The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

About the Author: Rebecca Skloot is the daughter of poet, novelist and essayist Floyd Skloot. She received a BSc in biological sciences and an MFA in creative nonfiction. She is a former vice president of the National Book Circle Books. She is faculty member at the yearly Mid-Atlantic Summer Creative Nonfiction. Writers Conference and has taught creative writing at the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Memphis. She is also a writing mentor with the Creative Notification mentoring program.

About the Book: Henrietta Lacks was born Loretta Pleasant in August 1920 and died October 4, 1951 aged 31. She was born to a family of tobacco farmers in Ronaoke Virginia. Her family is uncertain how her name changed from Loretta to Henrietta. Eliza, her mother, died giving birth to her tenth child in 1924. Henrietta's father felt unable to handle the children, so he took them all to Clover, Virginia and distributed the children between relatives. Henrietta married her fits cousin David Lacks who had already been living with Henrietta's grandfather when she came to live there at the age of 4. They already had two children when they married in 1941 and surprised many in the family as they had been raised like brother and sister. They eventually had five children together after having moved to Maryland. Within four months of having her fifth child in Johns Hopkins Hospital in November 1950, Henrietta was diagnosed with cancer. Elsie was described by the family as "different", "deaf and dumb" and in 1955 died in the Hospital for the Negro Insane where she had been placed in 1950, around the same time Henrietta discovered that she had lumps and unusual bleeding.
She described the sensation as having a knot inside her and was eventually diagnosed at Johns Hopkins Hospital with cervical cancer. This was the only hospital in the area that treated black women. She underwent a course of treatment which involved having radium tubes sewn into her with a follow up of radium treatment at the X Ray department at a later date. During this treatment they removed without her permission, a sample of cancerous and also a sample of non cancerous tissue. Henrietta eventually died of uremic poisoning after almost a year after her initial diagnosis. She was remarkably uncomplaining whilst she underwent extensive often uncomfortable and painful treatment.

The significance of the cells that were removed were that they behaved in a unique way and continued to multiply after her death. The have continued to grow to this day and have become known as HeLa cells . They have supplied the world with tissue cells for the research and study of oncology and have been made a hugely important contribution to medical research.

The Review: Many of the group were shocked as to how her contribution to medical science has carried on without her or her families consent or knowledge. This was revealed to the family during the research into this book. Many were shocked at the exploitation of her and her family. One member of the family likened it to the family being raped. Karen said that the first 150 pages were important for science and the family history. Rolf did feel that it was a work of fiction and it had re-created stories that had grown up around it. The story of Henrietta Lacks has directly lead to the development of medical ethics and transparency in the taking of tissue samples and also contributed to the ethics within the organ transplant process.

Henrietta's family did not know about the tissue sample and the fact that it had been sold throughout the world. Ironically the family could not even afford medical insurances and had not known or benefited from the contribution that Henrietta had made. Some of the group felt that the family dynamic as told was really annoying and the region appeared to be full of people accepting their lot in life. Reference was made to the film Precious which some members of the group felt had demonstrated what happens in the slums regarding the disregard for the rights and the exploitation of individuals.

Why are these cells so productive? They are believed to contain a specific enzyme but why and how is not known.

Overall the book was considered a very important and interesting read although some felt it was overly long.

The books on offer from Rolf were:

Persian Fire - Tom Holland

The Rule of Law - Tom Bingham

Alexander the Great - Paul Cartledge

The Greatest Show on Earth - Richard Dawkins

The Drunkard's Walk - or how randomness rules our lives - Leonard Mlodinow

Uncle Petros and Goldbachs Conjecture - Apostolos Doxiadis

The groups chose The Drunkards Walk

Christie Malry's Own Double Entry by BS Johnson

About the Author - BS Johnson described as an 'experimental' writer one of many in the 60's was born to a working class family. He was evacuated out of London during the second world war. Leaving school at 16 he worked in various roles in accountancy. He studied in the evenings and learned Latin and attended a pre-university preparatory course at Birkbeck College which led to him passing the university exam for Kings College London. He achieved a 2:2 degree and went on to write novels that had some resonance of personal experience.

