2017 Books for a Better Life Award Winner: Inspirational Memoir
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.
