Literary Connections

Melissa Hansen, James Earle, and Kimberly Johnson

Staying connected around the world by reading together.

56 Episodes

55. Hollywood, Ending
11/3/2026
45:12
Melissa and James discuss John Green’s Hollywood, Ending through themes of performance, authenticity, art, and capitalism.Join us next month when we’ll be reading As You Wake, Break the Shell by Becky Chambers (James’ maybe favorite living author).
54. Dear Monica Lewinsky
8/29/2026
47:27
Melissa and James discuss Julia Langbein’s Dear Monica Lewinsky through themes of self-discovery, power imbalances, and parasocial relationships.Join us next month when we’ll be reading Hollywood, Ending by John Green.
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53. Yesteryear
7/15/2026
49:13
James and Melissa discuss Caro Claire Burke’s Yesteryear through themes of performance, patriarchy, and the algorithmic flattening of identity.Join us next month when we’ll be reading Dear Monica Lewinsky by Julia Langbein.
52. Into the Blue
6/3/2026
52:29
James and Melissa discuss Emma Brodie’s Into the Blue through themes of consent, genre, and the use of allusion.Join us next month when we’ll be reading Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke.
51. The Night We Met
4/28/2026
42:05
Melissa and James discuss The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez through themes of friendship, support, and redemption.Join us next month when we’ll be reading Into the Blue by Emma Brodie.
50. Fourth Wing
3/31/2026
55:18
This month, to celebrate of our fiftieth episode, James and Melissa FINALLY discuss Rebecca Yarros’ Fourth Wing (the first book only) through themes of power, friendship, and shadow daddies.Join us next month when we’ll be reading The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez.
49. Fake Skating
3/1/2026
41:32
This month, Melissa and James discuss Lynn Painter’s Fake Skating through themes of patriarchy, objectification, and so. many. tropes.Join us next month for our FIFTIETH episode in which we finally discuss Rebecca Yarros’ endlessly popular Fourth Wing (the first book of the series only).
48. A Merry Little Ex-Mas
12/28/2025
37:48
This month, James and Melissa take a detour into movies discussing A Merry Little Ex-Mas through themes of gender roles, want vs need, and green worlds.Join us next month for Goodreads Choice YA Fiction Winner (and somehow our first hockey romance book), Fake Skating by Lynn Painter.
47. Remain
12/14/2025
38:26
Melissa and James discuss Remain by Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan through themes of money, power, and connection.Join us next month for our first movie episode, special for the holidays: A Merry Little Ex-Mas, available on Netflix.
46. Katabasis
11/16/2025
53:10
Melissa and James discuss R. F. Kuang’s Katabasis through themes of power, motivation, and the hell that is academia.Join us next month for Remain by Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan.

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Literary Connections

Melissa Hansen, James Earle, and Kimberly Johnson

56 Episodes

55. Hollywood, Ending

54. Dear Monica Lewinsky

53. Yesteryear

52. Into the Blue

51. The Night We Met

50. Fourth Wing

49. Fake Skating

48. A Merry Little Ex-Mas

47. Remain

46. Katabasis