The Plot

Christie first takes a job at a bank as he has an interest in money and how it works as he was form a less than wealthy background. It does not live up to his expectations and studies book keeping and takes a job at Tapper's a massive cake and sweets manufacturer. He discovers Double Entry Book Keeping; debit and credit and defines this for his own purposes aggravation and recompense and keeps a book on his life. He has few friends a colleague Headlam and his love interest 'the Shrike'. He documents his aggravations and also becomes the aggressor and is convinced that no one will be interested in reading his journal. The Shrike whilst exploring Christie's body not in an erotic way, discovers a lump. He is treated but it becomes apparent that he has terminal cancer. It is almost as if there is realisation when the nurse says to him that he should not be writing about it but out there living it.

The Review

For many it was the first time that they had read BS Johnson and found it amusing and written in a style that was raw and challenging. Term challenging was used in the context of challenging the norms and the culture of writing that had prevailed through the 50's and certainly was representative of the experimentation that was taking place not only in the writing but in lifestyle. The narrative did appear to reflect the personal experience of BS Johnson and like Christie was living his life on the periphery of life itself and not feeling as if he was engaging with it as he wanted to and therefore internalised life's experiences. By not too long it had become too light as he became ill and died! Some of the group had read the other of novel by BS Johnson that had been offered by Rob 'House Mother Normal'. This novel was written in the context of a geriatric nursing home. Each chapter was dedicated to the conversation and internal dialogue of it's guests. It became apparent that as each chapter progressed each of the individuals became increasingly senile, however in a strange way more honest. It was apparent that the nurse did not enjoy her job and had little time for individual needs or conversation. This book caused more debate than the one that was selected. Johnson created his character's who were very genuine with great sensitivity and intuitively developed the internal dialogue of each of the characters and their lonely world. Discussions on the current state of social care for the elderly and very real concern about ho scenes like this could and probably do exist in geriatric nursing homes which in effect are closed communities.

The book that was selected was The Help by Kathryn Stockett

For Tibet with Love by Isabel Losada

About the Author

Isabel Losada was born in the United States and has dual British and American nationality. She is a writer and journalist. Her first published work is New Habits - published interviews with today's woman who have chosen to be a nun as a vocation.

About the Book

Isabel becomes obsessed with the injustice of Chinese occupation of Tibet since learning about the invasion in 1950. The book documents her efforts to join the exiled Tibetans at demonstration, rallies and sponsored sky dives to raise money for the cause. She eventually travels to Tibet for 14 days and during this short stay manages to negotiate her entrance through a security cordon to have a personal meeting with the Dalai Lama.

The Review

Rob said that although the book would not have been his choice he did enjoy reading it. He went on to describe his own experience of Tibet and his altitude sickness that he experienced He has also been to a vigil outside the Chinese Embassy. Although he quite enjoyed the book he found it was over long and he also questioned the credibility of some of the 'facts' that had been included as it was quite apparent that Isabel is a writer of creative non-fiction. Steve said that he quite enjoyed the book and also questioned what parts were fiction. He wondered when it was that she met with the Dalai Lama. There were interesting anecdotes and also the explanation of needing the Chinese perspective to negotiate. It was stressed that the Dalai Lama does not want independence but wants autonomy. It was also refreshing to have articulated how the different organisations associated with causes operate in different ways and pull in different directions. Rolf said that he read '7 years in Tibet' which is an autobiographical account of the experiences of an Austrian mountaineer Heinrich Harre 1944 - 1951. He wrote to Heinrich and had a letter back. He did not manage to read 'For Tibet with love'. The fact that she was in Tibet for a mere two weeks took some talent and with that comes slight disbelief although if she did obtain and audience then this took some talent. The Dalai Lama and his spiritual teachings deserve to be listened to. Mary enjoyed the book and liked the explanations. She was dismayed that so many charities exist only to raise funds to subsidise their own existence. Most of the group were humbled by the way such an insignificant person got to see the Dalai Lama , her curiosity new no bounds and there were no inner boundaries. Overall the group felt that it raised awareness but was not life changing.

