During the Renaissance, cabinet of curiosities came into fashion as a collection of objects that would often defy classification. As a precursor to the modern museum, the cabinet referred to room(s), not actual furniture, of things that piqued the owners interest and would be collected and displayed in an aesthetically pleasing manner. Collectioun of Cunnynge Curioustes is my 21st century interpretation of that idea.
Dear Internet,
Reading
The Mystery of Mercy Close: A Walsh Sister Novel by Marian Keyes
(Amazon | WorldCat | GoodReads)
Status: Finished
Marian Keyes has long been one of my favorite authors, one who can encapsulate a horrible event (abuse, addiction, recovery) in a story that at first glance, seems like some kind of fluff until you dig deeper and get to the heart of the story.
Keyes, however, has failed with this book. Terribly.
At first glance through the reviews, I am apparently the only one who caught the not so very subtle racism against Arabs/Muslims peppered throughout the book. Snide comments about “towel heads,” “arabic-y looking wording,” and the often slights against one of the secondary characters who is Muslim and an Arab. Then once you pick up on the racism, you realise either Marian, or Marian using Helen’s voice, is a bigot against fat people, the mentally ill, and anyone who doesn’t fit into her little world.
Now you’re probably thinking, “But Marian has chronicled her severe depression — how can she be bigoted against the mentally ill?” And you know, I totally get you on that, because I was floored at first. But with Helen’s voice, and point of view, you notice how Helen starts being dismissive against any and all attempts of trying to work on her depression. She rejects drugs (at first), she’s dismissive against any alternative methods, and the constant comments about how she was special with her depression because it wasn’t like anyone elses in terms of symptoms and effects. Okay, we get it, you’re a special snowflake.
This book was a hot mess. Between the bigotry, the lead up to through the mystery, explanation of her past relationship, the foundation of her current one, and really? How she and her BFF ever broke up and why was incredibly weak. Coupled with her depression and the utter lack development for most of the characters, why was this book even published?
Watching
- The Americans
- Survivor: Cagayan
- Moone Boy [Available on Hulu]
- Last Tango in Halifax [Available on PBS]
- Edge of Heaven
Weekly watching: Vikings, The Musketeers, Mr. Selfridge, Black Sails, Top Gear, Stella, University Challenge, House of Lies, Episodes, Archer, True Detective, Under the Gunn, Justified, Banshee, Reign, Elementary
Links
- In Praise of Polyglot Culture—and Multicultural Belly Dancing
- Online mapping tool gives insight into history of London’s streets
- Lost 16th Century Tudor Shilling Could Mean the British Discovered Canada
- The dangerous, beautiful life of a Lego minifig photographer
- A tech panel of all men, aimed at women. So how did that go?
- A Day In The Life: Women Tech Innovators
- ‘Breatharian’ Barbie Valeria Lukyanova Says She Wants To Live Off Light And Air Alone
- Jonathan Ross and the Hugo awards: why was he forced out by science fiction’s self-appointed gatekeepers?
What have you read/watched/listened to this week?
x0x0,
lisa
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