The Central American country of Panama is like a stretched-out letter S, lying on its side to soak up the sun — with the Pacific and the Caribbean snuggling up to its curves. The capital, Panama City, in the bottom arch of the S, invites you to stroll down red-brick streets lined with lush palm trees and white colonial buildings that look like layer cakes. You can stroll along the seafront and gaze out across the Pacific — and daydream about the 17th-century pirates that sailed nearby. When you’re ready for adventure, you might hike to the top of Panama’s highest mountain — Volcán Barú — to watch the sun rise over both the Atlantic and Pacific, volunteer in Cerra Hoya National Park to study jaguars, spend the night a traditional village in the jungle with the Emberá people, or kick back at an artistic island resort. Maybe it’s more your speed to spend endless days in your bathing suit, eating fresh fish just pulled from the sea, or sipping some of the world’s best coffee. Panama has all of that and more. In this episode, we get curious about the Panama Canal, discuss the relative sobriety of dwarf sloths, and get real about what it’s like to spend time in the jungle.  Then we recommend five great books that took us to Panama on the page: Seducing the Spirits by Louise Young Born to Be Hanged: The Epic Story of the Gentlemen Pirates Who Raided the South Seas, Rescued a Princess, and Stole a Fortune by Keith Thomson Silver People: Voices From the Panama Canal by Margarita Engle Panama Fever: The Epic Story of One of the Greatest Human Achievements of All Time—the Building of the Panama Canal by Matthew Parker The World in Half by Cristina Henríquez For more on the books we recommend, plus the other cool stuff we talk about, visit show notes. Sign up for our free Substack to connect with us and other lovely readers who are curious about the world. Transcript of Panama: Jump Back, What’s That Sound? Do you enjoy our show? Do you want be friends with other (lovely) people who love books and travel? Please support our work on Patreon! Strong Sense of Place is an audience-funded endeavor, and we need your support to continue making this show. Get all the info you need right here. Thank you! Parts of the Strong Sense of Place podcast are produced in udio. Some effects are provided by soundly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we get excited about two books: The Divide: A Novel by Morgan Richter and Mina’s Matchbox by Yōko Ogawa, Stephen B. Snyder (translator). Then author Morgan Richter explains why now is a great time to read Batman comics.  Links The Divide: A Novel by Morgan Richter Mina’s Matchbox by Yōko Ogawa, Stephen B. Snyder (translator) The Memory Police by Yōko Ogawa, Stephen B. Snyder (translator) Morgan Richter’s website, YouTube channel, and Twitter Nightwing Vol. 1: Leaping Into the Light by Tom Taylor, Bruno Redondo (illustrator) Catwoman 1: Trail of the Catwoman by Darwyn Cooke & Ed Brubaker (illustrated by Cameron Stewart, Mike Allred, Brad Rader) Transcript of this episode. The Library of Lost Time is a Strong Sense of Place Production! https://strongsenseofplace.com Join our FREE Substack to get our (awesome) newsletter and join in chats with other people who love books and travel. Do you enjoy our show? Do you want to make friends with other (lovely) listeners? Please support our work on Patreon. Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace As always, you can find us at: Our site Instagram Substack Patreon Parts of the Strong Sense of Place podcast are produced in udio! Some effects are provided by soundly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

India seems committed to being over-the-top in the best way possible. It’s colorful, noisy, crowded, vast, deeply historic, spiritual, vibrantly modern, multi-lingual, and stunningly beautiful.  Want to get loud? India is the place for you! Sure, its population of 1.4 billion people might overwhelm you with the sheer crush of humanity, but its cities have an undeniable energy once you’re acclimated. Delhi, the capital, has everything that makes travel great: ancient forts, mosques and temples, leafy parks and botanical gardens, sprawling bazaars, and bustling lanes of street food.  Feeling like a quiet retreat? India is the birthplace of yoga and meditation. You could visit Rishikesh, on the bank of the Ganges, to practice asanas in the birthplace of yoga.  India is also a fantastic place to shop for jewelry in a market, eat the best curries in the world, browse epic English-language bookstores, wander through centuries-old forts, and, of course, marvel at the Taj Mahal. In this episode, we celebrate the poet Kabir Das, talk about dolphin rights, dig into Salvador Dali’s quirks, and explore India’s Golden Triangle. Then we recommend five great books that took us to India on the page: Loot: A Novel by Tania James City of Djinns: A Year in Delhi by William Dalrymple Dishoom: Cookery Book and Highly Subjective Guide to Bombay by Shamil Thakrar, Kavi Thakrar, Naved Nasir The Last Dragoners of Bowbazar by Indra Das The Bandit Queens: A Novel by Parini Shroff For more on the books we recommend, plus the other cool stuff we talk about, visit show notes. Sign up for our free Substack to connect with us and other lovely readers who are curious about the world. Transcript of India: The Continent Masquerading as a Country Do you enjoy our show? Do you want be friends with other (lovely) people who love books and travel? Please support our work on Patreon! Strong Sense of Place is an audience-funded endeavor, and we need your support to continue making this show. Get all the info you need right here. Thank you! Parts of the Strong Sense of Place podcast are produced in udio! Some effects are provided by soundly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we get excited about two new books: 'Murder at Black Oaks' by Phillip Margolin and 'Dickens and Prince: A Particular Kind of Genius' by Nick Hornby. Then Mel makes her case that 'Betty Crocker's Cooky Book' is the best cookie cookbook on the planet. LINKS Murder at Black Oaks by Phillip Margolin https://bit.ly/3XlQLMz Gone But Not Forgotten by Phillip Margolin https://amzn.to/3i4OHIE Dickens and Prince: A Particular Kind of Genius by Nick Hornby https://bit.ly/3VbrEKE High Fidelity by Nick Hornby https://bit.ly/3TZ3CkL About a Boy by Nick Hornby https://bit.ly/3ETkkxJ 31 Songs by Nick Hornby https://amzn.to/3UWQLkl The Polysyllabic Spree by Nick Hornby https://amzn.to/3TYY61H The Joys of Incorporating Golden Age Cliches Into Contemporary Fiction https://bit.ly/3EvCZOB Betty Crocker's Cooky Book https://bit.ly/3Et3owA Who was Betty Crocker? https://to.pbs.org/3ETlwkH The etymology of cookie vs cooky https://bit.ly/3hTxPEu Russian Teacake recipe https://bit.ly/3OpDRZT Transcript of this episode https://bit.ly/3ExQA82 The Library of Lost Time is a Strong Sense of Place Production! https://strongsenseofplace.com Do you enjoy our show? Want access to fun bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon. Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we get excited about two new books: 'The Secret History of Christmas' by Bill Bryson and 'Wayward (Wanderers Book 2)' by Chuck Wendig. Then Mel takes us to the Germany of the Brothers Grimm.  BOOKS The Secret History of Christmas by Bill Bryson https://amzn.to/3TEvPgI Wayward (Wanderers Book 2) by Chuck Wendig https://bit.ly/3hOcD2M A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson https://bit.ly/3Ao8f0M Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson https://bit.ly/3TLzJUX Wanderers by Chuck Wendig https://bit.ly/3EHNJem Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel https://bit.ly/3V8gq9I The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern https://bit.ly/3V9wYhv DISTRACTION OF THE WEEK German Fairy Tale Route website https://bit.ly/3hSud5C Guide to the German Fairy Tale Route https://bit.ly/3gfWcf6 Grimmwelt Museum https://bit.ly/3V23MJ6 Wilhelmshöhe Palace https://bit.ly/3EhFpAp Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe: Monument to Hercules https://bit.ly/3UKEIGT Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe: Fountains https://bit.ly/3ggZnTY Transcript of this episode https://bit.ly/3Ap0ebV The Library of Lost Time is a Strong Sense of Place Production! https://strongsenseofplace.com Do you enjoy our show? Want access to fun bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon. Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace As always, you can follow us at: Our web site at Strong Sense of Place Patreon Twitter  Instagram Facebook   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We know you don't all celebrate the American holiday of Thanksgiving, but it's never a bad idea to express gratitude and devote a day to being cozy. In that spirit, we've made a little gift for you to show our appreciation. Watching the movie 'Home for the Holidays' is an annual Thanksgiving tradition in our house. The film is based on a brilliant short story by Chris Radant that is, sadly, out of print. (Although you can read it online here - https://bit.ly/3hVgfzW.) Both the story and the film tell the tale of a family Thanksgiving in all of its gluttonous, annoying, loving glory. It's a celebration of affection, patience, and forgiveness. Since you can't get the story as an audiobook, Mel went into our blanket fort recording booth to read the story out loud, and then Dave worked some editing magic. Boom! We made our first homegrown 'audiobook.' We're very grateful that you've all joined us on our Strong Sense of Place reading-traveling adventures. We hope you enjoy the story! * * * * * * * * * * * Read the short story by Chris Radant on Internet Archive  https://bit.ly/3TZ8nLc Do you enjoy our show? Do you want access to awesome bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon! Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace As always, you can follow us at: Our web site at Strong Sense of Place Patreon Twitter  Instagram Facebook   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we get excited about two new books: 'Galatea' by Madeline Miller and 'Novelist as a Vocation' by Haruki Murakami. Then Dave recommends three fun boardgames for the holiday season — or anytime.  BOOKS Galatea by Madeline Miller https://bit.ly/3E9BZiY xo Orpheus: Fifty New Myth by Kate Bernheimer https://bit.ly/3gfQqKs Circe by Madeline Miller https://bit.ly/3hRV0yV Novelist as a Vocation by Haruki Murakami https://bit.ly/3GkNUgN Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami https://bit.ly/3TMJUIO Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami https://bit.ly/3gd3kJc DISTRACTION OF THE WEEK Super Mega Lucky Box Video review - https://bit.ly/3g9sg4x Buy - https://amzn.to/3AnfyWF   So Clover Video review - https://bit.ly/3EEOSTD Buy - https://amzn.to/3tEjZIM   The Crew: Mission Deep Sea Video review - https://bit.ly/3XdopDU Buy - https://amzn.to/3hSgxYv   Transcript of this episode https://bit.ly/3EjRbdF The Library of Lost Time is a Strong Sense of Place Production! https://strongsenseofplace.com Do you enjoy our show? Want access to fun bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon. Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace As always, you can follow us at: Our web site at Strong Sense of Place Patreon Twitter  Instagram Facebook   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we get excited about two new books: 'The Cloisters' by Katy Hays and 'The Best American Short Stories 2022' edited by Andrew Sean Greer & Heidi Pitlor. Then Mel recommends a new bookish advice column.  BOOKS The Cloisters by Katy Hays https://bit.ly/3FINRew The Best American Short Stories 2022 by Andrew Sean Greer & Heidi Pitlor https://bit.ly/3DzPKHs Less by Andrew Sean Greer https://bit.ly/3Wvf9uw Less is Lost by Andrew Sean Greer https://bit.ly/3U5SNhU The Best American Food Writing 2022 by Sohla El-Waylly & Silvia Killingsworth https://bit.ly/3U2HruW The Best American Mystery and Suspense 2022 by Jess Walter & Steph Cha https://bit.ly/3UoYKpV The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2022 by Jaime Green & Ayana Elizabeth Johnson https://bit.ly/3T2hLxf The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2022 by John Joseph Adams & Rebecca Roanhorse https://bit.ly/3Wkv8vs The Best American Essays 2022 by Robert Atwan & Alexander Chee https://bit.ly/3DTtzgR Lucinella by Lore Segal https://amzn.to/3T0j6Vm Mirror, Shoulder, Signal by Dorthe Nors,  Misha Hoekstra (translator) https://bit.ly/3fvPeCp Old in Art School: A Memoir of Starting Over by Nell Painter  https://bit.ly/3Wq0aSO   DISTRACTION OF THE WEEK Read all the Dear Dorothea columns https://bit.ly/3T1xZXo The announcement of the Dear Dorothea column https://bit.ly/3zFqrCC What Should I Read Next podcast https://bit.ly/2EMgZSP Transcript of this episode https://bit.ly/3DXxUzH The Library of Lost Time is a Strong Sense of Place Production! https://strongsenseofplace.com Do you enjoy our show? Want access to fun bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon. Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace As always, you can follow us at: Our web site at Strong Sense of Place Patreon Twitter  Instagram Facebook   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we get excited about two new books: 'Pretty Dead Queens' by Alexa Donne and 'Last Call at the Hotel Imperial: The Reporters Who Took on a World at War' by Deborah Cohen. Then Mel explains why she thinks you'll enjoy the newsletter devoted to all things Inspector Gamache. BOOKS Pretty Dead Queens by Alexa Donne https://bit.ly/3U1XBEZ Brightly Burning by Alexa Donne https://amzn.to/3frZls7 Last Call at the Hotel Imperial: The Reporters Who Took on a World at War by Deborah Cohen https://bit.ly/3Uk63z8 Still Life https://bit.ly/3FGQYmV The Foulest Things https://bit.ly/3h8E7zV A World of Curiosities by Louise Penny https://bit.ly/3zEG5OK DISTRACTION OF THE WEEK Sign up for Notes from Three Pines https://bit.ly/3Ul7bSX Follow the founders of Notes from Three Pines: Elizabeth Held https://twitter.com/ElizabethHeld Aya Martin Seaver https://twitter.com/ayamseaver Transcript of this episode https://bit.ly/3U3Mpr9 The Library of Lost Time is a Strong Sense of Place Production! https://strongsenseofplace.com Do you enjoy our show? Want access to fun bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon. Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace As always, you can follow us at: Our web site at Strong Sense of Place Patreon Twitter  Instagram Facebook   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we get excited about two new books: 'Revenge of the Librarians' by Tom Gauld and 'The Milky Way: An Autobiography of Our Galaxy' by Moiya McTier. Then Dave talks about a website that provides 'emotional spoilers' for movies and TV.  BOOKS Revenge of the Librarians by Tom Gauld https://bit.ly/3rW9XBW The Little Wooden Robot and the Log Princess by Tom Gauld https://bit.ly/3yFUMjY Department of Mind-Blowing Theories by Tom Gauld https://bit.ly/3VpyXPA The Milky Way: An Autobiography of Our Galaxy by Moiya McTier https://bit.ly/3Vqc0f7 ** DISTRACTION OF THE WEEK ** DoestheDogDie.com https://bit.ly/3rW1vmj Review on The Wildest https://bit.ly/3CyY21T Transcript of this episode https://bit.ly/3ELfXFg The Library of Lost Time is a Strong Sense of Place Production! https://strongsenseofplace.com Do you enjoy our show? Want access to fun bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon. Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace As always, you can follow us at: Our web site at Strong Sense of Place Patreon Twitter  Instagram Facebook   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we get excited about two new books: 'The Whalebone Theatre' by  Joanna Quinn and 'The Hero of This Book' by Elizabeth McCracken. Then Mel shares her enthusiasm for cookies made by cloistered nuns in Spain.  BOOKS The Whalebone Theatre by Joanna Quinn https://bit.ly/3CZWvDD The Hero of This Book by Elizabeth McCracken https://bit.ly/3g9nx28 The Giant's House by Elizabeth McCracken https://bit.ly/3TjaLwv DISTRACTION OF THE WEEK Cloistered Cookies Video  https://youtu.be/WbmUdXTSAGs Boing Boing article about Nun Cookies https://bit.ly/2CdeuHs Strong Sense of Place on Instagram https://bit.ly/3EHsbyF Transcript of this episode https://bit.ly/3MLK7KN The Library of Lost Time is a Strong Sense of Place Production! https://strongsenseofplace.com Do you enjoy our show? Want access to fun bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon. Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace As always, you can follow us at: Our web site at Strong Sense of Place Patreon Twitter  Instagram Facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we get excited about two new books: 'The Sleeping Car Porter' by Suzette Mayr and 'Such Sharp Teeth' by Rachel Harrison. Then Dave explains why we should all book a trip asap to Prince Edward Island to explore The Island Walk.  BOOKS The Sleeping Car Porter by Suzette Mayr https://bit.ly/3TmZjQB The Widows by Suzette Mayr https://amzn.to/3CxEwmf Venous Hum by Suzette Mayr https://bit.ly/3eqHq4j Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison https://bit.ly/3T8QFVE Cackle by Rachel Harrison https://bit.ly/3g09BHQ DISTRACTION OF THE WEEK The Island Walk https://theislandwalk.ca/ Travel & Leisure review https://bit.ly/3yxUsUn SSoP Ep. 42 — Atlantic Canada: For There Blow Some Cold Nor'westers on the Banks of Newfoundland https://bit.ly/3RW7uSv Transcript of this episode https://bit.ly/3EEN51t The Library of Lost Time is a Strong Sense of Place Production! https://strongsenseofplace.com Do you enjoy our show? Want access to fun bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon. Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace As always, you can follow us at: Our web site at Strong Sense of Place Patreon Twitter  Instagram Facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we get excited about two books, one backlist and one new: 'Wakenhyrst' by Michelle Paver and 'This Is What It Sounds Like: What the Music You Love Says About You' by Susan Rogers. Then Dave shares three reasons to put the tiny country of San Marino on your must-visit list.  BOOKS Wakenhyrst by Michelle Paver https://amzn.to/3Ro6ZR8 This Is What It Sounds Like: What the Music You Love Says About You by Susan Rogers https://bit.ly/3LRi9MV DISTRACTION OF THE WEEK San Marino on Wikipedia (Crossbow Corps!) https://bit.ly/3y1fomC Museum of Vampires and Lycanthropes https://bit.ly/3Rv9D7O Kitsch or Cool? Museo dei Vampiri in San Marino https://bit.ly/3CkRqoM Dark Matter by Michelle Paver https://bit.ly/3xYeJCo SSoP Podcast Episode 28 — Arctic: Otherworldly Beauty That Might Kill You https://bit.ly/3Rl3ISv Transcript of this episode https://bit.ly/3dYdvjH The Library of Lost Time is a Strong Sense of Place Production! https://strongsenseofplace.com Do you enjoy our show? Want access to fun bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon. Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we get excited about two books: Assassins Anonymous by Rob Hart and Hip-Hop is History by Quest Love. Then Mel delves into the immersive storytelling, cosplay, and fantastic settings of LARPing. Assassins Anonymous by Rob Hart Rob Hart’s Substack Hip-Hop is History by Quest Love Video: Quest Love on CBS Mornings Chaos League website Photos from a previous Sahara Expedition First-hand report from a previous experience of Miskatonic University Transcript of this episode. The Library of Lost Time is a Strong Sense of Place Production! https://strongsenseofplace.com Join our FREE Substack to get our (awesome) newsletter and join in chats with other people who love books and travel. Do you enjoy our show? Want access to fun bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon. Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace As always, you can find us at: Our site Instagram Substack Patreon Parts of the Strong Sense of Place podcast are produced in udio! Some effects are provided by soundly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we get excited about two new book releases: 'The Most Likely Club' by Elyssa Friedland and 'The English Understand Wool' by Helen DeWitt. Then Mel tells the twisty story of 'Rebecca The Musical' on Broadway.  BOOKS The Most Likely Club by Elyssa Friedland https://bit.ly/3dSlbnG The English Understand Wool by Helen DeWitt https://bit.ly/3y4cr4J ** DISTRACTION OF THE WEEK ** Reddit explainer https://bit.ly/3RnFZkP The Guardian on the fraud https://bit.ly/3RnEiU8 Documentary https://youtu.be/roIueOG7_N4 Promo video for Broadway https://youtu.be/B-SZOwrhTds Promo video for Vienna https://youtu.be/W_zJ0vOWQRg Transcript of this episode https://bit.ly/3SpYkPe The Library of Lost Time is a Strong Sense of Place Production! https://strongsenseofplace.com Do you enjoy our show? Want access to fun bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon. Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you ever feel like Italy is just showing off just a bit? It's literally got the best of both worlds, surrounded by the sea and graced with mountains (hello, Italian Alps, Dolomites, and Apennines), woodlands, and hills, including the famous seven of Rome. The climate is ideal for growing lovely things like figs, almonds, olives, grapes, and... romance. What's more romantic than sweethearts riding a Vespa under the moonlight? Or a spritz sipped under a beach umbrella on the Italian Riviera? A dip in the Adriatic, a stroll in the Tuscan sunshine, a run down a slope in the Italian Alps — these are the things of which dreams are made. Which leads us to this fact: Italy has the third highest life expectancy in Europe: 83.5 years of living la dolce vita, the sweet life. The food, the wine, the weather, the language, the history; it's an embarrassment of riches, and we're all the better for it. In this episode, we discuss everything that makes Italy one of the most enchanting places on Earth. We get curious about the world's largest rock band and a possibly cursed village, daydream about eating pasta carbonara in Rome, and cross the sea to Sicily. Then we recommend great books that took us there on the page: The Invitation by Lucy Foley - https://bit.ly/3QYEd9l Trieste and the Meaning of Nowhere by Jan Morris - https://bit.ly/3QZu7Fp Cinnamon and Salt: Ciccheti in Venice by Emiko Davies - https://bit.ly/3xFjJvI Galileo's Daughter: A Drama of Science, Faith and Love by Dava Sobel - https://bit.ly/3Lv5nDz Still Life by Sarah Winman - https://bit.ly/3Sf2jxG A Room with a View - https://bit.ly/3DOFhd5 For more on the books we recommend, plus the other cool stuff we talk about, visit show notes at http://strongsenseofplace.com/podcasts/2022-09-26-italy Do you enjoy our show? Do you want access to awesome bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon! Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace As always, you can follow us at: Our web site at Strong Sense of Place Patreon Twitter  Instagram Facebook   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we get excited about two new book releases: 'Duran Duran: Careless Memories' by Denis O'Regan and 'The Slow Road to Tehran: A Revelatory Bike Ride Through Europe and the Middle East' by Rebecca Lowe. Then Dave highlights three books he was excited to see honored with Hugo Awards for sci-fi. BOOKS Duran Duran: Careless Memories by Denis O'Regan https://bit.ly/duranduranbook The Slow Road to Tehran: A Revelatory Bike Ride Through Europe and the Middle East by Rebecca Lowe https://bit.ly/3RgZvPX DISTRACTION OF THE WEEK Complete list of 2022 Hugo Award winners https://bit.ly/3Lu4Zp7 A Desolation Called Peace by Arkady Martine https://bit.ly/3xGUUj3 A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers https://bit.ly/3xJ9ir0 Beowulf: A New Translation by Maria Dahvana Headley https://bit.ly/3duURzV Never Say You Can't Survive by Charlie Jane Anders https://bit.ly/3DIprR1 On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King https://bit.ly/3DGtwoS Watch 25 literary luminaries (Neil Gaiman, Robin Sloane, Felicia Day, Alan Cumming!) read the new translation of _Beowulf_ by Maria Dahvana Headley https://bit.ly/3favljW Transcript of this episode https://bit.ly/3DLZKz8 The Library of Lost Time is a Strong Sense of Place Production! https://strongsenseofplace.com Do you enjoy our show? Want access to fun bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon. Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace As always, you can follow us at: Our web site at Strong Sense of Place Patreon Twitter  Instagram Facebook   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we get excited about two new book releases: 'Ten Things I Hate About Me' by Joe Tracini and 'Thistlefoot' by Gennarose Nethercott. Then Mel explains how the Sleep Stories in the Calm app have taken her on adventures around the world.  BOOKS Ten Things I Hate About Me by Joe Tracini https://bit.ly/3LhYXYH Thistlefoot by Gennarose Nethercott https://bit.ly/3LeUF4f ** DISTRACTION OF THE WEEK ** Follow Joe Tracini on Twitter - https://twitter.com/joetracini Enjoy his rap about bipolar personality disorder - https://bit.ly/3LfjNYx Watch a dance video on YouTube - https://youtu.be/a5AUetoXKMo Listen to a podcast interview with Joe - https://apple.co/3LeYia8 Read a profile of Joe in The Guardian - https://bit.ly/3Upig6z Learn more about the Calm app - https://www.calm.com/ Visit the website for Erik Braa - https://www.erikbraa.com Transcript of this episode https://bit.ly/3RKsWKV The Library of Lost Time is a Strong Sense of Place Production! https://strongsenseofplace.com Do you enjoy our show? Want access to fun bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon. Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace As always, you can follow us at: Our web site at Strong Sense of Place Patreon Twitter  Instagram Facebook   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Secret corridors, hidden rooms, and trapdoors are the stuff of adventure and romance. Egyptian pyramids riddled with underground chambers and booby traps. An English country house with a priest hole and a trick bookcase. A speakeasy with a sliding panel that leads to a brothel and a gambling parlor. Who wouldn't want to go exploring?! And where would Gothic storytelling be without the secret passage in Horace Walpole's 'The Castle of Otranto?' Or the hidden door to the attic in 'Jane Eyre' that's protecting an epic secret? If your childhood was shaped by reading the enchanting adventures in 'The Secret Garden' and 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland,' or by solving the mystery of 'The Hidden Staircase' with Nancy Drew, this show is for you. In this episode, we discuss an amazing book heist from an ancient French monastery, debate if Ben Franklin was a werewolf hunter, get lost in the Mansion on O Street, and daydream about living in the New York Public Library. Then we recommend great books that lured us into magical portals, dangerous tunnels, secret passages, and other hidden spaces that prove irresistible.  Here are the books we discuss in the show: A Dangerous Collaboration by Deanna Raybourn https://bit.ly/3cLkQm3 The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow https://bit.ly/3AGfsJ7 Tunnel 29 by Helena Merriman https://bit.ly/3Ry21li Underground by Will Hunt https://bit.ly/3CQjyB5 The Kingdoms by Natasha Pulley https://bit.ly/3TG18ZR For more on the books we recommend, plus the other cool stuff we talk about, visit show notes at http://strongsenseofplace.com/podcasts/2022-09-12-secret-passages Do you enjoy our show? Do you want access to awesome bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon! Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace As always, you can follow us at: Our web site at Strong Sense of Place Patreon Twitter  Instagram Facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we get excited about two new book releases: 'Killers of a Certain Age' by Deanna Raybourn and 'Fairy Tale' by Stephen King. Then Mel takes us around Europe with the Polish street artist Nespoon.  