This week in PostMag: toxic tomes, a trip to Fifa World Cup host Mexico City and ‘Carmen’ in Kowloon

Readers tend to be curious creatures – it’s in our nature to want to know, learn and absorb more, all for that deeply satisfying brain scratch. For me, the thirst for knowledge takes me into the depths of bookshops, the corners of libraries and countless other places – if not other worlds. When faced with printed material we’re interested in – much like this issue of PostMag, I hope – most people wouldn’t think twice about picking it up, leafing through it and perusing it from beginning to end. But what if the volume in question is unknowingly laden with harmful chemicals? In our cover story this week, Kamala Thiagarajan “uncovers” the history of Victorian-era “poison books”, and how one Hong Kong University conservator came to embark on a hunt for them within the institution’s own collection. Beware, dear readers: a vintage book with a green cover might require gloves to handle …

For bookworms, commutes are an unexpected boon, creating pockets of quality reading time. Long train journeys are a natural choice and setting in which to whip out a tome and get lost in a good tale. In the case of European rail travel, Peter Neville-Hadley’s expectations – to up his page count while languidly rolling through the countryside of Spain, France and Italy in affordable first-class carriages – are delightfully shattered as he tests out the limits of his Eurail pass. It turns out, the world, observed through a train window, is just as captivating as those found within pages.

By now, fans of the “beautiful game” will be gearing up for the 23rd Fifa World Cup, undoubtedly the most-anticipated sporting sensation of the year. John Brunton shows us what to do in Mexico City, where the inaugural match of the tournament will be held this summer, proving there’s much more to see than just “goooals” at the Azteca Stadium.

Elsewhere in this issue, we amp up the theatricality. Lyricist, playwright and director Jia Ding tells our managing editor, David Ho, about his vision for Georges Bizet’s beloved opera Carmen, and the metaphorical mountains he is moving to transplant the backdrop of the upcoming Opera Hong Kong production from 1820s Seville, Spain, to 1970s Hong Kong. Not bad for someone who took up directing “as a hobby” – may we all find similar success when following our own passions.

And last but certainly not least, a fond farewell: we say goodbye to one of our own this week. PostMag’s associate editor Gavin Yeung – who has been with the magazine since 2024 – has set his sights on pastures new. His knack for evocative storytelling flips the adage “A picture is worth a thousand words” on its head – Gavin’s expressive words are definitively worth more than a thousand pictures. Say hi to him at Kinsman in Central; he’ll continue to be behind the bar, shaking up cocktails inspired by Cantonese culture and heritage.

As always, enjoy the read.