One lifetime is too short to visit everywhere and meet everyone. That‘s why we love books with a strong sense of place... more
If you think a trip to Brazil is an invitation to the best party ever, you are correct! Colorful, sizzling,... more
In this episode, we get excited about two books: The Hitchcock Hotel by Stephanie Wrobel and Book and Dagger by Elyse Graham. Then Mel... more
Saudi Arabia is the largest country on the Arabian Peninsula, a sea of sand (95% of the country is desert)... more
In this episode, we get excited about two books: So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison and The Wildes by Louis Bayard. Then Dave shares... more
Fictional detectives are some of the most beloved characters in print and on-screen. It’s easy to relate to someone with... more
In this episode, we get excited about two books: The Bookseller of Venice by Giovanni Montanaro (translator: Edward Williams) and _ Creation Lake_ by... more
The Central American country of Panama is like a stretched-out letter S, lying on its side to soak up the... more
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.... more
Yes, Norway has cities that are well worth a visit — Hallo, Oslo! Hei, Bergen! God morgen, Tromsø! — but... more
We’re on our summer holiday so we’re replaying this popular episode of The Library of Lost Time. We’re back next... more
We’re on summer holiday! In honor of the Olympics taking place in Paris right now, please enjoy this replay of... more
In this episode, we get excited about two books: Maria: A Novel of Maria von Trapp by Michelle Moran and Navola by Paolo Bacigalupi.... more
If we say ‘Mongolia,’ and you imagine an eagle hunter on horseback silhouetted against an endless blue sky and vast... more
In this episode, we get excited about two books: A Season for That by Steve Hoffman and The God of the Woods by Liz... more
As you read these words and listen to our podcast, we’re all riding on a ball about 8000 miles (13,000... more
In this episode, we get excited about two books: A Super Upsetting Cookbook about Sandwiches by Tyler Kord and Good Material by Dolly Alderton.... more
India seems committed to being over-the-top in the best way possible. It’s colorful, noisy, crowded, vast, deeply historic, spiritual, vibrantly... more
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... more
Is New York City the world capital of… everything? It’s sure putting up a good effort. We could talk about how... more
In this episode, we get excited about two books: The Main Character by Jaclyn Goldis and The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley. Then... more
According to people in the know, there are two Frances: Paris and the rest of the (alluring, picturesque) country. In... more
Since we launched Strong Sense of Place in 2020, we’ve produced five seasons — 56 episodes — of the show.... more
We recently invited our audience to ask us anything, and we got excellent questions in return. The queries ran the... more
Season 6 of the Strong Sense of Place podcast starts 24 May! We’ve put together an itinerary of 12 thrilling destinations... more
In this episode, we get excited about two books: Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent by Judi Dench & Brendan O’Hea... more
In this episode, we get excited about two books: Honor the Dead by Amy Tector and Sociopath: A Memoir by Patric Gagne. Then, our... more
In this episode, we get excited about two books: ‘Cold People’ by Tom Rob Smith and ‘Awe: The New Science... more
In this episode, we get excited about two books: How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin and Table for Two: Fictions by... more
In this episode, we’re excited two new books: The Extinction of Irena Rey by Jennifer Croft and Why We Remember: The Science of... more
In this episode, we get excited about two books: The Morningside by Téa Obreht and James by Percival Everett. Then Mel tells us about... more
This is a replay of an episode featuring Dinner Party by Sarah Gilmartin and You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith. Then... more
In this episode, we’re excited about two new books: Piglet by Lottie Hazell and Local: A Search for Nearby Nature and Wildness by Alastair... more
In this episode, we’re excited about two books: Lives of the Monster Dogs by Kirsten Bakis and Transient and Strange by Nell Greenfieldboyce. Then... more
In this episode, we’re excited about new books on our TBRs: The Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai and Wandering Stars by Tommy... more
In this episode, we’re excited about new books: Strawberry Fields by Patrick D. Joyce and The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden. Dave... more
In this episode, we’re excited about new books on our TBRs: Everyone on This Train is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson and Fall... more
