Status
Available
Publication
Broadway Books (2010), Edition: Reprint, 256 pages
Description
Biography & Autobiography. Politics. Nonfiction. HTML:Elizabeth Edwards is one of the most beloved political figures in the country and, on the surface, she seems to have led a charmed life. In many ways, she has. Beautiful family. Thriving career. Supportive friendships. But she�??s no stranger to adversity. Many know of the strength she showed after her son, Wade, was killed in a freak car accident when he was only sixteen years old. She would exhibit this remarkable grace and courage again when the very private matter of her husband�??s infidelity became public fodder. And when her own life was on the line. Days before the 2004 presidential election�??when her husband, John, was running for vice president�??she was diagnosed with breast cancer. After rounds of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, the cancer went away�??only to recur in 2007. In Resilience, Elizabeth Edwards crafts an unsentimental and ultimately inspirational meditation on dealing with life�??s biggest challenges. This powerful and inspirational book makes an ideal gift for anyone dealing with difficulties in their lives, to draw strength from the kind of attitude that Elizabeth has developed, and find peace in knowing that t… (more)
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LibraryThing member Whisper1
This is an honest book written by a woman who endured much pain, both physically and emotionally.
Presidential hopeful John Edwards was a family man who seemed to love married life. Trusted by his wife and emotionally supported by her when he ran both for a senate seat and as a presidential hopeful,
Tragically, his lie was compounded when Elizabeth discovered that the relationship was ongoing.
While it may have cost Edwards his political career, the emotional price his wife paid was much higher.
Battling breast cancer, sadly, she died in 2010.
This is not a sour grapes book, rather it is a story told of loss of a son who died suddenly in a car accident at the age of 16. Then, struggling to survive extreme grief, she discovered a mass which lead to the diagnosis of breast cancer. Bad news came in three for Elizabeth when her fortitude and faith was again challenged upon learning of her husband's very public lies and deception.
All these topics are dealt with in a non-bitter fashion. This is a woman to be emulated and admired. She dealt with her adversities head on with dignity and grace.
The harshest comment was that John's choices were very poor, leading the reader to know that Elizabeth felt Rielle was not a person of high moral caliber.
Presidential hopeful John Edwards was a family man who seemed to love married life. Trusted by his wife and emotionally supported by her when he ran both for a senate seat and as a presidential hopeful,
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he systematically destroyed that trust when he lied, claiming a one night stand with Rielle Hunter was the extent of his relationship with her.Tragically, his lie was compounded when Elizabeth discovered that the relationship was ongoing.
While it may have cost Edwards his political career, the emotional price his wife paid was much higher.
Battling breast cancer, sadly, she died in 2010.
This is not a sour grapes book, rather it is a story told of loss of a son who died suddenly in a car accident at the age of 16. Then, struggling to survive extreme grief, she discovered a mass which lead to the diagnosis of breast cancer. Bad news came in three for Elizabeth when her fortitude and faith was again challenged upon learning of her husband's very public lies and deception.
All these topics are dealt with in a non-bitter fashion. This is a woman to be emulated and admired. She dealt with her adversities head on with dignity and grace.
The harshest comment was that John's choices were very poor, leading the reader to know that Elizabeth felt Rielle was not a person of high moral caliber.
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LibraryThing member DeaconBernie
A very conflicted book. When discussing her deceased older son, she seems almost frantic; when discussing her cancer she seems to be sitting on the sidelines observing herself; and when discussing her husband's indiscretion (her word), she just sort of matter of fact. Additionally, it is amazing to
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me how she can compartmentalize her life for the purposes of writing the book. It isn't until near the end that she mentions all three of her tribulations together. She is a remarkable woman, a very intelligent person with great wisdom. Show Less
LibraryThing member LivelyLady
Edwards talks about her life's losses and how she has adjusted. It is painfully clear that the loss of their 16 year old son to a freak car accident is her major loss. Her coping with anything else is less drastic.
