Excerpt from the immortal life of henrietta lacks, books. She was a poor black tobacco farmer whose cellstaken without her knowledge in 1951became one of the most important tools in medicine, vital for developing the polio vaccine, cloning, gene mapping, and more. The onestop resource for book groups and other greedy readers. Id finished the immortal life of henrietta lacks just in time for my book club meeting. The immortal life of henrietta lacks is a nonfiction book written by rebecca skloot. She was a poor black tobacco farmer whose cellstaken without her knowledge in 1951became one of the most important tools in medicine, vital for developing the polio vaccine, cloning, gene mapping, in vitro fertilization, and more. Did anything you read change your previous opinions. Skloot was yet another white person asking the lacks family about henrietta.
To assess the impact of the book on discussion within the media and popular culture more generally, we systematically analyzed the ethicsrelated. Bioethics book club the immortal life of henrietta lacks. The immortal life of henrietta lacks paperback redbery books. The following three reflections are my responses to both our group discussions and guiding questions that were found in the back of the book. The immortal life of henrietta lacks a usf faculty discussion. Excerpt from the immortal life of henrietta lacks the incredible story that intrigues scientists and researchers alike. Start by unraveling the complicated history of henrietta lackss tissue cells. Discuss the immortal life of henrietta lacks by rebecca skloot in an online book club. There was so much to discuss, the hour long discussion flew by much like reading the book. Sep 29, 2017 the story of henrietta lacks cells and cancer research is interesting. Henrietta s cells, called hela cells, became the first immortal human cell line. Hundreds of book groups worldwide have read the immortal life with wonderful.
Georgetown township public library book discussion guide the. It has since become a popular 2011 freshman common read. The immortal life of henrietta lacks the monday evening. The immortal life of henrietta lacks book club questions. Discuss the familys ignorance and their lack of medical knowledge.
Discussion questions for the immortal life of henrietta lacks are listed 1. Meanwhile, because hela cells and cell culturing promised so many advances in medicine, the media spread the story of the immortal cell culture. Septoct book club, the immortal life of henrietta lacks. Readers should be aware in advance that this book contains scenes that include sexual assault. Reading group discussion questionsthe immortal life of. The immortal life of henrietta lacks tells the story of henrietta lacks renee elise goldsberry, an africanamerican woman whose cells were used to create the first immortal human cell line. Catch up on chapters, chapters 46, chapters 79, chapters 1012, chapters 15, chapters 1618, chapters 1921, and chapters 2224. This is the discussion guide for the immortal life of henrietta lacks by rebecca skloot bot and our website are here to stay. Reading group discussion questionsthe immortal life of henrietta lacks. All you have to do is zoom in and join the discussion.
The crandall public library monday evening book discussion group gathered on june 18, 2012 to discuss rebecca skloots the immortal life of henrietta lacks. Ten years of research resulted in the immortal life of henrietta lacks. This is our first suggested reading from a member of the group. Can the immortal cells of henrietta lacks sue for their own. A thoughtful guide to forming and enjoying a stimulating book discussion group ellen slezak editor 374. Im not sure the family is entitled to feel so wronged, however. However, as much as i searched, i was unable to find a published discussion guide for the book to facilitate a discussion.
The immortal life of henrietta lacks 2014 junior community. And the story about her life and her familys lives is fascinating, too. One book one lcc 201415 the immortal life of henrietta. Nov 27, 2017 welcome to the comments and discussion of the young adult cancer book club we are reading the immortal life of henrietta lacks by rebecca skloot. Rebecca wondered about the woman behind the hela cells. Directed by adam curtis, the film did a fine job of telling henrietta s story, and. Jan 08, 2021 as much as this book is about henrietta lacks, it is also about deborah learning of the mother she barely knew, while also finding out the truth about her sister, elsie. Nov 06, 2020 get a group together to discuss the immortal life of henrietta lacks. May 22, 2010 but the immortal life of henrietta lacks succeeds despite itself. The springfield free public librarys really good book discussion group will meet on thursday, june 7, 2012 at 7 pm to discuss the immortal life of henrietta lacks by rebecca skloot.
