SHE’S A READER | MARCH WRAP UP [CC]
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- Опубліковано 5 лют 2025
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Hey hey! I read books, yeah, that's right! Tell me your highlights from March!
Thanks for watching!
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BOOKS MENTIONED (affiliate links)
-Henrietta Lacks: bookshop.org/a...
-Pines: bookshop.org/a...
-Earth and Blood: bookshop.org/a...
-Elatsoe: bookshop.org/a...
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She's reading , guys 🙌
Yasssss I'm so happy for her
🥰
Henrietta Lacks should be honored every day! The way she was treated was abhorrent, but she is single handedly (cellular-ly?)responsible for saving MILLIONS of lives.
Jess, we're happy to have you in any form. Just glad to see you with a little sparkle in your eye.
🥹🥹🥹
I’m so happy Henrietta Lacks’s name and story is being spoken so widely ✊🏾 however, I do hope her family was compensated fairly and are doing better now 😅
me too. Her family should be receiving massive royalties from all pharmaceutical companies
At the publishing of the book they weren’t compensated in any way 😭
@@JessOwens sad
I really enjoyed Elatsoe. I got the sense she was just a teen, but because of the culture, maybe she felt younger. I think we are so used to teens her age having more autonomy, and parents not as present when we're reading YA... it was refreshing to have engaged parents in a young person's life.
I can't tell you how often I ask myself, "Where are the parents?", when I'm reading that demographic.
Better to have three great reads than a bunch of mehs and DNFs! You rock!
Heck yes!!
Henrietta’s story was so intriguing and yet so sad. The university where I worked made it their campus all-read selection the year after the book released. Then they had her son come and speak. It was so eye-opening. I was glad that, at least, her children were able to participate in telling her story.
My sister, who was working as a pharmacist at a teaching hospital at the time, had a very rare bone cancer in her lower jaw with no contributing behaviors like chewing or smoking. She was able to give consent for specialists to use her cells for worldwide research. Granted, my sister is white, but I was happy to know that at least some things have changed for the better. I suspect part of the disrespect shown to Henrietta was also due to being female & having a gynecological cancer in a time when most medical procedures and research was being done by old white men. I was pleased to learn that my sister’s specialist surgeon was female and was familiar with this book. It should be mandatory reading in medical ethics classes everywhere and I’m glad that the author was compelled to tell the story of a medical hero who is both Black and female!
I also thought Elatsoe was written very young. It kept pulling me out of the story and I wasn’t able to enjoy it. Does asexuality really seem well-represented when the individual feels pre-pubescent?? I don’t know.
But I DID enjoy Pines. I read the whole trilogy (I think it was three?) and thought it was really good. It was a key series for getting me into SFF books years ago.
Wow, our reading doesn’t normally overlap this much! It was great to see you talking about books I’ve read and finding some enjoyment in the process. I think of you often as I struggle with my mental health too. It’s hard to come back from and I’m glad to see you embracing your whole self - not just your Reader self. Keep it up 💛💐
If the character in Elatsoe 16-17 I wouldn’t consider that pre-pubescent, although I haven’t read it so I’m not sure I’m just going off what Jess Owens said in her review
Edit: oh ok so I noticed you said “feels pre-pubescent”, in that case I feel like it’s still totally valid since I’ve heard stories of people not taking asexual autistic people seriously due to infantilization.
@@Alexis-tx5en Yes. A 16-17 year old I get, but dang if this book read 10-11 to me. I don’t think I considered neurodiversity though. Definitely something to consider.
Jess reading 😲y'all, we love to see it 😆
🥹
"GIRLS, GHOULS AND ALL YOU FOOLS!" This is perfect!! I love it! 💜💜
😂😂
I don't think it's so farfetched to give Rebecca credit for bringing Henrietta's story to light. Give credit where it's due. It would have been nice if it was written by a black person or even one of her family but it didn't go that way because they didn't know. Rebecca was in the field of science. Like all of her other peers she could have ignored it but she choose to dig deeper and not only give Henrietta credit for the advancements her cells made in medicine but she paved a way for her family to be compensated AND opened the conversation of the rights people have over their body parts. This book is 13 years old and from what I've seen, people care more about the injustice done to Henrietta and her family's plight than they do about the author. Giving her that credit isn't going to diminish the real issue the book is highlighting.
🙋♀️🤯good reading your ahead of me only 1 so far 😮
seconded on the book rec for ownership and monetization of the body. Would be an amazing read. And amen to the 'people are selfish' for wanting to be paid for parts removed from them but these selfish af companies making billions and often times not making those advances available to the very people they exploit is a-okay, is peak hypocrisy
Welcome back to the land of reading! Glad you’re able to when you can ❤
I have a rare genetic disease that's called Neurofibromatosis (NF), and it has no cure or any real treatment. It also presents itself differently in everybody who has it. Part of the disease is that it can make any nerve ending develop a tumor (fun times). But if there was a way for me to donate any of my cells to some research facility to maybe find some kind of cure or treatment, I totally would and I'd prefer to get paid because it's one of those 'invisable' conditions that can cause life-long problems. I had to have brain surgery to "treat" part of it for me and lost the vision in my right eye as well because of it. It sucks and I wouldn't wish this on anybody.
