Argentina

Argentina

Friday, 4 October, 2024

Argentina is so alluring. Rugged gauchos riding the pampas, the percussive heartbeat of the tango, the otherwordly beauty of Tierra del Fuego, the friendly passing of the yerba maté gourd. This South American country invites you to connect, to linger, to relax, and to explore.

A blend of old-world Europe — Buenos Aires is known as the ‘Paris of South America’ — and local flair, Argentina is like nowhere else. City skylines boast neoclassical, art nouveau, art deco, and baroque architecture. The streets are filled with the seductive melodies of cumbia and tango. Cafés buzz with conversations in Spanish, Italian, German, and Arabic. And the food! Empanadas and dulce de leche and milanesa and the best beef in the world drizzled with chimichurri.

There are breathtaking waterfalls, shockingly blue lakes, steppes, volcanoes, and glaciers that invite you to jump on a horse or bicycle, lace up your hiking boots, or bundle up for an ice climb. There are whales, seals, penguins, and the Train at the End of the World.

our podcast

In this episode, we talk about all the adventures that await in Argentina’s various geographical regions and learn the secret past of one of the most famous Argentines. Then we recommend five books that took us there on the page, including a historical novel set in the world of tango, a spy novel with feelings, a noir thriller set in 1950 Buenos Aires, an eerie short story collection, and a modern crime novel about the Buenos Aires elite. (show notes / transcript)

recommended books

The Gods of Tango

buy | read review

Who Is Vera Kelly?

buy | read review

A Quiet Flame

buy | read review

Seven Empty Houses

buy | read review

Betty Boo

buy | read review

Top image courtesy of Alexandr Vorobev/Shutterstock.

Want to keep up with our book-related adventures? Sign up for our newsletter!

featured posts

There are so many reasons to make Argentina your next big trip. Surely you know about the tango and outdoor adventures of Patagonia. But how about gauchos, glaciers, alfajores, and the Train at the End of the World?
Milanesa is like an Argentinian version of chicken-fried steak. It's beefy, it's crispy, it's altogether irresistible. Inspired by Italy, gauchos, and the beautiful pampas, it's a little Argentina in your kitchen.
Take a virtual trip to the land of Buenos Aires, the Pampas, and Tierra del Fuego with these unputdownable books set in Argentina. You'll feel big feelings and travel back in time alongside unforgettable characters.

sharing is caring!

Can you help us? If you like this article, share it your friends!

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 — and join in fun chats about books and travel with other lovely readers.

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.