The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks in Our Shared Shelf

Apr 30, 2011 Nesie rated it it was amazing

Simply amazing. I couldn't put it down. The combination of bioethics, history and one family's struggle to get to the truth fascinated me, and I read it in one fell swoop. Highly recommended. ...more

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Dec 13, 2010 Alexis rated it liked it

It seems like this was on every "Best Book of 2010" list. I am going to be honest...I am a little surprised that it is SO widely loved (although I did like it). This is a non-fiction account of the life of a woman from whom cancer cells were harvested and then grown. These cells have become immortal, known in labs worldwide as "HeLa" cells, and have been used to research cures for just about every malady possible.
I am a little surprised about the mass appeal of the book. The book started out a ...more

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Nov 01, 2014 Suzanne rated it liked it

I listened to the audiobook for the first half of this book, and read a hardcover copy for the second half. This left me feeling pretty disjointed, which is mostly my fault, but unfortunately it's impacting my view on the book, too.

There were parts of this book that I found incredibly fascinating. The ethics of consent were really interesting to read about, and I really loved Deborah and Rebecca's adventures together. I had trouble wading through some of the more "science-y" parts, even though ...more

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Jan 16, 2013 VerJean rated it it was amazing

You need to read it.
It may be a bit tough to get through the medical/scientific info.
Some parts are drawn out a bit and difficult; it's not perfect - but it weaves much together and the combined stories are Fascinating (my favorite review word!)
Read in 2010. ...more

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Nov 01, 2010 Stephanie rated it really liked it

Really interesting book about the contribution to science a woman never knew she made. Science was nicely explained and easy to follow and the human story even more interesting.

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Oct 31, 2012 Dana Berglund rated it liked it

Shelves: memoir-biography, youngadult

Very interesting and thought provoking book about medical ethics, racism, personal responsibility, and legacy. It seems to be popping up in different media and conversations everywhere, so I was glad to finally understand what it was all about. I raged to friends who would listen about the inequity and injustice involved, but was left with many questions about how the medical professions/industry continues to treat human cells. The author has many resources and more information on her website, w ...more

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Apr 16, 2012 Amy (Bossy Bookworm) added it

Shelves: didn-t-finish, book-club

I read a long article about this fascinating story and its incredibly wide-reaching effects. I got bogged down in the politics of HL's survivors and complicated familial relationships and I didn't finish this book when other books came along.

The racial and cultural issues surrounding the obtainment of Henrietta Lacks's cells and their unbounded use are incredible and tragic. The enormous scientific advancements possible due to the use of the HeLa cells are difficult to overstate. ...more

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