From the Lighthouse

Buffy is the greatest television show of all time. At least, that's what Stephanie, Dr Kirstin Mills and Dr Lorin Schwarz think. This week, they discuss the enduring appeal of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the genius of Joss Whedon, and why they can't get enough of Spike. 

Do you like spoooooky novels? Tv shows? Movies? Podcasts? Why do we like to be scared, anyway? To celebrate Halloween, Stephanie and Jimmy are joined by Dr Kirstin Mills to discuss werewolves, vampires, mermaids, ghosts, witches, and the delicious thrill of terror.

Kazuo Ishiguro was recently awarded the 2017 Nobel Prize for Literature. This week, Stephanie, Michelle and Jimmy commend the Nobel Prize committee for their excellent choice. They talk Japanese cinema, floating worlds, perfect novels, and Stephanie offends Bob Dylan fans. 

Between the two of them, Stephanie and Michelle have read the Man Booker Prize shortlist, as well as most of the longlist. This week, Stephanie and Michelle discuss the books that made it through to the shortlist, those that didn't (how did Reservoir 13 not get to the shortlist?), and predict the winner.

We can't stop talking about Sherlock. To celebrate 125 years since the publication of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Stephanie and Jimmy are joined by Dr Lee O'Brien to discuss the continuing appeal of Conan Doyle's most famous creation. They discuss the lovable Watson, the beguiling Irene Adler, the surprising darkness of these stories, and why Sherlock can be such a pain in the neck. 

George Eliot's novel Middlemarch is often featured in lists of the best novels of all time, and it continues to be a favourite of literary critics and historians everywhere. This week, Stephanie is joined by Dr Geoff Payne and Dr Lee O'Brien to discuss Dorothea Brooke, Will Ladislaw, the ever-lasting appeal of the novel, and all things Eliot. 

The Castle of Otranto was the first Gothic novel: the novel that started the craze for the Gothic that's never ceased since. On Horace Walpole's 300th birthday, Stephanie is joined by Dr Lee O'Brien to discuss the ongoing appeal of the Gothic, Manfred as Gothic hero, giant helmets, and whether you're supposed to find the novel funny.

The Man Booker Dozen (otherwise known as the longlist) is about to be whittled down to six. On the eve of the shortlist announcement, Stephanie and Michelle discuss the longlisted novels, pick their favourites, and predict the novels that will go through to the shortlist.

Liane Moriarty's Big Little Lies was a New York Times bestseller, and now it's an award-nominated HBO series starring Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman. That's really exciting for us, as Liane Moriarty is a Macquarie University English Department alumni! This week, Stephanie is joined by Associate Professor Marcelle Freiman, who supervised Liane's first creative work, to discuss the book, the se...

Are you a kindred spirit? Are you of the race that knows Joseph, as Miss Cornelia would say? If you understand those references, you're probably as big an Anne of Green Gables as Stephanie. This week, Stephanie chats to Jimmy about the new Netflix adaptation Anne with an E, Jimmy's beloved 1980s adaptation, and all things Anne Shirley. 

Francis Webb is the best Australian poet you've never heard of. At least, that's what Dr Toby Davidson thinks. This week, Stephanie and Michelle discuss Australian poetry, cultural cringe, and Francis Webb's influence on the poets who came after him. This podcast also features recordings of Francis Webb reading his own poetry. 

Georgette Heyer wrote crime and historical novels, but is most widely known for her best-selling and beloved Regency romances. Stephanie is joined on the podcast this week by her fellow Heyer tragic, Dr Lee O'Brien, to talk about all things Regency and romantic. They discuss romance heroes, dog sidekicks, Beau Brummell, historical research, and what to do about your problematic faves. 

To say Game of Thrones is popular is to wildly understate the case: the first episode of the most recent series caused Foxtel to (temporarily) crash. This week, Stephanie and Jimmy are joined by Professor Louise D'Arcens to discuss the popularity of the series and the enduring appeal of the medieval, as well as try to untangle the racial and sexual politics of Westeros. 

On the 200th anniversary of Jane Austen's death on July 18, 1817, Stephanie and Michelle are joined by Dr Geoff Payne to talk all things Austen. They debunk some Austen myths, discuss their favourite novels and characters, and agree that Jane Austen is the greatest novelist the world has ever seen. 

Melina Marchetta's young adult novel Looking for Alibrandi was published 25 years ago this year. The novel has become a landmark piece of Australian children's literature, and continues to be as popular amongst young people today as it was when it was published. Stephanie, Jimmy and Michelle are joined by Dr Victoria Flanagan to discuss the legacy of the novel, as well as gender, ethnicity, romanc...

Are podcasts the new novels? Stephanie, Michelle and Jimmy podcast on a podcast: S-Town, the new hit show from the team that bought you Serial and This American Life. They discuss John B. McLemore, Alabama, Southern Gothic, tattoos, and why fact really is stranger than fiction. 

The Netflix drama 13 Reasons Why, based on the popular book of the same name by Jay Asher, has attracted a huge amount of controversy because of its graphic depiction of teenage suicide. While some mental health groups have argued that its content could be triggering to young viewers, others have argued that the series has raised important areas of discussion around bullying and mental health issu...

Why was the CIA involved in literature? Stephanie and Michelle talk to Dr Alys Moody about the Congress for Cultural Freedom, a CIA-funded group that financed a whole range of literary activities in the mid-twentieth century. They ponder shadowy government organisations, cover-ups, and what happens when a bunch of writers find out that the CIA is funding their conferences. 

Why is Harry Potter the global sensation that it is, twenty years after the publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone? Stephanie and Michelle chat with fantasy expert Dr Kirstin Mills about Harry Potter and the internet, other fantasy literature you should be reading, and why Rowling just can't seem to let Harry go. 

Stephanie and Michelle love going to the Sydney Writers' Festival, and they think you should too. We talk about Macquarie University's involvement in the festival, which runs from May 22 to May 28, their top festival picks, and ponder what Stephanie should wear to the panel she's chairing. 

On the eve of the new television adaptation, Stephanie and Michelle discuss Margaret Atwood's feminist classic, The Handmaid's Tale. Why does this novel, published in 1985 but rapidly rising up the bestseller lists in 2017, still continue to speak to us so urgently today?

Paul Beatty's The Sellout and Colson Whitehead's The Underground Railroad are two of the most talked about American titles of the past few years, with Paul Beatty winning the Booker Prize in 2016 and Colson Whitehead taking home the 2016 National Book Award. This week, Stephanie and Michelle discuss The Sellout and The Underground Railroad, and think about why these books have resonated so widely...

The fourth season of the BBC adaptation of Sherlock with Benedict Cumberbatch recently aired. So what did our hosts think? We join special guest Dr. Jimmy Van to discuss all things Holmesian.

What was your favourite book of 2016? Stephanie and Michelle discuss their top three picks.