Strong Sense of Place | Travel Through Books

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 her excitement about a webcam in the Namib Desert. Links Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar video: Namibia Desert live stream 360° view of the desert...

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 the delightful Planet Word Museum in Washington, DC. Links The Fury by Alex Michaelides Maude Horton’s Glorious Revenge by Lizzie Pook Planet World website video: Welcome to Planet Word video: Introducing Planet Word video: CBS Sunday Morning: A visi...

In this episode, we’re excited about new books: The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years by Shubnum Khan and Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree. Then Mel shares the podcasts that have captured her imagination. Links The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years by Shubnum Khan Spooky & Sublime: 43 Gothic Novels with a Strong Sense of Place Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree The Wel...

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 shares the heartbreaking story of the hack on the British Library. Links The Lost Van Gogh by Jonathan Santlofer The Last Mona Lisa_ by Jonathan Santlofer Jonathan Santlofer’s website Gabriel Allon series by Daniel Silva The Last Painting of Sara de Vos by Dominic...

In this episode, we get excited about two books: Empty Theater by Jac Jemc and Yellowfaceby R.F. Kuang. Then we discuss great reading resolutions for a bookish 2024. Links Empty Theater by Jac Jemc Yellowface by R.F. Kuang The reading resolutions we discussed in our show came from our fantastic (friendly, empathetic, imaginative) supporters on Patreon. Do you enjoy our show? Want access to fun bon...

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 Blackgoose. Then Dave recites a delightful poem from British poet Brian Bilston. Links One Woman Show by Christine Coulson Video: Christine Coulson at Hudson River Museum Metropolitan Stories by Christine Coulson Podcast: Museums: A Gathering of Muses, A Clutch of...

In this episode, we get excited about two books: This Is Christmas, Song by Song by Annie Zaleski and The Bathysphere Book by Brad Fox. Then Mel gets daydreamy about the deliciousness of fresh toast. Links Whamageddon 2023 Video: Blame it on Christmas by Shea Diamond Video: It Snowed by Meaghan Smith Video: Think of Christmas by Anne-Marie This Is Christmas, Song by Song: The Stories Behind 100 Ho...

In this episode, we get excited about three books: ‘The Christmas Party’ by Georgette Heyer, ‘The Christmas Murder Game’ by Alexandra Benedict, and ‘The Writer’s Journey’ by Travis Elborough. Then Dave shares a fantastic resource for finding the best books of the year.  The Christmas Party by Georgette Heyer The Christmas Murder Game by Alexandra Benedict The Writer’s Journey: In the Footsteps of...

In this episode, we get excited about two books: The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer and The Vulnerables by Sigrid Nunez. Then Dave recommends three great tabletop games to play with your favorite people. Links The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer Jean Meltzer’s website The Matzo Ball website What It’s Like to Attend a Jewish Singles Dance on Christmas Eve The Vulnerables by Sigrid Nunez Sigrid Nunez’s web...

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...

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 from The Perks of Being a Book Lover celebrates the return of beavers to the Thames. Links The Three Dahlias by Katy Watson A Very Lively Murder by Katy Watson Book club questions, cocktail recipes, and more Three Dahlias extras World Within a Song: Music That Change...

In this episode, we’re excited about two books: The Future by Naomi Alderman and Watership Down: The Graphic Novel by James Sturm & Joe Sutphin. Then Amy from The Perks of Being a Book Lover podcast recommends Wes Anderson’s Roald Dahl adaptations on Netflix. Links The Future by Naomi Alderman Visit NaomiAlderman.com and Naomi on Instagram. Naomi Alderman: ‘A writer’s job is courage. You’ve got to...

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 Mac Barnett & Shawn Harris. Then Dave talks about the soothing appeal of slow travel videos. Links What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez Isabel Ibañez website and Instagram The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza by Mac Barnett and Shawn Harris Website for The First Cat in Space V...

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 explains what she means when she says the magic word ‘Gothic.’ Links The Murders at Fleat House by Lucinda Riley Starter Villain by John Scalzi Our review of Well-Schooled in Murder by Elizabeth George What is Goth? Gothic Literature: Basics of the Genre & Key Eleme...

