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Published Sep 2016
320 pages
Genre: Biography/Memoir
Publication Information
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.
"Though the subject is somber, Lesser's outlook is hopeful and sometimes humorous; she describes the four sisters dancing in the treatment room, sharing reminiscences of their parents, finding moments to be lighthearted. Readers will be inspired by Lesser's wise and loving approach to both life and death." - Publishers Weekly
"Drawing on Zen philosophers like D.T. Suzuki and alternative medicine advocates like Deepak Chopra, Lesser offers a soulful blend of life lessons learned and spiritual wisdom that reads like a balm for the soul. A searching, compassionate, and uplifting memoir." - Kirkus
"Lesser has reached into the center of her soul to write a book rich with love - love that is just as equally weighted by realism and as it is lightened by mysticism. It is real love: powerful and transformative. Marrow is truly a beautiful book, and an important one." - Elizabeth Gilbert, New York Times best-selling author of Eat, Pray, Love and Big Magic
"Marrow is wise and raw, vulnerable and funny. Elizabeth's profoundly honest journey to learn what it is to be flawed, to grow, to change, to love and to let go moved me deeply…to my marrow." - Sally Field, Academy Award-winning actress
"Marrow is an unforgettable memoir about two sisters, but it's really about all of us. It's about the courage it takes to own our stories, look truth in the eye, and write our own bold endings. No one truth-tells with more soul and tenacity. Lesser's courage is contagious." - Brené Brown, Ph.D. Author of the New York Times< #1 Bestseller, Rising Strong
"I thought with Marrow, Elizabeth Lesser had written a book about dying. But in fact (and miraculously) this is a book that teaches us how to live." - Jane Fonda, actress, activist, and author of My Life So Far
"Every human goes through love and loss. Not everyone finds out what matters most. This book is also your story and mine. Read it and you may get to know yourself a little better." - Deepak Chopra, MD, New York Times best-selling author of The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success and Super Genes
"I am moved to the core by the depth and beauty of this memoir. Like Broken Open, this a book I will reread often as a reminder of what is really essential in life: love and spirit." - Isabel Allende, New York Times best-selling author of The House of the Spirits and The Japanese Lover
"Marrow is a deeply brave, honest, emotional, visionary ride into the scary and liberating marrow of sisterhood. Lesser's book is ultimately a spiritual transfusion, begging us to clean and rid ourselves of any past blood that stands in the path of love." - Eve Ensler, New York Times best-selling author of The Vagina Monologues and In the Body of the World
This information about Marrow was first featured
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Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
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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