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Saving Graces: Finding Solace and Strength from Friends and Strangers
She charmed America with her smart, likable, down-to-earth personality as she campaigned for her husband, then vice-presidential candidate John Edwards. She inspired millions as she valiantly fought advanced breast cancer after being diagnosed only days before the 2004 election. She touched hundreds of similarly grieving families when her own son, Wade, died tragically at ...more
Paperback, 384 pages
Published
August 14th 2007
by Broadway Books
(first published January 1st 2006)
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Saving Graces is about Elizabeth Edwards emotional struggle with the impact of her son Wades death and the discovery of the re-occurance of cancer. My motivation for reading the book is to understand the rationale of both her and her husbands pursuit of the presidential nomination. Why undertake such an arduous endeavor when the focus of her life should be on her treatment and recovery from cancer. I am trying to understand the man and what went into making this decision.
The book is well ...more
The book is well ...more
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June’s book club selection. While Edwards’ story was interesting – life with a military father, college, grad school, law school, marriage, children, death of a child, politics, more children, breast cancer – I was a bit disappointed in the writing. This is often my experience with autobiographies. Perhaps it is because the person may not be a trained writer or it may be more difficult to tell one’s own story in a cohesive way. “…I have sometimes talked about the strange gift that comes with...more
To say that I was moved by this autobiography is a huge understatement; I even cried on the airplane while I was reading it. Just like you know that the Titantic will eventually sink when you watch the movie, you know that she eventually dies of cancer (and you might already know before reading the book that they had a teenage son die in a car accident in the 1990's) and that her husband cheated on her (which is NOT mentioned in the book...it was published in 2006, so it might have preceeded he...more
I read this book two years ago trying to find some insight into why Elizabeth Edwards would have gone along with John Edwards' charade to run for president again in 2008, knowing he had had an extramarital affair. Well, I didn't get much insight into that issue, but the book was an interesting read anyway. I enjoyed reading about her growing up on US military bases in Japan. There was a huge section on dealing with the overpowering grief from her son's death. Edwards' description of the 2004 cam...more
Elizabeth Edwards writes so well about grief. I expecially found her book full of humor, wisdom, and warmth. I do wish her well with her current bout with cancer, she needs to live to become our first lady because she would be a fantastic advisor to a president (as she is a fantastic advisor to anybody who connect with her, I suspect)
I really enjoyed her story; I picked it up because I found Elizabeth and John's story interesting and close to home for me. I laughed, I cried, I cried some more and I finished the book feeling like I new this woman and her story well. I wish she were running for President!
I've always liked the author's husband, John Edwards, as a political candidate and so was eager to read this book by a member of his family. It didn't discuss, however, John as much as the death of their teenage son Wade and Elizabeth's battle with cancer. In dealing with those two topics, there were times when I thought "Enough!", but then her apparent reason for writing the book was to express her appreciation for the support she received during those traumas, from both friends and s...more
This is a book divided into four unequal parts: Elizabeth Edwards' childhood as a military brat, the 2004 Presidential election, her (first) battle with breast cancer and the death of her son, Wade.
I think it's safe to say that Wade's death was the defining moment of Elizabeth's life. She writes with depth and intensity of the days and weeks after Wade's death with such openness that I felt I was grieving alongside her. Those chapters were some of the most honest, most painful writ...more
I think it's safe to say that Wade's death was the defining moment of Elizabeth's life. She writes with depth and intensity of the days and weeks after Wade's death with such openness that I felt I was grieving alongside her. Those chapters were some of the most honest, most painful writ...more
I think Elizabeth Edwards is a lovely writer, and I related to the way she thinks about the world and the value of community and connections. The driving force of her life is the loss of her 16-year-old son and the book deals with her grief, how she coped with it and channeled it into various campaigning. It actually might be a good book to recommend to someone who has lost a child, but it might be tricky to do so given the author's perceived political nature (to me she writes more as a mother...more
I don't know why I was was interested in this book. John Edwards is too liberal for my tastes. Although I did end up voting for Obama. But that's far into the future and so is the saga of Elizabeth and John Edward's marriage. Probably I choose it because my son is way out there liberal and it was something to discuss with him. I know why I finished the book. Elizabeth Edwards is an excellent writer and much of it was joyful to read. Her writing about the death of her 16 year old son was ho...more
While I admire Elizabeth Edwards for the strength she showed publicly throughout her battle with breast cancer and her husband's infidelities, this book wasn't for me. I'm not sure what I was expecting exactly, but it wasn't Saving Graces.
The first chapter drew me in and I did enjoy reading about her childhood as a military brat, but after that, reading the book became a chore. I finally stopped about halfway through. Losing a child is a tragedy that I wouldn't wish upon any parent, ...more
The first chapter drew me in and I did enjoy reading about her childhood as a military brat, but after that, reading the book became a chore. I finally stopped about halfway through. Losing a child is a tragedy that I wouldn't wish upon any parent, ...more
I heard Elizabeth Edwards on NPR talking about her book the day it came out and found a copy soon after. Now, in light of her husband's infidelity, it seems to ring less true, though it's not her fault. You've got to watch those pretty boys. They can fool you.
