The author of the New York Times bestseller Broken Open returns with a visceral and profound memoir of two sisters who, in the face of a bone marrow transplant—one the donor and one the recipient—begin a quest for acceptance, authenticity, and most of all, love. A mesmerizing and courageous memoir: the story of two sisters uncovering the depth of their love through the life-and-death experience of a bone marrow transplant. Throughout her life, Elizabeth Lesser has sought understanding about what it means to be true to oneself and, at the same time, truly connected to the ones we love. But when her sister Maggie needs a bone marrow transplant to save her life, and Lesser learns that she is the perfect match, she faces a far more immediate and complex question about what it really means to love—honestly, generously, and authentically. Hoping to give Maggie the best chance possible for a successful transplant, the sisters dig deep into the marrow of their relationship to clear a path to unconditional acceptance. They leave the bone marrow transplant up to the doctors, but take on what Lesser calls a "soul marrow transplant," examining their family history, having difficult conversations, examining old assumptions, and offering forgiveness until all that is left is love for each other’s true selves. Their process—before, during, and after the transplant—encourages them to take risks of authenticity in other aspects their lives. But life does not follow the storylines we plan for it. Maggie’s body is ultimately too weak to fight the relentless illness. As she and Lesser prepare for the inevitable, they grow ever closer as their shared blood cells become a symbol of the enduring bond they share. Told with suspense and humor, Marrow is joyous and heartbreaking, incandescent and profound. The story reveals how even our most difficult experiences can offer unexpected spiritual growth. Reflecting on the multifaceted nature of love—love of other, love of self, love of the world—Marrow is an unflinching and beautiful memoir about getting to the very center of ourselves.
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“Throughout her life, Elizabeth Lesser has sought understanding about what it means to be true to oneself and, at the same time, truly connected to the ones we love. But when her sister, Maggie, needs a bone marrow transplant to save her life, and Lesser learns that she is the perfect match, she faces a far more immediate and complex question about what it really means to love – honestly, generously, and authentically.”
When I dove into Marrow, despite that intriguing and descriptive paragraph, I wasn't sure what to expect. At first, to be totally honest, I really wasn't sure I was going to like this at all. You see, I tend to be the sort of person who just...sees things the way they are. You're not going to see me meditating in order to find myself. To find peace? Sure, that's a possibility. Calm and peace are two things that tend to elude me, and yoga and relaxation techniques have helped me reduce some of my anxiety in the past. When Lesser starts diving into things like the real and true finding of your own soul, I started wondering what I had gotten myself into.
However, I decided to give it a try and keep going. The chapters where Lesser is describing her childhood and introducing the reader to her family, I loved. I enjoyed her writing style, and the story held my attention. When she interjects with a chapter or several that dive into the soul finding, I do think that what she says is thought-provoking and often beautiful. I definitely became enthralled in a couple of those instances, and began applying what she was saying to my own life, and my own self...my own soul.
Read my entire review here: http://www.literaryquicksand.com/2016/09/review-marrow-elizabeth-lesser/
