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From the Lighthouse is a literary podcast published out of the Department of English at Macquarie University. Your hosts Dr Stephanie Russo and Dr Michelle Hamadache love to talk about anything to do with books, from the latest bestsellers and prize-winners, film and television adaptations of books to bookish news. Join us as we chat all things literary. For more information visit the MQ English Department webpage at www.engl.mq.edu.au
Episodes
Wednesday Jun 07, 2017
Wednesday Jun 07, 2017
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 issues for teenagers. This week, Stephanie and Michelle are joined by one of their students, Bohdi Byles, to discuss the television series.
Wednesday May 24, 2017
Wednesday May 24, 2017
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.
Wednesday May 10, 2017
Wednesday May 10, 2017
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.
Wednesday May 03, 2017
Wednesday May 03, 2017
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.
Wednesday Apr 26, 2017
Wednesday Apr 26, 2017
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?
Tuesday Apr 11, 2017
Tuesday Apr 11, 2017
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 with audiences around the world at this particular moment in time. In this episode, Stephanie predicts that The Underground Railroad will win the Pulitzer Prize, which has now come to pass. Stephanie enjoys being right.
Friday Mar 31, 2017
Friday Mar 31, 2017
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.
Wednesday Feb 01, 2017
Wednesday Feb 01, 2017
What was your favourite book of 2016? Stephanie and Michelle discuss their top three picks.