The 12 Days of Christmas
January Favorite
#12BooksOf2024
Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks | 
pickIt wasn‘t what I expected. I thought this non-fiction science book would be dry and kinda boring, it was neither. It was an amazing book that went back and forth between the story of Henrietta Lacks, the science behind HeLa and the Lacks family. It was an amazing story. I read 100 pages on the first day as if it was a thrilling fiction book, but it‘s real. There was so much upsetting and incredible about this story; an important read for all
pickThe story of the cancer cells which became one of the most important tools in medicine. It deals with both the historical aspects as well as the fallout on her descendants. Also tackles the legalities of human tissue samples.
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pickThe scientific breakthroughs and advancements from Ms. Lacks' cells is utterly astounding! I couldn't help wondering where would we be if she wasn't born or didn't get sick or didn't live near Johns Hopkins. The way the stars aligned just so for HeLa cells to come to be kinda makes ya wonder 😇
6/62
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"This is a work of nonfiction."
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@Eggs Book received from @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 📖 🤗❤️❤️❤️
Worked a few hours in the single digit temps (but the sun felt good 😎). Time to relax and continue my climb up (or is actually down since the number is smaller 🤔) #MountTBR
In recognition of #Worldpolioday and for all of your participation with our photo challenges we are giving away 2 copies of this book! I‘m not sure how I ended up with three! 🤷🏻♀️
To be entered tell me your most recent 5 ⭐️ read!!
Open to everyone! Share and tag friends!
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so-soHard to start but got better along the way.
“In that moment, reading those passages, I understood completely how some of the Lackses could believe, without doubt, that Henrietta had been chosen by the Lord to become an immortal being. If you believe the Bible is the literal truth, the immortality of Henrietta's cells makes perfect sense.”
After all these years, Henrietta Lacks‘s descendants have reached a settlement regarding her cells that others in medical establishments (unbeknownst to her family)made millions marketing them.This was reported in the Washington Post. Link below:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2023/08/01/henrietta-lacks-settlement-cel...
pickIt‘s an excellent book but it‘s horrific the way Black people were and still are treated in this country. I also find it disturbing that there are still only guidelines but not laws governing the use of people‘s genetic material.
#temptingtitles #with5+words a fascinating narrative nonfiction about the human cells that led to several medical breakthroughs and the woman they came from. I‘m not medically minded at all but the story captivated me!
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Great book 🧬
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pickThis one has been on my list for a while, and I finally got to it! It‘s a really interesting exploration of science, history, racism, medicine, health, and journalism. It definitely took me a while to get through, but I‘m really glad I read it and I learned a lot. Getting to know the people in the story is very moving, and I‘m so glad they chose to share.
I read some good books for this grid but I have to give to the tagged (and earliest pub date) because it is such an important story to document.
5* = Loved It, want to shout out loud about this book! I do/will own/keep a physical copy. A+
4*= I liked it, would love to discuss. Solid B
3*=Meh, no need to discuss. Average C
2*=Nope D
1*=DNF F
pickSo good and heartbreaking and makes me want to burn the American medical system to the ground.
Henrietta Lacks was a Black woman who went to the doctor for what turned out to be cervical cancer. The doctor harvested tissue from the tumor without Lacks‘ knowledge or consent and they led to some of the biggest medical breakthroughs in history.
Unfortunately, nobody told her family until decades later, but by then, there was no stopping the doctors.
pickI suppose this book languished on my shelves because I thought through media coverage that I already knew the story behind Henrietta and her HeLa cells. But there is so much more to this story. I loved the relationship between the author and Henrietta‘s daughter, Deborah. Im impressed Rebekka could write this story without trying to influence the reader‘s moral compass on a family/person‘s legal right to discarded cells and tissues. ↓
pickWow, why did I wait so long to read this book? I have so many feelings after reading this. I‘m sure there has been a lot written about this amazing book so I won‘t even try, but I am so glad this book is now in my life.
When university assignments and pets collide, it isnt always a bad combination.
