The title as intriguing as it was, was perfectly apt as well as ironical. The protagonist died an anonymous, unknown death, in an unmarked grave while her cells live on, famous worldwide and a necessity in science even today.
The author has done a great job in explaining and emphasizing the importance of the protagonist and her cells in the book and the author’s decade of research clearly shows through.
I loved the simplicity of the way in which the book is written and the various explanation the author provides as and when needed.
The author showed the moral and ethical confusions prevalent at the time of the protagonists and how it affected her life but more importantly the lives of those around her. What her family went through, their struggle for recognition and more importantly their struggle for health insurance which they were too poor to afford. It brings out the inherent irony wherein Henrietta’s cells lead to miraculous discoveries in medicines that cured millions worldwide while her family couldn’t afford to get cured of simple ailments.
The book left me feeling inspired and yet rather embarrassed of how doctors and scientists functioned in the name of “research”. The atrocities that these doctors put their patients through and how callously they claimed that it was for the good and benefit of future generations while ignoring the pain and discomfort they put their patients through.
Upon reading the book you’ll realize what I’m referring to and maybe feel the same way.
It was only after the introduction of laws that doctors and scientists were compelled to adhere to certain guidelines, which they did rather reluctantly.
It left me wondering whether man was inherently bad? Well whatever was the case, the book is a good read and one I’m glad to have in my first list of books!
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