab of Irish Soda Bread with butter.
SSoP Podcast Episode 24 — Ireland: It's Not Good, It's Grand
SSoP Podcast Episode 24 — Ireland: It's Not Good, It's Grand
The Emerald Isle is just as pretty and magical as you imagine it to be. Green landscapes beg you to take long rambles through the countryside. Then the pub beckons with good food, warm conversation, and lively music.
Taj Mahal, Wild Thing Snow Monsters, Singapore Street Food & More: Endnotes 05 February
Taj Mahal, Wild Thing Snow Monsters, Singapore Street Food & More: Endnotes 05 February
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got a sharp essay about pandemic life, a treatise on napkin folding, cute cows around the world, a history of tourism, and more.
Plunge into Espionage and Romance in Post-WWII Paris and London with 'Spitfire'
Plunge into Espionage and Romance in Post-WWII Paris and London with 'Spitfire'
Livy Nash has been in a muddle since the war ended, alive but not really living. Her days are spent proofreading, her nights with a bottle for company. Then Ian Fleming invites her into a dangerous game of espionage.
6 Great Books Set in Pennsylvania That We Love
6 Great Books Set in Pennsylvania That We Love
Pennsylvania leads the nation in potato chip making! It's also tops in pretzel bakeries, rural population, and covered bridges. It's also an inspiring setting for thrillers, family stories, and historical fiction.
7 Beautiful, Must-Visit Historical Libraries In Pennsylvania
7 Beautiful, Must-Visit Historical Libraries In Pennsylvania
Andrew Carnegie built 59 libraries in Pennsylvania, and the Braddock Carnegie Library near Pittsburgh is an eclectic medieval-style masterpiece. But other libraries found throughout the state are equally stunning.
Celebrate 'World Read Aloud Day' With Your Favorite People and a Great Story
Celebrate 'World Read Aloud Day' With Your Favorite People and a Great Story
Stories are like magical threads, connecting us humans to each other. Reading aloud fosters an even greater sense of intimacy and shared experience. We have suggestions to help you celebrate World Read Aloud Day.
Pressed Coffee & Books is a Chic, Bookish Café in Pottsville's Historic Downtown
Pressed Coffee & Books is a Chic, Bookish Café in Pottsville's Historic Downtown
Tucked onto a side street in Pottsville's center is a gem of a coffee shop that serves books alongside its crepes and cappuccinos. The coffee is rich. The food is delicious. The music is chill. The vibe is welcoming.
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 join in fun chats about books and travel.

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.