21:47 just fyi you can still be straight/gay/anything and be asexual. ace is connected to your sexual attraction not sexual orientation :)
YES Elatsoe is such a beautiful book inside and out! I absolutely loved it
Jess!!!! A. I love your new hairstyle! B. Congrats on your reading accomplishments in March. Your explanation of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks makes me want to try it for myself. C. Loving all the content and am inspired in my own journey out of a slump. Keep taking it one day at a time!
Thank you!! 🥰
I'm proud of you too! Thank you for the reviews in any way you want to share. My March finishes include the Overground Railroad (Candacy Taylor), The Condemnation of Blackness (Khalil Gibran Muhammad), Rez Life (David Treuer), and, My Beloved World (Sonia Sotomayor). All great reads.
Yay! So glad you’re feeling well enough to read, and a nonfiction in two days is impressive as hell. My best books for March were The Wayfarers books by Becky Chambers. They are very sweet, cozy, and character driven, definitely bringing the socialist utopia vibes. You might enjoy them.
I am happy that you are reading again 😊
I forgot Wayward Pines were books. I first saw it when it aired as a show!
We love you because of you - your point of view your vibe! I would watch whatever you want to share or make cultural observations - no pressure to read!
🥹💜💜💜
That thumbnail made my weekend! Seeing a smile on Jess's face is the best.
Rebecca created a foundation based on Henrietta Lacks book. The Foundation helps families who experienced what the Lacks family went through. She assisted the Lacks family receive health insurance. Informative book!
Oh this is great to know!!
proud of you! my reading also picked up in march, we are reentering our literary eras
There is an excellent episode of the podcast Radiolab called “Famous Tumors” that features a segment on Henrietta Lacks that’s reported by Rebecca Skloot. Basically a very short version of her work that became the book, but worth a listen as there are some excellent audio clips, including the moment Lacks’ daughter got to hold a vial of her cells which was incredibly moving. I think they also put out an update or updated version at some point with some things that happened after the book was released. Worth a listen!
I got the same vibe from Elatsoe! She was reading younger then talking about driving and I got confused. I still liked it but I 100% know what you're talking about.
'Sad' Nonfiction is always difficult to review, but you did a great review on Henrietta Lacks, it made me curious to pick it up :) I'm glad you enjoyed Elatsoe, it's one of my favourites!
Love the twists and the sweatshirt! Reading 3 books while being employed is amazing! When I was still working, the only time I could dedicate to reading was commuting time. Once I was home, I would just be exhausted and watch tv.
Also, I started watching Will Trent and I have thoughts. I hope, you'll make a video about it, if you want to.
thank you 🥰🥰 I’m definitely making a video about will trent!!
@@JessOwens Yes!
😁
Echoing others but I'm just happy to see you choosing what's best for you right now 😊 books will always be there whenever we feel like reaching for them. I don't know if you've heard of Caitlin Doughty but she's written a few non fic titles about death and is also a mortician/youtuber (a combo I never knew existed until now lol!). I haven't picked up her books yet but they seem intriguing.
YES SHE IS!!!🎉
🥹💜
You look radiant! 🥰 Happy to see you've been reading!
Henrietta's story is so sad and captivating. It's been years since I read it, but I couldn't put it down either.
all of the books published by Levine Querido (the publisher of Elatsoe) are very high quality. I have a few and they are the most well built books i own.
There used to be a tv show based on Pines by Blake Crouch. It was called Wayward Pines and only lasted like 2 seasons. I keep starting and stopping the book but definitely watched the show when it came out a few years ago. Lol
Thanks for a great video! I needed it today. ❤
march was a great month for me!how high we go in the dark and the rage of dragon series were BANGERS
How high we go in the dark YESSSSS
Look at you smilin and talkin about books! 👏🏽👏🏽 Also I’ve had the Henrietta Lacks book on my shelf for years and haven’t read it. I need to get to it. Haha I’m currently going through The Faithful and The Fallen series by John Gwynne. I’m on the second book Valor and loving it.
I liked the second book in the Wayward Pines. Still haven’t read book 3. The 2nd book did have some pacing issues again but lots of things revealed and learned.
Here's what I read in March
Love Pamela memoir by Pamela Anderson
Lonesome dove
Mr Mercedes by Stephen king
Heat 2 by Michael mann
Murder in the mews by Agatha Christie
Troublemaker leah remini memoir
I kissed shara wheeler
Normal people by Sally Rooney
All Rhodes lead here by Mariana Zapata
Reminders of him by colleen Hoover
Read between the lines by Rachel Lacey
The silence of the girls by pat Barker
Bad luck and trouble by lee child
How did you like normal people? It’s on my tbr, but so many people have said that it was boring
@@Alexis-tx5en yeah unfortunately normal people was boring but I have heard some people liking the book
@@angelaholmes8888 oh no thanks for the reply though. I wanted to read the book before I watch the show that’s based off of it, but I’ve heard that the show is better.
