I've written about Eula and her books before -- HERE and ALSO HERE and I've remarked on the beauty and clarity of her prose, the truly original metaphors and literary allusions, and most of all, the unexpected connections that arise from her thoughts and research. This latest book is no exception. (One word -- Dracula.)
Inoculation is something that has to be on the mind of every young mother. And when Eula was faced with the question of doing what was best for her child in view of the vigorous anti-immunization movement, she did masses of research. This book is the product of that research but it's so much more than information for worried mommies -- it's a philosophical treatise on society and human nature.
There's no way I can do the book justice so I'll let some of the Big Guns speak . . . or you can listen to the author herself in this NPR INTERVIEW.:
"Elegant, intelligent and very beautiful book, which occupies a space between research and reflection, investigating our attitudes toward immunity and inoculation through a personal and cultural lens."—Los Angeles Times
"On Immunity casts a spell. . . . There's a drama in watching this smart writer feel her way through this material. She's a poet, an essayist, and a class spy. She digs honestly into her own psyche and into those of 'people like me,' and she reveals herself as believer and apostate, moth and flame."—Dwight Garner, The New York Times "Biss infuses her in-depth study on why we as a society fear vaccines with her own experiences with raising a child. She cites literary greats (Sontag, Stoker, Voltaire) on the topic of immunization, connecting literary history with our deep-rooted avoidance of protective shots."—The Huffington Post, Best Books for Fall 2014 A New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice "An eloquent consideration of the anti-vaccination movement. . . . [Biss] lays out an argument for vaccination that encompasses literature, history, science, and her fears and questions when deciding to vaccinate her own children. She brings a sober, erudite, and humane voice to an often overheated debate."—The New Yorker, "Books to Watch Out For"It's an important book about an important question -- because we're all in this life together. . .
