Mercy Killers by Lisa Reardon

Mercy Killers isn’t connected to any hospital drama. It involves mercy killing, yes, in the hands of an innocent mind named PT who is surrounded by low lives he calls family trapped in a very unfortunate  world of depression and jadedness. But it's a story of brotherhood more than anything stretched beyond very abnormal circumstances...very. It’s a story unconventional friendships and unfashionable retribution. Sadly, this narrates people with their attempts to lead a normal life and then failing miserably at it. 

This book is sort of depressing. You’ll be reading dysfunctional characters that are beyond hope of saving. You’re introduced to them as they want something that they can’t have, having that courageous go at it, but only failing miserably. You’ll read about this mercy killer who offers refuge to some, but adds burden to his own brother.  It’s a showcase of love in all the wrong places.

The storytelling is simple, but I warn you that it’s not a happy one. You’ll be frustrated and you will question the character’s actions. It's real, but not entirely poetic. It’s one of those stories of contemporary tragedy that could happen at the corner block of any rough neighborhood.

Read this when you’re flying high and super happy. It's one of those books that puts things back on the ground. 

ecx-images in amazon

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

To be honest, I don’t know why I bought this. Everything on face value about this book is not to my liking. IT certainly looks non-fiction and scientific at that. Despite the red colored cover and background, it initially spelled BORING to me. As much as I am open to reading different types of books, I am more of a fiction-reader than a non-fiction one. I like science and screen documentaries, but not really in print, but just like how I purchase books, I rely mostly on impulse and gut feel and this one is a product of that. Thank God I listened.

I enjoyed the book. I read it non-stop. I remember reading it while getting my nails done, during lunch at work and while I waited for someone for 2 hours and miraculously didn’t throw and bitch fit. It was like reading a documentary in a novel format, in a fiction way of story telling. There are distinct characters, there’s a solid plot, there’s your conflict and there’s your climax. More than anything, it’s a story of Henrietta Lacks, the woman who unknowingly donated her cells while she was being treated from cervical cancer. Just like any colored woman at those times, their primary care was scarce. There were only key players and institution that kept the story Henrietta Lacks reaching to new heights. As scientists and pathologists find ways to cure basic polio and diseases by experimenting in cells, it was never easy. Cells being cultured to do experiments on almost always die before scientists could ever use them. That’s where the simple farmer, Henrietta Lacks, succeeded. Upon getting samples from her cervical tumor, pathologists found out that her cells survived through culture. Finding a successful vessel to carry on their research, her cells were multiplied and shipped to other labs to create breakthrough medications in science. And the rest is history.

And just like any new breakthroughs, conflicts on scientific property, patents, money and heritage come into view. And just like the core conflict of the story, Henrietta Lacks died without knowing her contribution to science and without any knowledge and remuneration received by her family.

Apart from the snippets of Henrietta Lacks’ life and giving breath to the woman behind the cells, the book will tickle your knowledge about cell culture, cell ownership and importance. It teaches you the basic background of how this branch of science works without actually boring you. It has the element of human in it. I never knew Henrietta Lacks before or what made her immortal, but in this book, I learned a lot about so-called immortality of her cells. While reading the book, the reader would form questions on morality and ownership. I find myself having debates in my head on where I stand in all of this. I specifically liked the argument on cell ownership and if bodies are treated as properties both bound by legal and moral laws. In the book, other patients besides Henrietta Lacks were discussed as they faced their own legal battles. It’s a question of patients being treated and having the “excess” from basic medical tests in from of cells/tissues be used in a medical experiment. If nothing came out from the experiment, it wouldn’t have mattered but if it resulted to medical breakthroughs, shall money be given to the patient creating some sort of commerce?

This book is written by someone who is not connected to the Lacks family, but has a substantial knowledge in science, a writer who is just curious on Henrietta Lacks. Reading through the book was like reading Rebecca Skloot’s findings and observations from her interviews with  the family and interpretation of past medical records.  It was reading through the writer’s discoveries and realizations day by day for the reader to effectively form his/her own opinion. More than an entertaining read, it’s educational and reflective on where you stand on things. 

