American History

[whiskeypriest]

I recently read Rebecca Skloot's The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and cannot recommend it enough, though actual discussion will obviously have to take place elsewhere.   

Why have the discussion elsewhere?

Perhaps because you are a rampant buffoon.

[madupont]

This kind of ridiculous fighting between weezo and maddy is why everyone quit this forum.  You two could fill up pages at a time arguing over nothing, and here you are at it again.  We didn't discuss anything about the Russian Revolutions, maddy.  This is American History after all.     As for the poll, this came at weezo's insistence and she arranged with liquidsilver to be a poll manager, so there you have it.  I think she still is a poll manager.  Last book I remember discussing in here was about Oppenheimer, before this forum went completely to pot.

True, I didn't discuss anything about the Russian Revolutions, either. as this was back in 2007, apparently following closely after the Chinese discover America with  a "Junque".

I checked the search feature for the dates and found my conversation with Bob.

madupont
Superhero Member

Posts: 13373


 
  Re: American History
« Reply #828 on: August 26, 2007, 10:49:02 PM » Quote Modify Remove 

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Not entirely "always".  I decided to begin the discussion of -- Peeling the Onion, by Gunter Grass; to accord with how the space has been used thus far.


This is Bob's reply
 Re: American History
« Reply #842 on: August 27, 2007, 05:35:37 PM » Quote 

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Like the others I didn't mean to go over to another forum immediately, thus interupting things. I meant for us to utilize the Non Fiction Forum  appropriately, that is, for people to suggest a book at the next opportunity and see if we can get others to join us--in other words to do things politely and appropriately....

I havent gotten to see the Gunter Gras book. I'll have to visit NON FICTION and  see how things are going...

[weezo]

I recently read Rebecca Skloot's The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and cannot recommend it enough, though actual discussion will obviously have to take place elsewhere.   

Why have the discussion elsewhere?

Perhaps because you are a rampant buffoon.

Thank you so very much!!! Kids always said I had a good sense of humor!

[madupont]

Entering the search feature for Non-fiction, with the words: Peeling the Onion, I found data from May 20,2007 until about five days  longer in November,2007.  The length of time involved was the posting of a discussion between Norman Mailer and Gunter Grass at tne N.Y. Public Library  that was video taped discussing what had occurred re: F.A.Z.

Grass was overall in good spirits with the success of his book, and life in general, while in fact Mailer would die on Nov.10,2007

Otherwise, it is not always clear when discussion occurs since sometimes data is entered into permanent record for http://forums.escapefromelba.com/index
and then exhibits one date that covers-all.  I've noticed that numerous times in locating materials, as if a series of forums is recorded at one time when someone gets around to it.

Most of my comment remained, and some others; which I think clarifies why the two Revolutions were  being read over a period of five days re: Russia. Oddly how interests recycle and now as if by clockwork that very interesting book by Miranda Carter is being discussed: George, Nicholas and Wilhelm: Three Royal Cousins and the Road to World War I

As I said previously, I had made my own copy of comments exchanged.  And as I had the book,Peeling the Onion, I was able to print out available chapters of the text  for others to read,  that The New Yorker promoted; and then remove them from the forum later when they were not needed.

Somewhat later, I do not recall on what dates, Lhoffman reported on sections of Mailer's book, The Castle in the Forest, perhaps xpowellq, aka quill, was reading along at that point.

I followed with the closing of the American Embassy in Berlin and how the diplomatic staff filled up their time at a run down hotel in the country before they left for the States, and the fact that the arbitrary killings of civilian resisters had begun  in those concentric circles of almost hidden prisons in Berlin and outward through the suburbs into the country at large.  I may look for that as it was never discussed in earshot of children here in the States; if anyone actually knew this was taking place?

[weezo]

Maddie, what does this have to do with the discovery of the story behind the HeLa cells?

[nytempsperdu]

I recently read Rebecca Skloot's The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and cannot recommend it enough, though actual discussion will obviously have to take place elsewhere.   

Why have the discussion elsewhere? I've read and enjoyed the book, and I'm sure it is something that Laurie would like to read. Since I live close to where she grew up, I can go there if we want additional information, although I am not close enough to Baltimore to be helpful in checking out anything at Johns Hopkins.

I did read your previous comments about the book, which were, like the above, not really about the book.  As for traveling to where Lacks grew up, the book makes it clear that it is true of Clover (as it is not of Oakland) that there is no longer any there there.  As for going to Baltimore/Johns Hopkins, one wonderful thing about this day and age and technological wonders is that one need not travel to a particular location for particular information. 

I can/do commend participation in the foundation and will also be looking forward to more of Skloot's work. 

     

[weezo]

Since the book, the stone has been put in place, the graveyard cleaned up, and the town of Clover is coming back to life. I want to take a drive out there sometime this summer, and will let you know what is there. Someone also found a color photo of Henrietta and Day Lacks. I've collected the pictures but haven't put them up yet on the webpage. Skloot was invited to the unveiling of the tombstone but was traveling in England and couldn't make it. The family is growing, just like the HeLa cells, but a bit more orderly.

I suspect that the book was sorta like an opening for me, to the story and the family that is rather close by. I think Skloot painted a realistic portrait of the feelings of the family and the sudden interest in them when it was known what a hero their mother was inadvertently. In Skloot's book, the black people seem so much like the ones I know around here. Very private, especially with white people, and very distrusting even after a long time association. Skloot learned to wait until the people were ready to open the door a bit to her, and she learned to step ever so gingerly. But her persistence paid off. She had to prove herself over and over again, but she hung in there and did it.

