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4.23 AVERAGE
4.23 AVERAGE
The story was slow in spots but picked up again pretty quickly. I also thought that it went into too much detail in some areas. But overall I thought it was a really important story to read. Definitely recommend.
challenging
emotional
sad
fast-paced
informative
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Incest, Medical content, Medical trauma
Moderate: Infidelity, Mental illness, Racism, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization
Minor: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infertility, Slavery, Suicide, Blood, Abandonment
I think this book is scarier than it seems. Its got a touching storie about Henrietta's daughter, but also you have a family living in abject povertie while people continue to profit off their DNA. institutions argue repeatedlie in the book that people shouldn't be able to profit off their tissues, but as the author points out, this doesn't stop makor corporations from patenting genes they onlie discovered in the tissues of thos same people and profiting massivelie from it. It seems wild to argue that a single human struggling to survive should not profit from their own tissue, but large corporations and alreadie rich people should.
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
This was such a great book. I loved learning about Henrietta, her cells, and her family. I also loved Skloot's writing. It's clear that she cared deeply for Henrietta and her family, especially Deborah. And I think she did a good job presenting and explaining all the science.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Racism, Medical content, Medical trauma
Moderate: Child abuse
Amazing story. I'm surprised that Henrietta Lacks isn't more of a household name. Fascinating the way she weaves scientific history with the family narrative.
This was a great read, for a masterful blending of history and science that kept me turning every page. I had heard of HeLa cells in college, and the basics of who she was, but learning about this story was remarkable. It's a point of humor to me that Baltimore showed up yet again, after being immersed in stories about the city.
This book, like many great examples in non-fiction, capture the big movements in the small moments, and how sometimes, fiction can only approach the surreality of life.
This book, like many great examples in non-fiction, capture the big movements in the small moments, and how sometimes, fiction can only approach the surreality of life.