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Notes on books and travel.

The 2021 'Ask Us Anything' Episode: How We Pick Books, Choose Destinations & More
The 2021 'Ask Us Anything' Episode: How We Pick Books, Choose Destinations & More
We invited you to ask us anything, and you came through. In this special episode of our podcast, we answer your questions, including the inside story on sentimental books, the expat experience, and our cat Smudge.
Ettal Abbey, Book Dedications, Dining Cars, Literary Bucharest & More: Endnotes 09 April
Ettal Abbey, Book Dedications, Dining Cars, Literary Bucharest & More: Endnotes 09 April
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got international condiments, a new literary podcast, a poem set in a castle, Iceland fun facts, Dracula on a toy stage, and more.
Browse Secret Bookshelves in San Francisco and NYC in 'Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore'
Browse Secret Bookshelves in San Francisco and NYC in 'Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore'
Forget the hard sell. A few key phrases will probably prove this delightful adventure is right for you: 24-hour bookstore. Mysterious library. Secret society. Loyal friendship. Flirty romance. Extreme bookishness.
5 Unputdownable Novels Set in London
5 Unputdownable Novels Set in London
London calling! From Brixton market to the Crystal Palace in South London, the iconic House of Parliament, pastel Primrose Hill, and a gritty council estate in Neasden, these novels capture the personality of the British capital.
Bratislava, Tea Phrases, 1957 Berlin, Authors' Estates & More: Endnotes 02 April
Bratislava, Tea Phrases, 1957 Berlin, Authors' Estates & More: Endnotes 02 April
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got a translated Finnish epic poem, the 'other' Alcott sister, Croatia's Plitvice Lakes, how travel makes us smarter, and more.
Get Tipsy with the Amazing Fevvers in Victorian London with 'Nights at the Circus'
Get Tipsy with the Amazing Fevvers in Victorian London with 'Nights at the Circus'
You ever have one of those nights where you meet an eccentric stranger and while away the hours listening to outrageous stories over cocktails? This novel is the literary equivalent of that — with a shot of absinthe.
12 Immersive Audiobooks with a Strong Sense of Place
12 Immersive Audiobooks with a Strong Sense of Place
When your day has demanded too much of you or your list of household chores is just too long, let an experienced storyteller work their magic. You'll turn your day around and take a virtual journey to somewhere else.
Little India, Turkish Delight, Living in 'Gothic Times' & More: Endnotes 26 March
Little India, Turkish Delight, Living in 'Gothic Times' & More: Endnotes 26 March
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got famous literary destinations, dime novel covers, the first woman to circle the globe in a zeppelin, travel+creativity, and more.
Delve into Secrets and the World of Music with 'The Prague Sonata'
Delve into Secrets and the World of Music with 'The Prague Sonata'
How about a bookish trip to Prague? This novel has it all: a troubled but good-hearted heroine, dangerous secrets, gorgeous scenery, music and art and romance — all played out against the backdrop of Czech history.
19 International Mysteries and Thrillers with a Strong Sense of Place
19 International Mysteries and Thrillers with a Strong Sense of Place
Cozy murders, procedurals, historical novels, spy thrillers, domestic noir, family crime — we've collected our favorite mysteries and thrillers to take you on a world tour of action, adventure, and danger. Buckle up.
Rovinj, WWII Love Notes, Rye Madness, the Brain on Fiction & More: Endnotes 19 March
Rovinj, WWII Love Notes, Rye Madness, the Brain on Fiction & More: Endnotes 19 March
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got photos of Prague in lockdown, secrets of the Dostoevsky dash, seeing the world like Wes Anderson, the dove dancer, and more.
Coming-of-Age in Chicago and Mexico with 'I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter'
Coming-of-Age in Chicago and Mexico with 'I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter'
Being 15 years old is hard. Being 15 with immigrant parents who just lost their idealized daughter is untenable. This coming-of-age story set in Chicago and Mexico is poignant and funny with an unforgettable heroine.
Author Ellen Yeomans Recommends The Best Picture Books for Travel Inspiration
Author Ellen Yeomans Recommends The Best Picture Books for Travel Inspiration
The moving combo of words and images found in these books is irresistible. Travel from Vietnam to Uganda, Paris to Thailand, National Parks, and around the globe with heartwarming stories and unforgettable characters.
Montserrat Abbey, Bad Book Covers, Global Lit by Women & More: Endnotes 12 March
Montserrat Abbey, Bad Book Covers, Global Lit by Women & More: Endnotes 12 March
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got the world's tallest tree, pie for every state, Bonibook's classic design, Iceland Writer's Retreat, noodle museum, and more.
Travel with the Circus Excalibur in a Dreamy, Watery World in 'The Gracekeepers'
Travel with the Circus Excalibur in a Dreamy, Watery World in 'The Gracekeepers'
Immerse yourself in this poignant, dreamy fairy tale about a world that's covered with water. It's a fantasy tethered to our reality with a shimmer of magic, with unforgettable characters on a grand circus adventure.
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.
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