In general, I've come to believe that as great as some notable novels written through the decades by talented authors are (and I've only read a small bit of them), often fiction can pale next to real-life accounts of little examined historic events. Sure, there are numerous volumes dedicated to the grand stage that are monumental wars and epic political struggles throughout millennia for readers and history buffs like me to sample. But sometimes it is the intimate story of one important individual, and the people and effects surrounding her, that continue to ripple through time in unexpected ways and have an ongoing impact in the lives of many. Such is the case for author Rebecca Skloot's close chronicle of an African-American woman who died young in 1951, but who will outlive those of us breathing today.
This post has been updated and moved to my current blog, which can be found
here.
This one has been hovering in my peripheral vision for a while. Your enthusiasm tells me I need to turn my head and look directly at it.
ReplyDeleteThank you le0pard13 for the props! It is an amazing book and I am so glad you agreed. I may have to listen to the audio~~
ReplyDeleteIt will be well worth you time, Naomi. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you got me to move it up before the year ended, Bev. And I really recommend the audiobook. Plus, there is a author's interview included with some very interesting backstory. Thanks, my friend.
ReplyDeleteYes Naomi~~you will be glad you did. As was said, the best book I read this year!
ReplyDeleteEarlier this year, my sister sent us a link to an article in Smithsonian Magazine about this book. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/Henrietta-Lacks-Immortal-Cells.html
ReplyDeleteIt caught her attention because, at the time, she was working with C12 cells propagated from those of Ms. Lacks. Immortal cells, indeed. I've wanted to read this book ever since, but so glad to know that the audiobook is good option.
Thanks for this, Michael! And thanks for the link to Bev's review, as well!
I'm trying to get my book club to include this title on our 2011 list. Either way I'm reading it but I think it'd be a great one for a discussion.
ReplyDeleteOn another note... maybe non-fiction is how I should ease into the audiobook world. I'm much better at listening to information than I am to stories. I am convinced I can acquire this skill if only I try hard enough. :)
Also, hoping to figure out what is wrong with my commenting so if I try a couple more times and you get stuck with a bunch of duplicates I am really sorry!
Trying to comment again, hoping not in triplicate...
ReplyDeleteaha! ahahahahahahaha! got it. :-D
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link, Christine. It really is one amazing and involving story.
ReplyDeleteThe book and story is what made for great discussion. There's so much to it and it crosses so many aspects. No problem with the duplicates. Try logging out and back in using one of the methods offered (you can also create a JS-Kit account). HTH and Thanks.
ReplyDeleteSeemed to work :) .
ReplyDeleteSuccess?
ReplyDeleteYeppers! The problem stemmed from me not being able to log in at all no matter how many of the options I tried out. How that translated into triplicate posts I have still not figured out. Anyway, worked out my internet settings so that I was able to log in as before so no worries.
ReplyDeleteRe your question over at my blog (which will have a bit more detail to the answer) yes I have thought of trips south for book goodness and the festival you mention works perfectly so I'm pretty sure i'll be there. :)