From the Publisher
During the 2004 presidential campaign, Elizabeth Edwards gained attention and admiration for her smart, likable, and down-to-earth personality. These qualities shine forth in Saving Graces, a mem...more
From the Publisher
During the 2004 presidential campaign, Elizabeth Edwards gained attention and admiration for her smart, likable, and down-to-earth personality. These qualities shine forth in Saving Graces, a mem...more
I saw Elizabeth Edwards on I think Booknotes. It was an extended interview and she was talking about her book. What made me want to buy it was here quote regarding the loss of her son. "I have sometimes talked about the strange gift that comes with the awful tragedy of losing a child. I had already been through the worst, I believed; we all had, and I had the gift of knowing that nothing will ever be as bad as that." When she was diagnosed with breast cancer within days of the presiden...more
My husband gave me this book because I had been impressed with Elizabeth Edwards - he rarely gives me books so I made a point of reading it. I like memoirs and autobiographyy and I enjoyed her account of growing up in a military family. The story of her grief over her son's death is compelling and terrifying for a parent or grandparent - I would never want to have this experience. However, the more I read the more I was annoyed at her wealth and the luxury she had of being able to spend all h...more
this book was more than her biography; it was about a mother's experience of losing her oldest son (16); discovering she had breast cancer, and how she worked to help her husband john Edwards become the Democratic candidate for vice president in 2004 and all of the people she met through these events and how she gained great insight into the people she met- they became 'family'/ I recommend it highly and think that Elizabeth Edwards was an incredible, driven, loving woman.
I picked this up for 50 cents at a 4th of July fea market because Elizabeth and my mom cancer journeys were parallel with each other.... the main point that I took away besides that she really loved her family was ---no matter who you interact with during the day--the garage attendant, the grocery clerk, your postman,the president of your bank....figure out their name and use it with your conversation with them....it makes a difference in your day
This isn't a book I would normally have picked up. Elizabeth Edwards spoke at our 2007 Annual Meeting and I had my book signed so I figured I should read it.
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the book. None of the topics were terribly interesting to me, but her writing was engaging enough to keep me going. I guess I did enjoy her chapters on growing up a military brat, they were stories and observations that I could relate to.
Edwards is obviously an extremely strong wo...more
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the book. None of the topics were terribly interesting to me, but her writing was engaging enough to keep me going. I guess I did enjoy her chapters on growing up a military brat, they were stories and observations that I could relate to.
Edwards is obviously an extremely strong wo...more
Whatever your political leanings are, there is no denying the strength of Elizabeth Edwards, wife of democratic presidential candidate John Edwards. Her book retells much of her interesting life (including her experiences growng up as a military brat), but concentrates on some of her most trying moments, including losing her teenage son (and a piece of herself) in a car accident and being diagnosed with breast cancer on the eve of her husband's loss in the 2004 elections. She gets a little preac...more
I bought this book after her death, not only to help support her children, but because she was a smart woman, an English major, a lawyer, a mom, and a victim of breast cancer. She writes about life as we never hope it turns out: death of a son, cancer, recurring cancer, a cheating, lying husband, all your family's dirty laundry aired out on TV. Read it and never complain again.
"I came into this process a neophyte"... Elizabeth Edwards
I just can't bare to reach the conclusion. But I did. And man, I'm glad this thing only put me back a buck-fifty from the used book store, and a couple days.
Very intelligent, but three-handed woman which almost turns into a freak-show of constantly patting herself on the back.
... here goes nothing, Resilience...
I just can't bare to reach the conclusion. But I did. And man, I'm glad this thing only put me back a buck-fifty from the used book store, and a couple days.
Very intelligent, but three-handed woman which almost turns into a freak-show of constantly patting herself on the back.
... here goes nothing, Resilience...
Can't decide if Edwards was truly this "good" or if she was trying to convince herself that she was. The tone is a bit sanctimonious bordering on holier-than-thou. In places, it's a bit off-putting. However, I don't want to take anything away from Edwards as I do admire her as a woman--she did go through more than anyone should have to bear, and she did it with grace and dignity. I'd like to read her story from a different viewpoint.
A detailed story of losing her elder son, the campaigns for her husband, and then the diagnosis of breast cancer. Makes me angry to read how she campaigned for him and then he had an affair during his Presidential run..and then initially lied about the affair and the child born of the affair. May Elizabeth Edwards rest in peace.
The first half of this book was very good- the second half got a little long for me. I really enjoyed how she phrased things. Elizabeth Edwards grew up as a military kid, and I found her life to be very interesting. The chapters about her grief over the loss of her 16-year-old son, Wade, are the most heartbreaking I have ever read. It makes her own battle with cancer seem small- compared with the grief she had experienced before.
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Mrs. Edwards writes so beautifully of the death of her son and it's aftermath. It's simply amazing and so heartbreaking in it's honesty. Reading this knowing what was to come to her later- the recurrence of her cancer and her husband's infidelity, makes it just that much sadder. Difficult to ready, but worth it.
Interesting to learn so much about her life and all that she has been through. The naming of all the political people in her life was a bit overdone and dry , but a good book on how someone can truly be a good person amongst all the political and life pressures.
I love Elizabeth Edwards. We have a lot in common. She is intelligent, compassionate and a survivor on several fronts. This book details the journies of loosing her son at age 16, the 2004 presidential/VP race, and of her first discovery and treatment of breast cancer.
Bleh. Had to read it for book club; could hardly make it through the saccharine sweetness of it all. Even if I hadn't known what her future held, I would never have believed that lives could be this perfect, even with the death of a child, which is heartbreaking.
In all fairness, I skimmed a lot of the second half of this book. Her grief was so deep I could almost taste it, and rather than be consumed by it, I had to let it go. The sections I enjoyed the most were about her parents and Elizabeth's younger years growing up in Japan, FL, and VA.
What an amazing life Elizabeth had, and what a wonderful lady she was. The story is told from her childhood through her first fight with cancer. There is a lot of focus on the death of her son Wade, and it broke my heart even though I knew as I was reading it she had been reunited with him.
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A striking symbol of hope, Elizabeth Edwards is an inspiration and role model to so many. She shares with us her experiences in Saving Graces, an incandescent memoir of Edwards' trials, tragedies, and triumphs, and of how various communities celebrated her joys and lent her steady strength and quiet hope in darker times."
More about Elizabeth Edwards...
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