RecentReads: Sunday 28 July 2024

[@4Zeus20]

So glad you are back and feeling better.

[@brittabohlerthesecondshelf]

Thank you very much!

[@recentlyseenreading]

I agree with your sense that Skloof's science writing is stronger than her ability to write the more personal aspects of the story. Skloof benefited from telling the story but in 2010 she also set up a foundation (Henrietta Lacks Foundation) that provides grants to people and their family who were "subject[s] in historic research conducted on individuals-particularly within minority communities-without their knowledge or consent".

[@brittabohlerthesecondshelf]

Yes, I forgot to mention the Foundation!

[@CarolAttrux]

Hello, Britta. Yes, I watched the opening ceremony and it was certainly a spectacle! Not my cup of tea but it was good to see and hear Celine Dion. (I’m in Canada). It was never ending as well. Good to see you!

[@brittabohlerthesecondshelf]

Yes, it was a spectacle. And Dion's comeback performance was spectacular.

[@alldbooks9165]

The science in Henrietta Lacks was so fascinating.

[@brittabohlerthesecondshelf]

It absolutely was!

[@myreadinglife8816]

I’m so surprised you hadn’t read Henrietta Lacks before! I agree with your assessment, the science bits were better!

[@brittabohlerthesecondshelf]

It's one of those books that you're planning to read the minute they come out and then never get around to them... For no reason at all...

[@louisep1962]

I agree with you about Henrietta Lacks. The familuly parts really didn't work for me either. I have Irena Ray on my shelf so I'lll be interested to hear what you think of it.

[@brittabohlerthesecondshelf]

Ah so 'm not alone re the Henrietta Lacks-book. And I will report back on the Irena Rey soon!

[@emmavd]

Thank you, Britta!🌷After watching the whole opening ceremony of the Olympics, I also started wondering how it was possible that the organising committee hadn’t thought of some measures to protect the artists and the athletes in the eventuality of a rainy day. While watching though, I was in awe of the professionalism of all performers in the pouring, relentless rain, of the enthusiasm of the athletes, and of the focus on inclusion and diversity of the show. I was worried though that artists and athletes may catch a cold or worse. As to your new mini-birthday haul, I’ve loved Willa Cather’s books I’ve read so far, The House of the Professor and My Antonia. I have Death Comes for the Archbishop and The Rock still unread on my shelves.

[@brittabohlerthesecondshelf]

I agree, the performers were amazing and very professional. I also loved the Professors House, and very much looking forward to Archbishop.

[@erinh7450]

Re: Henrietta Lacks - 2010 was 14 years ago, so more than 5 years! I still think the 90s were like 10 years ago until I do math. Time just keeps going by faster and faster... 🙀

[@brittabohlerthesecondshelf]

Oops, yes, time flies... 😅

[@sandra7319.]

A small Coda on the Lacks story, last year the family settled with a biotech company for an undisclosed amount. They were represented by Ben Crump, a lawyer who represents many black victims such as George Floyd's family. Interestingly, the family tried to sue John Hopkins but the hospital denied selling or making any money off the cells.

[@brittabohlerthesecondshelf]

Thank you very much for this update!

[@thaliad6759]

Agree with you about the opening ceremonies:( I felt they wanted to showcase the landmarks of Paris and nothing done indoors could compare to the beauty of Paris. They took a risk and, while it was still beautiful, it looked miserable for all the performers. The first woman who sang the national anthem and Celine Dion were my highlights, the rest, I just felt bad for them all..lol. Thanks, as always for opening my eyes to some books I had not heard of! Will be interested in your review of The Extinction of Irina Rey. I checked it out of library, but did not read it. I keep feeling like I should go back and get it again:)

[@brittabohlerthesecondshelf]

Yes, about feeling bad for the performers. I was worried the whole time, the dancers might slip and break a leg (or worse). I will report back on Irena Rey, soon.

[@melissahouse1296]

V. Interested to hear your Didion wrap up.. im on the fence (despite obvious/ raw talent & wry humour) 🧐👍🙂

[@brittabohlerthesecondshelf]

I will report back on the Didion very soon!

