Elizabeth Edwards’ memoir: surprisingly deep

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Judging by the comments left on our post about the tabloid sections of Elizabeth Edwards’ memoir, ‘Resilience,’ you’d think there aren’t many who’d care to read the book. That, according to reviewer Scott Martelle, would be a mistake.

He finds the book ‘short but surprisingly deep.’ Elizabeth Edwards has endured what many others have, but it seems a pretty unlucky hand. She and John lost a son in a car accident; she is battling a second bout of cancer, which may be terminal; she had to deal not only with her husband’s extramarital affair but also with it being headline news. But, Martelle writes:

Edwards emerged from her husband’s shadow in the 2004 and 2008 presidential campaigns on the power of her personality, and the sense that even though she knew how to stick to the talking points she was still her own person, such as in her support of gay marriage, willing to take her own stances.

And she does here. It’s a small book but a powerful one. And when you finish it you have not just a deeper understanding of Elizabeth Edwards but also a better appreciation for the strength of will it can take to survive.

Oprah interviewed Elizabeth Edwards -- and John -- at their home for a show that broadcast Thursday. Maybe it’s Oprah’s bookselling charm, or maybe people (other than our commenters) want to read a story by a strong woman facing adversity -- ‘Resilience’ is currently No. 9 on Amazon’s bestseller list.

-- Carolyn Kellogg