In this episode, we’re excited about two new books: Broughtupsy by Christina Cooke and The Curse of Pietro Houdini by Derek B. Miller. Then... more
In this episode, we’re excited about new books: Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett and Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar. Then Mel shares... more
In this episode, we’re excited about new books: The Fury by Alex Michaelides and Maude Horton’s Glorious Revenge by Lizzie Pook. Then Dave recommends... more
In this episode, we’re excited about new books: The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years by Shubnum Khan and Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree.... more
In this episode, we’re excited about two new books: The Lost Van Gogh by Jonathan Santlofer and North Woods by Daniel Mason. Then Dave... more
In this episode, we get excited about two books: Empty Theater by Jac Jemc and Yellowfaceby R.F. Kuang. Then we discuss great reading... more
In this episode, we get excited about two great books: One Woman Show by Christine Coulson and To Shape a Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill... more
In this episode, we get excited about two books: This Is Christmas, Song by Song by Annie Zaleski and The Bathysphere Book by Brad... more
In this episode, we get excited about three books: ‘The Christmas Party’ by Georgette Heyer, ‘The Christmas Murder Game’ by... more
In this episode, we get excited about two books: The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer and The Vulnerables by Sigrid Nunez. Then Dave recommends... more
We know you don’t all celebrate the American holiday of Thanksgiving, but it’s never a bad idea to express gratitude... more
In this episode, we’re excited about two books: The Three Dahlias by Katy Watson and World Within a Song by Jeff Tweedy. Then Carrie... more
In this episode, we’re excited about two books: The Future by Naomi Alderman and Watership Down: The Graphic Novel by James Sturm & Joe... more
In this episode, we’re excited about two books: What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez and The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza by... more
In this show, we’re excited about two books: The Murders at Fleat House by Lucinda Riley and Starter Villain by John Scalzi. Then Mel... more
In this episode, we’re excited about two books: The World Central Kitchen Cookbook: Feeding Humanity, Feeding Hope by José Andrés and I Love... more
In this episode, we’re excited about two new books: The Pale House Devil by Richard Kadrey and Collision of Power: Trump, Bezos, and... more
In this episode, we’re excited about two books: A Haunting on the Hill by Elizabeth Hand and Murder Most Royal by S.J. Bennett. Then... more
In this show, we’re excited about two books — Black River Orchard by Chuck Wendig and The Secret Hours by Mick Herron. Then Craig... more
In this show, we get excited about two books — Pockets by Hannah Carlson and Roaming by Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki. Then Dave... more
In this episode, we’re excited about two new books: Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison and The Tao of the Backup Catcher by Tim Brown... more
In this episode, we’re excited about two new books: the cookbook ‘Portico’ by Leah Koenig and ‘The Square of Sevens’... more
In this episode, we’re excited about two new books: ‘Where There Was Fire’ by John Manuel Arias and ‘The Heaven... more
In this episode, we’re excited about two new books: ‘The Continental Affair’ by Christine Mangan and ‘The Quickening’ by Elizabeth... more
In this episode, we’re excited about two new books — ‘The Bookbinder’ by Pip Williams and ‘Tabula Rasa, Vol 1’... more
In this episode, we’re excited about two books — ‘Ms. Demeanor’ by Elinor Lipman Moreno-Garcia and ‘Speech Team: A Novel’... more
If you’ve ever wanted to go behind the scenes of the best theme parks in the world — Hello, Disney!... more
In this episode, we’re excited about two new books — ‘Silver Nitrate’ by Silvia Moreno-Garcia and ‘The Skull: A Tyrolean... more
The gates of an amusement park are a portal to a magical realm of thrill rides and fantasy worlds, larger-than-life... more
This is a replay of an episode featuring books from beloved authors that are excellent summer reads: 'Killers of a... more
In this episode, we get excited about two new books — ‘The Only One Left’ by Riley Sager and ‘The... more
In this episode, we get excited about two new books — ‘100 Places to See After You Die’ by Ken... more
Argentina is so alluring. Rugged gauchos riding the pampas, the percussive heartbeat of the tango, the otherwordly beauty of Tierra... more
In this episode, we get excited about two new books — ‘Return to Valetto’ by Dominic Smith and ‘National Dish’... more
If you’ve ever wanted to go behind the scenes of the best theme parks in the world — Hello, Disney! — you’re... more