Let's just consider the story: Henrietta Lacks

Hi Readers,

While reading the book on my iPad I am able to make notes, highlight, and bookmark passages from each book.  The following are some of my notes and why I marked them. Quotes are in red - my comments in black.

Cliff was showing Rebecca around the cemetery where many graves were unmarked.  'Used to be we'd mark them graves with a rock so we could find em, " Cliff told me. But the cemetery got cleaned out one time with a bulldozer so that pretty much cleared those rocks on away.  First off this reminded me of my grandfather's bones which lie somewhere unknown.  The cemetery was moved.  Then it seemed so sweet that still Cliff knew his ancestors were buried there and it was important to him.


As HeLa grew like crabgrass in laboratories around the world a virologist named Chester Southam had a frightening thought: what if Henrietta's cancer cells could infect the scientists working on them?   Then again why couldn't they infect humanity in an adverse way and what if we really aren't in control of experimental biologic elements?   What if these errant cells take over humanity?

There is a quote from a magazine Science 85 which we subscribed to although I remember every years it changed it's name to include the year.  I remember it back when it was called Science '79.  I got a chuckle out of that since we quote that magazine sometimes to each other.


The debate over the commercialization of human biological materials always comes back to one fundamental point" like it or not, we live in a market driven society and science is part of that market.    If a company and their research teams can't make money they won't do the research so is there a need for national research?  Then that cuts off the free market.  Deeply intriguing questions without good answers for me.  I think this is what is described as a conundrum?

And two questions from the study guide:
#6 This is a story with many layers .....  It certainly is an one that will challenge my thoughts for many years to come.
#11  Deborah says, ' but i always have thought it was strange, if our mather cells done so much for medicine, how come her family can't afford to see no doctors?  Don't make no sense."  Yeah, so much of this story don't make sense when it comes to the humanity of it but then there is the science of it and it's all twisted and turned - like cancer cells.....


Happy Reading til next time,
Barbara

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks Revisited

Hello Readers,

In searching out some discussion questions for this book I am constantly confronted with the moral questions that face everyone.
           Was Henrietta treated differently because she was black, a woman, from the south, etc.?
           Was it wrong for Gey to pass on her cells for research to further advance science?
           Was the Lacks family treated poorly because they were black, poor, etc.?
Etc., etc., etc.

We can all sit here in 2012 and judge what happened in the 1950's but that is the way it was.  Bio-ethics is such an important part of our world today.  Just consider how many times you are sent and given privacy notices from doctors, banks, credit card accounts, etc.  If anyone wants to comment on the ethical questions in this book, please do.  There was an article online about the following organization while I was reading this book and it gave me great and little concern. Little if I don't really think too hard about the entire concept  - great when it comes to our bodies, property, national security.


Kopimi, an anti-copyright initiative developed by the Piratbyrån, a Swedish organization actively opposing modern copyright law and practices, and the previous operators of BitTorrent tracker The Pirate Bay, before it was spun off as an independent organization.
  Find more information at:   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-copyright

I will have more to say in the coming days about the story of Henrietta Lacks.  In the meantime, have a wonderful day.

Happy Reading,
Barbara

Book of the Month - MAY

May-be you'll read the Book of the Month for May!
May-be you are stuck in a rut and need something new to read.
May-be you need to be jostled from your usual readings?
May-be you are overwhelmed with reading other things?
May-be you are too busy?
May-be you can take some time out of everyday for reading.
May-be you'll give our May Book of the Month a try.

The Color of Water by James McBride

If you open this link you can listen to some very nice Jazz by McBride while reading!
http://www.jamesmcbride.com/

Thank you so much Jen for getting back to me about those book suggestions.  Technology is great but sometimes it gets in my way.  I could have lost the piece of paper, too!

Happy Reading,
Barbara

I though this review was right on:


“Landay, a former DA, mixes gritty court reporting with Andy’s painful confrontation with himself, forcing readers willy-nilly to realize the end is never the end when, as Landay claims, the line between truth and justice has become so indistinct as to appear imaginary. This searing narrative proves the ancient Greek tragedians were right: the worst punishment is not death but living with what you — knowingly or unknowingly — have done.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Hello readers,

We here we are weeks after we all should have finished Defending Jacob and be well into the Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.  I find them both disturbing works of literature.  Gotta find some feel good books!