BOOKS Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn https://bit.ly/3RBg1dW Fairy Tale by Stephen King https://bit.ly/3AVh01I DISTRACTION OF THE WEEK The Library of Lost Time https://bit.ly/3PIqMd8 NeSpoon on Instagram https://bit.ly/3ql5GHj NeSpoon on YouTube https://bit.ly/3BeS6M8 NeSpoon website https://nespoon.art Video of the mural at the Museum of Lace and Fashion https://youtu.be/XeFNYiYC0VE More about the square in Belorado, Spain https://bit.ly/3RmCL1s German video (with some English) featuring NeSpoon's various works https://youtu.be/ehh5A0AW-p4 Colossal magazine https://bit.ly/3etn6PC Five questions with NeSpoon https://bit.ly/3euaeZD Transcript of this episode https://bit.ly/3cNqmoy The Library of Lost Time is a Strong Sense of Place Production! https://strongsenseofplace.com Do you enjoy our show? Want access to fun bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon. Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace As always, you can follow us at: Our web site at Strong Sense of Place Patreon Twitter  Instagram Facebook   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we get excited about two new book releases: 'these are the words' by Nikita Gill and 'Daisy Darker' by Alice Feeney. Then Dave explains the delightful tradition of newcomers to Newfoundland being ScreechedIn. BOOKS these are the words by Nikita Gill https://amzn.to/3q2wY5f Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney https://bit.ly/3Q64Etd DISTRACTION OF THE WEEK  The Library of Lost Time https://bit.ly/3PIqMd8 Newfoundland Screech on Wikipedia https://bit.ly/3wO9SmO On Atlas Obscura https://bit.ly/3R9n3qB Two excellent videos https://youtu.be/-bEPBx4E1aY https://youtu.be/3cI4vSqbMLE Video of Conan O'Brian getting screeched by Natasha Henstridge https://youtu.be/d3bD7427Nqc Our podcast episode about Atlantic Canada https://bit.ly/3CPgwwN Transcript of this episode https://bit.ly/3cHjfxS The Library of Lost Time is a Strong Sense of Place Production! https://strongsenseofplace.com Do you enjoy our show? Want access to fun bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon. Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace As always, you can follow us at: Our web site at Strong Sense of Place Patreon Twitter  Instagram Facebook   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Close your eyes and imagine it: Craggy coastlines with the rumble of crashing surf, sand dunes shaped by the wind off the Atlantic, maybe a lonely lighthouse, and lots of green. The air is bracing, carrying the scent of pine and the sea. Atlantic Canada comprises four provinces: Newfoundland and Labrador, plus the three Maritime provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island, also known as PEI. Lumped together for convenience, each province has its own quirks and charm. You might visit the colorful fishing villages in Nova Scotia or go kayaking in the Bay of Fundy. If Anne Shirley tops your list of best literary heroines, you'll definitely want to make a pilgrimage to PEI. And for Viking lore and teeth-rattling wind — plus puffins, iceberg sightings, and the northern lights — Newfoundland is the place to be. Wherever you land, you're enveloped in the fathomless blue of the sky and sea. It's a dramatic landscape with hardy people and a long history of compelling stories. In this episode, we talk about the lure of buried treasure, pick up a bit of Newfoundland slang, plan a getaway to a posh island hotel, and discuss practically sentient weather. Then we recommend five great books that took us to Atlantic Canada on the page: Crow by Amy Spurway https://bit.ly/3QBrD0r Galore by Michael Crummy https://bit.ly/3PtOrhh My Darling Detective by Howard Norman https://bit.ly/3waEWNo The Boat Who Wouldn't Float by Farley Mowat https://bit.ly/3pr2Y2U The Shipping News by Annie Proulx https://bit.ly/3wd40mR As always, you can follow us at: Our web site at Strong Sense of Place Patreon Twitter  Instagram Facebook   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we get excited about two new book releases: 'Portrait of an Unknown Woman' by Daniel Silva and 'A Dreadful Splendor' by B.R. Myers. Then Mel explains why she's smitten with Detective Inspector Jimmy Pérez and the Shetland TV series, based on the books by Ann Cleeves. BOOKS Portrait of an Unknown Woman by Daniel Silva https://bit.ly/3PCaF0I A Dreadful Splendor by B.R. Myers https://bit.ly/3CuX6gN DISTRACTION OF THE WEEK The Library of Lost Time https://bit.ly/3PIqMd8 Raven Black by Ann Cleeves https://bit.ly/3wqCSRj Interview with Ann Cleeves https://bit.ly/3pEs0LW Shetland: An Epic Landscape with a Viking Soul https://bit.ly/3Cq55M3 Video: Ann Cleeves' Shetland  https://youtu.be/AAInlBT32w8 'Shetland' on Amazon Prime https://amzn.to/3Kb59AS Transcript of this episode https://bit.ly/3PIqMd8 The Library of Lost Time is a Strong Sense of Place Production! https://strongsenseofplace.com Do you enjoy our show? Want access to fun bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon. Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace As always, you can follow us at: Our web site at Strong Sense of Place Patreon Twitter  Instagram Facebook   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Perched where East meets West, Turkey was once a stopover on the Silk Road, connecting the cultures of Europe and the Balkans to exotic Eastern locales. That explains why its history has as many layers as a piece of baklava. The invaders are a greatest hits list of big names: the Greeks, the Byzantine Empire, the Fourth Crusade, and the Ottoman Empire (and its Janissaries). Then WWI and the birth of a new nation: The Republic of Turkey, with westward-gazing Atatürk at the helm. Now, this stunningly beautiful country is a dreamy holiday destination. There are beaches on the Black, Aegean, and Mediterranean Seas to immerse you in soothing waters.  Enjoy colorful Turkish cuisine with strong tea and coffee to fuel your adventures. Listen to slinky, rhythmic folk music, have a soak at a hammam (Turkish bath), and meet friendly locals with a charming predilection for chit-chat. For centuries, travelers have been enchanted by the Istanbul skyline and the romantic Bosphorous Strait. But don't sleep on sights outside that fabled city, like the hot air balloons and otherworldly terrain of Cappadocia, the ancient ruins of the Library of Pergamum, and Gaziantep with the sweet scent of baklava bakeries floating in the air. In this episode, we romp through the Byzantine Empire, get gossipy about the Turkish language, and celebrate sweet words of devotion. Then we recommend five books that took us to Turkey on the page: Three Daughters of Eve by Elif Shafak Dare to Disappoint: Growing Up in Turkey by Özge Samancı The Janissary Tree by Jason Goodwin  My Name is Red by Orhan Pamuk, Erda M. Göknar (translator) Black Amber by Phyllis A. Whitney As always, you can follow us at: Our web site at Strong Sense of Place Patreon Twitter  Instagram Facebook   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is New York City the world capital of… everything? It’s sure putting up a good effort. We could talk about how the New York Stock Exchange started under a tree (!) on Wall Street and how NYC is now the financial capital of the world. Billionaires, millionaires, blah blah blah.  Let’s talk about what really matters. Like… the best pizza and bagels in the world, the Met and the New York Public Library, art deco skyscrapers and bodega cats, Carnegie Hall, Broadway, Rockefeller Center, and that one place on the corner in Brooklyn with the best Polish pastries.  There’s the immediately identifiable New York accent and the 800 or so languages spoken by New Yorkers from all around the world. The City That Never Sleeps is the ultimate melting pot; we’re all better for it. New Yorkers are a unique breed who’ve changed the personality of the city over and over again. Dutch and British settlers named the place, immigrants made it cosmopolitan, the elite of the Gilded Age filled it with skyscrapers, and barriers were busted by the artists of the Harlem Renaissance. And let’s not forget the unnamed good samaritan on the subway who will warn you that the next station is closed so you need to transfer. In this episode, we grab an imaginary coffee to go in a ‘We Are Happy to Serve You’ cup and explore the ultimate bookish day in New York City. In Two Truths and a Lie, we meet the musicians of the Phantom of the Opera on Broadway and visit a Brooklyn store where you can buy a can of chutzpah. Then we recommend six great books that took us to New York City on the page, including two graphic novels, a love letter to ’90s Manhattan, a frothy family saga, historical fiction with a challenging heroine, and a collection of short stories from a master of fiction. Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan LaserWriter II by Tamara Shopsin Olga Dies Dreaming by Xóchitl González Hello, NY by Julia Rothman Roaming by Jillian and Mariko Tamaki Table for Two: Fictions by Amor Towles For more on the books we recommend, plus the other cool stuff we talk about, visit show notes. Sign up for our free Substack to connect with us and other smart, friendly people who love travel and books. Transcript of New York City: NO! SLEEP! TILL BROOKLYN! Do you enjoy our show? Do you want access to awesome bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon! Strong Sense of Place is an audience-funded endeavor, and we need your support to continue making this show. Get all the info you need right here. Thank you! Parts of the Strong Sense of Place podcast are produced in udio. Some effects are provided by soundly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this very short episode, we get curious about what you think about The Library of Lost Time. We'd like to know how to make a better podcast for you. More book reviews? More Distraction of the Week? Should Mel and Dave just talk about cakes and cats? Let us know! We currently have a survey at: https://strongsenseofplace.com/survey It would mean the world to us if you could drop by and tell us how we're doing. It'll take about three minutes, and it'll help shape that podcast immediately. Thank you so much for your help!   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we get excited about two new book releases: 'Kismet' by Amina Akhtar and 'Alias Emma' by Ava Glass. Then we think about running away to Tristan da Cunha, the world's most remote inhabited island. BOOKS Kismet by Amina Akhtar https://bit.ly/3Bh1fUW Alias Emma by Ava Glass https://bit.ly/3RZ2TQT DISTRACTION OF THE WEEK Tristan da Cunha website https://bit.ly/3OuvKtj Atlas Obscura on Tristan da Cunha https://bit.ly/3or3mh8 Slate on Tristan da Cunha https://bit.ly/3b22wEq Wikipedia https://bit.ly/3S1PAiq Video: Life on Tristan da Cunha https://youtu.be/n4ElF8awm90 Video: A Day on Tristan da Cunha https://youtu.be/kgKYV5hplvM The Library of Lost Time is a Strong Sense of Place Production! https://strongsenseofplace.com Do you enjoy our show? Want access to fun bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon. Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace As always, you can follow us at: Our web site at Strong Sense of Place Patreon Twitter  Instagram Facebook   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With palm trees galore, more than 100 beaches (plus more than 100 volcanoes!), Hawaii's islands are a playground in paradise. But there's a lot more to love about the 50th state than its splash-worthy waters and lush hiking trails. Settled by sea-faring Polynesians in the 4th century, the islands meld the cultures of native Hawaiians, American mainlanders, and Japanese, Filipino, Korean, and Chinese immigrants. All of which is shorthand for 'fascinating people, delicious food, and irresistible music.' A visit to Hawaii pretty much requires you to swim and paddle around in the Pacific. You can also trek on volcanoes, stroll through the rainforest, learn to surf, meet the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle (honu) and the Hawaiian Monk Seal (llio holo I ka uaua), dance the hula, and pay tribute to the mighty Pele, goddess of fire. In this episode, we marvel at the Polynesian settlers, learn about a forbidden island, sway to Hawaiian music, and enjoy a virtual luau on the beach. Then we recommend five books that transported us to Hawaii. Here are the books we discuss in the show: Shark Dialogues by Kiana Davenport Unfamiliar Fishes by Sarah Vowell Micro by Michael Crichton & Richard Preston The Wave: In Pursuit of the Rogues, Freaks, and Giants of the Ocean by Susan Casey This is Paradise: Stories by Kristiana Kahakauwila As always, you can follow us at: Our web site at Strong Sense of Place Patreon Twitter  Instagram Facebook YouTube   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we get excited about two new book releases: 'The Half Life of Valery K' by Natasha Pulley and 'The Man Who Could Move Clouds: A Memoir' by Ingrid Rojas Contreras. Then we go retro with 'Welcome to Kutsher's,' a documentary about the last surviving Jewish resort in the Catskills.  BOOKS The Half Life of Valery K by Natasha Pulley https://bit.ly/3PxuR4L The Man Who Could Move Clouds: A Memoir by Ingrid Rojas Contreras https://bit.ly/3z199Po DISTRACTION OF THE WEEK Welcome to Kutsher's https://bit.ly/3RWfR1M Watch the documentary online https://amzn.to/3J5La6d ABC News report on Kutsher's https://abcn.ws/3z6cOeX The Library of Lost Time is a Strong Sense of Place Production! https://strongsenseofplace.com Do you enjoy our show? Want access to fun bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon. Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Museums are where we put our best stuff. An item might belong in a museum if it's rare, expensive, irreplaceable, or so ordinary and beloved it becomes extraordinary. A self-portrait by Vincent Van Gogh, a can of SPAM, a Romanian mud hut, a narwhal horn, a discarded red stiletto: They can all be found in a museum somewhere in the world.  But exhibitions in museums are more than mere collections of striking items. Museums are vital institutions that take on the tasks of collecting, interpreting, and caring for artifacts — both precious and charmingly ordinary — so they can be experienced by the general public. The Ancient Greek word mouseion means 'seat of Muses.' In classical antiquity, a museum was a place for contemplation and philosophical debate. When art moved from the open air, larger-than-life statuary of the Greco-Roman era to more intimate, human-scale paintings and objects, the definition of museum changed, too. It became a place to visit to see art — and anything placed in a museum _became_ art. In this episode, we romp through the delightful hoarding behavior behind Renaissance Wunderkammers, learn about the first museum curator (spoiler: It was a woman!), and celebrate the majesty of the Louvre. Then we recommend books that transported us to museums around the world. Here are the books we recommend on the show: A Little History of Art by Charlotte Mullins A Parisian Cabinet of Curiosities: Deyrolle by Prince Louis Albert de Broglie Cabinets of Curiosities by Patrick Mauriès How to Enjoy Art by Ben Street Metropolitan Stories by Christine Coulson The Last Painting of Sara de Vos by Dominic Smith For more on the books we recommend, plus the other cool stuff we talk about, visit show notes at http://strongsenseofplace.com/podcasts/2022-07-18-museums Do you enjoy our show? Do you want access to awesome bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon! Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace As always, you can follow us at: Our web site at Strong Sense of Place Patreon Twitter  Instagram Facebook YouTube   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we get excited about two new book releases: The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia and A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers. Then we daydream about receiving a postcard from the ancient city of Timbuktu.  BOOKS The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia https://bit.ly/39DM24K A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers https://bit.ly/3ObJLwy DISTRACTION OF THE WEEK Postcards from Timbuktu website https://bit.ly/3N89lBt Postcards from Timbuktu on Instagram https://bit.ly/3b9jJeN Atlas Obscura on Postcards from Timbuktu https://bit.ly/3NaNDfY The last master calligrapher in Mali https://bit.ly/3b42U4X The Guardian on Timbuktu https://bit.ly/3OsQKkv The Library of Lost Time is a Strong Sense of Place Production! https://strongsenseofplace.com Do you enjoy our show? Want access to fun bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon. Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace As always, you can follow us at: Our web site at Strong Sense of Place Patreon Twitter  Instagram Facebook YouTube     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we get excited about two new book releases: 'What Moves the Dead' by T. Kingfisher and 'The Mermaid of Black Conch' by Monique Roffey. Then we explore the delightfully retro world of Thomas Allen's pulp fiction art. BOOKS What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher https://bit.ly/3O962uZ The Mermaid of Black Conch by Monique Roffey https://bit.ly/3OcdSEd DISTRACTION OF THE WEEK Thomas Allen's Pulp Series https://bit.ly/3N9iRUM Thomas Allen's Beautiful Evidence Series https://bit.ly/3xELPq8 A video romp through his artwork https://bit.ly/3y7URNB More at the Foley Gallery https://bit.ly/3y7UTVJ Thomas Allen and Chip Kidd discuss Allen's book  https://bit.ly/3tPYdCB Buy a copy of 'Uncovered: Photographs' by Thomas Allen https://amzn.to/3QByqru The Library of Lost Time is a Strong Sense of Place Production! https://strongsenseofplace.com Do you enjoy our show? Want access to fun bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon. Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace       Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Animal safaris! White sand beaches! The majesty of Table Mountain! Plus, urban penguins, world-class wine, and food with irresistible names like melktert, bunny chow, and chakalaka. There is so much about South Africa to engage your curiosity. Any conversation about South Africa is incomplete without addressing the scourge of Apartheid. For most of the 20th century, black people were denied the most basic human rights and lived a segregated existence. But in 1989, Apartheid was banished, and the country is moving toward the goal of being a Rainbow Nation. Let's talk numbers! There are 11 official languages, and South Africa is one of the best places on the planet to see the Big Five of safaris: lions, leopards, black rhinos, elephants, and Cape buffalo. The local cuisine combines four delicious influences that combine indigenous recipes with Dutch, French, and Indian flavors. And there are more than 40 wineries along the hop-on-hop-off wine tram in the Franschhoek Wine Valley. In this episode, we fall in love with elephants (a.k.a., the world's best gentle giants), dig into the country's tumultuous history, and daydream about visiting Cape Town beaches. Then we recommend five books that transported us there on the page.  