She comes across as a strong, balanced woman, who has worked hard to get to that
She comes across as a strong, balanced woman, who has worked hard to get to that
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place. What I liked best and found the most hopeful....she has opened a furniture store in NC. This is her store, her place, where she is known for herself. I love that! Show Less
LibraryThing member misfev
Democratic or Republican, it simply does not matter when reading this book. Elizabeth Edwards frank and at times excruitating look into her personal life is a great gift. She deals with the life-altering death of her son, cancer, and her husbands affair with grace, determination and dignity; but
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also gives the reader a sense that she is not un-human like in her grief, anger, and pain. Show Less
LibraryThing member Fiorghra
Elizabeth Edwards is an amazing woman living her life with dignity and grace. She confronts issues in her life in this book head on and manages to maintain her dignity. She states flat out if you're looking for a scandalous story about her husband you shouuld stop reading.
It's difficult to read
It's difficult to read
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because her life has been beset with tragedy but you appreciate her all the more. Show Less
LibraryThing member dablackwood
Elizabeth Edwards is a fluent and beautiful writer. She has a knack for getting to the core and making it real. I loved her first book though it was hard to read. The painful grieving process after the death of her oldest child was breathtaking and horrible. In this book she writes about the death
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of her child again, plus her fight with breast cancer and her situation with the infidelity of her husband. Any one of these three is too much to bear, and yet, she has borne all three and can write about the pain and not seem like a suffering victim. She has had much more financial success than most, but much more tragedy that many. I find it hard not to be impressed with her. Show Less
LibraryThing member Cailin
Elizabeth Edwards is an amazing woman living her life with dignity and grace. She confronts issues in her life in this book head on and manages to maintain her dignity. She states flat out if you're looking for a scandalous story about her husband you shouuld stop reading. It's difficult to read
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because her life has been beset with tragedy but you appreciate her all the more. Show Less
LibraryThing member sue.book.addict
We meet a different Elizabeth Edwards in Resilience than we did in her earlier book Saving Graces. This woman is older, of course, but also more resolute, practical, and edgier. Less concerned with being “graceful,” she is plain-spoken about the changes in her life.
As in the earlier book, she
Her marriage, once presented as a nearly perfect union,”a great love story,” has faltered over husband John’s affair with a campaign worker. She gives no sordid details of the affair, no sensationalism here. Rather she talks about the loss of trust, the thought that her support system, her best friend might be gone. Yet, John never expected to not be a part of Elizabeth’s life forever. “Now it was not what I would do faced with his indiscretion that mattered. Cancer was writing the script. Cancer would decide. And realizing this, he broke down with fear and love and regret.” (pg.137) They continue to crusade together on the issues they consider vital, and he is with her through every treatment she receives.
Forever…another concept that Edwards explores at length. It’s now taken on a whole new meaning for her. Due to her returning cancer, she now has no idea how much time she has left. She knows she wants more than she will have. On pg. 131, she says “In a moment—a ‘you have cancer’ moment—all the genetic aces folded. I was—am—desperately afraid of losing the precious moments of life.” “My schedule is now and always will be determined by infusion appointments and MRI’s. Every Christmas is my last well Christmas, or it could be.” (pg. 33)
Elizabeth, however, does not leave us with a grim feeling. Crusader and fighter that she has always been, she will not give up the fights—not for her family, not for her causes, not for her cancer. She wrests what control she can from her life right now. “All that is in my control is how I live now.” (pg. 149) She has chosen to fill her days with the “best Joys” she can find—her children, her friends, her crusade to raise awareness and money for breast cancer research and to champion health care for those affected. No, she’s not going down without a fight.
The title Resilience is an apt description of the author. She has, she says, gotten very adept at getting back up when dealt a blow. After each, she believes, a different life begins; we cannot go back to the old one. Each time there is a new story to write. And with this book, she has.
Elizabeth Edwards lives her two youngest children in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. She continues to do interviews for her book, to travel in support of various causes and has recently won an award from Mass General Hospital for her work on behalf of breast cancer and health coverage issues.
