Each week we bring you a sample of the books we’re reading, the films we’re watching, the television shows we’re hooked on, or the music we’re loving.

Ruth Mchugh-Dillon is reading The Vampire: A New History by Nick Groom

I was looking for some nonfiction that would jolt my January-brain back into action and The Vampire: A New History by Yale literature professor Nick Groom is proving just the thing.

The book explores the immense cultural potency of the vampire as a figure that haunts the collective imagination, from Dracula to Edward Cullen. Aside from being deeply researched and very readable, it does what I love best – rooting the phenomenon in a political, social and cultural context, and making you rethink blood, contagion, cemeteries, migration and British politics along the way.

Lucie Dess is listening to new music from supergroup Boygenius

This week i’ve been revisiting my love for Boygenius after the announcement of their long-awaited return. The American indie rock band consists of three queens of the music industry - Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus.

They’ve just announced their album, The Record, which will be coming out in March and available for pre-order soon! And they’ve released three tracks from it - Emily I’m Sorry, True Blue and $20. Being a Phoebe Bridgers girlie, Emily I’m Sorry is my favourite so far as it was written and lead by her. But I am truly obsessed with all three songs! March cannot come soon enough!