Working in tissue culture in 80s and 90s we were told the HeLa cell line was from a woman called Helen Lane. A literal white wash of the truth. This is the real life story of a Henrietta Lacks who unbeknownst to herself has contributed to many advances in science and research and she deserves a voice. There are many books and at least one film also about her life. #Alphabetgame
pickThis book should be required reading for doctors, nurses, scientists and social workers. I cannot believe what this woman has gone through. Although Henrietta‘s cells were stolen and used in more than a million experiments, her whole family is unable to afford any kind of medical insurance.
so-soIt was interesting to hear origins of HeLa cells (though I didn't know the importance of them before reading this book). I understand how it was important to tell the story of Henrietta's family, but thought it was a little drawn out.
It did paint a picture for both sides of the debate of who should own the rights for ones tissue. That it's not so black and white. But it felt like an afterthought to the book.
pickTo call this one a ‘biography‘ feels reductive. This 2010 masterpiece of journalistic non-fiction is much more than the dates and facts of a life. It‘s an study of bioethics, a masterclass in accessible science writing, and a testament to the human consequences of scientific discovery. And it‘s compelling as heck, to boot! Full review: https://keepingupwiththepenguins.com/the-immortal-life-of-henrietta-lacks-rebecc...
Hopefully on target to finish 3 bingo lines, including #bookspin and #doublespin picks for March. Need to finish the tagged, North and South for #pemberlittens and start Lark Rise to Candleford for the hat trick by Friday! Getting into reducing that tbr pile nicely. Although like any other bibliophile, they're immediately replaced tenfold. 😂📚📚📚📚
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What will April bring?
pickWow! I know I'm really late to the party on this, but what a story! I devoured this in 2 sittings. It's incredibly readable! I adored the author's balance of science, history, ethics, & relationships. Deborah's journey to learn about her mother & sister touched me deeply. I know I'll be thinking about this book for a long time. Thank goodness for #Bookspin! I finally picked this up and dove in! This was my #Doublespin for March @TheAromaofBooks
I‘ve had this one on my shelf for years and I need to read it!! Have you read it?
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I'm behind schedule, so here is my February pick as well for #12booksof2021
This was an excellent work of journalism and a heartbreaking story of exploitation.
so-soOh my word, it took me forever to finish this book. I think I expected too much. Or maybe it was just the extremely questionable theology towards the end that put me off! ⭐⭐⭐
pickTruly a commendable effort for Rebecca Skloot to publish this and tell the story of Henrietta Lacks and her family on how scientists did research on her cells without consent. I liked that Skloot shed some light on the family drama and didn‘t make it all about Henrietta.
I can‘t believe it took me so long to read this! This should be required reading, even for high schoolers.
4⭐️
11/8/21
pick5✨ I could not put this down! I‘ve heard of Henrietta Lacks immortal cells because I teach science and try to stay current. While it did have the major medical advancements that the HeLa cells help to benefit it was more about the history and the family she left behind. A lot of heart break, but trying to make it right along the way. #roaringwolf (just for fun)-Reaching for the Stars @Littlewolf1
pickAppreciated the balance of science and family history that Rebecca Skloot created for her book.
#QuotsyJul21 #cell
The most famous & important cells I can think of. This book was so interesting but made me so angry for Henrietta & all of the others misused in the name of medicine.
“These cells have transformed modern medicine. … They shaped the policies of countries and of presidents. They even became involved in the Cold War. Because scientists were convinced that in her cells lay the secret of how to conquer death.”
pickWow! I wanted to read this because I thought it was important material. I was pleasantly surprised with how readable Skloot wrote it. She is quite talented!
pickMs. Lacks‘ cells have a unique capacity to reproduce for generations, seemingly without end. Her cells have been used in cancer research for decades. Unfortunately, this research was done done without her consent. Is it any wonder that Black Americans distrust the medical field here?
pickGlad to have finally read the amazing history of the HeLa cell line and the woman who has contributed so much to science. However, the history of the Lacks descendants is a tragic one and was difficult to read at times. Skloot raises important questions around informed consent, tissue rights, and racism in medicine. Had Henrietta been white would things have been different for her family and would her name have lived in obscurity for so long? 4⭐️
