

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

Nov 11, 2022 • 11min
LoLT: Bookish Advice from Dear Dorothea & New Books
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
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Nov 4, 2022 • 10min
LoLT: Notes from Three Pines Newsletter & New Books
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

Oct 28, 2022 • 10min
LoLT: A Helpful Movie Website & New Books
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

Oct 21, 2022 • 11min
LoLT: Nun Cookies in Spain & New Books
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

Oct 14, 2022 • 8min
LoLT: The Island Walk on PEI & New Books
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

Oct 7, 2022 • 11min
LoLT: San Marino & New Books
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

Sep 30, 2022 • 13min
LoLT: Rebecca The Musical & New Books
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

Sep 26, 2022 • 1h 8min
Italy: A Bottle of Red, the Tuscan Sun, and Il Dolce Far Niente
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/3QYEd9lTrieste and the Meaning of Nowhere by Jan Morris - https://bit.ly/3QZu7FpCinnamon and Salt: Ciccheti in Venice by Emiko Davies - https://bit.ly/3xFjJvIGalileo's Daughter: A Drama of Science, Faith and Love by Dava Sobel - https://bit.ly/3Lv5nDzStill Life by Sarah Winman - https://bit.ly/3Sf2jxGA Room with a View - https://bit.ly/3DOFhd5For 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-italyDo 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
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 23, 2022 • 10min
LoLT: Hugo Award Winners & New Books
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

Sep 16, 2022 • 13min
LoLT: Traveling with Sleep Stories & New Books
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