I'm so happy for you. March was a slump for me but I read 3 books.
👏🏾👏🏾
I hear you about Elatsoe! I liked the story quite a bit but couldn't get around the dissonance I felt over how the plot ideas were YA but the writing was very middle grade and it felt... weird. But, I do recommend it a lot and did enjoy it.
I just started Elatsoe like yesterday because I heard it had ace rep! Glad to see you've been reading! Haven't watched the video yet will edit when I do!
Edit: Super excited for Elatsoe! The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks sounds really good especially since I am a black woman. But it sounds like it'll be a very heavy read. To date my heaviest read is The Girl Who Smiled Beads (a memoir of a young girl who survived the Rwandan genocide) I read that years ago and it still weighs on me. So I don't read heavy often but I am curious about the subject I have a lot of friends and family who are in the medical field so I'm always interested when they talk about stuff they've learned.
Inarch I read The Mystery of the Blue Train which I enjoyed It caused my slump last year but in a different mindset it was amazing. And the tea dragon society, a very cute and very short graphic novel.
Yay! Loved seeing this!
A lot of the research done on African Americans in the 40s 50s is horrible. Makes me sick that doctors didn’t help or treat patients. Even today so much crap is done to women in medicine regardless of ethnicity. Yuck!
Love seeing you so refreshed 🙃 I loved the Once Upon a Broken Heart series in March. Also started the Poppy Wars. I feel like everyone else has read those series, but I really liked both!
Yayyyy Poppy War!
After I had my gallbladder taken out several years ago, I asked a doctor friend what happens to it. He was very vague and said he didn't know. I didn't believe him.
😬🫢
Weird response. The standard is to incinerate medical waste after any necessary tests. There's no research value in a typical gallbladder or appendix or whatever. Lacks' cells were valuable because they were cancerous.
Love all of your content, whatever format that comes in. Adding the Henrietta Lacks book to my TBR. I wonder what your thoughts would be on the Wayward Pines television show.
My two favorite reads of March were Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus, Deja Dead by Kathy Reichs aka Bones
I loved this wrap up. You did such good reviews for each book. I loved the discussion you did on the first book and how much you spoke about it. The second one does sound interesting but I haven't seen many reviews of it so it was nice to see one. I may actually pick it up now, but we'll see. I have a lot of books I want to get through.
So glad you enjoyed the books you read! (Well except THAT one lol) definitely going to try to read Elatsoe soon based on your review!
Happy for you, Jess! Sounds like you had a great time with those books
I just finished The Door in the Dark and I enjoyed it! It's basically Deadly Education vibes if Naomi Novik wasn't long winded as all hell. The main character (graduate student at a magical university with 1900s vibes) is definitely morally grey so I'm curious to see her character development as the series progresses. It's light on the romance for the first book as well. Biggest complaint was It's billed as partly mystery, but it wasn't really explored. Other than that, looking forward to more. Magic system was definitely unique as well.
You sold me, added to my list bc I didn’t enjoy Deadly Education but this sounds promising
you are my idol tbh
Stop it 🥹
I felt the exact same way about Elatsoe. I thought it was middle grade the whole time and then saw someone reviewing it, saying she was 16 and I was like 😮😮😮
I’ve had exactly the same reaction to Elatsoe. It was AMAZING, but the main character feels like she is 11-12
Aye!! Three whole books is impressive as far as I’m concerned. I’m currently reading Godkiller by Hannah Kaner and I really like it so far. The characters are fun and the plot is fast moving, which I really needed after trying to get though The Way of Kings. Definitely would recommend
Oohhh I really want to read Godkiller!!
I really liked Elatsoe, but I really wished it had more of the world building. The magic system of both Elatsoe's family and her best friend's family were so fascinating and I really wish there had been more of that.
I read the First Law and the Red Rising trilogies. I'm glad, these books were free bec. I wanted to see for myself what the hype was all about but I was not sure, if I would love the representation in them (and I was right, I HATED it but the stories were entertaining for sure).
🫣🫣
Love elatsoe
Croissant City 😂😂😂😭😭😭💀💀💀
14:20 ‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️
I read the The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks in my English class a couple years ago! I loved it although I also felt weird about a white woman being the one to write it.
I’ve got crescent city on hood bc a friend wants me to read it and I’m like 😅😅😅
Enjoy 👀
Not croissant city 😭🤣
I had the same issue with Elatsoe as you. Ellie's dialogue and mannerisms read more like a 12-13 YO than the 17 that they were supposed to be. It took me out o the story at times. But other than that the story was quite entertaining.
💗💗
"Pines" sounds like an X-Files episode LOL
I went back to my review of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks from years ago and apparently I really liked reading about the subject but felt the author inserted herself too much into the narrative and was kind of white savior-ish.
I totally see that. And I still don’t know how to express how I feel about her authoring this
I despised the way Skloot made Debbie look, the negative way she spoke about the family, unnecessary fat shaming. Just ick. I'm glad the story got out but I did not like how the family was portrayed.
FIRST
love this for you!!!
Thank ya thank ya