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 reading Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

I’m a bit of a Neil Gaiman fangirl, so I was beyond delighted to get my hands on an advanced copy of Norse Mythology. Perhaps sick of being badgered by fans, Gaiman’s started going the Netflix route – announcing new titles scant months before they’re released – which means that I haven’t had to wait interminable years to get my hands on it. Norse Mythology is Gaiman’s take on the great Norse tales, and while this isn’t the new novel that I was desperately hoping for, the chronological storytelling lends itself to the book being read like one.

Starting with the Nordic creation story (lots of murder and mayem) and finishing with the battle of Ragnarok (more murder and mayhem), the stories in Norse Mythology are sharp, brutal and weird. I can see why Gaiman – with his appreciation of the macabre and sly humour – was inspired by the original tales. He’s done a masterful job of capturing the unique cadence of the traditional folktale, and I can easily imagine these stories being shared aloud around campfires and on dark wintery nights.

Ed. note: If you’re yet to try out one of Gaiman’s books for yourself then Lian’s

Stella Charls is reading Pond by Claire-Louise Bennett

Pond was the first book I read this year and I can’t stop recommending it to other people. This collection of stream-of-consciousness stories narrated by the one unnamed woman living in solitude on the Irish coast, is an utter delight. Reading it reminded me of Jenny Offill’s Dept. of Speculation (my favourite book of all time) in that a single turn of phrase could both make me laugh and move me deeply. Bennett’s wit is dazzling; her passages demand to be be inhaled giddily by the reader, then savoured on a second reading. Her book is strange and original, the kind that defies easy classification. My advice is don’t read about it, just read it!

Chris Gordon is reading The Science of Appearances by Jacinta Halloran

I’m reading (finally!) the latest novel by local author and all-round wonderful woman, Jacinta Halloran. Set right here in Melbourne of the 1940s and 50s, The Science of Appearances explores the bond between Dom and Mark – twins that have escaped their hometown of Kyneton for reasons soon to be discovered. It’s a clever, warm and graceful novel. Much of the story takes place in St Kilda, and as I’m reading I’m also been feeling inspired to visit the St Kilda Pavilion and go wandering down the pier, reflecting on our city’s history. The Science of Appearances is perfect for those who want to be reminded that change is always possible.

This past week I’ve also been bingeing on Breaking Bad. Yes, I know I’m late to this show, but now that I’m in, I also know my life will forever be changed. Before now, I’d thought that The Wire was the most devastating television around. Now I’m not so sure… To distinguish between the two brilliant shows, I’ve come to think of The Wire as being Dickenson in its approach – it is a documentary of a city and its people. Breaking Bad, on the other hand, is more Shakespearean in its approach – think Othello. A powerful story of greed, arrogance and consequences, Breaking Bad is bleak viewing of the highest calibre. This curse of a show has dramatically reduced my sleeping hours.