Skloot is aware of her own role as a white woman telling the story of a black family, partly contributing to the same racial divide her book details. An evening with rebecca skloot radcliffe institute for. I read a long list of similarly structured novels that all proved helpful in some way or another. Rebecca skloot explores the racism and greed, the idealism and faith in science that helped to save thousands of lives but nearly destroyed a family. The immortal life of henrietta lacks author is busy working on her next book. She specializes in narrative science writing and has explored a wide range of topics, including. Eric schlosser, author of fast food nation skloots book is wonderful deeply felt, gracefully written, sharply reported. The immortal life of henrietta lacks themes gradesaver. The immortal life of henrietta lacks tells the story of a poor tobacco farmer who died from cervical cancer, and her cell strand, hela, which scientists used to develop a cure for polio and other diseases. The immortal life of henrietta lacks, like many compelling works of nonfiction, was written to tell one story, but, in its creation, uncovered several others. Before becoming a science writer, skloot spent more than a decade working as a. Jun 20, 2010 autoplay when autoplay is enabled, a suggested video will automatically play next. For more on rebecca, and answers to commonly asked questions about her writing and her work with the foundation, visit her official site.
Rebecca skloot feels indebted to henrietta lacks the new. Before becoming a science writer, skloot spent more than a decade working as a veterinary technician in animal shelters, vet clinics, emergency rooms, shelters, research labs, and an animal morgue. She specializes in narrative science writing and has explored a wide range of topics, including goldfish surgery, tissue ownership rights, race and. It was chosen as a best book of 2010 by more than sixty media outlets, including entertainment weekly, people, and the new york times. Rebecca skloot and the immortal life of henrietta lacks.
New york, ny october, 2011 rebecca skloot, the author of the multiyear, critically acclaimed, nonfiction bestseller the immortal life of henrietta lacks, has reached agreement with crown publishers to write a new book that will focus on the humananimal bond and explore some of the biggest, and as yet unanswered, questions at the. Abraham verghese laura hillenbrand paula mc lain lisa see jamie ford cheryl strayed erik larson kathleen grissom celeste ng christina baker kline. Deborah lacks, a daughter of henrietta lacks, whose cancerous cervical cells, taken without her permission in 1951, revolutionized medical research. Rebecca skloot books list of books by author rebecca skloot. Taking in the movie in a darkened theater later that evening, the author watched herself being played by actress rose byrne, and was struck by oprah winfreys. Skloot ended by sharing that her next book will be on a topic that started. The immortal life of henrietta lacks summary shmoop. The immortal life of henrietta lacks by rebecca skloot. Rebecca skloots next book sounds very intriguing bustle. When i first read rebecca skloots the immortal life of henrietta lacks last february, i, like millions of others who have read it, found myself enthralled with and amazed at the remarkable story. Rebecca skloot is a virgo and was born in the year of the rat life.
Apr 21, 2017 the original hbo movie the immortal life of henrietta lacks, based on the nonfiction book by journalist rebecca skloot and starring oprah winfrey as deborah lacks, henriettas youngest daughter. Please visit the frequently asked questions page of this website to see if your query is answered there if you would like to send mail to rebecca via the postal service, you can address it to. Rebecca skloot is an awardwinning science writer whose articles have appeared in the new york times magazine. Her first book, the immortal life of henrietta lacks, was over ten years in the making and was recently dubbed a notable book of 2010 by the new york times. The book was adapted into an hbo film starring rose byrne as rebecca skloot, oprah winfrey playing the role of deborah lacks, and renee elise as henrietta lacks. The book took her more than 10 years to research and write, and she still crisscrosses the country to talk about it, often alongside members of the lacks family.