The choices for this week:

The Man in the High Castle - Philip K Dick

House Mother Normal - BS Johnson

Christie Malry's Own Double Entry - BS Johnson

Mort - Terry Pratchett

The Finkler Question by Howard Jacobson

About the Author

Howard Jacobson describes himself as being Jewish in mind and having Jewish intelligence although not conventionally Jewish as he does not go to shul. He was born in Manchester, educated in Whitefield and Cambridge University . He then lectured in the University of Sidney returning to teach in Selwyn College Cambridge and subsequently at Wolverhampton Polytechnic.

The plot

The main theme of the novel is about British Jewish identify and how it fits with the Gentile population in Britain. It is also about male friendship. The scene is set at a dinner party hosted by old Libor Sevick with two close friends, a failed BBC producer Julian Treslove who is also a romantic, Sam Finkler a populist Jewish philosopher. Libor Sevick and old Czech taught them both history. Libor and Sam are recently widowerd.

Sevick finds himself alone at 90 and en-wrapped in mourning for his beloved wife, the profoundness of his grief puts the two younger men's love lives into perspective. He's a warm and likable character, who faced with the temptations f a one-time film journalist remained unfailingly faithful and happy in his little European life. Sam Finkler lost his young wife to Cancer both men's relationships in contrast to Treslove who had two sons out of three short-lived dalliances.

Treslove from whose perspective the book is written is jealous of both friends' bereavement, jealous of them having had a relationship to mourn at its ending. His failing is not being able to keep a woman long enough weighs heavily. Women were bit the only mystery to him whose perspective is the core of the book, is as jealous of his friends' bereavement as he is their success. If women are a mystery to him, then so is Finkler and his faith: Jewish becomes "Finklerish".

Treslove on hi sway home stops by a

After dinner, Treslove walks back to Regent Street. He stops outside the oldest violin dealer in the country and is mugged. The mugger a woman may or not have called him a Jew. From here on in, everything is under question.

The Review

The book when selected was chosen with enthusiasm and the group were very interested as it had recently had good reviews and was much acclaimed. It transpires that only one person read the book. He thought it was intelligently written and easy to skim read. He suggested to the members of the group to take the time to read it as it was intelligent and funny. The theme of family runs deep and it seems that Treslove sees the two men as his family. What is apparent in the book is an obsession with Jews with Jewishness by half-Jewishness and non Jewishness and an apparent anti semitism with today's society. The consistent theme is that of identify which Rob being part Jewish could relate to. He said he had to let go of this and then enjoyed it. There was an interesting discussion with agreement and disagreement with the concepts. Treslove - is he Jewish or does he want to be Jewish? Why? Is it because every one at some points wants to be part of a clique. Treslove was outdone in achievement by both men and also in pain and misery.

As so often happens, when members have not read or finished a book, there is usually a strong desire to do so after the discussion, it certainly was the case after this meeting - I wonder how many did?

Steve and Deborah's Choice: -

Bearded Tit - Rory McGrath

For Tibet with Love - Isobel Losada

We are Muslim Please - Shappi Korsandi

On the Road - Jack Carowit

The book chosen was: For Tibet with Love - Isobel Losada

Now off to the Adam and Eve.

Last Rituals - Yrsa Sigurdardottir

About the Author

Yrsa Sigurðardóttir (born 1963) is an Icelandic writer, of both crime novels and children's fiction. She has been writing since 1998. Her debut crime-novel was translated into English by Bernard Scudder. The central character in the crime novels so far is Thóra Gudmundsdóttir, a lawyer.Yrsa is married with two children, and she also has a career as a civil engineer.

