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4.23 AVERAGE
4.23 AVERAGE
This is one of those books that had been recommended to me over and over again, and I am *so glad* I finally got around to it.
In a lot of ways this book made me think of Kate Moore's Radium Girls in that both books are beautifully written, easy-to-follow combinations of science, history and the families involved. I would describe this as part scientific research and part family memoir.
Without going into too much detail, it tells the story of a black woman who, in the 1950's, had cells removed as part of a medical procedure. Without her knowledge, those cells were used in experiments and were unlike any other, opening the floodgates to all kinds of new discoveries across science and medicine. The cells are still being used today, and I'm not sure anyone is able to put into words how impactful they've been.
But this story also delves into who Henrietta Lacks was. What her life was like, who made up her family, what happened to all of them, and how the use of her cells changed both the world and their lives completely.
Skloot does a fantastic job of jumping between a science chapter and a family chapter, chronologically following along with the history of and major milestones in scientific discoveries regarding cell research and the history of and major milestones of the Lacks family. Both topics, which could not be more at odds, are effortlessly woven together, and written in a way that even the least science-y reader (me) can not only follow but enjoy.
I'm not sure if a transcript is included in the written text, but the audio book includes a 20 minute interview with the author at the end of the book, which I thoroughly enjoyed. In it, Skloot describes her writing process, and some of the hiccups and interruptions she overcame in writing the book. Also interesting: the afterward delves into the question of whether or not people whose cells are used for research should be compensated. As of 2010, when the book was published, there was no concrete legal answer. It posed a lot of interesting questions and to be honest, I'm not sure how I feel about it. I'm interested to research and see if/how laws regarding cell research have changed in the 11 years since the book was written. Another sign of just how great this book really was that I'm now doing some research on my own!
In a lot of ways this book made me think of Kate Moore's Radium Girls in that both books are beautifully written, easy-to-follow combinations of science, history and the families involved. I would describe this as part scientific research and part family memoir.
Without going into too much detail, it tells the story of a black woman who, in the 1950's, had cells removed as part of a medical procedure. Without her knowledge, those cells were used in experiments and were unlike any other, opening the floodgates to all kinds of new discoveries across science and medicine. The cells are still being used today, and I'm not sure anyone is able to put into words how impactful they've been.
But this story also delves into who Henrietta Lacks was. What her life was like, who made up her family, what happened to all of them, and how the use of her cells changed both the world and their lives completely.
Skloot does a fantastic job of jumping between a science chapter and a family chapter, chronologically following along with the history of and major milestones in scientific discoveries regarding cell research and the history of and major milestones of the Lacks family. Both topics, which could not be more at odds, are effortlessly woven together, and written in a way that even the least science-y reader (me) can not only follow but enjoy.
I'm not sure if a transcript is included in the written text, but the audio book includes a 20 minute interview with the author at the end of the book, which I thoroughly enjoyed. In it, Skloot describes her writing process, and some of the hiccups and interruptions she overcame in writing the book. Also interesting: the afterward delves into the question of whether or not people whose cells are used for research should be compensated. As of 2010, when the book was published, there was no concrete legal answer. It posed a lot of interesting questions and to be honest, I'm not sure how I feel about it. I'm interested to research and see if/how laws regarding cell research have changed in the 11 years since the book was written. Another sign of just how great this book really was that I'm now doing some research on my own!
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Medical content, Medical trauma
This was such a great book. Skloot does a terrific job of telling the tale of this amazing, largely unrecognized woman for her unprecedented, albeit unknown to her, contribution to science. This book was fascinating!
challenging
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
A very sad human side to what is considered a huge medical advancement. While Henrietta is famous, the medical callousness towards people like her seems likely to be very widespread. I like how the author centred on the family and made the medical understanding approachable.
emotional
informative
medium-paced
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
*Please check trigger warnings for this book*
I've never been one of those readers that reads a book about real life events/people. I just read it if I have to, and that's how I sort of started reading this book. My librarian (whom which I have much respect) recommended this book saying that it would make me angry, sad and all things above. I, of course, super excited to see if it would actually make me cry, started to read it as soon as possible. And I think this book changed my whole perspective on life.