The passage in which the initial fated cells were removed from henrietta lackss. The following button will redirect you to a page about the book, the immortal life of henrietta lacks, if you are interested in learning more about the book. The immortal life of henrietta lacks discussion questions. Book her name was henrietta lacks, but scientists know her as hela. Jun 25, 2018 a lawyer representing the eldest son and two grandsons of henrietta lacks, whose immortal cells have been the subject of a bestselling book, a tv movie, a family feud, cuttingedge medical. The immortal life of henrietta lacks hardcover book discussion. This is an extraordinary book, haunting and beautifully told. Intimate in feeling, astonishing in scope, and impossible to put down, the immortal life of henrietta lacks soon to be an hbo film starring oprah winfrey and rose byrne captures the beauty and drama of scientific discovery, as well as its human consequences. It could not have turned out better and i was primed and. Discussion questions for the immortal life of henrietta lacks 1. The immortal life was selected for the first nonfiction edition of the atlantics 1book140 reading club. Skloots debut book, the immortal life of henrietta lacks, took more than a decade to research and write, and instantly became a new york times bestseller. Rebecca skloot her name was henrietta lacks, but scientists know her as hela.
It is a riveting story of the collision between ethics, race, and medicine. How do you feel about a white woman creating the narrative of this story. She was a poor southern tobacco farmer who worked the same land as her slave ancestors, yet her cells taken without her knowledge became one of the most important tools in medicine. Rebecca skloot first heard henrietta s name in a college class, but not much more was said about her. Her name was henrietta lacks, but scientists know her as hela. The immortal life of henrietta lacks roya edalatpour. Discuss the immortal life of henrietta lacks by rebecca skloot. We will talk about several chapters each monday until the book is done probably about three chapters since the book has so many. Epich event the immortal life of henrietta lacks book. I was so impacted by the story that i decided to choose it as a reading selection for my book club. Additional resources on the reading groups page of rebecca skloots website. Imagine discovering similar information about one of your family members.
The immortal life of henrietta lacks literacy minnesota. The immortal life of henrietta lacks, by rebecca skloot, 4 stars. Mar 04, 2021 the immortal life of henrietta lacks is the story of an african american woman and her family that touches on many big issues. Why do you think the author was so determined to write this book. Henrietta lacks expressed her distrust in the medical community as a black woman in her time.
The immortal life of henrietta lacks general information guides. Also consider these litlovers talking points to help get a discussion started for the immortal life of henrietta lacks. Having suffered so much from the stress of trying to understand the gravity of the situation and the anxiety of warding off unwarranted lawyers, reporters and scientists, the children of henrietta lacks were initially unwilling to speak to skloot. As they discuss how to stop hela contamination, they realize that if they find genetic markers specific to henrietta, they will be able to find out which cells are henrietta s, and which are not. The immortal life of henrietta lacks by rebecca skloot book club. Antiracist book club the immortal life of henrietta lacks the. Sep 10, 2012 the first monday of the month the library was closed for labor day, so booked for the day met monday september 10 to discuss rebecca skloots the immortal life of henrietta lacks. Wolfe, renee elise goldsberry, reg cathey, courtney vance and rose byrne on facebook live. The really good book discussion group the immortal life. Oprah winfrey and rose byrne star in this adaptation of the criticallyacclaimed book.
A comprehensive guide to the reading group experience diana loevy 374. The immortal life of henrietta lacks brings to mind the work of philip k. Using the immortal life of henrietta lacks in the classroom will deepen your students understanding of. These cells launched a medical revolution and are still alive today. What did you knowthink about henrietta lacks before reading the book. Guided reading and discussion questions are provided for each chapter. Sep 18, 2017 thanks for joining us for chapters 46 of the immortal life of henrietta lacks by rebecca skloot. Do you want to share this book with your reading club. In june 1973, a group of researchers gathers at yale to begin a project that will lead to the human genome project. Feb 07, 2010 book probes immortal life of henrietta lacks henrietta lacks, a poor africanamerican woman and mother of five, never knew that she revolutionized medicine. It was chosen as a best book of 2010 by more than sixty media outlets, including entertainment weekly, people, and the new york times. As much as this book is about henrietta lacks, it is also about deborah learning of the mother she barely knew, while also finding out the truth about her sister, elsie.
