One lifetime is too short to visit everywhere and meet everyone. That‘s why we love books with a strong sense of place — they let us travel the world in our imagination. In each episode of our Strong Sense of Place podcast, we explore one destination and talk about what makes that place different from everywhere else. Then we recommend five books that took us to that place on the page. Every other week, we share The Library of Lost Time, a mini-pod that features two new books and our Distraction of the Week. We‘re on a trip around the globe, one great read at a time. Please join us!
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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.
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LoLT: Morgan Richter Recommends Batman and Two New Books
Friday, August 23, 2024 • Duration 15:04
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:
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Parts of the Strong Sense of Place podcast are produced in udio! Some effects are provided by soundly.
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India: The Continent Masquerading as a Country
Friday, June 21, 2024 • Duration 01:05:39
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
LoLT: Betty Crocker's Cooky Book & New Books
Friday, December 2, 2022 • Duration 10:53
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
LoLT: German Fairy Tale Route & New Books
Episode 88
Friday, November 25, 2022 • Duration 09:08
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
A Mini-Episode to Wish You A Cozy and Happy Thanksgiving
Episode 87
Monday, November 21, 2022 • Duration 25:51
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
LoLT: Fun Boardgames & New Books
Episode 86
Friday, November 18, 2022 • Duration 11:09
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
LoLT: Bookish Advice from Dear Dorothea & New Books
Episode 85
Friday, November 11, 2022 • Duration 11:12
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
LoLT: Notes from Three Pines Newsletter & New Books
Episode 84
Friday, November 4, 2022 • Duration 10:26
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
LoLT: A Helpful Movie Website & New Books
Episode 83
Friday, October 28, 2022 • Duration 09:43
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
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