___

On most recent news, I'm happy to inform that the family of Henrietta Lacks gains control over the usage of her cells. 2 members of the family will be part of the whole decision making process on where, when and how to use them. They will ensure privacy and utmost care of Henrietta Lacks legacy. They will also receive long due recognition of their family's contribution to science. No money is involved. It's all about medical breakthroughs done in the most ethical and transparent way. Well, I favor the decision, I wouldn't want it any other way.

Read the news here: WASHINGTONPOST.COM 

Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky

My last book review was Fire in the Blood by the same author and it was shamefully last April. It’s now July…no wait, August. Spell DELAYED.

Irene Nemirovsky was introduced to me by my brooding writer friend, Tim, who porbably is more sophisticated and a selective reader than I am. Me, I just read anything, I’m a book whore. But for this friend of mine, he reads and discards books with a profound reason. Whenever we discuss our love and critique for renowned authors like Martin, Tolstoy, Gaiman or any new discovery, I always feel I’m having brain hemorrhage. He is that cerebral. That’s why when he told me that if I’m going to read Nemirovsky, I shouldn’t miss her best work yet, the unfinished novel that made her popular, Suite Francaise.

I had no idea who Nemirovsky was before I read Fire in the Blood. I got Fire in The Blood first, delighted at her fluid story telling and powerfully flawed characters, and I was hooked. She writes in a rich, fluid language that transports you to where you should be while reading it. After Fire in the Blood,  knew I just had to get Suite Francaise. As expected, I couldn’t find a copy in the leading bookstores, but just like divine intervention, on the same weekend that I was looking for it, I found one copy in perfect condition in a village book sale for 100 pesos. It was even a trade paperback. Perpetual bliss right there, I think it was intended for me to find. 

Goodreads.com

Suite Francaise is a story of French entering the 2^nd world war. And just like in any country entering war, there will be chaos, confusion, heart breaks and different kinds of deceit. Human weakness in all forms would be magnified together with heroic outbursts of the few. The vulnerability of the transition of people from all walks of life is the primary charm of the novel compilation. Personally, I never really liked war stories with the technicality and total despair of it. In Suite Francaise, I was able to peek how such families, people from all walks of life try to cope and transition their way to a life they never chose and are forced to endure. Suite Francaise is a literary observation of how families and people cope in the middle of war as if someone had wrote a diary that developed itself to a novel.

It was a total delight. It was not depressing as expected. It is a continuous story of interrelated characters coping with what life gives them in the phase of war. Her writing is very fluid from a 3^rd person perspective. She concentrates on human relationships and human evolution in challenging times. Though she is very candid and honest about human’s undesirable aspects, there’s always a hint of hope amidst the sentimentality that makes this book moving, but not entirely depressing.

Suite Francaise is two compiled books written by the author during the French Occupation. The 2^nd book is called Dolce, which follows new and old characters from the 1^st book Suite Francaise. Suite Francaise gives a glimpse of the first stages of war while Dolce is already focused on the French occupation and how people tried to continue with their lives given the circumstances. For me, Dolce looks deeper and has more emotional battles than the first book, which mostly narrates superficial challenges. Dolce also hints the end of war and restoration of France.

It’s a good book to read on a rainy day. If you want to read something slow, moving and with a human and emotional touch on war, this book could transport you to the French Lands during those times. I loved her Fire in the Blood, but in Suite Francaise, I’ve become her fan.

I sincerely imagined myself reading this on a train, killing time while I travel through Europe. 

Book Review Back Log

Book Review Back Log

July 17

With so many good and unfortunate things that happened here and there, it’s been months since I’ve written any reviews on a book or any blog post for that matter. But if there’s one thing that anchored my sanity and never wavered low, it’s my love for books.