Rebecca skloot, author of the awardwinning book the immortal life of henrietta lacks, presents a lecture and discussion about her book and her path to writing it she will be introduced by. The original hbo movie the immortal life of henrietta lacks, based on the nonfiction book by journalist rebecca skloot and starring oprah winfrey as. Radcliffe magazine radcliffe institute for advanced. John lamparskiwireimage all i knew when i first called henriettas family was that hela cells were of the. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Goodreads author jenny mcphee says, i loved rebecca skloots book and am dying to know whats next, though im sure thats a professional secret. Henrietta lacks biographer rebecca skloot responds to us. Rebecca skloot is an awardwinning writer, and a contributing editor at popular science magazine. Rebecca skloot journalist, teacher, author of the immortal life of henrietta lacks.
Still, though, the lackses refuse to meet with skloot. The immortal life of henrietta lacks rebecca skloot. Use the form below for media inquiries, film rights, speaking engagements and to get in touch with rebecca. Next time you sigh loudly or roll your eyes at the prospect of this task, think. Rebecca skloot, co simon lipskar, writers house, 21 w. The movie does a reasonably interesting job of exploring the fraught relationship between deborah lacks, henrietta lackss daughter, and freelance science writer rebecca skloot. The author on her bestselling book about a womans unintended contributions to science, and why journalism always looks more interesting in the movies.
See all books authored by rebecca skloot, including the immortal life of henrietta lacks, and the best american. Rebecca is turning 48 years old in her book the immortal life of henrietta lacks was picked up by hbo to be turned into a film produced by oprah winfrey. Oprah winfrey as deborah lacks and rose byrne as rebecca skloot in hbos film adaptation of the. Science writer rebecca skloot has always been obsessed with henrietta lacks, the africanamerican woman whose cancer cells were harvested and used to create an immortal cell line for scientific experimentation. Rebecca travels to baltimore, where the lackses live, and encounters courtney speed, a local woman determined to publicize henriettas story.
The immortal life of henrietta lacks rebecca skloot, author. As rebecca skloot so brilliantly shows, the story of the lacks familypast and presentis inextricably connected to the dark history of experimentation on african americans, the birth of bioethics, and the legal battles over whether we control the stuff we are made of. In a fascinating and revealing investigation, author rebecca skloot uncovers the history of henrietta and her family, of the exploitation of black americans by the medical industry, and of. Jan 01, 2011 buy the immortal life of henrietta lacks first paperback edition by skloot, rebecca isbn. The doctors at hopkins pressure day into allowing them to autopsy. She calls deborah and they chat for a long time, but the next time she calls, deborah tells her she needs to get the brothers permission to continue.
Rebecca skloot seeks to help henrietta lackss descendants. On the surface, rebecca skloots book is about a line of cells, extracted from a single cancer patient in the 1950s, that went on to be the most widely studied human cell line in the world. She has worked as a correspondent for nprs radiolab and pbss nova sciencenow, and is a contributing editor at popular science magazine and guest editor of the best american science writing. Skloot contacts roland pattillo and tells him she wants to write about henrietta. In the course of her reporting, skloot became close with deborah lacks, henrietta lackss daughter, and much of the immortal life of henrietta lacks is devoted to. Rebecca skloot wrote the immortal life of henrietta lacks using a braided story structure that jumps around between multiple time periods and multiple narratives. The immortal life of henrietta lacks paperback 1 jan 2011. Rebecca skloot was born in springfield on tuesday, september 19, 1972 generation x. In the video below, skloot explains how she worked out the book s structure with the help of fried green tomatoes at the whistle stop cafe and hurricane, the film about hurricane. Rebecca skloot goodreads meet your next favorite book. On march 23, 20, rebecca skloot wrote an oped for the new york times. Rebecca skloot revivifies henrietta, studying her not only as the originator of her cell line but as a woman embedded in. The author of the book, science reporter rebecca skloot, spent 10 years researching henrietta lacks, her family, and the scientific advances her indefatigable cells made possible.
Apr 17, 2017 the immortal life of henrietta lacks author is busy working on her next book. Autoplay when autoplay is enabled, a suggested video will automatically play next. The movie is based upon the book of the same name by rebecca skloot, and the author wrote the. Abraham verghese laura hillenbrand paula mc lain lisa see jamie ford cheryl strayed erik larson kathleen grissom celeste ng. How rebecca skloot built the immortal life of henrietta lacks the. Johnson, professor of medicine at harvard medical school and the executive director of the connors center for womens health and gender biology, who will also moderate a panel discussion. On the surface, rebecca skloot s book is about a line of cells, extracted from a single cancer patient in the 1950s, that went on to be the most widely studied human cell line in the world. Because there isnt much information about henrietta and her family, skloot wants to tell their story.
The film was subsequently nominated for emmy awards. Bestselling author rebecca skloot comes home to memphis for a quick visit after two months on the immortal book tour a four month long tour for her book, the immortal life of henrietta lacks. Books by rebecca skloot writers similar to rebecca skloot. Skloots debut book, the immortal life of henrietta lacks, took more than a decade to research and write, and instantly became a new york times bestseller. Skloot s debut book, the immortal life of henrietta lacks, took more than a decade to research and write, and instantly became a new york times bestseller. The immortal life of henrietta lacks audiobook by rebecca. Her award winning science writing has appeared in the new york times magazine.
Book recommendations for people who like the immortal life of henrietta lacks by rebecca skloot. The immortal life of henrietta lacks movie tiein edition. The rumpus caught up with skloot at a borders books in chicago, where skloot has recently moved. I wont try to do this againyou simply cant with a story like this, an. The immortal life of henrietta lacks author rebecca skloot, april 2017.
Books by rebecca skloot authors like rebecca skloot what. In what i call my posthela life, im just at the point where im starting to think about my next book. We are very proud to be publishing her next book, which will. Bestselling author rebecca skloot is everywhere these days. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Last spring, rebecca skloot walked a new york city red carpet at the premiere of the hbo film adaptation of her bookher baby, her obsession, the immortal life of henrietta lacks. She was named one of five surprising leaders of 2010 by the the washington post. Rebecca skloot is a new york times bestselling author of the immortal life of henrietta lacks. The immortal life of henrietta lacks by rebecca skloot plot. Up next rebecca skloot on the death of deborah lacks duration.
Books by rebecca skloot authors like rebecca skloot. We talked to rebecca skloot, and her father and poet, floyd. Rebecca skloot timeline in the immortal life of henrietta lacks. Rebecca skloot is a member of richest celebrities and nonfiction authors. Radcliffe magazine radcliffe institute for advanced study. Rebecca skloot is the founder of the henrietta lacks foundation and author of the immortal life of henrietta lacks. Feb 05, 2011 rebecca skloot uses royalties from her best seller, the immortal life of henrietta lacks, to help the descendants of the books subject. Eric schlosser, author of fast food nation skloot s book is wonderful deeply felt, gracefully written, sharply reported. Rebecca skloot timeline in the immortal life of henrietta. Rebecca skloot, author of the immortal life of henrietta lacks, and. Rebecca skloot travels worldwide speaking about her book, the immortal life. Rebecca skloot uses royalties from her best seller, the immortal life of henrietta lacks, to help the descendants of the books subject.
Apr 19, 2017 the author on her bestselling book about a womans unintended contributions to science, and why journalism always looks more interesting in the movies. Reviewing the book for the guardian, novelist hilary mantel wrote. In the video below, you can find the discussion of her next book around time. We also begin to get sense of how deeply traumatized the lackses still are by all the controversy surrounding the use of henriettas cellsand the fact that, despite hela being famous. This is an extraordinary book, haunting and beautifully told. The immortal life of henrietta lacks by rebecca skloot goodreads. Rebecca and floyd skloot on the immortal life of henrietta lacks at. For more information on the lacks family and their upcoming events, visit their. The immortal life of henrietta lacks study guide contains a biography of rebecca skloot, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.
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