The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

Dyed HeLa cells

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

Rebecca Skloot
Edition Published February 2010


In an unmarked grave, lies Henrietta Lacks, whose cells have made monumental contributions to science, but not without controversy.

In 1951, a young black woman named Henrietta Lacks died from cervical cancer leaving five children behind.  Yet, cancer cells taken from her body (named HeLa cells) live on and have almost single-handedly revolutionized cellular science and the pharmaceutical industry.

While Skloot's book does cover the science aspects of HeLa cells, it is mainly a quest to get to know Henrietta Lacks and her other contributions to the world, namely her children. A memoir of Skloot's quest to delve deeper into the story, the book is unlike anything I have ever read before.  I opened it expecting one thing, and found myself confronted with a reality I never conceived.  For me, the book explored the mother-daughter bond and the heart wrenching tale of a black woman trying to feel connected to a mom she couldn't remember and yearned so desperately for.

Cells, once removed from the body become the property of the scientist/doctor conducting the research.  As such the Lacks Family has not benefited financially from the HeLa revolution.  And although Skloot's book will not improve the day to day lives of Henrietta's children: she has set up a fund to provide for the educational needs of the Lacks' children.

I enjoyed the book and recommend it to anyone ready to conquer reality, in all its splendor and squalor.

 

Lies I Told My Children (and Other Stories)

Lies I Told My Children (and Other Stories)
Karen McQuestion
Copyright July 2009

A book of cute short stories that I think most every parent can relate to.  McQuestion's stories kind of reminded me of The Bloggess, just  on a more PG scale.  From the safety of Metallica concerts for teenage boys, to just realizing you can't control everything, I had a smile on my face most of the time.

And you may lend it out on the Kindle, so I will gladly share.

Blogging for Dummies

Blogging for Dummies
Susannah Gardner
Copyright 2012

 Curiosity got the best of me when I picked up this book for my Kindle.  Every computer science book that I have ever bought has either been way too in-depth for my needs, or just skims the surface.  Unfortunately, this book was no exception.

Blogging for Dummies is a great primer.  Gardner excels at introducing the technology and all its accoutrement in an easy to follow and entertaining style.  But, for those of us who know Blogger and WordPress, the book is lacking that added oomph.  I don't know what aha! moment I wanted, but this book just didn't give it to me.  Not for lack of trying.  Gardner encourages bloggers of all sizes and genres, but to me, her advice was somewhat trite: Get out there, write often, and have fun.  Well, that's a no brainer.  In fact, its my life motto.

A quick note to the Kindle users, the "Dummy" format doesn't  translate all that well. It was hard to differentiate text for sidebars and vice versa.

We, Too, Are Americans

We, Too, Are Americans
 Megan Taylor Shockley
Copyright 2003



Caveat:  I am friends with Megan, so this "review" holds little merit, other than to record that I read the book.  :) I am a dork...  I will read historical non-fiction for the pure thrill of it all.  So it helps to have friends in high places.

We, Too, Are Americans discusses the organization of African American women to improve their socioeconomic status during WWII, specifically in Richmond, VA and Detroit, MI.  It helps the reader to create a picture of race relations in the 1940's by contrasting two cities on opposing sides of the Mason-Dixon Line.

A well written and thorough treatise, the book explores an oft-forgotten segment of social history.  Many people, myself included, were unaware of the efforts of middle class African American Women to minimize the the inequalities between blacks and whites during the Jim Crowe Era.  But logically it was the ideal time to strike: America was in crisis and African Americans were working as hard on America's behalf.  For their effort, middle class black women lobbied for jobs and improved conditions through organizations such as sororities and other social groups.  Shockley's research shows how the stage was set for the Civil Rights Movement on the foundation created by the groups.

This Book Is Overdue!: How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All

This Book Is Overdue!: How Librarians andCybrarians Can Save Us All

Marilyn Johnson

February 2010

In an attempt to stir my ego, I picked up this book.  I am/was a librarian.  You mean I can save the world?  Hot Damn! 

Marilyn Johnson is not a librarian, but I bet you she has some kinky fantasies about them.  Intellectually at least, she is an information groupie.  If you are able to get that info to her in a timely and concise fashion, you will receive her adoration. That being said, she did an exhausting amount of research for this book.  She presents an intimate picture of the varied roles of librarians as well as their takes on that role and its evolution in the digital age.

I appreciate her take on the democratization on information.  As a librarian, I recognize the importance of technology and a willingness to embrace things that are on the cusp of greatness or failure. Take for example Second Life, it is a great way to disseminate information.  People as avatars are unencumbered by inhibitions and our willing to ask questions they may otherwise be to embarrassed to ask.  Great!  But on the flip side, they are unencumbered by inhibitions and lose all sense of social decency.  Eww!  Where does one draw the line?  Should a line even be drawn?  According to Johnson, and my comrades she interviewed: No.

*** Up Next:  The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson***