Strong Sense of Place | Travel Through Books

The mountains of Jamaica rise up out of the turquoise-blue Caribbean. From those jaggy peaks, rolling hills — covered in lush green rainforests — taper down to soft-sand beaches along the coast.It makes perfect sense that the first Jamaican inhabitants — the Taino from South America — gave the island a name that means ‘Land of Wood and Water.’ It’s all as if paradise is beckoning you to come, sit, relax.Music floats on the air in both the rhythmic lilt of reggae music and Jamaican patois, a creole language that combines elements of English, Spanish, and African languages.Yes, there are pirates in Jamaica’s past, along with Spanish conquistadors, British interlopers, and a history of slavery. But Jamaica is now a cultural superpower, sharing its feel-good music (with a message), colorful cuisine, star athletes, and multicultural gifts with the world. In this episode, we explore the so-literal-they’re-poetic names of some Jamaican towns, sing along to our favorite Bob Marley tunes, dig into the history of jerk chicken, and spy on Ian Fleming’s Jamaican estate. Then we recommend five great books that took us to Jamaica on the page.Here are the books we recommended in the show:Black Cake: A Novel by Charmaine Wilkersonhttps://bit.ly/3XSUjVHIf I Survive You by Jonathan Escofferyhttps://bookshop.org/a/1240/9780374605988Black Heart of Jamaica by Julia Goldinghttps://amzn.to/3Yx6cRKMotherland: A Jamaican Cookbook by Melissa Thompsonhttps://bit.ly/3ZjfUrjWest Winds: Recipes, History and Tales from Jamaica by Riaz Phillipshttps://bit.ly/3YXmkg9The Last Warner Woman by Kei Miller - audiohttps://amzn.to/3Yx6JmIThe Last Warner Woman by Kei Miller - printhttps://bit.ly/41oF4GPFor more on the books we recommend, plus the other cool stuff we talk about, visit show notes at http://strongsenseofplace.com/podcasts/2023–03–06-jamaicaTranscript: http://strongsenseofplace.com/transcriptions/47_jamaica_transcriptDo you enjoy our show and website? Do you love bonus content? Do you enjoy chatting with other book lovers? Please consider supporting our work on Patreon! You’ll get access to bonus goodies, input on which destinations we cover each season, and become part of the Strong Sense of Place community. Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside. Get all the info you need right here.https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplaceYou can always find us at:- Our site- Instagram- Facebook- Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we get excited about two books: ‘Weyward’ by Emilia Hart and ‘Psych: The Story of the Human Mind’ by Paul Bloom. Then Dave tells the story a recently solved code that reveals new secrets of a famous Queen.LINKSWeyward by Emilia Harthttps://bit.ly/3KoeYh8Psych: The Story of the Human Mind by Paul Bloomhttps://bit.ly/3Z5zJSYVideo: Emilia Hart shares three books that inspired herhttps://bit.ly/3xFRA79Paul Bloom’s TED talkshttps://bit.ly/3ErSszYNational Geographic on the decoded lettershttps://on.natgeo.com/3KsKpqIFrom Cryptologia: Deciphering Mary Stuart’s Lost Letters from 1578–1584https://bit.ly/3XS76YqTranscript of this episodehttps://bit.ly/3KgOhuOThe Library of Lost Time is a Strong Sense of Place Production! https://strongsenseofplace.comDo 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/strongsenseofplaceAs always, you can find us at:- Our site- Instagram- Facebook- Twitter- Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we get excited about two books: My Father’s House by Joseph O’Connor and A Mystery of Mysteries: The Death and Life of Edgar Allan Poe by Mark Dawiziak. Then Mel talks about the fantastic Virginia Woolf exhibit at the New York Public Library.LINKSJoseph O’Connor reading from his bookhttps://bit.ly/3ScdKHEExcerpt from A Mystery of Mysterieshttps://bit.ly/3k5NzWFVirginia Woolf: A Modern Mind at the NYPLhttps://on.nypl.org/3EoKqrUAudioguide and images from Virginia Woolf: A Modern Mindhttps://on.nypl.org/3XM7zLI5 Things We Learned From the NYPL’s Virginia Woolf Exhibitionhttps://bit.ly/3EnIPm9Virginia Woolf’s essay about the Brontë Parsonagehttps://bit.ly/3lKhvrHVideo