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amcghig's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Rape, Pedophilia, Grief, Death of parent, Medical trauma, Medical content, Child abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, and Chronic illness
anushar's review against another edition
4.0
Minor: Death of parent, Incest, Medical content, Pedophilia, Chronic illness, Death, Child abuse, and Child death
udari's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Grief, Violence, Terminal illness, Torture, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Medical content, Sexual assault, Racism, Rape, and Cancer
Moderate: Abandonment, Alcoholism, Addiction, Cursing, Infidelity, Alcohol, Child death, Drug abuse, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, and Drug use
Minor: Suicide and Bullying
elizabethgreads's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Medical trauma, Death of parent, Chronic illness, Cancer, Gaslighting, and Medical content
Moderate: Dementia, Mental illness, Abandonment, Sexual assault, Rape, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Racism
coreyarch9's review against another edition
4.0
I recently reread The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks since it's my book club's pick for this month.
My life has changed a lot since I first read the book a few years ago and, as such, a few things hit differently this time around. For one, Henrietta was 31 when she died. Now in my thirties, myself, this detail stood out so much more. Additionally, I've since benefitted greatly from the lifesaving diagnostic testing that her cells specifically helped develop. Throughout the book, I couldn't help but reflect on some of my own health challenges from the past year, which at times were triggering.
Just as during my previous read, I often went straight to Wikipedia to learn more. Specifically, as I was looking up historical information on John Hopkins, I got the clearest sense of deja vu, a confirmation that similar details and curiosities stood out to me both times.
I'm am looking forward to my book club's discussion later this month. If you've read this book, then you understand the hodgepodge of thoughts and reactions that I'm currently experiencing.
•••
My original review:
This book had been on my list since I first heard about it on NPR and WOW DID I LEARN A LOT. I found myself scouring through Wikipedia pages more than a few times over the course of reading. My only criticism is that sometimes the author gets caught up in describing her process for investigating Henrietta Lacks and forgets to progress the story. This book is for anybody who enjoys ethical debates, cares about social issues, and enjoys medical dramas/family dramas/ literally any type of drama.
Graphic: Death, Medical content, Terminal illness, Medical trauma, Racism, Cancer, Death of parent, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Racial slurs and Pregnancy
Minor: Murder, Infidelity, Physical abuse, and Slavery
foreverinastory's review against another edition
5.0
CWs: Abandonment, ableism, addiction, blood, cancer, child abuse, chronic illness, death, death of parent, drug abuse/use, emotional abuse, fatphobia, forced institutionalization, grief, incest, infidelity, medical content, medical trauma, mental illness (PTSD), physical abuse, pedophilia, pregnancy, racial slurs, racism, rape, sexual assault, sexual content, sexual harassment, terminal illness, vomit.
Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Blood, Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Grief, Incest, Infidelity, Medical content, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Terminal illness, Vomit, Ableism, Forced institutionalization, and Mental illness
klfgasaway's review against another edition
4.75
Moderate: Addiction, Cancer, Child death, Chronic illness, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, and Panic attacks/disorders
vampiretree's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Incest, Pedophilia, Chronic illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Physical abuse
peachani's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Incest, Medical content, Medical trauma, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Ableism, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Mental illness, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Gun violence, Infidelity, and Stalking
eflatkey's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Pedophilia, and Racism
Moderate: Incest, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, and Sexual assault