Contemplating Immortality

To kick off our fall reading, book discussion group members met at the library to discuss The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. This nonfiction text raised many questions about bioethics and the group had a lively discussion about the implications. Members also enjoyed a rice pudding, like Henrietta Lacks used to make for her family. Below are additional resources for those wishing to learn more about the book.

Author Bios & Interviews

• http://rebeccaskloot.com/about/bio/
• https://www.avclub.com/rebecca-skloot-author-of-the-immortal-life-of-henriett-1798225778
• https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/19/magazine/rebecca-skloot-feels-indebted-to-henrietta-lacks.html
• http://www.thedailybeast.com/rebecca-skloot-how-i-write
• http://www.cc.com/video-clips/4h8104/the-colbert-report-rebecca-skloot [VIDEO]
• http://www.oregonlive.com/books/index.ssf/2010/04/like_father_like_daughter_rebe.html

Book Reviews

• http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/07/books/review/Margonelli-t.html?pagewanted=all
• http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/29/AR2010012902147.html
• https://www.wired.com/2010/02/book-review-the-immortal-life-of-henrietta-lacks/
• http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2010/01/25/review-the-immortal-life-of-henrietta-lacks-by-rebecca-skloot/#.WcMniYjytPY
• http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/bookreviews/7837654/The-Immortal-Life-of-Henrietta-Lacks-by-Rebecca-Skloot-review.html
• http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/medical_examiner/2010/02/the_consent_conundrum.html

Discussion Questions

• http://rebeccaskloot.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/HenriettaLacks_RGG_questions.pdf
• http://www.litlovers.com/reading-guides/14-non-fiction/1251-immortal-life-of-henrietta-lacks-skloot?start=3
• http://libguides.library.ncat.edu/content.php?pid=132289&sid=1180100
• http://www.losgatosca.gov/DocumentCenter/Home/View/2813
• http://mnliteracy.org/sites/default/files/attachments/the_immortal_life_of_henrietta_lacks_book_discussion_questions_related_resources.pdf
• https://www.abss.k12.nc.us/site/handlers/filedownload.ashx?moduleinstanceid=29229&dataid=24076&FileName=HeLa_Discussion.pdf

Movie Tie-In

• http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-immortal-life-of-henrietta-lacks-oprah-20170420-story.html
• https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2017/04/20/oprah-winfrey-immortal-life-of-henrietta-lacks-hbo-rebecca-skloot/100653868/
• https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2017/04/the-immortal-life-of-henrietta-lacks/523962/
• https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/20/arts/television/review-the-immortal-life-of-henrietta-lacks-condensed.html?mcubz=1
• https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2017/04/weve-been-bamboozled-the-immortal-life-of-henriett.html
• http://www.npr.org/2017/04/20/524833630/tv-movie-review-the-immortal-life-of-henrietta-lacks

Miscellany

• Argument for patients' rights - https://www.aclu.org/blog/privacy-technology/medical-and-genetic-privacy/henrietta-lacks-story-powerful-lesson-patients
• BBC documentary on Henrietta Lacks & HeLA - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0lMrp_ySg8
• Book banning controversy - https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/sep/09/henrietta-lacks-book-rebecca-kloots-porn-allegation-tennessee-parent
• Family rift regarding the book/movie -https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/on-the-eve-of-an-oprah-movie-about-henrietta-lacks-an-ugly-feud-consumes-the-family/2017/03/28/d33d3418-1248-11e7-ada0-1489b735b3a3_story.html?utm_term=.6cd8c78630e5
• The Henrietta Lacks Foundation - http://henriettalacksfoundation.org/
• Rolling Stone magazine article mentioned often in the book - http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/features/the-double-edged-helix-19760325