​Romance fiction is often unfairly maligned as silly and escapist, largely because of its association with a female readership, but in terms of popularity, nothing beats romance. This week, Stephanie and Jimmy discuss the phenomenal power of the romance novel with romance expert Associate Professor Hsu-Ming Teo. 
 
Show notes:
 
Smart Bitches, Trashy Books: http://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/
 
Courtney Milan website: http://www.courtneymilan.com/
 
Sarah McLean website: http://www.sarahmaclean.net/
 
Eloise James website: http://www.eloisajames.com/
 
International Association for the Study of Popular Romance: http://iaspr.org/
 
Romance Writers of Australia: https://romanceaustralia.com/
 
Book Thingo: http://bookthingo.com.au/
 
Hsu-Ming's book Desert Passions: Orientalism and Romance Novels: https://utpress.utexas.edu/books/teodes

Just for laughs: https://www.boredpanda.com/simple-people-recreate-romance-novel-covers/

Murder on the Orient Express is one of Agatha Christie's best-known mysteries, and a new film adaptation directed and starring Kenneth Branagh is in cinemas now. This week, Stephanie, Jimmy and Michelle discuss the novel, the film, and Jimmy's strange serial killer obsession.

Show notes:

Forbes review: https://www.forbes.com/sites/markhughes/2017/11/10/review-murder-on-the-orient-express-derails-after-promising-start/#6a9f1029205f

New Yorker review: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/11/20/murder-on-the-orient-express-and-thelma

Slate review: https://slate.com/arts/2017/11/murder-on-the-orient-express-reviewed.html

Washington Post review: https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/why-murder-on-the-orient-express-still-thrills--even-if-you-know-whodunit/2017/11/08/6bf5b3ae-c312-11e7-aae0-cb18a8c29c65_story.html?utm_term=.84e204b19808

The Guardian article:  https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/nov/04/hercule-poirot-new-lease-of-life-agatha-christie-orient-express

Agatha Christie website: http://www.agathachristie.com/

New Yorker article about Agatha Christie: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2010/08/16/queen-of-crime

Since the podcast Serial was released in 2014 (#freeAdnan), the public appetite for true crime documentaries and podcasts seems unquenchable. This week, Stephanie and Jimmy are joined by Dr Alys Moody to discuss the appeal of true crime, the role of the police, Making a Murderer and citizen detectives.

Jean Rhys's lyrical, beautiful novel Wide Sargasso Sea is a prequel of sorts to Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre, focusing on the story of Mr. Rochester's first wife. This week, Stephanie and Michelle discuss Jamaica, Jane Eyre, and how Jean Rhys ruined Mr. Rochester for them both forever. ​

King Lear is one of Shakespeare's most beloved plays, but also one of his bleakest. This week, Stephanie and Michelle are joined by Shakespearean scholar and Renaissance man, Professor Tony Cousins to discuss Lear, Cordelia, lame eighteenth-century reworkings of the play, and why King Lear became the play de jour after WWII.