[billkelsey]

J don't get this Figes story

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5jIjJ3IrieXw4xDKhfiyCbc-M7kIQ

Why isn't one permitted to publish reviews of any quality - and quite anonymously (one has to be semi-daft to use one's real name on the net with spams and scams a penny a million)?

I'm not even getting why they are called 'fake' - if someone writes a review and says a book is lousy, that should certainly be acceptable as an opinion - whether they thought it was lousy or not - or whether they could even justify the opinion.

Wouldn't there have to be some libelous material involved before any case would have legs?

[Lhoffman]

Fascinating.   It seems like the answer would have just been "so what."   It's not as if it took rocket science to determine the identity of Orlando-Birkbeck.

But AmazonUK does allow pseudonyms for reviews....or perhaps they only allow pseudonyms for fake reviews?   

Here's the first writings in TLS:

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/the_tls/article7103737.ece

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/the_tls/article7103624.ece

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also:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1266860/I-blame-wife-Top-historian-accused-rubbishing-rivals-Amazon-reviews--wife-says-SHE-did-it.html

[weezo]

I recently read Rebecca Skloot's The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and cannot recommend it enough, though actual discussion will obviously have to take place elsewhere.   

Why have the discussion elsewhere? I've read and enjoyed the book, and I'm sure it is something that Laurie would like to read. Since I live close to where she grew up, I can go there if we want additional information, although I am not close enough to Baltimore to be helpful in checking out anything at Johns Hopkins.

I did read your previous comments about the book, which were, like the above, not really about the book.  As for traveling to where Lacks grew up, the book makes it clear that it is true of Clover (as it is not of Oakland) that there is no longer any there there.  As for going to Baltimore/Johns Hopkins, one wonderful thing about this day and age and technological wonders is that one need not travel to a particular location for particular information. 

I can/do commend participation in the foundation and will also be looking forward to more of Skloot's work. 

You could google and find out what she is working on in England, which is how she was unable to come to the ceremony to set the tombstone over Henrietta Lacks' grave. If the town has anyone "manning the store", I'll see what I learn. In the meantime, I'm rereading the books, last night at the point where she'd had five kids starting at age 14.

[nytempsperdu]

I think Skloot painted a realistic portrait of the feelings of the family and the sudden interest in them when it was known what a hero their mother was inadvertently. In Skloot's book, the black people seem so much like the ones I know around here. Very private, especially with white people, and very distrusting even after a long time association. Skloot learned to wait until the people were ready to open the door a bit to her, and she learned to step ever so gingerly. But her persistence paid off. She had to prove herself over and over again, but she hung in there and did it.

  (my bolding) 

Absolutely, and anyone wondering why such distrust even in the face of a long history of efforts by the most well-intentioned can learn much from reading this.   I had to go a long way back to recall any other book that demonstrated the kind of respect for its subject as this, could only come up with James Agee's Let Us Now Praise Famous Men (another of what I call my touchstone books.)

In a way, it's kind of sad that the fame resulting from this book will make it impossible for Skloot to ever do this kind of work again.

[weezo]

I think Skloot painted a realistic portrait of the feelings of the family and the sudden interest in them when it was known what a hero their mother was inadvertently. In Skloot's book, the black people seem so much like the ones I know around here. Very private, especially with white people, and very distrusting even after a long time association. Skloot learned to wait until the people were ready to open the door a bit to her, and she learned to step ever so gingerly. But her persistence paid off. She had to prove herself over and over again, but she hung in there and did it.

  (my bolding) 

Absolutely, and anyone wondering why such distrust even in the face of a long history of efforts by the most well-intentioned can learn much from reading this.   I had to go a long way back to recall any other book that demonstrated the kind of respect for its subject as this, could only come up with James Agee's Let Us Now Praise Famous Men (another of what I call my touchstone books.)

In a way, it's kind of sad that the fame resulting from this book will make it impossible for Skloot to ever do this kind of work again.

Just got a facenote from a former student who is willing to ride out there and see whether Clover has re-emerged, or just vacuumed the yard for the stone-laying. We're thinking of going some time in August, and I am excited about going. Tonya will take pictures for me, and, I'm hoping that going with Tonya, a former student in her forties and I'm now in my sixties, I don't think we will menace anyone. I hope not. It may be interesting to pick up some oral tradition that someone remembered after all the fuss and bother was over. Perhaps hear tell of a story that deserves to be online and archived ...  If I can be so lucky .... I'll tuck a tape recorder in my  purse, and record the folks saying hello to the Internet. Maybe I can invest in a video-cam and figure out how to make a youtube and .. and we both willl add to the wisdom thet comes at each our ages..... 

[billkelsey]

or perhaps they only allow pseudonyms for fake reviews?  

What is a fake review?

[Lhoffman]

or perhaps they only allow pseudonyms for fake reviews?  

What is a fake review?

I'd think in this case it is when a professional or an expert in a given area puts out a review under a pseudonym...the purpose to build up his own sales.   He also positively reviewed his own work.  

I bet this happens on Amazon more than we'd think.

[carol polk]

Not having to rely on Amazon reviews is one of the reasons I take several magazines and watch for the comments of critics whose opinions I have learned to find reliable.   If she hates it, I'll love it.  If he likes it, I probably will also.  These reviewers are compensated, yes, but not by their subjects.  (One reason I hate jacket blurbs, too.)  And their writing skills are generally superior to those of Amazon reviewers.

I guess this is a "contemporary history" comment, sorry.