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. ​

​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.

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 series, and how excited we are to see a promising student become an international sensation. ​

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. ​

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, romance, and the experience of reading the novel in 2017. ​