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What Members Thought
I tried to read this in print and listen to it on audio book, and I just could not get into it. I felt like I was hearing too much about the author and her process, and not enough about Henrietta. So, I started it twice and didn't finish it at all.
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I was sorry I waited so long to listen to this book. I live in Baltimore and had never heard about Henrietta Lacks until this book came out. So in that regard the book accomplished what it set out to do - to educate the public about Henrietta and how her cells were taken without her knowledge. She unfortunately passed away at the young age of 31. However, the cells did a lot of good in that they helped with developing the polio vaccine and much more. Her family did not find out about this until
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A fascinating, personal look at a staple of research labs--HeLa cells. The woman who generated the cells and contributed them unwittingly proves an interesting subject. The book raises questions as to the ethics of medicine and research while humanizing what could be a dry story. There is plenty for book clubs to discuss.
I am going to start this before reading the happy book. I love the idea of reading something non-fiction that takes place in Baltimore. I think that the idea that Henrietta Lacks had cells that did not age from her cervix is amazing, and the fact that doctors took them without her knowing prior to her death for study was even more interesting. Lacks has been instrumental in cancer research today, and yet she never received any recognition, and her family cannot afford health insurance- ironic. I
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I think there is value to this story and people should know about what happened and how it has influenced the lives of so many peoople. But....I just can't bring myself to finish it. And if I can't finish it, I'm not thinking it was a highly enjoyable read for many of our students as their summer reading.
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Incredible look at what happened to an African American woman's cancer cells that were freely taken and used by the medical profession. It was especially interesting since the story began at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, right in my own back yard!
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Oct 04, 2010
Christina
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
nonfiction,
black-eyed-susan-nominees-2012-13
Oct 16, 2011
Lisa
marked it as to-read
Oct 18, 2012
Bethany Stasikova
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
interesting-books-about-interesting
Feb 03, 2013
Phantomfox
added it
Dec 18, 2014
Kristy
marked it as to-read
Aug 10, 2016
Dani
marked it as to-read