of the Virginia Woolf collection at NYPLhttps://bit.ly/3xEeg82Transcript of this episodehttps://bit.ly/3IMIoEFThe Library of Lost Time is a Strong Sense of Place Production! https://strongsenseofplace.comDo 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/strongsenseofplaceAs always, you can find us at:- Our site- Instagram- Facebook- Twitter- Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When you’re ready to let the good times roll, there’s no place like New Orleans to cut loose, indulge in local grub, sip something intoxicating, and soak up the atmosphere while tapping your toes to some of the best music on the planet.New Orleans was born as a port city in 1718. What set New Orleans apart then (and now) is how it created a unique culture from the diverse people who populated the city. New Orleans got its defining characteristics — a sense of hospitality, its food, its music — from enslaved and formerly enslaved people, Native Americans, and immigrants from France, Spain, the Caribbean, and Italy.There’s a lot to see and do, but if we’re being honest, the real draws are food and music — and the annual street party that brings them together: Mardi Gras.In this episode, we dig into a little bit of history and a whole lot of music and food, including the magic of jambalaya and the difference between cajun and creole. We also tell you how to find the best parades during Mardi Gras and get real about a haunted house. Then we recommend great books that took us there on the page:The Axeman’s Jazz by Ray Celestinhttps://bit.ly/3Jt5uAEThe Ballad of Perilous Graves by Alex Jenningshttps://bit.ly/3wJOYVyTurkey and the Wolf: Flavor Trippin’ in New Orleans by Mason Hereford, JJ Goodehttps://bit.ly/3kYvDNsNine Lives: Death and Life in New Orleans by Dan Baumhttps://amzn.to/3JpVb0bThe Lost Book of Adana Moreau by Michael Zapatahttps://bit.ly/3XS5Bu6For more on the books we recommend, plus the other cool stuff we talk about, visit show notes at https://strongsenseofplace.com/podcasts/2023–02–20-new_orleansTranscript: https://strongsenseofplace.com/transcriptions/46_new_orleans_transcriptDo 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/strongsenseofplaceYou can always find us at:- Our site- Instagram- Facebook- Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we get excited about two books: Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson and All the Beauty in the World by Patrick Bringley. Then Dave tells a (true) tall tale about an extraordinary map of the New World. LINKSEveryone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevensonhttps://bit.ly/3ljcA0OAll the Beauty in the World by Patrick Bringleyhttps://bit.ly/3jHKaguQ&A with Benjamin Stevensonhttps://bit.ly/3JScXJWTour the Met with author Patrick Binglehttps://bit.ly/40CAdBAMap of Juan de la Cosa on Wikipediahttps://bit.ly/3ljcFBEMap of Juan de la Cosa on Google Arts & Culturehttps://bit.ly/3Xhi35xMadrid Naval Museumhttps://bit.ly/3x8KDLATranscript of this episodehttps://bit.ly/3kNeLJzThe Library of Lost Time is a Strong Sense of Place Production! https://strongsenseofplace.comDo 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: Master Slave Husband Wife by Ilyon Woo and Mr. Breakfast by Jonathan Carroll. Mel shares the exciting news about the return of an iconic 20th-century train.LINKSMaster Slave Husband Wife by Ilyon Woohttps://amzn.to/3DNfbGnMr. Breakfast by Jonathan Carrollhttps://bit.ly/3XePHszExcerpt from Master Slave Husband Wifehttps://bit.ly/3X9KhPuCBS Sunday Morning interview with Ilyon Woohttps://cbsn.ws/40FRERFHudson River Rail Excursionshttps://bit.ly/3I7TgMMVideo excursion on the vintage trainhttps://youtu.be/LpwCQX46h7ATranscript of this episode https://bit.ly/40CQCGbThe Library of Lost Time is a Strong Sense of Place Production! https://strongsenseofplace.comDo 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 all dreamy-eyed about everything that makes Spain a fantastic place to visit. We get curious about a unique but frequently overlooked statue on the streets of Madrid and nerd out on Spain's distinctive languages (and cuisine and art). Then we recommend great books that