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Notes on books and travel.

Travel From Modern Savannah to WWII-Era Philippines with 'The Good Luck Stone'
Travel From Modern Savannah to WWII-Era Philippines with 'The Good Luck Stone'
Long-held secrets rise up like ghosts to haunt their keepers. The story of Audrey, our 90-year-old heroine, begins and ends in Savannah, but it's the middle bit in the war-ravaged Philippines that defines her life.
SSoP Podcast: A Mini-Episode About Survey Results & What We're Reading Right Now
SSoP Podcast: A Mini-Episode About Survey Results & What We're Reading Right Now
There is no Strong Sense of Place without you, and we're so grateful for the feedback you shared in our audience survey. In this mini-episode, we share some of the results and talk about the books we're reading now.
Dragon Bridge, Mexican Gothic, Vintage Train Travel, Bookshop Kittens & More: Endnotes 03 July
Dragon Bridge, Mexican Gothic, Vintage Train Travel, Bookshop Kittens & More: Endnotes 03 July
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got the best-dressed characters in fiction, a Babylonian dinner, breathtaking pics of water lilies, Cincinnati's Book Bus & more.
Grab a Candelabra and Your Courage to Visit the Haunted Manor House of 'Mexican Gothic'
Grab a Candelabra and Your Courage to Visit the Haunted Manor House of 'Mexican Gothic'
This weekend, take an unsettling but stylish adventure to an isolated mansion in 1950s Mexico. Yes, the Doyle family is creepy and the house is quite sinister, but our heroine Noemí is a charming and feisty companion.
Secret Rooms and Gilded Gewgaws: A Brief Tour of 8 Majestic Libraries
Secret Rooms and Gilded Gewgaws: A Brief Tour of 8 Majestic Libraries
Let's take a virtual tour of stunning libraries from Europe to the UK and across the pond to NYC. It's a celebration of free-thinking, love of learning, and really tall bookshelves. No passport nor library card required.
Hiking Slovenia, Black Sci-Fi, Boxing Vocab, Postcard Collecting & More: Endnotes 26 June
Hiking Slovenia, Black Sci-Fi, Boxing Vocab, Postcard Collecting & More: Endnotes 26 June
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got Queen Vic Market in Melbourne, remembering Carlos Ruiz Zafón, handmade maps of coronavirus lockdown, Jane Austen fest online & more.
Extraordinary Adventures in Victorian London with 'The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter'
Extraordinary Adventures in Victorian London with 'The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter'
This weekend, take yourself off to Victorian London with a group of monstrously determined young women. You'll foil villains, beat back personal demons, and make a sound argument for why dresses must have pockets.
Strong Words, Great Books: Editor Ed Needham Recommends Gripping Reads to Whisk You Away
Strong Words, Great Books: Editor Ed Needham Recommends Gripping Reads to Whisk You Away
Ed Needham is the writer and editor behind the amazing book-review magazine Strong Words. Each issue of the magazine blows up our TBR lists, so when Ed took on our challenge, we knew we were going to get the good stuff.
Windows Around the World, Bird Library, Pride Reads, Mexican Gothic & More: Endnotes 19 June
Windows Around the World, Bird Library, Pride Reads, Mexican Gothic & More: Endnotes 19 June
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey, undiscovered Europe, online Midsommar celebrations, 50 coolest neighborhoods, bookish face masks & more.
Celebrate Midsummer in Sweden and Get Caught Up in a Mystery With 'Black River'
Celebrate Midsummer in Sweden and Get Caught Up in a Mystery With 'Black River'
The summer solstice — a long day of sunlight and the setting for a chilling mystery. As revelers celebrate Midsommar in Sweden, danger creeps from the forest, suspects abound, and an intrepid reporter is on the case.
Vintage Egypt, Agatha Christie Locations, Literary Destinations & More: Endnotes 12 June
Vintage Egypt, Agatha Christie Locations, Literary Destinations & More: Endnotes 12 June
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got sci-fi/fantasy books by Black authors, an Uzbek wedding, food memoirs, a protest poem that will gut you in a good way & more.
Celebrating Anne Frank Who Won the World's Heart With 'The Diary of a Young Girl'
Celebrating Anne Frank Who Won the World's Heart With 'The Diary of a Young Girl'
Anne Frank was born on 12 June 1929. Her words are as essential now as they were when she committed them to the pages of the journal she received for her 13th birthday almost 80 years ago.
International Street Food: Let's Eat Our Way Around the World
International Street Food: Let's Eat Our Way Around the World
Sure, linen tablecloths can be nice. But a just-fried taco from a street cart that requires a pile of napkins is even better. Feast your eyes on these colorful photos and stories of street food from across the globe.
Librarian Belle da Costa Greene, World Cuisine, Retro Metro & More: Endnotes 05 June
Librarian Belle da Costa Greene, World Cuisine, Retro Metro & More: Endnotes 05 June
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got a letter from Emily Dickinson, a magic portal, Scottish crime novels, the sounds of the Lapland, George Floyd street art & more.
Fight for Freedom, Dignity, and Hope in Liberia with 'She Would Be King'
Fight for Freedom, Dignity, and Hope in Liberia with 'She Would Be King'
Liberia was meant to be a new country in West Africa for freed slaves and free-born black people. It was both controversial and promising. This reimagining connects us to the people behind these historical events.
These Heartbreaking Days
These Heartbreaking Days
Since we started this project, we've been talking about two things: the magic of storytelling to transport us and the power of empathy to bring us together. This week, there's only one story that seems important.
Bookish Flirtation, Finland Adventures, Pandemic Haiku, the Louvre & More: Endnotes 29 May
Bookish Flirtation, Finland Adventures, Pandemic Haiku, the Louvre & More: Endnotes 29 May
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got reading nooks, what Jessica Fletcher is reading, California's Angel Island, Castles of Scotland, mustachioed monkeys & more.
Get Swept Up in Adventure in 1920s Mexico With 'Gods of Jade and Shadow'
Get Swept Up in Adventure in 1920s Mexico With 'Gods of Jade and Shadow'
Casiopea is a heroine you can believe in: smart, brave, sweet but scrappy. Each of her days is much like the one before and the one after, until she meets the Mayan god of death and has the adventure of her life.
Turkish Chopped Salad and Best-Ever Hummus Inspired by the Novel 'Crescent'
Turkish Chopped Salad and Best-Ever Hummus Inspired by the Novel 'Crescent'
The fictional Nadia's Café is the heart of its Arab community, and our heroine Sirine, the Iraqi-American chef, is its soul. These recipes bring some of that kitchen magic to your table to share with your favorite people.
SSoP Podcast: A Special Mini-Episode About Our Audience Survey
SSoP Podcast: A Special Mini-Episode About Our Audience Survey
There is no Strong Sense of Place without you, and we're curious about what's on your mind. Where shall we go next? What can we do better? We've put together a short survey so you can tell us just what you think.
Beach Reads, Antique Globes, Fictional Maps, Secret Syrian Library & More: Endnotes 22 May
Beach Reads, Antique Globes, Fictional Maps, Secret Syrian Library & More: Endnotes 22 May
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got David Bowie's fave sandwiches in NYC, a 'Rebecca' paper doll, '60s poetry hotline, great travel movies, Japanese Kit Kat & more.
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