Current reads

This month I enjoyed the graphic novel by Julia Pavlowitch with illustrations by Kan Takahama. It’s based on the true story of Emmanuelle Maisonneuve becoming the first woman to serve as an inspector at Michelin Guide. Although the narrative could have been a bit stronger with a clearer climax and ending, the insight into what it takes to be an inspector for the guide, Emma’s journeys to taste foods across the world and her passion for vinegars all made for light-hearted, enjoyable reading. NG

After visiting Naples, Pompeii and Herculaneum, I picked up by Robert Harris as a way to prolong the feeling of wonder. The novel, which came out in 2003, follows the fate of a young hydraulic engineer who moves to the Naples Bay area a few weeks before the Mount Vesuvius eruption. Despite not being a big historical fiction fan, I found myself gripping the edge of my seat as I devoured Pompeii. There is one or the other part I could’ve done without--the romance didn’t necessarily fit--but I was fascinated by Harris’ accurate and precise retelling of the catastrophe we still talk about millennia later. TH 

Mieko Kawakami in explores womanhood and motherhood in contemporary Japan but the questions she raises extend far beyond the country. A short first part of the book, initially published as a novella, about two sisters and the older’s decision to have her breasts done, is expanded into a much more vivid examination of being a single woman without children in the second part as the narrator grapples with her desire to become a parent. CS

Bao Ninh’s 1990 novel is a harrowing portrait of the Vietnam war, told from the perspective of a youth brigade fighter. The narrative skips between his final months before the outbreak of the war, the horrors of the conflict and the trauma that lingers long after his return to civilian life. The narrator, Kien, takes readers inside his own personal hell, his loss of innocence and love. Ninh himself joined a youth brigade aged 17 and was one of only ten who survived out of a battalion of 500. CS

Digital highlights

I finally got to go on the 3D tour of the at Luxembourg’s National Museum of Natural History. Although the temporary exhibition didn’t start this month, it will run until 29 May. The trip will take you down history lane to discover what underwater life looked like millions of years ago based on scientific research. The entry fee also gives you access to other exhibitions with lots of surprising discoveries to be made. AO

Listen to this

Calexico’s superb new album El Mirador showcases all the celebratory wonder and melancholic beauty that is Joey Burns and John Convertino at their very best. The music is unashamedly from the southwestern United States--as usual songs are sung in Spanish and English--but features a strikingly heady mix of traditional Mex-Americana and indie rock that is truly captivating. Catch the band at. DR

Essential viewing

After Life follows a middle-aged local journalist from Tambury in his journey through grief. Written by and starring Ricky Gervais, the series is guaranteed to make you weep. I enjoyed the fine balance of stages of grief and the dark humour of daily life, as well as the relatively short format of the episodes (30 minutes each). The final season--there are three--was a bit disappointing, as two of the show’s most loveable characters didn’t return due to scheduling conflicts, but After Life is definitely worth watching if you need a good cry. TH

Better Call Saul has returned for its final season with a weekly schedule of shows being streamed on Netflix--just like the good old days you have to wait seven days for the next cliffhanger. Personally I rate Better Call Saul higher than Breaking Bad, to which this is a sort of prequel. It’s more human, wittier and, essentially, has more Mike Ehrmantraut (played superbly by Jonathan Banks). The new series even had the balls to reintroduce the deliciously self-righteous Betsy Kettelman and her hapless husband. But it is Jimmy’s relationship with Kim Wexler and the Nacho Varga- Lalo Salamanca-Gus Fring dynamic that audiences are waiting to see resolved. DR

The darkly humourous, science fiction series Severance will probably ruin me for TV for a while, as it is so well written and produced, with razor-sharp attention to detail. It follows workers at Lumon Technologies who have decided to undergo the “severance” procedure, which involves being injected with a microchip that leaves the individuals only able to remember work memories at work and personal memories outside of work. It sounds far-fetched, but the psychological thriller, directed by Ben Stiller and Aoife McArdle, provides real commentary on modern corporations and how far some will go to get a better work-life balance. NG

Shopping

in the passage between Grand-Rue and Rue Beaumont offers India-inspired scarves, vests and other garments and textile products. The shop opened in September last year after designer Zenia Dutta Roy sold her wares online and through other stores since founding the company in 2016. Some pieces incorporate Luxembourg design elements, such as the red/white/blue colours, and are worth keeping in mind as a gift idea. CS