Author: Elizabeth Lesser
Publisher: Harper Wave
Date of publication: September 2016
The author of the New York Times bestsellerBroken
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.
I was really intrigued by the synopsis for this book and decided to try it out. I found Marrow to be both a mix of self-help and memoir. But at its heart it is a beautiful tribute to the author's sister and their relationship. It's always hard to critique someone's writings of their personal experience, though. In the end I loved parts and didn't like others.
My favorite parts of the book were the snippets from Maggie's journal and writings. The peek into her thoughts were compelling and I would have loved to read more. The parts of the book that I tended to skim over were when the book started to feel like a self-help book. Those kind of dragged for me. But, then I'm not really into self help. Of course, this is a hard book to read. Not "hard" as in big words or understanding. Hard as in heartbreaking and bittersweet. Having lost a friend to cancer, I found the book hit close to home. At the same time, it brought up fond memories of my friend and made me glad I got to say goodbye in the end.
I would recommend this book to anyone really. Any reader can find something to connect with in this journey between two sisters. I am glad that the author shared their story with the world.
I was really intrigued by the synopsis for this book and decided to try it out. I found Marrow to be both a mix of self-help and memoir. But at its heart it is a beautiful tribute to the author's sister and their relationship. It's always hard to critique someone's writings of their personal experience, though. In the end I loved parts and didn't like others.
My favorite parts of the book were the snippets from Maggie's journal and writings. The peek into her thoughts were compelling and I would have loved to read more. The parts of the book that I tended to skim over were when the book started to feel like a self-help book. Those kind of dragged for me. But, then I'm not really into self help. Of course, this is a hard book to read. Not "hard" as in big words or understanding. Hard as in heartbreaking and bittersweet. Having lost a friend to cancer, I found the book hit close to home. At the same time, it brought up fond memories of my friend and made me glad I got to say goodbye in the end.
I would recommend this book to anyone really. Any reader can find something to connect with in this journey between two sisters. I am glad that the author shared their story with the world.
About Elizabeth Lesser
ELIZABETH LESSER is the author of The Seeker’s Guide and
the New York Times bestseller Broken Open. She is
the cofounder of Omega Institute, recognized internationally for its workshops
and conferences that focus on holistic health, psychology, spirituality,
creativity, and social change. Prior to her work at Omega, she was a midwife
and childbirth educator. She lives in the Hudson Valley with her family.
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Tour Stops
Tuesday, September 20th: BookNAround
Wednesday, September 21st: Ms.
Nose in a Book
Friday, September 23rd: As
I turn the pages
Monday, September 26th: Kritters
Ramblings
Wednesday, September 28th: Back
Porchervations
Thursday, September 29th: Literary
Quicksand
Friday, September 30th: Emerald
City Book Review
Wednesday, October 5th: Rebecca
Radish
Monday, October 10th: Bookish Realm Reviews
Tuesday, October 11th: From the TBR Pile
Wednesday, October 12th: Books on the Table
Thursday, October 13th: Mom in Love With Fiction
Friday, October 14th: Thoughts On This ‘n That
TBD: A
Musing Reviews
I'm sure I'll be imagining myself and my sister in their shoes as I read this book ... an emotional journey for sure!
ReplyDeleteThanks for being a part of the tour.