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Notes on books and travel.

Photographer Janine Pendleton Captures the Broken Beauty of Abandoned Pennsylvania
Photographer Janine Pendleton Captures the Broken Beauty of Abandoned Pennsylvania
In the early 20th century, Pennsylvania experienced a gilded age of dramatic architecture and elaborate decor. These photographs of now-discarded and nearly-forgotten sites are a moving, melancholy, magical tribute.
SSoP Podcast Episode 23 — Pennsylvania: Political Player, Potato Chip Maker
SSoP Podcast Episode 23 — Pennsylvania: Political Player, Potato Chip Maker
Pennsylvania history features coal mining, farming, big industry, and political power. It also leads the nation in potato chip production, pretzel bakeries, mushrooms, and meatpacking. All hail the Keystone State.
SSoP Podcast: A Mini-Episode to Celebrate Our 1-Year Podcast Anniversary
SSoP Podcast: A Mini-Episode to Celebrate Our 1-Year Podcast Anniversary
We've been making our show for a year. Whew! Thank you for inviting us into your ears. In this mini-episode, we take a brief look back at our first two seasons and share a sneak peek at the future of Strong Sense of Place.
Llandudno Pier, Poet Amanda Gorman, Paper Dandelions, Anne Brontë & More: Endnotes 22 January
Llandudno Pier, Poet Amanda Gorman, Paper Dandelions, Anne Brontë & More: Endnotes 22 January
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got a tough travel quiz, chilly winter thrillers, a guide to Persepolis, a Frankenstein book club, Vietnamese cuisine, and more.
Embark on a Quest from Yakushima Island to Tokyo in the Magical Novel 'Number9Dream'
Embark on a Quest from Yakushima Island to Tokyo in the Magical Novel 'Number9Dream'
This sweeping adventure will whisk you away with a charming hero to two remarkable destinations: Yakushima Island's dense cedar forests draped with lush moss and the kinetic energy of neon-and-karaoke Tokyo. Buckle up!
12 Vibrant Instagram Accounts That Will Make You Want To Visit Vietnam Right Now
12 Vibrant Instagram Accounts That Will Make You Want To Visit Vietnam Right Now
Treat yourself to some travel inspiration and explore Vietnam. From oh-so-green rice paddies to energetic cityscapes, these vibrant images of scenery and people will fire up your imagination and your wanderlust.
Epistolary Novels, Dinner Parties in Lit, Tiki Bars, Whaling Art & More: Endnotes 15 January
Epistolary Novels, Dinner Parties in Lit, Tiki Bars, Whaling Art & More: Endnotes 15 January
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got national costumes, sea shanty mania, 10 Jane Austen facts, the mysteries of Socotra Island, cafés around the world, and more.
There are Deadly Chills and Thrills in Fjällbacka, Sweden with 'The Ice Princess'
There are Deadly Chills and Thrills in Fjällbacka, Sweden with 'The Ice Princess'
'Tis the season of snow and ice, so let's embrace the frosty weather with this thoroughly chilling mystery set in a tiny fishing village on Sweden's east coast. Bad actors getting their comeuppance is so comforting.
Vietnamese Pho Bo Inspired by the Novel 'The Beauty of Humanity Movement'
Vietnamese Pho Bo Inspired by the Novel 'The Beauty of Humanity Movement'
Pho is Vietnam's national dish, a comforting bowl of spice-infused broth, rice noodles, beef, and fresh herbs that tastes like love. We recommend you simmer a pot of broth and take a virtual trip to Hanoi, Vietnam.
The Elegant, Playful, Environmentally Friendly VAC Library in Hanoi, Vietnam
The Elegant, Playful, Environmentally Friendly VAC Library in Hanoi, Vietnam
The VAC Library in Hanoi is a unique open-air structure that invites play along with learning. Solar-powered and self-sustaining, it's a modern (beautiful) example of how libraries can interact with the environment.
SSoP Podcast Episode 22 — Vietnam: Divided by War, Bonded by Family
SSoP Podcast Episode 22 — Vietnam: Divided by War, Bonded by Family
Warning: This show is going to inspire you to book tickets to Vietnam as soon as possible. Who could resist its stunning natural beauty, vibrant street food, fascinating history, and warm, friendly people? No one.
Burano Italy, Sea Shanties, Reading Pod, Austen's England & More: Endnotes 08 January
Burano Italy, Sea Shanties, Reading Pod, Austen's England & More: Endnotes 08 January
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got the booksellers along the Seine, cafés around the world, Iranian poetry, 31 days of literary treats, wine label design, and more.
Solve a Murder in the English Countryside of West Sussex with Inspector Lynley
Solve a Murder in the English Countryside of West Sussex with Inspector Lynley
This weekend, take a bookish getaway to a British boarding school where tradition makes daily life far more fraught than final exams. (And way more murdery!) But, darling, the countryside and campus are lovely!
Everything You Need to Know About the Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading
Everything You Need to Know About the Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading
Here! This is where we'd like to teleport this afternoon to spend a few hours reading amidst the colorful bookshelves. Located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, this library has been impersonating a magical portal since 1837.
Crime Fashion, Jollof Rice, Bridgerton Locales, Hogmanay & More: Endnotes 01 January
Crime Fashion, Jollof Rice, Bridgerton Locales, Hogmanay & More: Endnotes 01 January
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got a challenging literary quiz, a daring photography feat, new Agatha Christie documentaries, Pierre Cardin's vision, and more.
Ring in the New Year at a Glamorous Costume Party with 'The Snow Ball'
Ring in the New Year at a Glamorous Costume Party with 'The Snow Ball'
This slim novel is a scintillating, titillating celebration of the breathlessness, devil-may-care sensibility, and desperate optimism of New Year's Eve. Put on a mile-high wig, grab a mask, and prepare to be seduced.
Our 11 Most Popular Blog Posts of the Notable Year That Was 2020
Our 11 Most Popular Blog Posts of the Notable Year That Was 2020
It's always enlightening to look back on the year that was to see which posts got the most reads and shares. As usual, the list of our top posts of 2020 is full of surprises: Edward Gorey! Devil's Bible! Manor Houses!
Two Beautiful Christmas Poems to Make Your Day Merry and Bright
Two Beautiful Christmas Poems to Make Your Day Merry and Bright
We're wearing red sweaters, drinking eggnog, eating cookies, and generally making merry because it not now, when?! And amidst all the noshing and noel-ing, we want to share two sweet poems that celebrate the season.
Riding the Rails from Keighley to Haworth on a Vintage Steam Train
Riding the Rails from Keighley to Haworth on a Vintage Steam Train
The Keighley and Worth Valley Railway is a heritage railway that runs through Brontë country from Keighley to Haworth to Oxenhope, passing through lush, green countryside under the watchful eye of sweet-faced sheep.
Treat Yourself to a Virtual Ride Aboard Some of the World's Most Luxurious Trains
Treat Yourself to a Virtual Ride Aboard Some of the World's Most Luxurious Trains
Train travel is the best travel, and these luxury trains prove it! From Canada to Japan, Europe to Peru, and beyond, here are some of the poshest cars on the rails, chugging through the world's most beautiful scenery.
SSoP Podcast: A Mini-Episode to Wish You Holiday Cheer and a Happy New Year
SSoP Podcast: A Mini-Episode to Wish You Holiday Cheer and a Happy New Year
In this mini-episode, we talk about traditions from around the world that we've added to our own holiday celebrations, including cookies, pubs, potato salad, and the Icelandic Book Flood, then we share a Yule poem.
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