Kyō boutique is one of the team's 10 tips of the month, pictured here with its founder Minhye Jung Romain Gamba/Maison Moderne

Kyō boutique is one of the team's 10 tips of the month, pictured here with its founder Minhye Jung Romain Gamba/Maison Moderne

Current reads

I picked up Andrea Wulf's gem, The Invention of Nature, on a recent outing to the Luxembourg National Museum of Natural History (MNHN). For Wulf, Alexander von Humboldt is an underappreciated historical figure who had a far-reaching impact, and it was fascinating not just travelling with him throughout his journeys in South America and Russia and more, but also to learn about how he tried to bridge the scientific world despite politics--something that resonates deeply today, especially with covid-19 and politics around vaccines. NG

Bernardine Evaristo won the 2019 Booker Prize for “Girl, Woman, Other” (which I would also recommend) but her prose novel debut was Blonde Roots. Published in 2008, it imagines the life of a slave, Doris, if the slave trade had been reversed, if African nations had pilfered Europe and enslaved its inhabitants. It’s a shrewd look at colonialism and white supremacy, full of wry commentary, forcing the reader to confront their own biases and notions of history. CS

Listen to this

Jane Weaver’s “Flock” is a glorious pop record from an unexpected source. Weaver has previously made several wonderfully eclectic albums but now she has produced a light and airy collection that delights in every aspect. Which does not mean there is not substance to songs like ‘Modern Reputation’ with its Krautrock influences or ‘Stages of Phases’, which recall Goldfrapp’s glam rock period. The latter, like the funky ‘Sunset Dreams’, had my 4-year-old dancing around the living room and singing the chorus--proof enough of its pop credibility. DR

The Staves’ latest album Good Woman is a louder and more outgoing offering than previous records as the three sisters work through womanhood, love, life and loss. Some of the quiet intimacy of their previous folk-pop albums is lost in the synthesizer-heavy pieces but their crystal-clear harmonies and intelligent lyrics cut through the noise. CS

White noise isn't just for infants! I discovered the Relaxing White Noise account on Soundcloud recently and have found the sounds of rain, ocean and storms the perfect escape when deep concentration is required for work, writing...or just to block out the 100th “Mom!!!” of the day. NG

The glorious sunshine has not stopped me diving deep into the self-loathing despair and toxic black humour of the first Arab Strap album in 16 years. Days Get Dark” features Adrian Moffat’s enticing voice in fine form as he poetically examines human weaknesses and the horrors of the modern world, while Malcolm Middleton provides mesmerising soundscapes and delightful melodies. It is an astonishing album and a welcome return for the duo. DR

Essential viewing

Netflix’s latest true crime documentary, Murder Among the Mormons, investigates a series of Salt Lake City bombings in the 1980s. If perhaps overly long at three episodes, it unveils a different chapter of the events in each instalment, leaving the floor largely to witnesses. As a true crime series “Murder Among the Mormons” is an enjoyable watch. It could have been more had it delved deeper into questions of faith and the church’s role in the bombings. CS

I can’t stop thinking about Je ne suis pas une salope, je suis un journaliste (I’m not a bitch, I’m a journalist). French sports journalist Marie Portolano interviews women peers about the sexism they face from fans and colleagues. Interestingly, no names are given, only visual footage that speaks for itself. That the one interview with a male colleague was pulled at the request of Canal+ says so much about how hard it is to speak about this topic. JB

Capitani on Netflix is all the buzz in Luxembourg. We breezed through season 1 and personally I don’t think it lives up to the hype. Don’t get me wrong: it’s not bad; it’s just a typical cop show. There’s certainly a kick in seeing it take place in the grand duchy and in seeing that Luxembourg’s film and TV industry is perfectly capable of producing exportable, entertaining fare. But “Capitani” would have been better if it had instead been “Ley”--as in Luc Capitani’s sidekick Elsa Ley, portrayed by Sophie Mousel. Ley is infinitely more interesting than the gruff police inspector. AG

Shopping

If you want a taste of the slow life, visit the Kyō boutique in the heart of Luxembourg City. The shop features not just vintage kimonos but also a range of tea and coffee sets, kitchenware, stationery, art and more, mainly by Korean and Japanese designers. Hint: try the Hibi 10-minute aroma sticks, aromatherapy in the form of matchsticks. You can read more about the concept here. NG

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