Great Reads for June!

I'm the kind of person that is always diverting my attention to the Barnes and Nobles bookshelves.  I excitedly stare at the New York Times Best Sellers asking myself "when am I going to have find in my schedule to read all of these?"  I buy books when I don't need them.  I let them fill my bookshelves, nightstands, and purses because I have peace of mind that they are there waiting for me to have time to read them.  I'm like a compulsive shopper, but for books.  Anyways, I'm always looking for recommendations from my friends so I wanted to use this blog as a way to let others know what I'm reading and hopefully you all can give me a few of your favorites also!

I recently finished the book 'The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks' (by Rebacca Skloot) and while I am in no way a literary critic, I would definitely recommend this read!

I was actually only on the 5th chapter when a woman sitting next to me on the plane asked me what I thought of the book so far.  I told her that honestly, I couldn't put it down!  She proceeded to tell me that she tried reading it twice for a book club, but ended up retiring to her bookshelf indefinitely.  So warning: this read may not fit everyone's liking.

Initially, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks sparked my interest because I had heard of the cell line HeLa (immortal human cells that are still alive and multiplying today) referenced in basic biology courses throughout college.  What I never knew is where they came from - who the woman was the donated these cells and were they voluntarily given or taken without consent?  This book explores EVERYTHING - from Henrietta's upbringings to her family's present day struggles (unable to bring recognition to the woman whose cells helped develop for example, the polio vaccine).  While some parts could be quite depressing, I liked how the chapters toggled between what was happening in the Lack's family and then, chronologically, the events in cell research and how Henrietta's cells were ultimately revolutionizing modern medicine.