Review: Marrow by Elizabeth Lesser

This book was well outside of my usual read, and I have to say, I’m really glad I chose this one! I grabbed it pretty quickly off of the TLC Book Tour list, even though nonfiction isn’t what I usually go for.

I know I’m supposed to describe this book myself, but the first paragraph on the inside of the cover just says it too well:

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.

At this point in my life, I’m pretty comfortable with who I am. I’m me, I know what I like, I know what I don’t like, and I know how to make myself (and sometimes those around me) happy. I feel like I know myself and my soul. So, when Lesser would launch into how to find your soul and who you’re meant to be, it’s wonderful and insightful, but I wasn’t fully into it.

This book is sort of half self-help, half memoir. I loved all of the memoir – it’s really touching and beautiful, and I feel like I’m better for having read it. I liked…some of the self-help 😊 If self-help is more your jam, I definitely recommend picking this one up! For me, I’ll give it 3.5 stars.

I received this book for review from HarperCollins and TLC Book Tours.

Joli

I'm currently a full-time writer/content strategist with an English degree living in Minneapolis, MN with my husband, young daughter, and black lab mix. I created Literary Quicksand to feed my love of books, writing, and community.

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