Resilience: Reflections on the Burdens and Gifts of Facing Life's Adversities
by Elizabeth Edwards
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Book Summary Information
Author: Elizabeth EdwardsEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2009-05-08
ISBN: 076793136X
Number of pages: 213
Publisher: Crown Archetype
Book Reviews of Resilience: Reflections on the Burdens and Gifts of Facing Life's Adversities
Book Review: Elizabeth Edwards' Story Continued: So Much Grace and Grit
Summary: 5 Stars
RESILIENCE must have been a difficult book to write. While it is extremely well-written-- Elizabeth Edwards is a first class writer-- it was difficult to read in that it is sad beyond measure. Your heart goes out to this decent and good woman who certainly deserves a better hand than life has dealt her. Writing a review is difficult as well.
Ms. Edwards writes, with all the passion and sorrow that only a parent who has lost a child can, of the death of her beloved son Wade at sixteen-- surely Euripides is right when he says that it is unnatural for a parent to bury a child in his magnificent play "The Trojan Women," one of Rose Kennedy's favorite pieces of literature, as I recall, for obvious reasons. Ms. Edwards also discusses in detail the recurrence of her cancer that has now been diagnosed as incurable, and finally there is the revelation of her husband's extra-marital affair. You have to admire Ms. Edwards tremendously for refusing to ever give the woman a name.
Far too much has been made of Mr. Edwards' infidelity by both the television and print media when the author gave interviews upon the publication of RESILIENCE. From the coverage, you would assume that that is pretty much what this book is about-- the reason I had sworn off reading it. Nothing could be further from the truth. And while I suppose that Edwards' fall from grace would have to be news since he had ambitions of being president-- one has to question his fitness for such a high office when he seems to have fathered a child out of wedlock (such a quaint term in these times) and apparently had no worries about unprotected sex-- but I for one hope we have heard the last about such reprehensible behavior on Edwards' part so that this woman can concentrate on fighting for her life without the constant coverage of the subject from the media.
Portions of this small volume-- around 200 pages-- are almost too painful to read. For example, Ms. Edwards' account of visiting her beloved son's grave daily for days and months (?) on end and reading to him the books that he would have been required to read before heading off to college may be the saddest thing I have read in years. In the chapter entitled "Eternity" I was not surprised to learn that Ms. Edwards did not find the solace she sought in her faith alone. "The problem of how to view death was the biggest cloud that stood between me and my faith." Or in the words of James Russell Lowell whom she quotes: "But not all the preaching since Adam/Has made Death other than Death." She concludes that "I have to accept that I cannot expect intervention now. I do not pray for my health. God gave me this world, and He gave me free will. It is my world, and now, if I am able, I have to fix it."
Elizabeth Edwards draws strength from the example of her father who suffered a stroke in April, 1990-- the family members were told by a physician whom Ms. Edwards had never seen before and whom she summarily banned from her father's hospital room-- that he was brain dead and would never walk again-- but who lived for 18 more years and talked again, drove a car again, danced again, went whale-watching in Alaska and traveled to both Poland and Spain. Is there any wonder that this woman has resilience? She also has her children, her extended internet family that she discussed in length in her previous book SAVING GRACES, the knowledge that she was able to forgive her husband-- although he will have to earn her trust again-- and a new venture: she is now the owner of a small furniture store in Chapel Hill. As she says so poignantly, the storm, so awful as it has been, has not blown her away; but she has had to adjust her sails.
RESILIENCE certainly rises above a personal journal and can be read as a manual on how to live with adversity. No less a cynic than Christopher Hitchens in the September issue of the "Atlantic" magazine wrote the most positive review of Ms. Edwards' book-- something I thought he was incapable of-- that I have ever read by him. His very fine review convinced me to read the book.
More Resilience: Reflections on the Burdens and Gifts of Facing Life's Adversities reviews:
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Summary of Resilience: Reflections on the Burdens and Gifts of Facing Life's Adversities
The bestselling author of Saving Graces shares her inspirational message on the challenges and blessings of coping with adversity.She?s one of the most beloved political figures in the country, and on the surface, seems to have led a charmed life. In many ways, she has. Beautiful family. Thriving career. Supportive friendship. Loving marriage. But she?s no stranger to adversity. Many know of the strength she had shown 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 her own life has been 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 reoccur in 2007.
While on the campaign trail, Elizabeth met many others who have had to contend with serious adversity in their lives, and in Resilience, she draws on their experiences as well as her own, crafting an unsentimental and ultimately inspirational meditation on the gifts we can find among life?s biggest challenges. This short, powerful, pocket-sized inspirational book makes an ideal gift for anyone dealing with difficulties in their life, who can find peace in knowing they are not alone, and promise that things can get better.
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