In this episode, we’re excited about two books: The World Central Kitchen Cookbook: Feeding Humanity, Feeding Hope by José Andrés and I Love Russia: Reporting from a Lost Country by Elena Kostyuchenko. Then Dave shares his enthusiasm for the Best New Public Library of the Year. Links The World Central Kitchen Cookbook: Feeding Humanity, Feeding Hope by José Andrés I Love Russia: Reporting from a L...

In this episode, we’re excited about two new books: The Pale House Devil by Richard Kadrey and Collision of Power: Trump, Bezos, and The Washington Post by Martin Baron. Then Anne Bogel from the What Should I Read Next? podcast shares a delicious reading habit. Links The Pale House Devil by Richard Kadrey The Dead Take the A Train by Richard Kadrey Sandman Slim series by Richard Kadrey The Pale Ho...

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 Mel talks about the delicious show Food & Fashion at the Museum at FIT. Links A Haunting on the Hill by Elizabeth Hand The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson How the Haunting of Hill House Rewrote Horror’s Rules Curious Toys by Elizabeth Hand SSoP Podcast — Am...

In this show, we’re excited about two books — Black River Orchard by Chuck Wendig and The Secret Hours by Mick Herron. Then Craig from Overdue Podcast shares why he loves the game Connections. Links Black River Orchard by Chuck Wendig Chuck Wendig’s website Terrible Minds Chuck Wendig’s book tour schedule Wanderers by Chuck Wendig The Book of Accidents by Chuck Wendig Star Wars: Aftermath by Chuck...

In this show, we get excited about two books — Pockets by Hannah Carlson and Roaming by Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki. Then Dave tells us the best way to see whales in South Africa. Links Pockets: An Intimate History of How We Keep Things Close by Hannah Carlson Roaming by Jillian Tamaki & Mariko Tamaki This One Summer by Jillian Tamaki & Mariko Tamaki What Should I Read Next podcast: Strong Se...

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 and Erik Kratz. Then Andrew, from the (excellent) Overdue Podcast, makes his case for the Amazon adaptation of The Wheel of Time. Links Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison Hear Dave talk about Rachel Harrison’s book Such Sharp Teeth The Ta...

In this episode, we’re excited about two new books: the cookbook ‘Portico’ by Leah Koenig and ‘The Square of Sevens’ by Laura Shepherd-Robinson. Then Dave shares highlights from the nominees for a renowned nonfiction prize. Links Portico: Cooking and Feasting in Rome’s Jewish Kitchen by Leah Koenig Website for cookbook author Lean Koenig Leah Koenig’s cookbooks The Food of Rome’s Longstanding Jewi...

In this episode, we’re excited about two new books: ‘Where There Was Fire’ by John Manuel Arias and ‘The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store’ by James McBride. Then Mel serves up the delicious story of the Philadelphia cheesesteak.  Links Where There Was Fire by John Manuel Arias Podcast episode — Costa Rica: Cloud Forests, Coffee, and Capuchin Monkeys.  The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride...

In this episode, we’re excited about two new books: ‘The Continental Affair’ by Christine Mangan and ‘The Quickening’ by Elizabeth Rush. Then Dave explains why you should put the Edinburgh Fringe Festival on your must-visit list.  Links The Continental Affair by Christine Mangan The Quickening: Creation and Community at the Ends of the Earth by Elizabeth Rush Our review of Christine Mangan’s Tange...

In this episode, we’re excited about two new books — ‘The Bookbinder’ by Pip Williams and ‘Tabula Rasa, Vol 1’ by John McPhee — then Dave tells us about the fascinating work of the Long Now Foundation. Links The Bookbinder by Pip Williams Tabula Rasa, Vol 1 by John McPhee Pip Williams on the Invisible History of Female Bookbinders. A New Novel That Captures the ‘Poetic Materiality’ of Books. Our r...

In this episode, we’re excited about two books — ‘Ms. Demeanor’ by Elinor Lipman Moreno-Garcia and ‘Speech Team: A Novel’ By Tim Murphy — then Mel gets nostalgic about Concorde and those zippy flights across the Atlantic. Links Ms. Demeanor by Elinor Lipman Speech Team: A Novel by Tim Murphy Visit Elinor Lipman’s website. Elinor Lipman is the new EM Forster. Fight me. Review of The Inn at Lake Dev...