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Loading... The Panacea Project (edition 2023)by Catherine Devore Johnson (Author)
Work InformationThe Panacea Project by Catherine Devore Johnson
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() The Panacea Project / by Catherine Devore Johnson – Austin, TX -- Greenleaf Book Group Press, c2023. (299 pages) Description from the book jacket: THE PANACEA PROJECT is a layered examination of self-sacrifice, implicit bias, and the juxtaposition of bodily autonomy with high-stakes capitalism – for those who love fiercely strong characters and deep themes infused with heartwarming moments of love and humor. Panacea is defined as a solution or remedy for all difficulties or diseases – and in this incident the disease is cancer. Dr. Kraft is studying the world of oncological immunotherapy; however, finding it difficult to find people for the study since those kind of people don’t get sick enough to seek medical attention. But his research is on the upswing when Calla is operated on for a brain tumor that has mysteriously vanished since being diagnosed several days earlier. Calla Hammond is very interesting and very rememberable. Not only does her appearance make her stand out (she has vitiligo, two-toned skin) but she has now been labeled by the world as “the cure for cancer.” Calla has lived a very secluded and lonely life – now everyone knows who she is and is trying to get close to the “miracle” in hopes that their loved one will be healed as well. People are willing to do anything even kidnapping and/or medical experimentation to own what her body produces. Calla’s new norm is the hospital lab and constant testing of blood and body tissues to see what her body is doing in hopes to find out the why and then reproduce it. Staying out of sight, caged for her own protection, Calla is surrounded by bodyguards providing a “sphere of safety, and to protect the asset. Calla has “been reduced to a commodity, a finite resource, a rare raw material to be excavated and processed and mass-produced so humanity could hold mortality at bay for a little while longer.” The story also shows the politics of cancer – those who have the money have a better chance of getting access to the cure – and on the other side, medicine doesn’t want to cure cancer because it is a big money business. The book consists of short chapters that gives it a fast-paced feel. The description of the book calls it a thriller. Most of the beginning is more medical drama and the thriller part doesn’t kick in until about halfway through. But once the thriller starts – it just keeps going and going until close to the final chapters. This book would make a good choice for a book club discussion. There is mild language throughout. One of my favorite lines – “It felt like the cruelest joke – to discover love and lose it in the same instant.” (p196) I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review. ![]() Description from the book jacket: THE PANACEA PROJECT is a layered examination of self-sacrifice, implicit bias, and the juxtaposition of bodily autonomy with high-stakes capitalism – for those who love fiercely strong characters and deep themes infused with heartwarming moments of love and humor. TAGS: Fiction, Thriller, Foster Care, Vitiligo, Medical Research, Doctors, Cancer, Ego, Greed, Autoimmune Disorder, Friends, Family, Relationships Panacea is defined as a solution or remedy for all difficulties or diseases – and in this incident the disease is cancer. Dr. Kraft is studying the world of oncological immunotherapy; however, finding it difficult to find people for the study since those kind of people don’t get sick enough to seek medical attention. But his research is on the upswing when Calla is operated on for a brain tumor that has mysteriously vanished since being diagnosed several days earlier. Calla Hammond is very interesting and very rememberable. Not only does her appearance make her stand out (she has vitiligo, two-toned skin) but she has now been labeled by the world as “the cure for cancer.” Calla has lived a very secluded and lonely life – now everyone knows who she is and is trying to get close to the “miracle” in hopes that their loved one will be healed as well. People are willing to do anything even kidnapping and/or medical experimentation to own what her body produces. Calla’s new norm is the hospital lab and constant testing of blood and body tissues to see what her body is doing in hopes to find out the why and then reproduce it. Staying out of sight, caged for her own protection, Calla is surrounded by bodyguards providing a “sphere of safety, and to protect the asset. Calla has “been reduced to a commodity, a finite resource, a rare raw material to be excavated and processed and mass-produced so humanity could hold mortality at bay for a little while longer.” The story also shows the politics of cancer – those who have the money have a better chance of getting access to the cure – and on the other side, medicine doesn’t want to cure cancer because it is a big money business. The book consists of short chapters that gives it a fast-paced feel. The description of the book calls it a thriller. Most of the beginning is more medical drama and the thriller part doesn’t kick in until about halfway through. But once the thriller starts – it just keeps going and going until close to the final chapters. Lately I have not been finishing contemporary fiction -- they just don't keep my interest -- however, this title I could read again and again. This book would make a good choice for a book club discussion. There is mild language throughout. One of my favorite lines – “It felt like the cruelest joke – to discover love and lose it in the same instant.” (p196) I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review. ![]() no reviews | add a review
"Calla Hammond has always been a loner-a product of the foster system and avoided by others because of a skin condition. When doctors discover her immune system holds the key to curing cancer, she struggles to advance lifesaving research in a world that sees her only as a means to an end. Yet along the way, Calla gains the one thing she has always longed for: a chosen family. When a group of unscrupulous people join forces to sell Calla's blood to the highest bidder, she digs deep to find the strength to retake control of her life, her body, and her story"-- No library descriptions found. |
LibraryThing Early Reviewers AlumCatherine Devore Johnson's book The Panacea Project was available from LibraryThing Early Reviewers. Current DiscussionsNone
![]() GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)813.6000Literature English (North America) American fiction 21st CenturyLC ClassificationRatingAverage:![]()
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