

Strong Sense of Place | Travel Through Books
Melissa & Dave
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!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 8, 2022 • 5min
LoLT: Pop-Up Book Art & New Books
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
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Jul 4, 2022 • 60min
South Africa: Nelson Mandela, the Big Five, and Sweet Melktert
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-africaDo 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/strongsenseofplaceAs always, you can follow us at:
Our web site at Strong Sense of Place
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Jul 1, 2022 • 5min
LoLT: Butler County Donut Trail & New Books
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

Jun 24, 2022 • 5min
LoLT: Typewriter Rodeo & New Books
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

Jun 20, 2022 • 51min
Appalachia: Buttermilk Biscuits, Bluegrass, and a Big Blue Moon
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-tasmaniaDo 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/strongsenseofplaceAs 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

Jun 17, 2022 • 5min
LoLT: Midnight Sun Marathon in Norway & New Books
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

Jun 10, 2022 • 5min
LoLT: Maurice Sendak’s Birthday & New Books
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

Jun 6, 2022 • 58min
Tasmania: The Heart-Shaped Island at the Edge of the World
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-tasmaniaDo 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/strongsenseofplaceAs 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

Jun 3, 2022 • 5min
LoLT: Azerbaijani Food & New Books
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

May 27, 2022 • 5min
LoLT: Golden Gate Bridge Opening Day & New Books
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


