World Famous Comics: Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia
Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia
By: Elizabeth Gilbert Publisher: Viking Adult Average Rating: Binding: Hardcover Label: Viking Adult Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 352 Publication Date: February 16, 2006
Product Description: A celebrated writer’s irresistible, candid, and eloquent account of her pursuit of worldly pleasure, spiritual devotion, and what she really wanted out of life
Around the time Elizabeth Gilbert turned thirty, she went through an early-onslaught midlife crisis. She had everything an educated, ambitious American woman was supposed to want—a husband, a house, a successful career. But instead of feeling happy and fulfilled, she was consumed with panic, grief, and confusion. She went through a divorce, a crushing depression, another failed love, and the eradication of everything she ever thought she was supposed to be.
To recover from all this, Gilbert took a radical step. In order to give herself the time and space to find out who she really was and what she really wanted, she got rid of her belongings, quit her job, and undertook a yearlong journey around the world—all alone. Eat, Pray, Love is the absorbing chronicle of that year. Her aim was to visit three places where she could examine one aspect of her own nature set against the backdrop of a culture that has traditionally done that one thing very well. In Rome, she studied the art of pleasure, learning to speak Italian and gaining the twenty-three happiest pounds of her life. India was for the art of devotion, and with the help of a native guru and a surprisingly wise cowboy from Texas, she embarked on four uninterrupted months of spiritual exploration. In Bali, she studied the art of balance between worldly enjoyment and divine transcendence. She became the pupil of an elderly medicine man and also fell in love the best way—unexpectedly.
An intensely articulate and moving memoir of self-discovery, Eat, Pray, Love is about what can happen when you claim responsibility for your own contentment and stop trying to live in imitation of society’s ideals. It is certain to touch anyone who has ever woken up to the unrelenting need for change.
Magnificent expression of a woman's Self Exploration I simply can't understand why anyone would ever give this book less than a 5 review.
Perfectly written, it truly expresses the inner world of so many women - the self talk, the uncertainties, the need for inner peace and love.
Personally, I could relate to Gilbert's experiences on so many levels. I, too, have been through a divorce, and had trouble coming out the other side. I, too, have been searching for that inner peace and self-love but have been hampered by negative self talk. I, too, love to eat pasta!! ;-)
I would however like to counteract something someone else mentioned in their review - I think to have introduced the molestation accusations about Gilbert's Guru would have clouded her novel, which is, after all, a novel, and only semi-autobiographical - it is fictional in part. I think to have taken such artistic license with this issue was perfectly understandable, though a footnote or something might have been appropriate mentioning this fact.
This book uplifted my soul, made me promise myself to focus more on my own self-exploration and meditation, both of which I have neglected for the few years since the births of my children, and gave me the courage of my convictions that there is more to life than just the here and now and that love is the answer to all questions.
Thank you Elizabeth.. I am now going to read all your other books!
Italy made me hungry and the rest just made me want to eat out of boredom I love reading and I love the idea of traveling .. but this book just didn't cut it for me. I really just could not stop thinking about food all during her time in Italy and India and Indonesia just made me bored. I found the book to be full of complaining and whining and just did not enjoy it. I finished it, but barely.
Great read for anyone looking to discover their real inner self I was recommended this book by a friend and I read it during a period of uncertainty in my life. Although I generally mistrust traveling as a means to search calm and serenity, I was really inspired by the book. Gilbert's experience and also the way she shares it with the reader is direct, honest, human and entertaining. I enjoyed every page of it and I have subsequently recommended to a few good friends.
AWESOME One of my all time favorite books. Very well written and inspirational. I filled my copy with underlines and will reread it again and again. Really great read for anyone who enjoys travel as well as personal growth.
I...I...I... This is the first book I have reviewed without finishing the book...but I could not. No wonder the author only went to countries that began with the letter 'I', because that is exactly what this book is about - I. It is just such a selfish, self indulgent exploration. The 4 or more starred reviews must be from very young women whom are still in that phase of their lives. I suggest reading Three Cups of Tea, Swan House, What is the What - a book where the protagonist has something to GIVE to others...
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