What Remains: A Memoir of Fate, Friendship and Love

This week I've been reading Carole Radziwill's gripping memoir, the latest in a long line of books on the Kennedy family. Carole's husband, Anthony Radziwill, was John Kennedy Jr.'s first cousin and best friend, and John's wife Carolyn became Carole's best friend. WHAT REMAINS details Anthony's battle against cancer and the awful summer when Carole lost Anthony, John, and Carolyn within a three-week period. The book is sparely written, with much being inferred from a sentence here, a word there, and is a page-turner. I've been picking it up to read a few more pages when I really should have been working.

Reading the book in juxtaposition to this week's Senate hearings, a thought has continued to run around in my mind: With all the tragedy Senator Kennedy has endured over the years -- some of it self-inflicted, much of it at the hands of fate -- one would think that having been through so much, Senator Kennedy would be...nicer. Kinder. And perhaps exhibit some humility as well.

But, sadly...well, I'll stop there. His behavior speaks for itself.