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Saving Graces: Finding Solace and Strength from Friends and Strangers Audiobook
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(3.05) - 640 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
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 age sixteen in 1996. Now she shares 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. Edwards writes about growing up in a military family, where she learned how to make friends easily in dozens of new schools and neighborhoods around the world and came to appreciate the unstinting help and comfort naval families shared. Edwards’ reminiscences of her years as a mother focus on the support she and other parents offered one another, from everyday favors to the ultimate test of her own community’s strength—their compassionate response to the death of the Edwards’ teenage son, Wade, in 1996. Her descriptions of her husband’s campaigns for Senate, president, and vice president offer a fascinating perspective on the groups, great and small, that sustain our democracy. Her fight with breast cancer, which stirred an outpouring of support from women across the country, has once again affirmed Edwards’ belief in the power of community to make our lives better and richer.
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"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."
— Tricia (4 out of 5 stars)
Saving Graces Listener Reviews
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" 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) "
— Shirley, 2/13/2014 -
" At the time, I enjoyed reading this--but feel like her more recent book was more heartfelt and revealing about who she really is. "
— Pandlbradley, 2/10/2014 -
" She was trying to hard to make everyone believe her life was great and she was no regrets. Started skimming towards the end. "
— Laurie, 2/7/2014 -
" This is one of the most honest autobiographies I've ever read. Elizabeth Edwards sounds like the woman I would like to have living next door. "
— Margena, 2/3/2014 -
" I loved the depth of Elizabeth's insight of her journey. She talked about so many emotional pieces of her life with such grace. "
— Sherri, 2/2/2014 -
" 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. "
— Alise, 1/29/2014 -
" Irrespective of who her husband is/was, this is an interesting book about coping with many life changes. "
— Angtburg, 1/24/2014 -
" She is amazing! The world lost an amazing lady. This book was honest and heartbreaking. "
— Kim, 1/23/2014 -
" Poorly written, political narcissism, and nothing much more than a tedious rundown of every single person E.E. wants to thank for their political help. I was disappointed there wasn't more about the death of her son and her battle with cancer...this could have been a much better book. "
— Janet, 1/19/2014 -
" This book had me sobbing for Elizabeth, especially knowing what we all know now about her husbands future discusting behavior. She did a lovely job of narrating as well. "
— Kathy, 1/16/2014 -
" beautifully written but you really should listen to this on audio as she reads it. "
— Judy, 1/13/2014 -
" Amazing woman, led an amazing life from childhood on. Great sense of humor, wonderful family, beautiful legacy to her children. Gone too soon. "
— Sue, 1/5/2014 -
" Tragedy helps you realize who your friends are, who you are, and helps to set priorities. "
— Elaine, 12/15/2013 -
" 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. "
— Bebe, 12/10/2013 -
" I did not finish this book. While this may have been an essential book for Elizabeth Edwards to write both for herself and for others who have had to cope with the death of a child, it is not a book that I needed to complete. "
— Gypsy, 11/28/2013 -
" Just finished this for book club. Didn't know a lot about Elizabeth Edwards but admire her a lot after having finished this book. I'm looking forward to reading her next book. Beautiful woman inside where it counts, and a good writer. "
— Julie, 10/22/2013 -
" This book helped me through my own grief process - very comforting and hopeful "
— Jean, 4/8/2013 -
" AMAZING! I read this book at exactly the right moment in my life. I am dealing with loss and a great upheaval currently. This book really got me to look at the positives and to find the grace in my experience. I found it to be calming. I am saddened that I have not read it sooner. "
— Jess, 1/29/2013 -
" Ok so I thought this would be a good book, but I'm struggling. It's written ok, but I'm just too bored. Sorry. "
— Jessica, 7/20/2012 -
" Although I don't necessarily agree with Mrs. Edwards' political views, I found the writings about her son's death and how she coped with it to be extremely touching and helpful to my own family members' dealings with grief. "
— Tina, 5/25/2012 -
" I figured this book would be your average autobiography, but I found it to be fascinating. I never knew about the presidential race and she goes into detail about her life during that time. "
— Renee, 1/30/2012 -
" It was a difficult read for me. Very moving and emotionally charged. So once in a while I needed to take a break and think things through. I loved it and admire her strength and grace. Worth the read. "
— Barbara, 1/28/2012 -
" This book touched my soul. I love her style of writing and the topic was one that I know all too well. I love it! "
— Rachelle, 11/27/2011 -
" Very courageous lady who truly was the backbone of the family. "
— Diana, 11/1/2011 -
" Excellent book! What a beautiful lady! May the Angels watch out for her and keep her safe. "
— Jennie, 10/31/2011 -
" Interesting and ttouching, although the campaign bits get a little boring. "
— Joanne, 8/10/2011 -
" AMAZING! I read this book at exactly the right moment in my life. I am dealing with loss and a great upheaval currently. This book really got me to look at the positives and to find the grace in my experience. I found it to be calming. I am saddened that I have not read it sooner. "
— Jess, 5/14/2011 -
" Excellent book! What a beautiful lady! May the Angels watch out for her and keep her safe. "
— Jennie, 4/6/2011 -
" This book gives a glimpse into what life was like for Elizabeth Edwards pre-scandal. From losing her son Wade, to being a campaign wife, to discovering breast cancer, she paints quite a portrait of her life. "
— Maria, 2/14/2011 -
" Ms. Edwards is an eloquent writer who comforts through her strength and courage in the face of despair. "
— Lisa, 1/12/2011 -
" 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. "
— Deena, 12/31/2010 -
" Interesting and ttouching, although the campaign bits get a little boring. "
— Joanne, 7/25/2010 -
" This is the story of Elizabeth Edwards and her journey through breast cancer. It's written sweetly, with her warm spirit and outlook on life. Good reading book, hard to put down once you start it. "
— Sandra, 6/18/2010 -
" Honest bio focusing on her sons' death and how it affected the family. Presents John in a very good light...before the scandal. "
— Dianne, 4/16/2010 -
" 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. "
— Leslie, 3/18/2010
About Elizabeth Edwards
Elizabeth Edwards is the author of the New York Times bestselling memoir Saving Graces. She lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina with her two youngest children.
About Bernadette Dunne
Bernadette Dunne is the winner of numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards and has twice been nominated for the prestigious Audie Award. She studied at the Royal National Theatre in London and the Studio Theater in Washington, DC, and has appeared at the Kennedy Center and off Broadway.