I wanted to get more into books where the main characters are POC. This book was just a perfect mix of everything. The book focuses on the Lacks family. A woman named Henrietta Lacks might just be the problem to most medical solutions presented on the field in the 1900s. Her cells were extracted without her consent (but at the time this action was legal) making her unaware of what a big of an impact her cells had for cancer research and the polio vaccine. The unfair treatment Henrietta had to go through really shows that the Lacks' family had strong genes in her family. They all dealt with so much in their life, but they kept going and never stopped, even if a 'higher' authority told them to. Her story was so well written since in the later years when Rebecca Skloot (the author) meets one of Henrietta's children and becomes extremely close to her. The author places herself in the story with Henrietta's daughter and everything the two of them went through to make the book. It's really hard for me to make deep connection with book characters, especially in non-fiction books. But Rebecca wrote about Henrietta's family so well that it felt as if the three of us went on a road trip and became super close.
This book will make you feel like you have so much to live for (which you do) and it really shows how POC communities were and are affected by medical research. I very much enjoyed this book and finishing it made me feel like I lost a part of my family.
I've never been one of those readers that reads a book about real life events/people. I just read it if I have to, and that's how I sort of started reading this book. My librarian (whom which I have much respect) recommended this book saying that it would make me angry, sad and all things above. I, of course, super excited to see if it would actually make me cry, started to read it as soon as possible. And I think this book changed my whole perspective on life.
I wanted to get more into books where the main characters are POC. This book was just a perfect mix of everything. The book focuses on the Lacks family. A woman named Henrietta Lacks might just be the problem to most medical solutions presented on the field in the 1900s. Her cells were extracted without her consent (but at the time this action was legal) making her unaware of what a big of an impact her cells had for cancer research and the polio vaccine. The unfair treatment Henrietta had to go through really shows that the Lacks' family had strong genes in her family. They all dealt with so much in their life, but they kept going and never stopped, even if a 'higher' authority told them to. Her story was so well written since in the later years when Rebecca Skloot (the author) meets one of Henrietta's children and becomes extremely close to her. The author places herself in the story with Henrietta's daughter and everything the two of them went through to make the book. It's really hard for me to make deep connection with book characters, especially in non-fiction books. But Rebecca wrote about Henrietta's family so well that it felt as if the three of us went on a road trip and became super close.
This book will make you feel like you have so much to live for (which you do) and it really shows how POC communities were and are affected by medical research. I very much enjoyed this book and finishing it made me feel like I lost a part of my family.
Officially one of my favorite books of all time. Super well researched, excellent blend of medical background on HeLa and personal background on Henrietta herself and her family. This book makes me so excited I could burst. Can't recommend it highly enough.
informative
sad
medium-paced
medium-paced
A must-read
This book really has everything in it, from the ethical use of science to generational trauma and how to break it. It handles these themes with such grace and doesn't shy away from discussing the ugly side of science, especially the history of human experimentation on African Americans. Henrietta's life is an important part of history and just one of the many stories of black individuals who have been exploited for scientific research, which is why I view this book as a must-read.
The switching between narratives in the first half really kept me invested; however, I did find the switch between the author's personal anecdotes and the omnipresent narrator a little jarring, and it made the writing style feel sort of inconsistent. This stops being an issue in the third part of the book, however, and I believe the switches between narratives still add value to the overall experience of reading this book.
This book really has everything in it, from the ethical use of science to generational trauma and how to break it. It handles these themes with such grace and doesn't shy away from discussing the ugly side of science, especially the history of human experimentation on African Americans. Henrietta's life is an important part of history and just one of the many stories of black individuals who have been exploited for scientific research, which is why I view this book as a must-read.
The switching between narratives in the first half really kept me invested; however, I did find the switch between the author's personal anecdotes and the omnipresent narrator a little jarring, and it made the writing style feel sort of inconsistent. This stops being an issue in the third part of the book, however, and I believe the switches between narratives still add value to the overall experience of reading this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Sexual harassment
Moderate: Ableism, Incest, Violence
Minor: Racial slurs