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Notes on books and travel.

SSoP Podcast Episode 16 — New Zealand: Kiwis, Majestic Scenery, and Māori Mythology
SSoP Podcast Episode 16 — New Zealand: Kiwis, Majestic Scenery, and Māori Mythology
New Zealand is an enchanting blend of colonial and Māori culture set against the prettiest green-and-blue backdrop of mountains and sea you could imagine. It's a place for exploration, all good vibes, and meat pies.
Cave Castle, Reading Treehouse, Iceland Writers Retreat, Book Hangovers & More: Endnotes 02 October
Cave Castle, Reading Treehouse, Iceland Writers Retreat, Book Hangovers & More: Endnotes 02 October
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got a Norway's answer to hygge, the NYTimes list demystified, an eerie/beautiful art installation, horror fiction podcast, and more.
It's a Rip-Roaring Sea Adventure with a Lady Pirate in 'Cinnamon and Gunpowder'
It's a Rip-Roaring Sea Adventure with a Lady Pirate in 'Cinnamon and Gunpowder'
You might not expect a story of kidnap and pirates to put tears in your eyes and wings on your heart. But you've likely never met pirates like Mad Hannah Mabot and her sometimes surly and surprisingly sensitive crew.
Going Behind the Scenes at the Beautiful Strahov Monastery Library in Prague
Going Behind the Scenes at the Beautiful Strahov Monastery Library in Prague
Gilded bookshelves, antique globes, allegorical ceiling frescoes, thousands of books, church ruins, trompe l'oeil — we took it all in on a tour of the Strahov Monastery Library and the Břevnov Monastery in Prague.
13 Books We Love Set in the Library Because Libraries Are the Best
13 Books We Love Set in the Library Because Libraries Are the Best
For readers, the book-lined shelves of libraries and archives are a dreamy backdrop for stories that resonate. These novels and nonfiction titles explore the drama, adventure, and history of our favorite bookish places.
Global Picnics, Travel Trivia, SF/F Last Lines, Mongolia & More: Endnotes 25 September
Global Picnics, Travel Trivia, SF/F Last Lines, Mongolia & More: Endnotes 25 September
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got Stephen King with cats, stunning lectures from Hilary Mantel, an alphabet made of trees, a free online Poe festival, and more.
Hunt for Gold and Make Lifelong Friends on a Big Adventure with 'Cryptonomicon'
Hunt for Gold and Make Lifelong Friends on a Big Adventure with 'Cryptonomicon'
Sometimes you just want to get lost in a cinderblock of a book, and when you do, we recommend this sweeping story of adventure, intrigue, WWII, lost gold, longtime friendship, and love in all its forms. Plus Einstein!
Reading is Even Sweeter with Salted Caramels Inspired by 'The Giant's House'
Reading is Even Sweeter with Salted Caramels Inspired by 'The Giant's House'
We love a character that's got a salty side to balance the sweetness, and that's just what we get in Peggy, the librarian. These caramels are a tribute to her ability to give her whole heart when it matters the most.
45 Awesome Instagram Accounts For People Who Love Libraries and Librarians
45 Awesome Instagram Accounts For People Who Love Libraries and Librarians
The stacks, backrooms, and archives in libraries all over the world are filled with countless treasures — rare books, photos, parchments, maps — that place us in history. Instagram lets us take a peek from where we sit.
SSoP Podcast Episode 15 — The Library: Endless Books, Reading Nooks, and Lots of Possibility
SSoP Podcast Episode 15 — The Library: Endless Books, Reading Nooks, and Lots of Possibility
In this ep, we discuss the magic of libraries and recommend library-centric books we love, including book-nerd-approved nonfiction, a lyrical literary cycle, a historical novel, and a joyous tale of a secret library.
Lit in Translation, Azulejos Tiles, Magic Books, Dracula & More: Endnotes 18 September
Lit in Translation, Azulejos Tiles, Magic Books, Dracula & More: Endnotes 18 September
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got stranger-than-fiction locations, dog-related vocab, a book-inspired bracelet, Hawaii stories, National Park photos, and more.
5 Great Books Set in Alaska That We Love
5 Great Books Set in Alaska That We Love
If you're looking for adventure, you need to seek no further than the 49th state. Alaska is defined by its beautiful but maybe deadly landscapes — deep, vast forests and snowy terrain that stretch beyond the beyond.
Escape the Reality of WWII in a Posh Hotel in Portugal with the Novel 'Estoril'
Escape the Reality of WWII in a Posh Hotel in Portugal with the Novel 'Estoril'
Get a different perspective on WWII with this sweet and affecting novel about life in a posh hotel in Portugal. You'll meet privileged exiles, aristocrats on the run, rich revelers, and one unforgettable little boy.
11 Instagram Accounts That Showcase Alaska's Native Beauty, Culture, and Cuisine
11 Instagram Accounts That Showcase Alaska's Native Beauty, Culture, and Cuisine
Food, wildlife, majestic vistas, quiet moments: the images in these Instagram accounts showcase what makes Alaska such a special place. It's rugged, colorful, somewhat dangerous, and celebrates an independent spirit.
Cormorant Fishing, Updated Shakespeare, Female Detectives & More: Endnotes 11 September
Cormorant Fishing, Updated Shakespeare, Female Detectives & More: Endnotes 11 September
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got living in a British village, a new writing competition, quirky museums, LGBTQ+ travel books, letter-writing supplies, and more.
Go Off Script and Get Dramatic with the Theater-Based Mystery 'If We Were Villains'
Go Off Script and Get Dramatic with the Theater-Based Mystery 'If We Were Villains'
The final year of college can be a sensitive time for anyone. But for these acting students, it's even more fraught — with Shakespearean revenge and betrayal, lust and love and broken hearts... both onstage and off.
Bake Like an Alaskan with a Rum Cake Recipe Inspired by 'The Whale and The Cupcake'
Bake Like an Alaskan with a Rum Cake Recipe Inspired by 'The Whale and The Cupcake'
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a person desiring to experience the food of Alaska, must be in want of cake. For your consideration, we submit this cake: buttery, sweet, gooey, and rich with tradition.
How the Alaska State Library & Museum in Juneau Preserves & Celebrates Alaskan Culture
How the Alaska State Library & Museum in Juneau Preserves & Celebrates Alaskan Culture
This award-winning building is a work of art itself, with windows that frame the natural beauty of its setting on the waterfront. Inside, you'll find a lovely glass mural, history and art exhibits, and so many books.
SSoP Podcast Episode 14 — Alaska: Fresh-Caught Salmon, Cake Mix, and So Many Bears
SSoP Podcast Episode 14 — Alaska: Fresh-Caught Salmon, Cake Mix, and So Many Bears
In this show, we discuss the surprises of life in Alaska and recommend books that transported us there: a vivid memoir, two novels where snow is a character, a story set in commercial fishing, and two foodie books.
A Landmark Pub, Foghorn Tunes, Literary Houses, Capri & More: Endnotes 04 September
A Landmark Pub, Foghorn Tunes, Literary Houses, Capri & More: Endnotes 04 September
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got Edith Wharton's private library, books set in Florence, a new version of Pride and Prejudice, Dino National Monument, and more.
What is Going on at the Eerie Blackwood School in the YA Classic 'Down a Dark Hall'?!
What is Going on at the Eerie Blackwood School in the YA Classic 'Down a Dark Hall'?!
An isolated school, a frustrated and misunderstood teenager, a rash of unsettling and inexplicable experiences. This novel from Louis Duncan, the queen of YA horror, is a timely, thrilling tale for readers of any age.
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