Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

67 reviews

katieribbon's review against another edition

emotional informative sad slow-paced

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Medical content, and Sexual harassment

elspethmigliore's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

4.25

this made me extremely sad and uncomfortable (i hate in-depth medical talk) but it was very informative which i enjoyed. 

i probably wouldn’t reread, but it was still very good.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Gore, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, and Vomit

Minor: Murder

aduqu's review against another edition

challenging informative slow-paced

4.25

This book taught me a lot, both about cells and about the history of Henrietta Lacks and her family.

The book alternates between recounting the Lacks' family history, the history of HeLa cell research, and the experiences the author had with the Lacks while working on the book.

Overall, a really interesting read that manages to shed light on a lot of complex issues. I think someone who works in science or medicine would probably get more out of it than I did!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Incest, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment

likeagilmoregirl's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Classism

Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, and Alcohol

Minor: Incest and Rape

mels_reading_log's review

challenging dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

5.0

This book tells the true story of Henrietta Lacks, a black woman who had her cells taken when she went into Johns Hopkins Hospital for cancer treatment. The cells which were taken without her consent were then sold and distributed around the world for medical research and are still used today. The fact that this story is real is so troubling. The way the medical community has taken advantage of poor, black and handicapped people in the name of medical advancement is atrocious and it makes perfect sense that many do not trust doctors because of this. 

I did like the way the book was written like a podcast, where we went along with the author to do research and meet with the family members. This keeps the information accessible and easier to understand than dense science talk. I believe this information should be required knowledge in this country, so people, especially the non black can know the depths of racism that exist and understand that this was less than 100 years ago.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Suicide

muppetymelody's review

challenging informative reflective sad

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content and Medical trauma

Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body horror, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Classism

hayreading's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective slow-paced

4.75

A good and informative book. Not my usual read, but very well written. Points off for slow pacing.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

erinreadstoomuch's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative medium-paced

5.0

Incredibly heartbreaking and eye opening regarding the fact that the key to so much modern medicine is tied to a woman whose name is largely forgotten. Rebecca did an incredible job at portraying the real emotions and bringing true life to Henrietta, while also giving her family the respect and kindness they have been owed for so long. Henrietta’s name should be screamed from the roof tops. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, and Medical content

Moderate: Sexual assault and Medical trauma

alexklinect's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative medium-paced

4.25

A fascinating look at the intersection of scientific research and African American history, specifically focusing on the repercussions of one woman’s life and death and immortal cells. I loved the juxtaposition of the supernatural with the natural and the examination of the sanctity of life — there could have been more on these topics. The legality of tissue collection and research was discussed at length, and rightly so, but it was definitely long. The audiobook (very well done!) comes in at almost 13 hours. The tender moment between Kristoff, Deborah, and Zachariah in the lab was the highlight of the book, in my opinion. One or two brief instances of language and some violence mentioned, plus lots of medical procedures and details. 
4-4.5 stars

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Medical content, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Racism and Violence

Minor: Cursing

alliejuve's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Misogyny, Racism, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, and Death of parent

Moderate: Death, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Slavery