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What Members Thought
This is unlike anything I have ever read. It reads like fiction, but it's all real. Sometimes I had to remind myself that everything about Henrietta is true. That the people in the book are real.
The year the book came out, I volunteered at Printer's Row Lit Fest in Chicago. Rebecca Skloot was there to talk about her book. I had never heard of it or her, and the session was during our lunch break, so I was more focused on my cheeseburger than on this woman who wrote some weird sci-fi book. I bru ...more
The year the book came out, I volunteered at Printer's Row Lit Fest in Chicago. Rebecca Skloot was there to talk about her book. I had never heard of it or her, and the session was during our lunch break, so I was more focused on my cheeseburger than on this woman who wrote some weird sci-fi book. I bru ...more
I loved this book. I learned a lot and it was entertaining - Skloot is a great writer. So glad this was a book club book because there was a lot to digest!
Henrietta Lacks died of cervical cancer in 1951. She received her treatment at Johns Hopkins. Without her or her family's consent, a sample of her cancer cells were taken for medical research. Her cells not only stayed alive but reproduced at rapid rates. This was unusual for healthy cells. Her line cancer cells would not die and the cells were shared and sold for research throughout the globe. (HeLa line) Her cells were used in most of the ground breaking research in the past century including
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I choose this book because it has become a best seller and received a lot of excellent reviews. Skloot follows three stories in this book--the development of the HeLa cell line and the various scientific discoveries that followed, the life of Henrietta Lacks and the lives of her children, and her quest to receive the help of the Lacks children in uncovering the details of their mother's life. I probably preferred the science storyline the most; Skloot writes in clear, concise prose and makes cel
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I'm late to the party in reading this, but I'm very glad it's not one of those "to read" books that is languishing away on the list, not being read. Skloot chronicles the story of Henrietta Lacks, and the cells that were taken from the cancer that killed her. Her cells turned out to be extremely unusual in how much they can be replicated, and as a result have been used in all kinds of research. However, the cells were taken without her consent and her family was never really told what was going
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I had been wanting to read The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skoot ever since I saw a segment about the story on CBS Sunday Morning. I was so excited when my book club selected it as the August selection. I had many intentions of finishing the book in time for the meeting, but I underestimated how hard it would be to find time to read with an infant. Before the book club meeting, I borrowed a copy of the book from a friend. After the meeting, I was checking the book out from the li
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A gripping story about a woman that unknowingly "donated" her cells to science and how her family has dealt with the aftermath. HeLa cells are responsible for a lot of immunizations and genetic research that benefit many of us today but meanwhile, her own children could not afford health insurance. It is a searing look into the state of medical ethics, as well as a reminder of how little black life has been valued throughout American history. There is so much to unpack in this book I think this
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I was taken with the story of Henrietta and her family & the story of the author as she researched the tangled and hidden history of medical discoveries. I highly recommend this book.
Dec 03, 2010
Audacia Ray
rated it
it was amazing
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review of another edition
Shelves:
read-in-2011,
history-of-science
What I loved most about this book was the weaving of different levels of the story: the scientific impact of HeLa cells, Henrietta's story, the stories of Henrietta's family, and the ethical process of telling this story. I love that the author is a character in the book - to make it transparent and ethical, she just had to be. Masterfully done, a real contribution to cultural understanding of the ugly history of ethics & science, particularly through the lens of race and class.
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Review is forthcoming...
Jan 01, 2011
Crystal
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
2012,
1000-books-to-read-before-you-die
I had no idea this was a nonfiction book until I began reading it. I couldn't put it down ... such a good story, tied in with all sorts of ethical and legal questions. Really puts a FACE to scientific research.
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Jan 20, 2012
Molly
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
non-fiction,
book-club
The author does a great job of blending the science and personal sides of the story. Found the story fascinating and enjoyed it more than I thought I would before picking it up.
While a little technical at times, I enjoyed this story and feel a bit smarter for reading it!
This is my book club's May selection. It looks very good.
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Sep 28, 2011
Lisa
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
i-recommend,
nonfiction
