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4.23 AVERAGE
4.23 AVERAGE
*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
challenging
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Though I was already aware of the Lacks family, it was no less depressing or informative to read. It starkly shows how the black community historically is used without their consent in medical research. If you are still wondering why someone you know is leery about going to the doctor, this is why.
4.75/5
I absolutely ate this nonfiction book up, which is surprising, seeing as how I never read nonfiction. Skloot shows she is amazing at writing engaging science text as well as piecing together a narrative-like life of Henrietta and documenting the present Lacks family. This has opened me to reading more nonfiction, so kudos. My rating on this will depend on how long it stays in my brain, and I’m anticipating that will be a while.
I absolutely ate this nonfiction book up, which is surprising, seeing as how I never read nonfiction. Skloot shows she is amazing at writing engaging science text as well as piecing together a narrative-like life of Henrietta and documenting the present Lacks family. This has opened me to reading more nonfiction, so kudos. My rating on this will depend on how long it stays in my brain, and I’m anticipating that will be a while.
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
I struggle to read nonfiction, but I was interested in the Lacks family dynamics and learned quite a bit.
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Incest, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual harassment
Moderate: Vomit
Minor: Murder
couldn't put it down loved every page it was intriguing and moving as someone with apssing interest in science. it was wild seeing all that HELA has done without any recognition of who the person was who gave us it really good read!