The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks -- I've got a question for you (cover, characters) - Books -Literature, authors, children's books, biographies, bestsellers... - City-Data Forum

DawnMTL · 12-13-2010, 07:12 AM

For anyone who has read The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, how squeamish is too squeamish to read this book?

I'd really like to read it but when there's too much talk about "procedures" and cancer, I can't take it.

Is there a lot of doc-talk that will possibly make me feel ill?

I know that it's hard for someone else to quantify how much is too much for someone else, but if you say that there's a lot of "procedure" talk, I'll skip the book.

DawnMTL · 12-13-2010, 11:47 AM

OK, 10 views, 0 responses. I'll change the question to a two-parter. If you've read this book:

1. What did you like about it?
2. What did you NOT like about it?

pinetreelover · 12-13-2010, 12:10 PM

I am in the medical field so I'm sure that my squeamish-meter is all jacked up. There is intermittent discussion about Henrietta's cancer that primarily occurs at the beginning of the book. It is handled senstively ("mass", "pressure", "drainage") and there is some description about the surgical procedures that she undergoes. That said, the interesting aspect of the book is really about the disparities of care that impacted African Americans at that point in time and the clash (a passive clash) between Henrietta's family and the medical culture.

I would definitely recommend this book and don't think you will enjoy it any less if you skip a paragraph or two that is just too icky.

DawnMTL · 12-13-2010, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinetreelover

I am in the medical field so I'm sure that my squeamish-meter is all jacked up. There is intermittent discussion about Henrietta's cancer that primarily occurs at the beginning of the book. It is handled senstively ("mass", "pressure", "drainage") and there is some description about the surgical procedures that she undergoes. That said, the interesting aspect of the book is really about the disparities of care that impacted African Americans at that point in time and the clash (a passive clash) between Henrietta's family and the medical culture.

I would definitely recommend this book and don't think you will enjoy it any less if you skip a paragraph or two that is just too icky.

Thanks!

I've been wanting (not wanting?) to read it since it first came out and now that it's made it to the Top 10 Books of 2010, I'm wondering about it even more.

My "to read" pile is stacked very high but I'll put this on my "to order" list.

katzenfreund · 12-13-2010, 01:46 PM

I read the book - I am not too keen on descriptions of medical procedures and I was not bothered by the book. I found it a quick read and would recommend it.

DawnMTL · 12-13-2010, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katzenfreund

I read the book - I am not too keen on descriptions of medical procedures and I was not bothered by the book. I found it a quick read and would recommend it.

Thanks! That makes me another step closer to buying it as part of my next Amazon book order.

midge1021 · 01-08-2011, 11:23 PM

I'm a little behind the times, so you may have already bought and/or read this book by now. I can get a little squeamish sometimes with medically-oriented books, but I wasn't really bothered by this one at all. I don't remember specific medical parts too much right now, but if I was bothered I got over it quickly. I think it's such a worthwhile book that I would recommend trying it anyway. I think this was the book I liked most that I've read this past year.

DawnMTL · 01-09-2011, 05:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by midge1021

I'm a little behind the times, so you may have already bought and/or read this book by now. I can get a little squeamish sometimes with medically-oriented books, but I wasn't really bothered by this one at all. I don't remember specific medical parts too much right now, but if I was bothered I got over it quickly. I think it's such a worthwhile book that I would recommend trying it anyway. I think this was the book I liked most that I've read this past year.

Oh! I should have updated this thread.

I bought it and I loved it. It was such an important story, so I got over my own "issues" to read it. Very powerful stuff.

Bluesmama · 01-23-2011, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DandJ

Oh! I should have updated this thread.

I bought it and I loved it. It was such an important story, so I got over my own "issues" to read it. Very powerful stuff.

I'm glad you posted this thread. I first read about this story in our local newspaper last year, and added it to my list of "possibles" to read. Didn't know how technical it would be to read, or how easy it would be to find. So it sounds like it's worthwhile.

Cool. Thanks!

Ketabcha · 01-23-2011, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluesmama

I'm glad you posted this thread. I first read about this story in our local newspaper last year, and added it to my list of "possibles" to read. Didn't know how technical it would be to read, or how easy it would be to find. So it sounds like it's worthwhile.

Cool. Thanks!

It is a very worthwhile book. There are no "gross out" scenes in it. The author explains things in a very down to earth way. Three main issues are involved:

Spoiler

Henrietta's life and death
The benefits of these unusual cells
The cover up the medical community pulled.

It's actually a good read. It does take a bit of concentration in parts but that doesn't happen too often.

I think it is important that now the world will care about this family. They are indeed characters and interesting to get to know.

I think everyone should read it. We need to know these things. I'm embarrassed that I did not know any of it happened because this is major (old) news.