Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

60 reviews

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

Moderate: Medical trauma and Sexual assault

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

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

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

Minor: Slavery

angela_iseli's review against another edition

emotional informative sad slow-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Medical content, Death of parent, Medical trauma, Terminal illness, and Racism

danileah07's review against another edition

informative slow-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Medical trauma, Cancer, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Grief and Racism

Minor: Incest and Medical content

cj13's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Medical content, Grief, Child abuse, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Child death, Cancer, Terminal illness, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Medical trauma, Forced institutionalization, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Alcohol and Alcoholism

Minor: Suicide

oceanwriter's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.75

Thanks to random YouTube rabbit holes, I was somewhat familiar with Henrietta Lacks and HeLa cells going into this book. Had I realized there was a book at the time, I would have read this a lot sooner. 

 

The book discusses Henrietta Lacks’ life and death, the discovery of her extraordinary cells, the controversy surrounding the acquisition of those cells, and the author’s quest to make this woman known to the world. There’s also a great deal of focus on Henrietta’s children and the impact of her death and legacy on them. 

 

There’s a great mix of science and emotional family history. I do wish that the book had separated these things more, maybe telling Henrietta’s life all in one section before moving on to the author’s pursuit of her story (or vice versa). As it is, the first section of the book is back and forth from past to present. Thankfully, it smoothes out as the book goes on and the focus shifts to the present and her living children. 

 

Fascinating stuff here. It’s mind-blowing to me that anyone reading the book could access these cells at the click of a button. It breaks my heart that her family didn’t receive any of the revenue, especially when they had their own medical bills to pay. Even without the discovery of HeLa cells, their family story is one to be told. 

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Sexual assault, Racism, and Child abuse

Minor: Incest

tieflingmom's review against another edition

dark informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Hate crime, Cancer, Incest, Racism, Sexual assault, Medical content, Death, Sexism, and Terminal illness

beccaj11's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness, Racial slurs, Medical trauma, Racism, Medical content, Death, and Death of parent

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Classism, Physical abuse, Violence, and Mental illness

Minor: Suicide and Slavery

parasolcrafter's review against another edition

emotional informative sad tense slow-paced

5.0

this book....i really dont know what i can say about it. i learned SO MUCH about something i had never even head of before picking it up, and it was both fascinating and heartbreaking to read about all of it. i wish all the best for hentrietta lacks family and hope that her and those of her family who have passed are resting easily <3

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexism, Violence, Classism, Infidelity, Medical content, Mental illness, Misogyny, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Incest, Medical trauma, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Ableism, Addiction, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Grief, Infertility, Miscarriage, Racism, Racial slurs, Abortion, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Death of parent, Rape, Slavery, and Terminal illness