I have a lot of opportunity with partnerships: I have to choose them because I am rarely disappointed. It happens more often is that I am surprised by a book I thought that is interesting and richer than expected. This is the case of "Life of Henrietta Lacks immortal."
Abstract:
In 1951, Henrietta Lacks, a young mother's black American South, died of cancer of the cervix uterus particularly virulent. Before his death, the doctor who was taken care of, without informing him, some cancer cells. These will not only be the first human cells to survive in the laboratory, but they multiply at a phenomenal rate and seem immortal. Produced on a large scale, these cells, called HeLa, used material irreplaceable research laboratories around the world without anyone knowing who they are from and without the family of Henrietta is notified.
My opinion:
This book lies halfway between documentary journalism, biography and popular science. In parallel, we discover three distinct narratives.
There are first the fabulous history of a lineage of cells that constitute a true miracle for scientific research. These "HeLa" are apparently known to all biologists the world who still use them daily to develop vaccines, study their reactions in many situations (they were even sent into space!), associate them with animal cells, etc.. Yet their story is full of dangers as far as success. Rebecca Skloot undertakes to tell us all the ins and outs of this scientific adventure in language accessible to the uninitiated reader (believe me, I am part of this category). It also takes the time to describe the main actors. If we sometimes focus neurons to properly followed, it really is not insurmountable, and narrative divided into short chapters lightens the reading. It's absolutely fascinating.
other hand, the author also develops a biography of Henrietta Lacks, from his childhood until his death. Given the title, one might expect that this part forms the vast majority of the book in fact is far from being the case, for the life of Henrietta, besides the fact that it was cut short by cancer, does nothing exceptionally well. But that's life typical of a black woman descendant of slaves in the southern United States shortly after the end of segregation racial, and as such it is an opportunity to propose a representation of his social milieu. What the author is quick to make, passing over the transition themes of racism, extreme poverty, of promiscuity and even incest.
Finally, a third party intimately mingled with the other two, the author tells of her research to reconstruct the history of HeLa cells and Henrietta, and in particular the steps of his meeting with children and the family of Henrietta Lacks. This meeting was not an easy one, given that the family, very little education, including poorly taking and outs of research without their knowledge and burned by bad experiences with journalists and profiteers, was more than suspicious to him. And then we fall into the side (too?) pathos of this story is the middle of the fourth world that the American journalist is found. Lacks Family varies between violence and absolute credulity and Rebecca Skloot must tame the wild animals as members whose responses are unpredictable. Outside Deborah (and perhaps why it is highlighted), the predominant reaction is quite unpleasant "These are the cells of our mother, we want money!". This part put me uncomfortable, I can not decide whether there was exaggeration or condescension on the part the author, nor to attach myself to the fate of a family difficult to understand.
If the style does not make a literary unforgettable, it is in any case instructive reading and information that raises very pertinent questions. How far will and must go, the medical ethics and science? The history of rules and abuse in this area by the author told us proves that there was a marked improvement since the days of Henrietta Lacks, but a long final chapter also shows us that not everything is settled. Henrietta finds himself in the position of a farmer who finds a treasure in his field, unlike that one, it did not discovered this treasure and been able to benefit. Companies have made fortunes by reproducing and reselling HeLa cells, but generally, it is especially looking for the benefit of mankind that these cells were used. So what? How to prevent the descendants of Henrietta of being so poor as to be unable to afford the doctor And why only them? Why are they more deserving?
I realize that I was a little long, but that is because this reading deserves a multifaceted presentation at its height. Beyond the very interesting biography of a character Historic totally unknown, this book allows us to explore historical themes or very current scientific and sociological, all very informative and subject to debate. In short, a very rich reading that I recommend. A big thank you to Editions Calmann-Levy for this great discovery.
For more information:
- the opinion of Lise's blog Livraddict , which I find particularly well formulated.
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