I have discovered not one but two incredibly awesome things this week, the first being this book, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. I stayed up until 5:30 this morning finishing it. It’s a knock-out.
Skloot is a great writer, and one of the most industrious researchers I’ve ever come across. She spent ten years on this book, and it shows. I was so excited while reading this book, just thinking about all of the possibilities of narrative journalism. Skloot brings so much energy and life to the story, it’s impossible to put it down. She deals so delicately with such messy details, ornery characters, tragic circumstances and racial tension without coming across as some paternalistic white person who is going to swoop in and save everybody.
This book is just amazing, the product of ten years of incredibly hard work. It’s got everything going for it. Read it!
Alix Reads Too Much 