took us there on the page: When I Sing, Mountains Dance by Irene Solà Grape, Olive, Pig: Deep Travels Through Spain's Food Culture by Matt Goulding The Seville Communion by Arturo Pérez-Reverte The Ladies-in-Waiting by Santiago Garcia & Javier Olivares The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón Spain is a loving assault on all your senses. It's big, it's bold, it's colorful — and yet. It's also intimately beautiful and ripe for quiet, perfect moments.Snuggled onto the Iberian Peninsula with Portugal, Spain is not just one thing. It's the imposing Pyrenees in the north and the sunny, lazy beaches of the coasts. It's the spiky Gothic architecture of Barcelona and the intricate design of a Moorish cathedral in Córdoba. The classics hung on the walls of the Prado in Madrid and the playfulness of Dalí's home in sun-dappled Cadaqués. You can marvel at Gaudi's nature-inspired architecture in La Sagrada Familia or sit peacefully in a sun-dappled square in Seville. A little exploration yields big surprises and rewards. But wherever you go, there are a few things on which you can rely: an enthusiasm for the good life, friendly people, and ridiculously delicious things to eat and drink. There's seafood fresh from the coastal waters and patatas bravas, crisp and hot from the fryer. Perhaps you'll start your day with a rich cup of hot chocolate (hello, churros!) or dig into a potato-and-egg tortilla any time. You can sip spicy-sweet vermouth in a bar with friends and get romantic over a smooth glass of Andalusian wine. Or raise of glass of cava — and stamp your feet with flamenco rhythms — in celebration of simply being alive.For more on the books we recommend, plus the other cool stuff we talk about, visit show notes at http://strongsenseofplace.com/podcasts/2023-02-06-spainTranscript: http://strongsenseofplace.com/transcriptions/45_spain_transcriptDo 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we get excited about two books: 'Cold People' by Tom Rob Smith and 'Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life' by Dacher Keltner. Then Mel shares the delicious history of Berlin's currywurst. LINKSCold People by Tom Rob Smithhttps://bit.ly/3WDixCvAwe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life by Dacher Keltnerhttps://bit.ly/3Hy5UVfCurrywurst Historyhttps://bit.ly/3XEjwntCurrywurst Recipehttps://bit.ly/3kGY3vvTop 20 Hangover Foodshttps://bit.ly/3H9VoBRHerta Heuwer Memorial Plaquehttps://bit.ly/3XSlxfqHerta Heuwer Google Doodlehttps://bit.ly/3H7Co7lTranscript of this episodehttps://bit.ly/3HvMlg7The Library of Lost Time is a Strong Sense of Place Production! https://strongsenseofplace.comDo 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

We've put together an itinerary of 12 fantastic destinations with stops in every region of the globe. So pack your bags for the Caribbean, Asia, Africa, Europe, South America, and two dramatically different spots in the eastern US — plus three super-fun themes. Get ready to explore customs, history, scenery, food, art, and more — all you need is your favorite reading chair and your curiosity.To see stunning photos of our Season 5 destinations, visit our blog at http://strongsenseofplace.com/2023/01/30/ssop-podcast-season5-announcing-12-exciting-destinations/. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we get excited about two books: 'The Mitford Affair' by Marie Benedict and 'Creative ACT: A Way of Being' by Rick Rubin. Then Dave talks about the 'Bad High School Analogies' meme and The Washington Post column 'Style Invitational.'LINKSThe Mitford Affair by Marie Benedicthttps://bit.ly/404OeaMCreative ACT: A Way of Being by Rick Rubinhttps://amzn.to/3YeAIzVAbout The Mitford Sistershttps://bit.ly/3XZivG2Nancy Mitford's Two Good Novelshttps://bit.ly/3kJC8UwRick Rubin on the Broken Record podcasthttps://youtu.be/0qD6vLIxqE4The Style Invitationalhttps://wapo.st/3kGlRQ2Bad High School Analogieshttps://bit.ly/3DgbZmtTranscript of this episode: https://bit.ly/3kIo25NThe Library of Lost Time is a Strong Sense of Place Production! https://strongsenseofplace.comDo 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