BTW: I was keeping a list of your suggestions for future books of the Month and I goofed.  I was cutting and pasting on my iPad and lost all of your suggestions.  So, Jennifer Christopher if you are still out there, please email me the books you suggested in February.  Maria, I have the suggestions from Penny but any others you gave me would be appreciated.  Eileen, I am not sure if you gave me some suggestions but if you have any please email me.   I hate when I am electronically challenged but do appreciate your cooperation.

So, how do you all feel about Defending Jacob?  As I said I found it very disturbing.  The family seemed too one-dimensional to me.  Landry in a small way tries to make the mom seems caring at the funeral  but I found her character to be flat, although when tragedy strikes a family like it certainly did this one, each person reverts to their comfort zone.  Maybe this is the reason I found the ending so surprising.  Could it be?     Was it really cleverness on the part of the author?

I would never want a relative or friend to defend me or someone in my family.  As the saying goes: a man who is his own lawyer has a fool for a client.  In 'real life'Andy should have not been involved at all in the defense and looking back on the story now - maybe Jacob did it!  However, does that have anything to do with his heredity?  Can things like violence be passed from generation to generation?  Is maturity the ability to overcome our base impulses.

I know, bullying is a big no-no in our society now but sometimes the less smart, popular, athletic, musically gifted, etc. have to step up and defend their territory.  I don't know if this happened in the book but maybe Jacob and his friends were being bullied and as a group decided to stand up for themselves.  Maybe Ben was murdered by more than one of them.  Did anyone else think of that?

Usually movie editions of books I have read never live up to my expectations.  Two exceptions to that have been Harry Potter and Twilight.  Maybe those books are so description in a youthful way that the movies must be on target.  I can see the mom being played by the actress on Law and Order, Mariska Hargitay oand John Kusak for Andy.  The grandfather should be played by someone who gives us all the creeps - like Christopher Walken.

Write to the blog and tell us what you think.  Have a wonderful day and  - May is just around the corner so get reading!  I have to find something easy to read for May --- help!

Happy Reading,
Barbara

Y
You never know how someone will react to an event until it actually happens.
You can see how terrifying it would be to have your life rush so out of control. 


I
If you were Andy Barber, would you make the same decisions?  How would you differ the most?
If you were Jacob's mother - how would your reaction be in contrast to your spouse?
If Jacob was 25, 18, or 9 would your view of him be different?
Identifying criminal behavior was the focus of the 2002 movie The Minority Report where future criminals were disposed of before they committed crimes.  How does that thought sit with you after reading this book?


K
Keep in mind that we don't 'really' know  - do you think that Jacob is guilty? 
Knit together the evidence you saw in the book.  What leads you to innocent?  Guilty?


E
Environment vs. Nature is one of the themes in the book.  Which do you favor?  
Every kid has had bullying experience.  You cannot read a paper or watch the news without seeing something that is blamed on it.  That said - do you really think Jacob was bullied?  or was he the bully?  Does harassment sometimes run both ways?
Ethically speaking, what do you think of the ADA Neal Logiudice?  What about Andy getting 'fired' because of this event?


S
Sitting in that courtroom day after day would make anyone itchy!  How can any family endure the endless inquiry?  
Since Jacob's grandfather is an unknown entity to him - do you think it is possible that the 'underworld or criminal world' {don't know how to describe where he lives} can actually function like that?  
Someday soon you will be able to see this incredible book on a Warner Bros. movie.  They bought the rights to it this past March.  Could it possibly live up to your expectations?

April Fool's Book

Hi Readers,


You would think that I could find a clever book to present for April Fool's Day like:


April Fool by William Deverall or

Fooled You!  by Nancy E. Krulik (a cute children's book)  or      

                        

                                                April Fool's Day  by Bryce Courtenay

But alas, I am not that clever nor did I want to take a chance on non-recommended books.  Of course the children's books are always good for a chuckle.  

Did I go for another WW2 book?  No, even though The Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson sits on my nightstand.  I am hoping that this months book is a fast read so I can read this loiterer! 

You will be happy to know that this month's book was selected scientifically thought deduction and exclusion.  Two post it notes had initials of the titles and DH (Dear Husband) selected one not knowing which was which.  Then we come to the Book of the Month for April 2012:

                                   The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

                                                                Even though this photo says buy a signed copy of the book, I don't have any!  It's just a photo I borrowed from the Rebecca Skloot website.  This book was named as one of the best books of 2010.  So here's to Henrietta and the story - true - that Rebecca tells.  

Some posted comments about Defending Jacob will follow later this week.  I am trying to give DH time to finish but he keeps getting skitzzed out by the book and puts it down.  

Have a wonderful day and a great Holy Week!

Happy reading,

Barbara