Here are the five books we recommend on the show: Born a Crime by Trevor Noah Gallows Hill by Margie Orford The Promise by Damon Galgut We Kiss Them With Rain by Futhi Ntshingila The Woman Next Door by Yewande Omotoso For more on the books we recommend, plus the other cool stuff we talk about, visit show notes at http://strongsenseofplace.com/podcasts/2022-07-04-south-africa Do you enjoy our show? Do you want access to awesome bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon! Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace As always, you can follow us at: Our web site at Strong Sense of Place Patreon Twitter  Instagram Facebook YouTube   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we get excited about two new book releases: 'Her Majesty's Royal Coven' by Juno Dawson and 'Rogues: True Stories of Grifters, Killers, Rebels, and Crooks' by Patrick Radden Keefe. Then we take a sweet virtual roadtrip along Ohio's famed Donut Trail. BOOKS Her Majesty's Royal Coven by Juno Dawson https://bit.ly/38XtuvX Rogues: True Stories of Grifters, Killers, Rebels, and Crooks by Patrick Radden Keefe https://bit.ly/398j2lA DISTRACTION OF THE WEEK Read all about the Butler County Donut Trail https://bit.ly/3O2N3lz Download the free Donut Trail map https://bit.ly/3xeM9vk Download the free Donut Trail passport https://bit.ly/3zmJGBN Here's a donut-by-donut recap of a blogger's trip down the Donut Trail https://bit.ly/3MsdMqu Easy homemade donut recipe https://bit.ly/3aARXre The Library of Lost Time is a Strong Sense of Place Production! https://strongsenseofplace.com Do you enjoy our show? Want access to fun bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon. Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace As always, you can follow us at: Our web site at Strong Sense of Place Patreon Twitter  Instagram Facebook YouTube   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we get excited about two new book releases: 'Woman of Light' by Kali Fajardo-Anstine and 'Ordinary Monsters' by J. M. Miro. Then we share the lowdown on the thoroughly delightful Typewriter Rodeo poets in Austin, Texas. BOOKS Woman of Light by Kali Fajardo-Anstine https://bookshop.org/a/1240/9780525511328 Ordinary Monsters by J. M. Miro https://bookshop.org/a/1240/9781250833662 Typewriter Rodeo by Jodi Egerton, et. al. https://amzn.to/3tXLzkZ DISTRACTION OF THE WEEK Visit Typewriter Rodeo online https://typewriterrodeo.com Follow Typewriter Rodeo on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/typewriterrodeo Listen to the Typewriter Rodeo Podcast - https://www.npr.org/podcasts/513264050/texas-standard-typewriter-rodeo Video interview with Texas Country Reporter https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28R65IgaooY Video interview with Austin 360 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_orDDOsrQP4 The Library of Lost Time is a Strong Sense of Place Production! https://strongsenseofplace.com Do you enjoy our show? Want access to fun bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon. Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace As always, you can follow us at: Our web site at Strong Sense of Place Patreon Twitter  Instagram Facebook YouTube   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we get excited about two books: The Main Character by Jaclyn Goldis and The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley. Then Dave shares a very cool phone trick for tracking your books. Links The Main Character by Jaclyn Goldis Video: Jaclyn Goldis on the Chris Voss Podcast The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley Video: Kaliane Bradley’s first TV interview on Good Morning America Video: How to Convert Image to Text in iPhone & Android Transcript of this episode. The Library of Lost Time is a Strong Sense of Place Production! https://strongsenseofplace.com Join our FREE Substack to get our (awesome) newsletter and join in chats with other people who love books and travel. Do you enjoy our show? Want access to fun bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon. Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace As always, you can find us at: Our site Instagram Substack Patreon Parts of the Strong Sense of Place podcast are produced in udio! Some effects are provided by soundly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let's get this straight immediately: If you want to make friends with the good people of the mountains, you'd better pronounce the name of their home the way they do. When you say Appalachia, make it sound like 'throw an apple atcha'. This fabled region of the US includes parts of 12 states and the entirety of West Virginia. It encompasses forested peaks and deep hollers (the local name for valleys) along the Appalachian Mountains that stretch from Canada to Alabama. Although the population is predominantly of white Scots-Irish or German descent, about 10% of the population is African-American. But circa the 1700s, it was a melting pot that blended white, Black, and Native Americans. That means there's damn good food, foot-stomping music, and a lively storytelling tradition, along with long-held wisdom about the importance of kin, living in harmony with nature, and being self-reliant. In this episode, we discuss Appalachian folklore, celebrate the magic of Dolly Parton, listen to eerie country ballads, and daydream about banana pudding. Then we recommend five immersive books that took us to Appalachia on the page. The Book Woman of Troublesome by Kim Michele Richardson F*ckface: And Other Stories by Leah Hampton Victuals: An Appalachian Journey with Recipes by Ronni Lundy The Animators by Kayla Rae Whitaker She Walks These Hills by Sharyn McCrumb For more on the books we recommend, plus the other cool stuff we talk about, visit show notes at http://strongsenseofplace.com/podcasts/2022-06-06-tasmania Do you enjoy our show? Do you want access to awesome bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon! Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace As always, you can follow us at: Our web site at Strong Sense of Place Patreon Twitter  Instagram Facebook YouTube   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we get excited about two new book releases: 'Last Call at the Nightingale' by Katharine Schellman and 'Downton Shabby: One American's Ultimate DIY Adventure Restoring His Family's English Castle' by Hopwood DePree. Then we share details about the Midnight Sun Marathon in Tromsø, Norway, where 6000 runners hit the course under a bright sun that never sets.  BOOKS Last Call at the Nightingale by Katharine Schellman https://bit.ly/3tJzj7r Downton Shabby: One American's Ultimate DIY Adventure Restoring His Family's English Castle by Hopwood DePree https://bit.ly/3QlAaVw DISTRACTION OF THE WEEK Midnight Sun Marathon https://bit.ly/2EMohoN Newsletter signup https://bit.ly/3y13ycK Midnight Sun Marathon on Instagram https://bit.ly/3xVdlkl The 12 Best Things to do in Tromsø https://bit.ly/3QuQ1Bp  Polaria Arctic Aquarium https://bit.ly/3zJIhpa Tromsø Cable Car https://bit.ly/3N1bDlC SSoP Podcast Episode 28 — The Arctic: Otherworldly Beauty That Might Kill You. https://bit.ly/3b6Yfz8 The Library of Lost Time is a Strong Sense of Place Production! https://strongsenseofplace.com Do you enjoy our show? Want access to fun bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon. Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace As always, you can follow us at: Our web site at Strong Sense of Place Patreon Twitter  Instagram Facebook YouTube   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we get excited about two new book releases: 'The Woman in the Library' by Sulari Gentill and 'There Are Places in the World Where Rules Are Less Important Than Kindness: And Other Thoughts on Physics, Philosophy and the World' by Carlo Rovelli. Then we celebrate the genius of the one and only Maurice Sendak, author of 'Where the Wild Things Are.' BOOKS The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill https://bit.ly/3NEZrbH There Are Places in the World Where Rules Are Less Important Than Kindness: And Other Thoughts on Physics, Philosophy and the World by Carlo Rovelli https://bit.ly/3xnf8wX DISTRACTION OF THE WEEK Maurice Sendak: On Life, Death And Children's Lit https://n.pr/3MEZuCI Artist Christoph Niemann illustrated a 'Fresh Air' interview with Maurice Sendak https://bit.ly/3O87Vrq Fresh Air Remembers Maurice Sendak https://n.pr/3MCokU4 9 Surprising Facts About Maurice Sendak https://bit.ly/3O4eCLd 10 Wild Facts About 'Where the Wild Things Are' https://bit.ly/3aIB2mP Maurice Sendak obituary from 'The Guardian' https://bit.ly/3aTRErW 'Where the Wild Things Are' on Strong Sense of Place https://bit.ly/3O7h7wh Roasted Carrot Caraway Soup inspired by the book https://bit.ly/3QfS8sH The Library of Lost Time is a Strong Sense of Place Production! https://strongsenseofplace.com Do you enjoy our show? Want access to fun bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon. Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace As always, you can follow us at: Our web site at Strong Sense of Place Patreon Twitter  Instagram Facebook YouTube   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This might be a bit too seem cheesy, but we're going to say it anyway: This small-ish, heart-shaped island in the Southern Hemisphere has stolen our hearts. There's so much to love. Sure, Tasmania may have started with the sinister-sounding name Van Diemen's Land. And yes, it was founded as an inescapable penal colony for the most hardened criminals in Britain. But now, Tasmania is an epic playground for anyone who loves outdoor adventures. There are soft sand beaches for swimming, snorkeling, surfing, and lazing around in the sun — perhaps at the poetically-named Bay of Fires or Wineglass Bay. The island's network of rivers means lots (and lots) of waterfalls, along with kayaking and rafting. Foodies can enjoy a leisurely drive along the Tamar Valley Wine Route dotted with inviting wineries and an exciting food scene. But if (when!) we visit Tasmania, it will be for the animals. It's home to ridiculously cute animals like wombats, wallabies, and, yes, the Tasmanian Devil. If we're being honest, these adorable creatures might also kill you — or at least cause grave bodily harm. But truly: Cuddling up to a furry, tank-like wombat or seeing a Tasmanian Devil IRL might be worth it. In this episode, we briefly dip into Tasmania's dark history, learn about a truly unusual museum, talk about the Roaring Forties, and mourn the loss of the Tasmanian Tiger. Then we recommend five great books that took us there on the page: Wildlight by Robyn Mundy Carnivorous Nights: On the Trail of the Tasmanian Tiger by Margaret Mittlebach & Michael Crewdson The Survivors by Jane Harper Ten Rogues: The Unlikely Story of Convict Schemers, a Stolen Brig and an Escape from Van Diemen's Land to Chile by Peter Grose Flames by Robbie Arnott For more on the books we recommend, plus the other cool stuff we talk about, visit show notes at http://strongsenseofplace.com/podcasts/2022-06-06-tasmania Do you enjoy our show? Do you want access to awesome bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon! Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace As always, you can follow us at: Our web site at Strong Sense of Place Patreon Twitter  Instagram Facebook YouTube   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we get excited about two new book releases: 'Hide' by Kiersten White and 'Born to Be Hanged' by Keith Thomson. Then we discuss the very soothing, compelling cooking videos on the Country Life Vlog.  BOOKS Hide by Kiersten White https://bookshop.org/a/1240/9780593359235 Born to Be Hanged: The Epic Story of the Gentlemen Pirates Who Raided the South Seas, Rescued a Princess, and Stole a Fortune by Keith Thomson https://bookshop.org/a/1240/9780316703611 DISTRACTION OF THE WEEK Watch and follow the Country Life Vlog on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIix6MklfJFywa_36iDj8Sw/featured Meet Aziza and her family https://blog.solostove.com/the-common-flame-country-life-in-azerbaijan/ The video for cold Okroshka Soup. https://youtu.be/W7fvudJvDlo And a full recipe for the soup, in case you want to make it yourself. https://natashaskitchen.com/okroshka-recipe-russian-summer-soup/ The Library of Lost Time is a Strong Sense of Place Production! https://strongsenseofplace.com Do you enjoy our show? Want access to fun bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon. Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace As always, you can follow us at: Our web site at Strong Sense of Place Patreon Twitter  Instagram Facebook YouTube   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we get excited about two new book releases: 'Trust' by Hernan Diaz and 'How to Be Eaten' by Maria Adelmann. Then we get nostalgic for the Opening Day on the Golden Gate Bridge in 1937.  BOOKS Trust by Hernan Diaz https://bookshop.org/a/1240/9780593420317 How to Be Eaten by Maria Adelmann https://bookshop.org/a/1240/9780316450843 DISTRACTION OF THE WEEK Treat yourself to the Official Program for the Golden Gate Bridge Fiesta - https://www.goldengate.org/assets/1/6/officialprogram.pdf Read more about the Fiesta - https://www.goldengate.org/bridge/history-research/bridge-construction/opening-fiesta-week/ Enjoy this video of the opening from British Pathé - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_sm0OHQKrg Or this video from British Movietone - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQFNVLZEFrU The Library of Lost Time is a Strong Sense of Place Production! https://strongsenseofplace.com Do you enjoy our show? Want access to fun bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon. Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace As always, you can follow us at: Our web site at Strong Sense of Place Patreon Twitter  Instagram Facebook YouTube     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Room service. An oversized bed seemingly made of clouds. Breathtaking views through wall-sized windows. Zippy elevators. Friendly, efficient bellhops. And three magical words: Gourmet breakfast included. These are the things of which a first-rate hotel stay is made. The idea of a place to lay your head while away from home has been around for millennia: When the Greeks and Romans developed thermal baths, they also built accommodations for visitors to spend the night after a recuperating soak.  What we would recognize as an inn became common in Europe during the Middle Ages. Rustic but homey, they provided lodging, food, and stables for horses. Fast forward to the industrialists of the 19th century, and boom! now we've got grand hotels designed to cater to guests' every whim. Laundry service? Of course. Space for entertaining? Naturally. And oh, free soap! In this episode, we take a quick romp through hotel history and imagine what it might have been like to visit a luxurious hotel during its 20th-century heyday. Then we discuss so many books that transported us to hotels on the page. There are haunted rooms and murderous mischief, people falling in love and settling scores, history-making events and intimate drama, plus plenty of opulent furnishings and white-glove service. Here are five of the books we recommend on the show — there are a bunch more in show notes: A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny The Plaza: The Secret Life of America's Most Famous Hotel by Julie Satow Estoril by Dejan Tiago-Stanković The Hitman's Daughter by Carolyne Topdjian The Inn at Lake Devine by Elinor Lipman Last Summer at the Golden Hotel by Elissa Friedland For more on the books we recommend, plus the other cool stuff we talk about, visit show notes at http://strongsenseofplace.com/podcasts/2022-05-23-hotels Do you enjoy our show? Do you want access to awesome bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon! Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace As always, you can follow us at: Our web site at Strong Sense of Place Patreon Twitter  Instagram Facebook YouTube   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we get excited about two new book releases: The Cherry Robbers by Sarai Walker and Book of Night by Holly Black. Then we are charmed by three short words: floating taco bar. BOOKS - The Cherry Robbers by Sarai Walker - https://bookshop.org/a/1240/9780358251873 - Book of Night by Holly Black - https://bookshop.org/a/1240/9781250812193 DISTRACTION OF THE WEEK Visit the website for Lime Out, the floating taco bar - https://www.limeoutvi.com Follow Lime Out on Instagram  - https://www.instagram.com/limeoutvi/ Read an article about it in 'Travel+Leisure' - https://www.travelandleisure.com/food-drink/floating-taco-bar-st-john-us-virgin-islands-caribbean Read an article about it in 'St. John Magazine' - https://stjohnmagazine.com/lime-out-vi-st-john-floating-bar This video will have you packing your bags and booking a flight before you can say, 'extra guac, please.' - https://youtu.be/RpEjOIuI69k The Library of Lost Time is a Strong Sense of Place Production! https://strongsenseofplace.com Do you enjoy our show? Want access to fun bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon. Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace As always, you can follow us at: Our web site at Strong Sense of Place Patreon Twitter  Instagram Facebook YouTube   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Located in Southeast Asia, Thailand is 100-percent situated in the tropics. It's hot and humid and, sometimes, there's torrential rain. The capital city of Bangkok is a cacophony of color and humanity: traffic jams, food markets, flocks of monks in saffron-colored robes, temple spires, and gaudy neon. And all of that only enhances its appeal. Thailand is blessed with otherwordly beauty. From the hills and forests in the north to the terraced rice fields in the central plains, it seems to embody every imaginable shade of green. But hit the coasts, and the colors explode into other rainbow colors: fuchsia flowers, aquamarine waters, red-brown rock formations, and blindingly-white sand beaches. That vibrancy is reflected in the food (colorful, spicy), the people (friendly, Buddhist), the wildlife (diverse, majestic), and all the activities they invite you to try: hiking, cooking, snorkeling, splashing, eating, drinking, living. In this episode, we discuss how a trip to Thailand will engage all your senses, learn about a jewelry heist for the ages, talk about a giant Buddha, and daydream about Bangkok. We also recommend five great books that transported us there on the page: - The Blind Earthworm in the Labyrinth by Veeraporn Nitiprapha - Why Buddhism is True by Robert Wright - Thai Street Food by David Thompson - Bangkok 8 by John Burdett - Jasmine Nights by S.P. Somtow For more on the books we recommend, plus the other cool stuff we talk about, visit show notes at http://strongsenseofplace.com/podcasts/2022-05-09-thailand Do you enjoy our show? Do you want access to awesome bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon! Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace As always, you can follow us at: Our web site at Strong Sense of Place Patreon Twitter  Instagram Facebook YouTube   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we get excited about two new book releases: Siren Queen by Nghi Vo and Every Good Boy Does Fine: A Love Story in Music Lessons" by Jeremy Denk. Then we talk about an exhibit at the New York Public Library featuring art from a new graphic novel. BOOKS Siren Queen by Nghi Vo - https://bookshop.org/a/1240/9781250788832 Every Good Boy Does Fine: A Love Story in Music Lessons - https://bookshop.org/a/1240/9780812995985 DISTRACTION OF THE WEEK Watch a quick video about the INterSECTS exhibit -https://twitter.com/nypl/status/1513951186075979776 Get more info on the New York Public Library website - https://www.nypl.org/events/exhibitions/intersects Take the excellent online audio tour of the exhibit - https://www.nypl.org/events/tours/audio-guides/intersects/item/6050 Download the free coloring sheets. One of them shows butterflies in the Rose Reading Room! - https://legacynyplorg-live.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/intersects_-_peter_kuper_coloring_pages.pdf The Library of Lost Time is a Strong Sense of Place Production! https://strongsenseofplace.com Do you enjoy our show? Want access to fun bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon. Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace As always, you can follow us at: Our web site at Strong Sense of Place Patreon Twitter  Instagram Facebook YouTube   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

According to people in the know, there are two Frances: Paris and the rest of the (alluring, picturesque) country. In this episode, we’re celebrating the châteaux, coastlines, cathedrals, cuisine, mountains, and museums that give France its unique je ne sais quoi. It’s hard to argue with the notion that France offers the best of everything. From scenery and snacks to iconic art, world-changing history, and culture-shaping fashion, it’s practically ground zero for the good things in life. The light is golden. The wine is luscious. The cheese is heavenly, and the scenery is so beautiful, it makes the heart yearn.  You can take a road trip or a bike ride among the purple rivers of lavender fields in Provence or the gilt-and-green vineyards in Burgundy. Loll in the sun and splash in the sea along the Riviera — or tour a château where nobles ruled and romanced 500 years ago. Wander the streets and cafés that inspired Vincent Van Gogh, then relax under a shade tree with a perfect baguette and the world’s best butter. In this episode, we take a virtual road trip around France, explore the Bayeux Tapestry, and get curious about an obscure (and deeply romantic) French law. Then we recommend five great books that took us to France on the page. Clara Reads Proust by Stéphane Carlier, translated by Polly Mackintosh Joan by Katherine J. Chen Murder on the Île Sordou by M.L. Longworth A Woman of No Importance by Sonia Purnell Fresh Water for Flowers by Valérie Perrin, translated by Hildegarde Serle For more on the books we recommend, plus the other cool stuff we talk about, visit our show notes. Sign up for our free Substack to connect with us and other smart, friendly people who love travel and books. Transcript of France: Mostly Here for the Butter Do you enjoy our show? Do you want access to awesome bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon! Strong Sense of Place is an audience-funded endeavor, and we need your support to continue making this show. Get all the info you need right here. Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we get excited about two new book releases: 'Woman, Eating' by Claire Kohda and 'How to Tell a Story: The Essential Guide to Memorable Storytelling from the Moth.' Then we are thoroughly charmed by artist David Bird's whimsical figurines and photos. BOOKS Woman, Eating by Claire Kohda - https://bookshop.org/a/1240/9780063140882 How to Tell a Story: The Essential Guide to Memorable Storytelling from the Moth - https://bookshop.org/a/1240/9780593139004 DISTRACTION OF THE WEEK Watch David Bird's process and hear the stories behind his Becorns at his [official website - https://www.davidmbird.com Follow David Bird on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/davidmbird See what happened when a squirrel decided to enjoy a Becorn as an afternoon snack - https://youtu.be/LfQhurh7wuk). The Library of Lost Time is a Strong Sense of Place Production! https://strongsenseofplace.com Do you enjoy our show? Want access to fun bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon. Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace As always, you can follow us at: Our web site at Strong Sense of Place Patreon Twitter  Instagram Facebook YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With all those dramatic volcanoes and glaciers, Iceland has become known as the Land of Fire and Ice. But we like to think of it as the Land of Legends and Poetry, a place to go adventuring with your extrovert pals, then curl up with a great book and a cozy sweater for some epic introverting. Literature is baked into Icelandic culture, starting with the Sagas and carrying through medieval warrior poets to today: The capital city of Reykjavík is a designated UNESCO City of Literature and home to both the Iceland Writers Retreat and the Iceland Noir Festival. When you're ready to explore the island, start in the capital for fancy cocktails, the vibrant food scene, and friendly locals. Then hit the road — the Ring Road — to circumnavigate the island and see fantastical sites along the way: volcanoes and lava fields, waterfalls and glaciers, puffins and horses with emo bangs, the black church and dramatic sea cliffs — plus northern lights, turquoise-colored hot springs, a troll or two, and wee elf houses. In this episode, we dig into the charming idiosyncrasies of the Icelandic language, get real about Vikings, and celebrate powerful Icelandic women. We also recommend five great books that transported us there on the page: The Island by Ragnar Jónasson How Iceland Changed the World by Egill Bjarnason The Glass Woman by Caroline Lea The Almost Nearly Perfect People by Michael Booth The Tricking of Freya by Christina Sunley For more on the books we recommend, plus the other cool stuff we talk about, visit show notes at http://strongsenseofplace.com/podcasts/2022-04-25-iceland Do you enjoy our show? Do you want access to awesome bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon! Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace As always, you can follow us at: Our web site at Strong Sense of Place Patreon Twitter  Instagram Facebook YouTube   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we get excited about two new book releases: 'True Biz' by Sara Nović and 'Hotel Magnifique' by Emily J. Taylor. Then we discuss the fantastic artists devoted to preserving and enhancing the 150-year-old tradition of handpainted signs.   BOOKS True Biz by Sara Nović - https://bookshop.org/a/1240/9780593241509 Hotel Magnifique by Emily J. Taylor - https://bookshop.org/a/1240/9780593404515   DISTRACTION OF THE WEEK Watch the documentary 'Sign Painters' online at Vimeo for free -  http://www.signpaintersfilm.com  Follow Sign Painters on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sign_painters  Get your hands on the book 'Sign Painters' by Faythe Levine and Sam Macon - https://bookshop.org/a/1240/9781616890834 More photos and stories about sign painters around the world: The UK - https://www.theguardian.com/cities/gallery/2015/jan/14/revival-handpainted-sign-high-streets-in-pictures Mexico City - https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-06-11/the-art-of-painting-signs-in-mexico-city New Orleans - https://gonola.com/features/local-lens/the-city-spoke-through-hand-painted-signs The Library of Lost Time is a Strong Sense of Place Production! https://strongsenseofplace.com Do you enjoy our show? Want access to fun bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon. Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace As always, you can follow us at: Our web site at Strong Sense of Place Patreon Twitter  Instagram Facebook YouTube   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices