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The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks - Rebecca Skloot
By LynnB · 18 posts · 39 views
By LynnB · 18 posts · 39 views
last updated Aug 31, 2013 12:15PM
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What books did Santa put under your tree?
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By Stephanie · 3501 posts · 467 views
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last updated Feb 27, 2024 08:11PM
What Members Thought
I really enjoyed reading this story of a woman's cancer cells which have formed the basis of so many discoveries in modern medicine, as well as the story of her and her family. Henrietta Lacks was a poor, uneducated woman in Baltimore in 1951 who was treated for cervical cancer at Johns Hopkins and her cells were taken for biopsy. Scientists discovered these cells did not die easily, thus being the perfect cells to study chemotherapeutic agents as well as other medications and therapies. After h
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This is such an interesting book - it reads like a novel but leaves me ready to read it again to understand more clearly some of the science. The ethical questions raised by the story are many that have no easy resolution and also affect all of us in real life. I'm looking forward to two different book club discussions of this one!
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I thought this was a fabulous book! So much to think about with no easy answers. I love that the story is told both scientifically/objectively and emotionally. I agree with some of the other reviewers that maybe too much time was spent on Deborah, however I don't think I would have fully appreciated her experience and point-of-view without the detail.
I also really enjoyed the bonus interview with Rebecca Skloot in this audio edition. ...more
I also really enjoyed the bonus interview with Rebecca Skloot in this audio edition. ...more
Very glad I read it!
Have been looking forward to reading this book and my grandson bought it for me for my birthday.. How Cool is That..
The science is really interesting. It is heartbreaking that the family lived in poverty while corporations profited. Overall though, I just could not shake the feeling that the author was insincere in her friendships with the family. I felt like her contempt was just below the surface, even though there is no real evidence of this in the book. The tone just didn't sit well with me and I just could not get beyond it.
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Feb 09, 2011
Robyn
rated it
really liked it
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curriculum-2013
Definitely worth reading - should be required in high school curricula.
Feb 21, 2011
Heather (DeathByBook)
marked it as to-read
Mar 04, 2011
Kate
is currently reading it
Mar 19, 2011
Denise
marked it as to-read
