Sometimes I pick which book to read next by browsing the stacks at the Library. Sometimes I pick something that was featured in the parenting magazine. Sometimes books catch my eye out of the weekly Barnes and Noble emails.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot landed on my parenting magazine, Barnes and Noble, and random facebook post. I suggested it for book club a few months ago but it wasn't the lucky winner that month. But I read it anyway.
I absolutely loved every page. There's still time yet, but it might just have been my favorite book this year. I don't think I made the connection that this was a true story before I started reading. And I admit that before reading this book I didn't know the origins of HeLa cells. I have dabbled in microbiology and cell culture in my scientific career but it's not something that is routine for me. HeLa cells, it turns out, have the unique ability to multiply and survive indefinitely as long as they are given the needed growing conditions. This differs from other cell lines in laboratories which have a definite lifespan. The whole longer telomeres are the key to living forever theory I suppose.
The Immortal life of Henrietta Lacks is a story both of how the cells were taken without her knowledge and discovered as well as the impact it has had on her family and her children. It also details the struggles of the scientific community in advancing research, collaborations, and tissue ownership.
I have been hounding the husband to read it. I'd like to know if it is as fascinating a book to a regular person as it was to me, a science dork. He has not yet. And seeing as how he is bffs with the librarian and has a smoking, hot of the presses copy of Inheritance, I guess I'll be waiting a little while longer for his thoughts on the matter.
But you should read it. Consider it a science homework assignment.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
My Name is Memory
If you loved The Time Traveler's Wife I predict will devour this book. I know I did. I loved it from the first chapter and couldn't put it down. That hasn't happened since oh say....the last Harry Potter or Eclipse.
My Name is Memory was written by Ann Brashares. The same author as the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. It chronicles the lives of Daniel. Daniel is a rare soul in that he remembers all the many lives he has been born into. There are a handful of others like him in the world and he encounters them from time to time. It's also the story of his encounters with his love, who does not remember him from life to life. She has been many people, but the story revolves around her life as Sophia and present day Lucy. Their time together is interrupted by disease, war, other people.
I loved absolutely every bit of the book except that it's a cliff hanger. I wish I would have known that going into the book. Rumor on the googlebox is that it is a potential trilogy? With no titles or publication dates or confirmation from the author. I hope that there is at least another book, otherwise my imagination is going to run wild.
My Name is Memory was written by Ann Brashares. The same author as the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. It chronicles the lives of Daniel. Daniel is a rare soul in that he remembers all the many lives he has been born into. There are a handful of others like him in the world and he encounters them from time to time. It's also the story of his encounters with his love, who does not remember him from life to life. She has been many people, but the story revolves around her life as Sophia and present day Lucy. Their time together is interrupted by disease, war, other people.
I loved absolutely every bit of the book except that it's a cliff hanger. I wish I would have known that going into the book. Rumor on the googlebox is that it is a potential trilogy? With no titles or publication dates or confirmation from the author. I hope that there is at least another book, otherwise my imagination is going to run wild.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Take a walk with me
The quirky thing about siblings is that even though we all grew up in the same family and under the same roof, we all have our own point of view of the family happenings. As childhood compatriots they share in the joys of summer, of playing in the irrigation water on a hot day, in the excitement of trick-or-treating and getting the crap scared out of you at a spooky neighbors house. In the anticipation of Christmas morning. But also in the mundane living that is life. When it seems the parents are being cruel or we are utterly bored out of our minds on an idle Tuesday afternoon at 3pm. It's part of growing up to have an older sibling stick up for you when you are having trouble at school AND to have that same sibling tell you to stay out of their room or quit touching their stuff. The bonds forged then last long into being a grown up and the spaces and distance that replace the few steps down the hall to their bed on a dark night.
Staying in touch isn't always easy. This is the same group of characters that will need to band together when we are drawing straws on who is going to take care of the parental units and the plethora of things that will need to be sorted out someday. And so, I carved out some time in a busy fall schedule to visit my brother. Because I needed it, because he needed it, because my children needed it.
This is the brother that playfully (or at least part playfully and part naughty older brother) would lift us little kids up and dangle us off the edge of the roof by our fingertips. It was fun, it was challenging to see who could hang on the longest, it was frightening when he would walk away and act like he was going to leave us there forever. This is the brother that would take my side against my older siblings during snowball fights and even out the score a little. I was glad to always be on his team.