As in the earlier book, she
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writes at length about the loss of her older son, Wade, but there is more distance now and maybe some resolution, although she states firmly that she will never be “over” him, but rather that she has learned to go living a life without him in it.Her marriage, once presented as a nearly perfect union,”a great love story,” has faltered over husband John’s affair with a campaign worker. She gives no sordid details of the affair, no sensationalism here. Rather she talks about the loss of trust, the thought that her support system, her best friend might be gone. Yet, John never expected to not be a part of Elizabeth’s life forever. “Now it was not what I would do faced with his indiscretion that mattered. Cancer was writing the script. Cancer would decide. And realizing this, he broke down with fear and love and regret.” (pg.137) They continue to crusade together on the issues they consider vital, and he is with her through every treatment she receives.
Forever…another concept that Edwards explores at length. It’s now taken on a whole new meaning for her. Due to her returning cancer, she now has no idea how much time she has left. She knows she wants more than she will have. On pg. 131, she says “In a moment—a ‘you have cancer’ moment—all the genetic aces folded. I was—am—desperately afraid of losing the precious moments of life.” “My schedule is now and always will be determined by infusion appointments and MRI’s. Every Christmas is my last well Christmas, or it could be.” (pg. 33)
Elizabeth, however, does not leave us with a grim feeling. Crusader and fighter that she has always been, she will not give up the fights—not for her family, not for her causes, not for her cancer. She wrests what control she can from her life right now. “All that is in my control is how I live now.” (pg. 149) She has chosen to fill her days with the “best Joys” she can find—her children, her friends, her crusade to raise awareness and money for breast cancer research and to champion health care for those affected. No, she’s not going down without a fight.
The title Resilience is an apt description of the author. She has, she says, gotten very adept at getting back up when dealt a blow. After each, she believes, a different life begins; we cannot go back to the old one. Each time there is a new story to write. And with this book, she has.
Elizabeth Edwards lives her two youngest children in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. She continues to do interviews for her book, to travel in support of various causes and has recently won an award from Mass General Hospital for her work on behalf of breast cancer and health coverage issues.
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LibraryThing member Donura1
Elizabeth Edwards is honest, and forthright about prioritizing the losses one may suffer in their lifetime. I was drawn to read this book, after hearing her interviewed several times. We shared the common bond of a mother who has lost a son. It was an important read for me to affirm my feelings
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regarding my loss and gain some insight into the act of moving forward no matter how many times you fall back. Show Less
LibraryThing member schoolnurse
I read this book for my book club. I am not a real fan of nonfiction but I really liked this book. It was easy to read and encouraging. I didn't know anything about the author's background or story before reading this book either. Although the subject matter is sad, I would recommend this book to
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others. I was sad to hear the author lost her fight with breast cancer but the message of her book will live on. Show Less
LibraryThing member latorreliliana
A very heartfelt bio. Unfortunately she portrays her marriage as wonderful,when in fact it has come to light that her husband had not been true to his vows for some time.. She keeps going and that is what shines through.
LibraryThing member ei214
I was suprised how this book got my attention from the first few pages. Very well written, honest. Elizabeth put into words many of the thoughts I had and feelings I experienced, after losing my young husband when I was 31 and left with two little girls to raise. The loss of her son is tragic. It
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is interesting how she found support through the internet - something I have been doing for years - and was glad to see the benefits of internet support written about in such a positive light. It was sad when she inevitably lost her battle with cancer, but she knew you have to life to the fullest with whatever time you are given. I also thought it was interesting how he talked about her marriage with John; perhaps she never fully understood (or wanted to) the depth of his infidelity anymore than she wanted to believe the likelihood of her father's indiscretion. It's hard to accept betrayals by those we love and trust because it makes a lie out of the life we think we are leading. An excellent, fast read. Show Less
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
256 p.; 5 inches
ISBN
0767931564 / 9780767931564