Croatia, Seabourne Magazine, Global French Fries, Gothic Covers & More: Endnotes 09 July

Every Friday, we celebrate the weekend — and all the reading and relaxing and daydreaming time ahead — with Melissa's favorite book- and travel-related links of the week. Why work when you can read fun stuff?!

This post is part of our Endnotes series.

In Croatia, the islands and the city of Dubrovnik get a lot of love, but this sun-drenched shot is from the country’s second-largest city: Split. It’s on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea and is a major transport hub for island hopping on boats. But it’s well worth a visit for leisurely strolls through the cobbled lanes of the Old Town, quiet beaches for a cooling dip in the sea, and a romp through Roman fortifications at Diocletian’s Palace. {more}

• We recently watched the new(ish) HBO Perry Mason series, and I got curious about Erle Stanley Gardner’s books. This guide offers good advice on where to start with the classic crime novels.

• Sorta related: A guide to the (excellent) crime novels by Dick Francis. (These are my go-to books whenever I hit a reading slump. Fast-paced, populated with good people, and set in vivid subcultures, including horse racing, gem trading (!), photography, ane more.)

• This made me laugh… Murder Books 101: How To Survive a Slasher.

• This photo essay about the Hot-Spot Library in Cape Town, South Africa is so good. The library is built from shipping containers and serves a crucial role in the community: ‘A lot of children think that reading is a chore. They don’t have a love for it because their teachers don’t have time for it. We need to teach people to read for enjoyment.’

• Drink in the splendor of the Air-Conditioned Lawmower, circa 1956.

• ‘Who’ vs. ‘whom’ for Dummies.

• Camping is not really my thing, but I’m very tempted to try some of these recipes and ideas from The Great Eater Campout guide. Also, these tips for how to pack a cooler are handy for picnics anywhere.

• There is never a wrong time for French fries. We have been to Pommes Frites in New York very often and agree that it’s so good — which makes me think the other recommendations are legit.

• Wait, what? Agatha Christie was super into surfing.

• You may have seen a story on social media making the rounds this week in which Franz Kafka befriends a little girl and writes stories about her doll. Snopes.com has the real scoop.

• Found in Sirmione, Italy, Scaliger Castle is one of the best-preserved castles around and is a rare medieval example of a port fortification. ** adds to must-visit list **

• Shangri-La, the Odyssey’s Cyclops Riviera, Camelot, and seven other mythical places that really exist.

• You might already know that Theodora Goss is the author of the very delightful series, The Extraordinary Adventures of the Athena Club. But did you know she inherited a lovely, magical flat in Budapest?!

• 22 Charts To Help You Visualize Just How Different Things Are Around The World. This info about tally marks was news to me! I might adopt the square version. (Also, gimme all the hot dogs!)

• Seabourne Magazine is a new digital publication with ‘a mission to celebrate the brightest jewels on Mother Nature’s crown: our seas and oceans.’ The first issue includes atmospheric fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and visual artwork that celebrates the sea. Get the first issue here — and submission guidelines here. The next issue is Storms, Omens & Monsters.

• The 10th Brontë Festival of Women’s Writing is coming up 29 July through 01 August. All sessions are available via Zoom! The schedule includes creative writing workshops, lectures, and a multimedia haunted house thriller from LipService Theatre.

• The hair! The nightgowns! The creepy houses! Click through for the entire glorious thread.

Wishing you a week with none of the drama and all of the nice things.

Top image courtesy of Mateo Giraud/Unsplash.