These are the moments that Emmers will remember someday. That Uncle Steve taught her how to do the monkey bars. That Uncle Steve gave endless shoulder rides and took her to see elk one day. That Uncle Steve taught her how to use side reins while riding horses.
And Burrito will remember being pushed on the tire swing and driving the tractor and that Uncle Steve has the coolest rope swing ever in his garage.
Monday, November 7, 2011
On A Cold and Drizzly Sunday Afternoon
I think the brain washing is working. I have a little scientist in training. There's even been a request for a lab coat. Please note the hot pink safety glasses that occasionally double as swimming goggles. Also, apparently NASA has won the lottery. There are rocket ships all over outer space. The girlchild said she was planning her trip to Mars to collect soil samples. The bug magnification device is set out for official scientific use. As I scrubbed dishes and washed linens the girlchild was busy labeling her earth and running up and down the hallway asking how to spell this or that.
The Girl: What else Mom?
Me: I think that about covers it. You got Fernley, China, India, New York. What else do you need? (Notice I did not suggest she write Australia...that'd take 6 days for her to spell out)
The Girl: But I still have all this space.
Me: Don't forget about the ocean. Did you know that there's more ocean that there is land?
The Girl: Good idea mom. Then I'll fill in the space with islands. Seven of them. Like Hawaii.
I particularly love that Fernley and Asia look to be about the same size.
No Shoes, Sunday Service
Burrito: Mom, did you hear that?
Me: What?
B: Father Bob said Jesus is dead!
Me: I know. He died so he can open up the door to heaven for you. Now Shhhhh....people are noticing you have no shoes on.
The Husband is off on a business trip. Can you tell?
I didn't discover until we were already at church that Burrito didn't have shoes on. Not sure what the policy is on that. Glad I can provide some entertainment free of charge.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
I left my heart at the Spragpole Museum-Bar-Cafe
While I was up North visiting my brother, we took a short day trip to Murray, Idaho.
Seriously, the cutest old mine town ever! Well...we do have a few gems closer to home but this one is definitely in the running. It even made it's way onto the wishful-maybe-we'll-retire-there-someday list. Right next to Austin or Ely, NV.
We stopped first at the Spragpole Museum-Bar-Cafe for lunch. I had the most amazing huckleberry milkshake ever! I had to fight the milkshake coveting children off with my long ice tea spoon and honey-BBQ chicken wings. I also distracted them by making them count the deer antlers around the bar between bites of huckleberry deliciousness.
After lunch, we toured the attached museum. It was like going home again. The best part was being there with my big brother and being able to say "Dad has a forge just like this in the backyard" and "I think this is the exact some ugly troll made out of moss that is still in the front entryway at home". It was an odd assortment of wood carved animals, old apothecary jars, blacksmith tools, ivory elephants, collector edition miniature cars, and giant wooden saint statues. And it got me thinking. (LIGHT BULB.....in my best despicable me voice) We could just put out a donation jar and let people take self guided tours of Hal's house when he's gone. I kid, I kid.....mostly.
My brother was kind enough to send me home with bags of frozen, wild huckleberry. And we recreated the huckleberry milkshake, many times over, at home, possibly before we got the vacation unpacking done.
Seriously, the cutest old mine town ever! Well...we do have a few gems closer to home but this one is definitely in the running. It even made it's way onto the wishful-maybe-we'll-retire-there-someday list. Right next to Austin or Ely, NV.
We stopped first at the Spragpole Museum-Bar-Cafe for lunch. I had the most amazing huckleberry milkshake ever! I had to fight the milkshake coveting children off with my long ice tea spoon and honey-BBQ chicken wings. I also distracted them by making them count the deer antlers around the bar between bites of huckleberry deliciousness.
After lunch, we toured the attached museum. It was like going home again. The best part was being there with my big brother and being able to say "Dad has a forge just like this in the backyard" and "I think this is the exact some ugly troll made out of moss that is still in the front entryway at home". It was an odd assortment of wood carved animals, old apothecary jars, blacksmith tools, ivory elephants, collector edition miniature cars, and giant wooden saint statues. And it got me thinking. (LIGHT BULB.....in my best despicable me voice) We could just put out a donation jar and let people take self guided tours of Hal's house when he's gone. I kid, I kid.....mostly.
My brother was kind enough to send me home with bags of frozen, wild huckleberry. And we recreated the huckleberry milkshake, many times over, at home, possibly before we got the vacation unpacking done.
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