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victoria_08's review
4.75
This book was incredible. The themes and concepts go so far beyond the science of cells; it dives into consent, medical malpractice/proper protocol, economic disparities, racism, and even personal themes of love, loss, anger, and grief. The narrative was spun in a way felt just like a story. It wasn't just facts listed on a page, those facts were interspersed throughout the narrative in a way that piqued the readers interest. This book wasn't cold or informal, like many nonfictions, it was personal and honest. I learned so much from this book, and honestly this story still blows me away
acrickettofillthesilence's review
2.0
I think my biggest problem with the book is the fact that it reads like a magazine article. It begins with the author telling you about how the family changed her life, intermittently describes the ways she discovers information about Henrietta Lacks and her family, and ends with an update on the family. Somewhere in the middle is the story of Henrietta Lacks and her cells. That's a great style for a magazine article; the journalist is writing the back story in order to discuss a current event. As a biography, it falls flat. Why should I care about how Skloot came about her information? She isn't really doing much: she doesn't add to the conversation, she's researching events. The current discussion Henrietta's cells raise is an afterthought, shoved to the back of the book.
astraldylan's review
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
Everyone needs to read this book.
shannon_reads_books's review
5.0
This was great! It was so well written - very engaging for a nonfiction book. I loved that the author focused on the history of what happened to Henrietta Lacks and other patients, what the cells were used for, AND how the family was impacted by the entire situation.
pilateschick's review
4.0
Jam-packed with fascinating information, page after page. I'm thrilled that Rebecca Skloot is giving Henrietta Lacks the acknowledgement and credit that have been long overdue.