Book - one of the most innovative and most arresting books I’ve read in some time, Danish author Olga Ravn’s The Wax Child is a story of witchcraft, women’s gathering, power, violence and rumour is based on a 17-century Danish witch trial. Deservedly nominated for a Booker Prize 2026.
Museum(s) - continuing my dedication to discovering the best in weird tiny museums with two new entries to the list: the Museum of Puppetry Arts in Tallinn has some gems including a giant Gulliver and this beautiful French mime (see images above), and the Oleguer Junyent studio, showing the eclectic art and collection of the stage designer.
Shortform - Paul Stout’s short posts on urban design, city planning and architecture that really help you understand the spaces are you. It has definitely give me a lot of new language to talk about cities and urban spaces!
Music - Seán Clancy, a UK-based Irish composer continues to create thoughtful, effective music in his new release on NMC, Where the Paths End.
Book - Scream With Me: Horror Films and the Rise of American Feminism (1968-1980) by Eleanor Johnson is exactly what it sounds like, and is insightful and in-depth. Particularly of note is the nuanced but unflinching discussion of the relationship between abusive directors and effective horror filmmaking.
Game - speaking of horror, Alien Isolation - not a new game, but one I’m just getting around to playing - is genuinely terrifying…
Movie - …and it was cool to see some Irish story crop up in Damian McCarthy’s just-released horror film Hokum, which has some really good jumpscares (echoes here, in mood if nothing else, of The Séance of Blake Manor game from late last year!)…
Game - …and Mouthwashing, a narrative sci-fi horror from Sweden in 2024 - less jumpscare, more confronting yourself.
Newsletter - Colin Gorrie’s Dead Language Society is a great deep dive into language and history - check out this experiment in language change by tracing how far back in time you can still understand the English language
Sculpture - I’m not generally that interested in monuments or memorial sculpture, but Eila Hiltunen's Sibelius monument is a beautiful work in its own right.
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