Each week we bring you a sample of the books we’re reading, the films and TV shows we’re watching, and the music we’re listening to.

Lian Hingee is watching The Haunting of Hill House and Hilda

I’ve just started watching The Haunting of Hill House on Netflix, which is based on Shirley Jackson’s book of the same name. Where Jackson’s book is the story of four people who are invited by a paranormal investigator to spend the summer living in a supposedly haunted house, the TV series is the story of five siblings who are still tormented by their experience of living in the house during their childhood. It’s getting a lot of buzz worldwide, and I can tell you that it is atmospheric, and beautifully produced, and genuinely terrifying.

I can only manage an episode a night, and I’m following it with the palate cleanser of Hilda, an endearingly quirky animated series reminiscent of Adventure Time. Based on the graphic novels by Luke Pearson, Hilda features an intrepid young heroine who loves drawing and adventuring. She lives in an enchanted little corner of the world with her Mum, and her pet ‘deer fox’ Twig, and battles trolls, invisible elves, militant bunny rabbits, and mysterious giants. I picked up a copy of the novelisation of the series, Hilda and the Hidden People, to share with my niece, and it’s a witty and accessible introduction to Hilda’s stories.

Bronte Coates is reading Why Art? by Eleanor Davis

I’m a big fan of Eleanor Davis and her previous two graphic novels – How To Be Happy and You & a Bike & a Road – which are both beautiful, thought-provoking works that beg for repeat readings. Why Art? is her latest offering and it’s a gorgeous inquiry into art-making. Why do we do it? What does it mean? Can it actually change the world? I adored this little book and have found myself reflecting on it long after finishing the last page. In a rave review on The A.V. Club website, Oliver Sava writes: ‘ Why Art? reflects the combination of empathy and imagination that has made Davis such a compelling cartoonist, and this graphic novel is an inspiring call to action for artists to create and audiences to engage.’ Highly recommended.

Paul Barr is listening to One Night in Bremen by Planxty

One Night in Bremen was recorded in Bremen, Germany in April 1979, and has only just surfaced. This is very high quality live recording from this legendary Irish traditional band. At the time of recording, Planxty had been on the road for 45 gigs and were well and truly firing on all cylinders. Pretty soon after this, the band went into the Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin to record After the Break, which would become one of their most successful albums. The sound quality is excellent and as a bonus, there are two songs and a set of reels from the tour that did not make the final album.

Paul Goodman is reading What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami (translated by Philip Gabriel)

As I tackle Haruki Murakami’s recently-released Killing Commendatore, I decided to take advantage of the 3 for 2 offer at Readings (plug over) and revisit an old favourite, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running.

A play on the title of the Raymond Carver short story collection What We Talk About When We Talk About Love, this is a series not so much of essays but thoughts on what running means to the madly popular Japanese author. If not strictly literary in his oeuvre, what Murakami possesses and why he is loved the world over is an ability to perfectly convey sense of place, time and the physical, and this is the case in everything he has ever written. Reading this as a runner now it’s amazing how closely his thoughts resonate with mine, but as a very sedentary reader that first time around it was no less captivating or inspiring. This is because it’s not about running as much as the ritual, the discipline and the rewards that come from setting yourself goals and striding towards them. There are some wonderful non-fiction titles by and about Murakami, but this is my absolute favourite.