The reviews might be a little bit accumulated and so delayed, but book shopping and reading are at a desirable place on my end. I move from one book to the next like a well-oiled train machine from one station to the next. Books keep me from wallowing in emotions and negative thoughts. They’ve become my therapy that every week I ensure to acquire new titles, old copies and new releases.

My room is slowly transforming itself into a stock room actually. Part of me likes to see books all over the place, but a part of me hates the fact that it’s become disorganized. There’s no more space to put books anywhere else except on my bed and on the floor. If push comes to shove, I will infiltrate my brother’s shelf and my shoe cabinet. Give me a week to update my inventory, clean my shelf and post my book reviews. 

Books save me in dark times, always. 

Bruce's Homecoming (Delayed)

Warning: This post is already three weeks delayed. The printout is with me since last week (office restrictions, don’t ask). Posting this is for the documentation of Bruce’s recovery from his Acute Renal Failure. It’s been a month since it was diagnosed and it’s almost a month since his official hospital release. And I’m happy to report that he’s doing better than ever.

Bruce's Homecoming July 17

Bruce came home to us last Saturday after almost 2 weeks of hospitalization. I’m very happy and thankful to report that he’s feistier, more rambunctious and excited! There’s no more limping. He eats his meals with gusto and he plays around…a lot! We have witnessed that he has his full energy back albeit with a thinner figure for now. But I wouldn’t worry too much about his weight. With how he eats and with enough healthy carbohydrate, he’ll have his body back in no time.

The positive side is he was given the license to go home. His BUN and Creatinine levels went back to normal after 2 weeks of intense fluid therapy. His energy can speak for his continuous recovery, but probably the battle needs a follow through, a continuous sweep. It can’t be totally over now can it? Acute Renal failure isn’t a cold. It’s a degenerative disease. Small percentage of dogs live through it and even smaller percentage of dogs fully recover while the unfortunate ones fall into relapse and chronic kidney failure. So my whole family and I are on the lookout. 

Truth is he still needs to continue his medication and do some follow up blood tests and check ups. His diet is so sophisticated, so different to support his remaining kidney function. He has to be monitored and made sure that he’s not exerting too much energy, he’s not doing extreme sunbathing and he has clearer and cleaner access to water. In short, he will be nursed up until six months. I’ve asked Ate Ne and Ate Mone, our two capable and caring helpers to check up on him every hour. I’ve asked my mom to talk to him and monitor him for any signs. Since my mom is a natural paranoid person, I think she would work well in the department. He only follos this strict low sodium, protein diet with only high quality protein found in ground meat with fat, eggs, chicken and vegetables. He will also eat fruits, potatoes and oats in substitute of rice. I allot a certain weekly food budget for him. And everything is cooked without salt, only in coconut oil or unsalted butter. With his meals, he takes antioxidants and kidney maintenance medication. My mom realized that we put a lot of work, time and money to fully aid his recovery. It is troublesome and challenging for sure, but we’ve grown to love this gentle giant that doing all of this becomes so natural. We’ve never been faced in this crisis before, yes it is a crisis, and I’m glad we’re seeing it through somehow.

Since Saturday, the day of his release and homecoming, he had only shown happiness, renowned energy and improvised antics. He would engage in rough play with Harvey like there was no tomorrow. He continued exploring the grounds like before. He would explore and accompany our family members in errands. He walks in a happy and jumpy gait. He also assumed his strong guarding posts just like a formidable guard dog should.  He welcomes family members with his usual charm, love and level of energy. Two weeks ago was so different. It was full of depression, anxiety, pain and heartbreaks for all of us. But now seeing him so strong and happy all of the effort was worth it, it was a distant nightmare we are willing to forget.

But we are still at a monitoring stage. As much as we’re so happy to see him excited, happy and energized, we’re also doing our part to ensure that we give him the best care, sustenance and attention he needs. It’s already a lifetime pact and we’re happy to see this through. 

PS: DIET for those interested would be posted soon.