What I’m Into Right Now (May 2017)

The theme of my media consumption this past month is heavy and weighty. I delved into some important topics that were not pleasant. One, more historical in nature, and another closer to home. But I also have some fun recommendations sprinkled in-between the more dense topics I explored.

Listening:
One of my more light and delightful enjoyments was listening to Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore. Oh my goodness this audiobook was just SO FUN! Anne Bogel’s review on Goodreads described it as “Harry Potter meets National Treasure” and I couldn’t agree more. If you love mysteries, books, and bookstores, this one is for you!

Last month I swooned over The Time In Between on Netflix. It was such a good mini series! I also loved the music which led me to purchase the soundtrack. I’ve been playing it a lot, it is so beautiful.

Watching:
So now we delve into the heavy.

The Keepers have been getting a lot of press and Josh and I just finished it last night. This series is not entertaining, it is heartbreaking. Yet it is a worthy and important watch. I think anyone in the Baltimore area owes it to themselves to watch it and be aware of past history that still impacts people today.

The story centers on the unsolved mystery of a young Baltimore nun. It also centers on the sexual abuse of women who were once high school students at a local Catholic high school. This I knew going into the show, but I was unprepared for the horrifically graphic detail some of the victims described of sexual and spiritual abuse in a few of the episodes. It was truly disturbing. However, the documentary does not present this material in anyway that is titillating. The hope is instead justice and education.

I felt like it was important as a parent to hear from the victims themselves as well to have a better idea of how a predator uses manipulation to control and intimidate. While all of this may have happened in the past, there are legal issues even today that are impacted by it. I hope now that the documentary has release there will be a break in the case or someone will come forward to give these people the closure and justice they deserve, if possible.

Reading:
I am reading The Dry, which is my kickoff to summer reading fun. It was recommended in this year’s Modern Mrs. Darcy Summer Reading Guide and sounded good. So far, I’m enjoying it.

The other book I just finished was the story of Alice Seeley Harris in the book, Don’t Call Me Lady. You’ve probably heard of William Wilberforce, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Harriet Tubman, and Frederick Douglass. You’ve probably not heard of Alice Seeley Harris. However, it was through the lens of her camera that she confronted the rubber trade in the Congo and eventually brought down Belgian King Leopold’s hold over that country.

I confess I knew almost nothing of the atrocities of the rubber trade, which mutilated, maimed, and murdered the indigenous people of Congo for the harvest of rubber under the rule of Belgian King Leopold. And I found Alice a fascinating individual. A woman of bravery who cared greatly for the people of Congo, yet, left her own children to be cared for years by other people. The tensions in her life show the struggles of the time period for women. 

The only thing I didn’t care for in the book was the switching back and forth as to who was narrating. Sometimes that works, but in this case it was distracting and clunky.

That didn’t take away from the true story, however.

To find out more check out this video about a recent exhibition of her photography in Liverpool. 

Eating:
The weather has been soooo dreary but we’ve still been firing up the grill! We love these Rosemary Ranch grilled chicken and over the weekend I made this Creamy Crouton Summer Salad. My new favorite kale salad is this one that I’ve already made twice! And this shrimp recipe is a healthier take on Bonefish Grill’s Bang Bang Shrimp.

What are you into right now?