The Plot

In LAST RITUALS, what could have been a straightforward strangling of a young man, is made macabre by the removal of both of his eyes, and a mysterious carving on his skin. The student, Harald, is German and had been researching into witchcraft, witches, and their capture and punishment for his MA at the University of Iceland. Unlike Germany, in Iceland most of the witches were men. However, both cultures seemed to have used the same 'reference' book 'Malleus Maleficarum' or Witches Hammer. Harald was obsessed with magic, the occult, witches and this book to the extent that he had a close group of friends that formed part of a secret society dedicated to their study. Harald's drug dealing friend is arrested for the murder , however Harald's mother believes that there is something more to this murder and that the police have the wrong suspect. She hires a lawyer Thora and her colleague Matthew to investigate. The pair present a contrasting dynamic with some subtle humour and gradually the pair lift the layers on Harald's secret life and the medieval history of Iceland adding and another level of interest.

The Review.

One member of the group thought it was a cracking good read, a comment from another member of group was that there was no product placement. A protracted discussion followed about the merits or otherwise of product placement with many members of the group stating that in many cases of contemporary literature it brought credibility and currency to the novels however it was agreed that in some cases the placement of product brands was gratuitous.

One member of the group found it mediocre, the beginning was promising and interesting when they were describing the history . One member said that they had failed to find a redeeming feature in the book. The vivid description of the torture was a bit sordid and the images it created somewhat unnecessary. One member described it as a caricature of a who-dunnit, although others felt it was interesting to see why the torture took place. One member was interested and started reading it with hope as it was written by an engineer, they enjoyed the relationship between Iceland and Denmark, however the felt it had been a waste of his time and read it two days flat! One of the members found the description of the torture too much to bear as it was too close to their life's experience whilst growing up of similar events in South Africa. For that reason they did not finish it as he felt he did not need to read about it. Some members enjoyed it others felt it contained gratuitous unpleasantness.

The books on offer were:

Room by Emma Donnaghue

In a Strange Room by Damon Galgur

The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas

Red Plenty by Francis Spufferd

The Fear by Peter Godwin

The Finkler Question by Howard Jacobson.

The chosen book is The Finkler Question.

I Dreamed of Africa by Kuki Gallman

About the Author

Kuki Gallman was born near Venice and studied political sciences at the University of Padua. Fascinated by Africa and influenced by her much loved father, she visited Kenya for the first time in 1970 and returned to live there in 1972.

As a tribute to the memory of her husband and son she founded the Gallman Memorial Foundation with the specific mandate of creating on Ol Ari Nyiro ranch at Laikipia an example of the harmonious co-existence of man and the environment through exploring new ways of combining development and conservation. The foundation promotes and sponsors the education of Kenyans.

An active conservationist, in 1989 she was awarded the Order of the Golden Ark by HRH Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands for her major and continuing contribution to the survival of the black rhinoceros in Kenya and for promoting research work for nature conservation in general, with special attention to elephants and the use of local plants for medicinal purposes.

She lives on Ol Ari Nyiro ranch in Kenya with her daughter and eight dogs.

The Review

The book was a favourite read of the host of the evening who thought long and hard about offering the book to the group.

The authour writes with the spiritual freedom that one imagines that only living your dream would bring.

Some described Kuki as being priviledged, money appeared to be no object, and she balance unnervingly priviledge and recklessness, however it is recognised that Africa did attract this type of character.

The group however agreed that it was spiritual and beautifully wirtten. The language was expressive exquisitely descriptive even though it was her second language. It was in parts tortuously sad. Even though a couple of members had read the book previously the description of the sadness of the elephant was poignant and took the members by surprise, and had to stop reading in parts especially when on the tube!