[@susprime7018]

Loved The Google comment because I am reading Madly, Deeply, the diaries of Alan Rickman at the moment and spending more time on Google than on reading the entries. I read Death Comes to the Archbishop long ago, so I look forward to your refresher. The Edwardians by Vita Sackville-West was a very fine read. I am going to read Heritage by her. Her novels have some deceptive titles.The first one I ever read was titled Family History.

[@brittabohlerthesecondshelf]

Happy to hear you've enjoyed The Edwardians! I have never read Heritage, let me know whether it's good.

[@alldbooks9165]

LOL at reading things before Google.

[@brittabohlerthesecondshelf]

I really don't know how we ever did that. 😂

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

You’re not allowed to read Archbishop without doing it as a buddy read with me!!! We’re overdue for a buddy read! 🤣💕

[@brittabohlerthesecondshelf]

Ok!! When?? I'm free to read the book with you anytime!

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

End of the month? 😁

[@brittabohlerthesecondshelf]

@@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH Perfect!

[@heatherfoley4945]

Did I miss you discussing The Women by Kristin Hannah? I might have. Thanks =)

[@brittabohlerthesecondshelf]

No, you didn't miss it. Because of my 'health break' from booktube I never read The Women...

[@heatherfoley4945]

Okay...I'm reading Crime and Punishment for book club and it's killing me. Ugh

[@litticgn]

das hatte ich mich auch die ganze zeit gefragt 😂 man organisiert eine 4 stündige, unfassbar überdimensionale, alles bisherige in den schatten stellende, olympia eröffnungsfeier, die ganze welt schaut zu. und keiner der organisierenden denkt daran, dass die kameralinsen, bei bedarf, vor regen geschütz werden sollten. menschen sind ja eh da und können nicht weg. oder es jemand auf den schiffen gibt, um den sportlern zu sagen, wo sie hingucken sollen ... ... toll wars trotzdem 🔥

[@brittabohlerthesecondshelf]

Hallllooo Nachbar! Wie schön, Dich hier zu treffen. Ja, ich fand die Wassertropfen auf den Kameralinsen auch lächerlich. ☺️

[@josmith5992]

I didn’t watch the ceremony but heard about it and couldn’t believe they had no plan in case of inclement weather! 😉C’est la vie I suppose 😉 I appreciated what Rebecca Skloot was doing with The Immortal Life , the research was great and the story shocking and eye opening, but I wanted more science, less of Skloot’s journey so it didn’t entirely work for me either Britta.

[@brittabohlerthesecondshelf]

It's a good metaphor for the hybris of the West I guess. ☺️ And I'm not surprised we agree on the Hernietta Lacks...

[@majelthesurreal5723]

I felt the same about the Henrietta Lacks story. I was so interested in the science but found I was skipping over the family pages. I have ordered Art Monsters since you first mentioned it and am looking forward to getting to that one. I did wonder about the Paris ceremony not having a Plan B. In my own life Plan A so seldom works out I feel most comfortable with a Plan B AND C! I like the sounds of Irena Rey so I will wait for your review on that one.

[@brittabohlerthesecondshelf]

Oh, great, I hope you will enjoy Art Monsters! Let me know! And yes, they should have had a Plan B and C, like us real people. ☺️

[@BookishTexan]

I'm too busy being embarrassed by the conservative Christian reaction in my country based on a misunderstanding of a tableau with performers in drag and elements of French history as represented in the ceremony to think much about the impact of the rain on the spectacle. The irony of a writer exploiting the descendant of a woman who the medical establishment has and continues to exploit for profit is painful

[@emmavd]

Hi Brian😊I found the emphasis on inclusion and diversity of the show fantastic. I don’t understand the fuss about that tableau that can only be based on some sort of misunderstanding…

[@BookishTexan]

@@emmavd The misunderstanding is a byproduct of the ignorance and paranoia of the Christian conservatives in the US. They spend their lives looking for evidence that Christianity is under attack and respond to any perceived example like lemmings

[@brittabohlerthesecondshelf]

If it's any consolation: it was not only in the US; our rightwing politicians here had a fit about it, too. It was laughable. And yes, re Henrietta Lacks, ironic and sad.