The lacks family, oprah, and rebecca skloot discuss the immortal life of henrietta lacks, and the lacks familys legacy, on nbc nightly news the question of the white savior. Before we dive into the discussion questions, i want to talk a little bit about the author rebecca skloot. Here are some questions to consider as you read the book. There is no way in which henrietta or her family are worse off because her cells were used. Who did what with the cells, when, where and for what purpose.
Henrietta lacks was an african american woman, who died of cervical cancer in 1951. Discussion questions for the immortal life of henrietta lacks. From mens discussion group 2015 2016 summer 11 reading group list hela cells have been the source of profound advancements in medical, biological and genetic research, but up until now the story of henrietta lacks and her legacy has never been heard. Apr 04, 2017 as much as this book is about henrietta lacks, it is also about deborah learning of the mother she barely knew, while also finding out the truth about her sister, elsie. The really popular book club is hosted by cambridge university library and everyone is invited to join our discussion of the immortal life of henrietta lacks by rebecca skloot. The immortal life of henrietta lacks southfield public library. As an opportunity to engage broader audiences on these concerns, bioethicists have welcomed the commercial success of rebecca skloots 2010 bestselling book the immortal life of henrietta lacks.
Jul 28, 2010 back in march, i read the immortal life of henrietta lacks by rebecca skloot. Race and racism are woven throughout the book, both in the story presented and in the process of the research for the book. This months novel is rebecca skloots the immortal life of henrietta lacks. Told through the eyes of her daughter, deborah lacks oprah winfrey, the film chronicles her search, aided by journalist rebecca skloot rose byrne, to.
The immortal life of henrietta lacks book report free essay. We are now introducing cd retail packaging on our site, as well as additional changes. Skloot reveals her journalistic process in order to demonstrate her awareness of the potential harm she could cause to the lacks family by writing this book and. Back in march, i read the immortal life of henrietta lacks by rebecca skloot. The immortal life of henrietta lacks yonkers public schools. In 1952 doctors took cells from henrietta lacks without asking. Hundreds of book groups worldwide have read the immortal life with wonderful results below you will find information and resources designed to enhance your groups discussion of the immortal life of hen rietta lacks. The immortal life of henrietta lacks by rebecca skloot. The immortal life of henrietta lacks reading group choices.
Epich event the immortal life of henrietta lacks book discussion. The immortal life of henrietta lacks book discussion the lackses challenged everything i thought i knew about faith, science, journalism and race. April 17 and 24 group assignments for the discussion of the immortal life of henrietta lacks book. The immortal life of henrietta lacks by rebecca skloot book club questions 1. Jul 23, 2020 the way skloot approached the lacks family has taught me a lot about empathy and compassion. Sep 16, 2020 rebecca skloot first heard henrietta s name in a college class, but not much more was said about her. The immortal life of henrietta lacks by rebecca skloot book. The lackses challenged everything i thought i knew about faith, science, journalism. A thorny and provocative book about cancer, racism, scientific ethics and crippling poverty, the immortal life of henrietta lacks also floods over you like a narrative dam break, as if someone had managed to distill and purify the more addictive qualities of erin brockovich, midnight in the garden of good and evil and the andromeda strain. Rebecca skloot explores the racism and greed, the idealism and faith in science that helped to save thousands of lives but nearly destroyed a family. Jan 23, 2020 cancer took henrietta lacks, her cells brought forth new science, her family brought her story home. The festivities began with the presentation of a bbc documentary titled the way of all flesh. In your opinion, what were the most interesting parts of the book. Apr 04, 2017 intimate in feeling, astonishing in scope, and impossible to put down, the immortal life of henrietta lacks soon to be an hbo film starring oprah winfrey and rose byrne captures the beauty and drama of scientific discovery, as well as its human consequences.
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