The tragic death of Kuki's husband came as a great shock and her expressive writing described the raw emotions of her experience and the coming to terms with the loss of her husband and the birth of her daughter. The love that she describes for her husband is idealised and romanticised and together with her description of the grief and subsequent mourning that followed Paolo's death made these pages gut wrenchingly moving.

Emmanuele her son was a much adored child, although the recklessness played out in that he was allowed to play with snakes from a very young age, one member was shocked at the apparent absence of a 'snake kit' for when he went out alone in the bush to extract snake venom for anti venom serum.

Most people thought it was a very good book. The characters were strong and real and Kuki recaps as to who they were as they reappear over the years. She engages the reader in what transpires at every stage of her life a demonstration of sheer courage and determination. An unflagging spirit and genuinely inspirational personality.

Despite the criticism of the absence of a 'snake kit' all those present thought it was an excellent book well written and inspirational.

The choices for the next meeting are:

Villain by Shuichi Yoshida
The Twighlight Time by Karen Campbell
Fever in the Bone by Val McDermid
Acts of Violence by Ryan David John
Last Rituals by Yrsa Sigundardottir
The Last Child by John Hart

The group chose: Last Rituals

Update for PCRG Readers

An early meeting in 2010 we were offered A Lucky Child by Thomas Buergenthal and Reunion by Fred Uhlman. These were offered by Rolf.

About the Authors:Thomas Beurganthal, now a Judge in the international Court of Justice in the Hague tell his astonishing expereinces as a young boy in his memoir A Lucky Child. He arrived at Auschwitz at age 10 after surviving two ghettos and a labour camp. Separated from his mother and then his father, Thomas managed on his wits and by some amazing strokes of luck to survive on his own. Almost two years after his liberation he was miraculoulsy reunited with this mother and in 1951 he arrived in the US to start a new life. Now dedicated to helping others who have suffered tyranny, he writes his book with simple clarity that highlinghts the stark detail of an unimaginable hardship.

Fred Uhlman was a lawyer by profession and a German of Jewish origin. He was born in January 1901 in Stuttgart, Germany. 'Reunion ' his novella was published in 1977. Fred Uhlman died in London on April 11th 1985. His book 'Reunion' is about lossof innocence in pre-war Germany. It is the story of an intense and innocent devotion between two young men. The two boys share their personal thoughts, trips to the countryside of south west Germany, discuss poetry and the past and present of their country, and discuss the existence of a benevolent God. He is reunited with his friend when he sees his name in a list of dead people.

Many of the group considered the reading of the books together resulted in a much richer read as both books complemented each other. The 'Reunion' represented an infatuation crossing an ethnic divide. It was sensitively written and this is one of very few books that has been written about male adolescence. Rolf thought it very insightful in its writing. A Lucky Child was written as seen through the eyes of a child. Rob's heart sank when he saw that the two books had resonnance with his family history but he discovered that they were very well written and contained some horrific passages. Steve enjoyed both books and found The Reunion a revelation which reminded some of 'Old Filth' by Jane Gardam. Charles preferred 'Lucky Child' to Reunion and said that he felt awkward reading the Reunion. Tom thought Luck Child was enlightening and rewarding and could relate to some of the descriptions having recently been to Auschwitz. Many were a bit sceptical as the Reunion was not based on fact although was written with terrific insight. Lorraine enjoyed the Reunion and particularly liked the way the writing almost created a visualisation of the man coming out of the child. A Lucky Child was associated to the Diary of Anne Frank as similarly it was written through the eyes of the child. However the preferred book overall was the Reunion which which described the relationahip between two males from an intimate perspective which is rarely openly discussed. The Reunion was very sensitive and poignant. Two more books which the group read that generated discussion and most members were glad that they had read them as they were unlikely to have picked them up from the book shelf.

The next books on offer:

The Memory Keepers Daughter by Kim Edwards

The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Alone in Berlin by Hans Fallada

I Dreamed of Africa by Kuki Gallman