A Month of Literary Gratitude, Day 6 - The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Skloot

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot is a book I found fascinating, appalling, and enlightening.

This is the story of a poor, black woman who died in the early 1950s of cancer. Her cancer cells - taken with out her knowledge in 1951 - became the source material for a cell line known as "HeLa," which has been used for countless research purposes including developing the polio vaccine, cloning, and gene mapping. Millions of dollars have been made from this cell culture, but she and her family were never paid for this contribution to science, and her descendants continue to live in poverty.

This book touches on race and medicine, the "ownership" of biologicals, medical ethics and more. This nation's long history of medical experimentation on unsuspecting African Americans is well documented (if not well known in white communities), and I was appalled and fascinated by the depth and breadth of this behavior.

I think one of the reasons this book touched me so much is it personified the circumstances by which a poorly educated, marginalized population can be taken advantage of, used, and cheated by those who believe their positions of power justify their shitty behavior towards those they consider "less than." That aspect of this story made me ill.

It also made me realize that medical ethicists have a long way to go when it comes to managing the moral implications of modern medicine.

A Month of Literary Gratitude, Day 5 - Harry Potter, by J.K. Rowling

The Harry Potter books, by J.K. Rowling, will always have a special place in my heart.

These books are just delightful. I thoroughly enjoyed them when I read them with the kids, and I'm now listening to them (narrated by Jim Dale, who is the Bomb Diggity) and enjoying them all over again. 

But that's not why they have a special place in my heart. This series was one of Moe's all-time favorites. She and I were both Ravenclaws, and we had that in common, even when we struggled with our relationship.

She read them again and again, and couldn't wait for the next book to be published so she could find out what happened next. The last book was released while we were in Oklahoma for a family reunion, and in order not to waste any time, she convinced her Grandma to take her to the book store at O-Dark-Thirty in order to get her copy. She then spent the rest of the day with her nose buried in it, until she had finished it. Because that's who she was. 

I don't reread much anymore. With so much new and interesting content available, I don't really see the point. But I will come back to these stories again and again, because they remind me of my Moe-Moe, and make me happy.

A Month of Literary Gratitude, Day 4 - To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee

To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, is one of the books that affected me far more profoundly in the reread than it did initially.

Like most people of my generation, I read this book in school as an assignment. I remembered it fondly, but at that time, it did not affect me profoundly. It didn't stick with me, or make me cry.

And then, earlier this year, I bought the Audible version narrated by Sissy Spacek. I couldn't stop listening, and I found the experience profoundly moving. This time around I identified most with Atticus rather than Scout, and found much to admire in his choices. Atticus lived his life without fear, staying the course of the righteous rather than the one of expedience. Embracing fear, living bravely and authentically in spite of it, is a trait to be admired. While I was listening to it, I compared my own choices to those of Atticus, and found myself wanting.

But isn't that the purpose of literary archetypes? To give us something to aspire to, and to inspire us to be better people?

I love this book. It's one of my all time favorites, and one of the very few stories I would consider listening to again.

A Month of Literary Gratitude, Day 3 - The Belgariad, by David Eddings

The Belgariad, by David Eddings, is one of the those sweeping fantasies that spans the continent and the price of the characters' failures is basically the end of the world.

I read this series - and its sequels - over and over again in high school and into my young adulthood. I loved Polgara, the strong, independent matriarch, and identified with Garion, the befuddled main character whose humble beginnings hid a great destiny. I loved the scope of the series, and how the prophecies and destinies of the characters paid not one wit for how the objects of their focus may have wanted to perhaps do something else with their lives.

These books are not particular profound, nor did they teach life lessons for a young woman. But they were fun, and comfortable like an old shoe - a series that I returned to again and again, especially when I was tired, or depressed, or emotionally stressed by my bad choices. And I think that has a value all its own.

A Month of Literary Gratitude, Day 2 - Damage, by Josephine Hart

Damage, by Josephine Hart, reminds me of a classical tale from the dawn of literature. It's one of those stories that touches on archetypes, and distills them into a searing narrative that haunts your thoughts for months after.

Damage is the story of a British politician who basically implodes his entire life by succumbing to the temptation of an inappropriate relationship. But the manner of his implosion, and the character of the woman he selects, is fascinating. It speaks to anyone who has wanted more in their life, and anyone who has been betrayed by that desire. It speaks to the damage caused by people who sacrifice compassion and empathy in service to their own desires. And it speaks to the train wreck that occurs during the juxtaposition of these characters.

Twenty six year old me could not put this book down, and I've thought of it often over the years. I probably will never reread it, however - it's been twenty five years, and I don't know if fifty one year old me will find it as compelling.

Link Me Up, Scotty - Counterpoint Edition

My platonic semi-celebrity boyfriend Eric Garland provides a counterpoint to the excellent Cracked article by David Wong about rural America this election season.
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Smart Man, fellow UCFer, and History Professor David wrote an excellent explanation of what, exactly, the Electoral College does, and why the Founding Fathers felt it necessary to include in our founding documents. Hint: They didn't trust their descendants. Part 1, and Part 2.
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It should come as no surprise to anyone that when I voted this election season, I voted for Hillary Clinton. And while it should be obvious why I would never, ever, in a million years even if you set my hair on fire, vote for the Trumpsicle, it's less obvious why I would vote for Hillary. I will probably write my own essay post-election, but for now, here's why.
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Some food for thought from Mayim Bialik on our overconnected world (and brains).
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More than a million individuals "checked in" to the Standing Rock Indian Reservation Facebook page in an effort to thwart data mining by the authorities. I was one of those people, and even if doing so did not accomplish the original purpose, the end result was a nation-wide show of support for the Water Warriors.
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Video of the Century: This American Life asked Sara Bareilles (Broadway’s “Waitress”) to imagine what President Obama might be thinking about the current election and Donald Trump, but can’t say publicly. My celebrity boyfriend Leslie Odom, Jr of Hamilton fame sings.

A Month of Literary Gratitude, Day 1 - Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein

Each year me and several of my friends do some writing about gratitude. Usually the topics are people, circumstances, health, life...but this year, inspired by the Incredible Jeri, we're doing a Month of Literary Gratitude.

In the Month of Literary Gratitude, each day I will give thanks for a book that has moved me in some special way. These books, in no particular sequence, will be profound, mind-expanding, hilarious, provocative, or simply hold a special place in my heart and memory. Some of them I have outgrown, some lacked meaning for me in the reread, and some improved over time. But all of them had import on my life when I read them.

The first book on this list is Starship Troopers, by Robert A. Heinlein.

I read this as a teenager, and it helped to shape my attitudes, feelings, and thoughts about what service to self, unit, and country was all about. It led me to a sense of longing for this level of comradery for myself, and inspired a stronger desire in me to serve.

I have since evolved my political opinions and left Heinlein far, far behind. But after all these years, the book still expresses some things about duty, honor, and service that ring true to me today.

You don't leave anyone behind, no matter what. Happiness consists of getting enough sleep. Violence settles everything. To permit irresponsible authority courts disaster. Authority and responsibility must be equal.

Thank you, Lieutenant Heinlein, for expanding my mind and my world.