Friday, December 16, 2011

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot


The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks explores the life of a woman whose cells are used in medical laboratories worldwide.  Henrietta Lacks, an African-American woman living in Georgia, discovered that she was terribly ill and sought the help of doctors. In the 1950s, when segregation was loud and proud, Henrietta received treatment from white doctors. While Henrietta slowly died, her doctors discovered that her cells were immortal. That is to say they needed no assistance in multiplying. Her cells could be multiplied and used repeatedly in various research efforts. Before and after Henrietta’s death, doctors collected tissue samples from her, without her or her family’s consent, and began using her cells in medical research. Doctors would eventually sell her cells for hundreds of dollars while her children and family lived in poverty. The total amount of money generated from sales of the HeLa cells is in the billions.
Rebecca Skloot spent years researching and writing this text. Her dedication to telling Henrietta’s story is evident, and readers will appreciate her commitment to presenting the facts in an accurate and bias-free manner. Many of the concepts discussed in the text are complex, but Skloot breaks down the issues so that individuals who have a loose grasp on science can understand. This book examines medical ethics and race and how the two intersect. It is a compelling read that will encourage readers to think about their medical rights and how little control we have over the tissue samples and blood taken during routine medical examinations. Skloot's debut novel is thoughtful and engaging.
You should read this book, because it is a fascinating account of a mother who died tragically, but whose cells continue to thrive today. The text will help you understand how African Americans have been used in medical experiments for years. If you are interested in learning more about medical experimentation and bioethics, this is the book for you.

Friday, December 9, 2011

One Pink Line Goodreads Giveaway

One Pink Line is currently a giveaway on Goodreads. If you haven’t read it, I highly suggest that you do. It is excellent. Enter before December 11th for a chance to win!
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12988846-one-pink-line

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

A Book Clock!

While browsing around your favorite book shop, do you ever come across a gorgeous vintage book? Now you can purchase it and make a clock!

Head over to Ruffles & Stuff for the tutorial.

Friday, December 2, 2011

Say You're One of Them by Uwem Akpan


You need to read this collection of short stories and this is why:
It will change you. It is as simple as that. It is impossible to read this text and not be grateful for your life. Before reading Say You’re One of Them, I was thankful for the usual: good health, love, education, and food. After reading Akpan’s work, I was grateful for clean water. I was grateful for a roof over my head. I was grateful for living in a place where I do not have to fear for my safety or sell my body to feed my family. You will have a strong appreciation for every aspect of your life and every opportunity that you have ever had.
Say You’re One of Them is a collection of short stories told from the point of view of African children. Each story highlights a struggle or conflict that is too common in Africa. Although I do not fall in love with short stories in the same way that I fall in love with novels, I was overwhelmingly moved by Akpan’s work. Some of the stories are better than others, but taken as a whole, it is a haunting and moving read.
This work, I hope, will inspire you to help or learn more about the struggles of Africans. Say You’re One of Them illuminated the global water crisis for me. Did you know that approximately 1 billion people live without clean drinking water? African children must quit school so that they may walk miles to fill up empty gasoline canisters with dirty, bacteria-infested water.  Upon reading Uwem Akpan’s debut collection of stories, I became a supporter of clean water projects. I have friends who were moved to join Doctors Without Borders, The Peace Corps, and various nonprofits after reading Akpan’s work and researching the plight of Africans.
To learn more about the global clean water crisis, visit Charity:Water. http://www.charitywater.org/whywater/