Eat, Pray, Loveby Elizabeth Gilbert
2006, 352 pp.
Rating: 4
Caveat! I didn't like the book much. I'm giving it a '4' because of the brilliant writing.
Subtitled One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia, Elizabeth Gilbert's book about "finding herself" after a divorce is, well, interesting to say the least. She is frank, candid, brutally honest, and bares all in this travel memoir. I do give her this: she is a brilliant writer and narrator (I listened to the audio CD). The problem was, though, that after finishing the book, I found I really didn't like it much. It is an easy read/listen, with a little 'too much information' sometimes, if you know what I mean. I also didn't agree with almost any of her decisions or with her conclusions about God and spirituality, though I'm sure she's not asking me to, either! Still, I rated it a '4' because I want to recognize her writing talents.
She goes through a messy divorce and travels through the three "I" countries listed above. She learns Italian and eats a lot of pasta in Italy (the Eat in the title), she "finds God" in India (the Pray), and she finds love (the Love in the title) in Indonesia. She makes it all very interesting, that's for sure. I do recommend this book because it is always fascinating to take a peak at other women's lives and their viewpoints, and as I said, the writing is excellent. In some ways, though, books like these always reinforce my own beliefs and viewspoints as well.
3 comments:
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I agree with your comments on this book. I listened to it on my ipod, mostly while in the gym, and it was a good book for that kind of setting. I also think she went downhill, Italy was my favorite of her stops, India was second, Indonesia last. And I was reading it hoping to learn more about India. Actually, I would recommend another audio book I've listened to on India, HOLY COW. It's about a woman moving to India to live with her boyfriend (some criticism about choices still apply). However, I learned more about India from HOLY COW.
I picked up a copy of this book on a fellow blogger's recommendation and will get to it one of these days. I have noticed a lot of mixed reactions to it. Thanks for your review!
I just reviewed the book, too - I was far less charitable than you!
I'm relieved, though, to see that I'm not just being picky-picky about it.
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