Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia in GoodReviews: The Official Book Review Contest

Jan 19, 2008

Michalyn rated it:

bookshelves: 2008, non-fiction

Read in January, 2008

Wow, this book took me on a roller-coaster ride. I couldn't decide if I loved it or hated it and it seemed like every few pages I'd go from thinking Gilbert was delightfully witty to thinking this was the most horribly self-absorbed person to ever set foot on the earth.

In the end the overall effect was rather like sitting at a party listening to someone tell a long involved story all about themselves, and you're alternately annoyed and fascinated and you want to get up and leave but...more

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Apr 11, 2008

Ukrainer rated it:

Read in April, 2008

I'm a bit wary of Oprah's almost god-like influence over the nation (or at least the publishing industry), so after Oprah recommended Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat, Pray, Love I had no desire to read it—until I heard about the backlash against the book. Suddenly, I had to know what kind of book could produce such strong reactions of love and hate.

Now that I've finished, I cannot figure out what all the uproar is about. I neither love nor hate the book. I like some parts and dislike o...more I'm a bit wary of Oprah's almost god-like influence over the nation (or at least the publishing industry), so after Oprah recommended Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat, Pray, Love I had no desire to read it—until I heard about the backlash against the book. Suddenly, I had to know what kind of book could produce such strong reactions of love and hate.

Now that I've finished, I cannot figure out what all the uproar is about. I neither love nor hate the book. I like some parts and dislike others. It is, after all, just a book and not a piece of sacred scripture.

Eat, Pray, Love covers a year in Elizabeth Gilbert's life as she strives to overcome grief and depression by finding balance in her life. I did not read the book as a how-to manual for overcoming life's difficulties. Instead, I approached it as an interesting travelogue similar to Eric Weiner's The Geography of Bliss.

Gilbert's first stop is Rome to experience pleasure (eating) and to learn Italian. She has a good sense of humor, and I enjoyed the vignettes she shares about her four months in Italy: the friends she makes, the sites she sees, and (most importantly) the food she eats. This part of the book did inspire me; I now want to study languages as diligently as Gilbert, and I want to have the confidence to eat alone at a restaurant. I visited Rome once, and I had no plans or desire to return, but Gilbert made me see the city in a different light and has convinced me to visit again.

After delighting in 100 pages of Italy, I entered the book's second section, and it was like stepping into a swamp of molasses. Gilbert travels to an Ashram in India to meditate for four months. I believe in spirituality, and I respect Gilbert for seeking spiritual health and healing. Unfortunately, I have little patience, and I couldn't imagine anything more difficult and tedious than spending hours upon hours in silent meditation—until I read about the hours and hours Gilbert spent meditating. These passages were just plain boring and painful for me to read, and I slugged through over 50 pages before I could bear it no longer.

In the midst of Gilbert's chanting, I found myself having my own other-worldly experience as my mind wandered away from the text. Suddenly, an internal voice came to me, saying: Stop reading this sludge. Skip this passage. Set yourself free. This advice seemed absolutely brilliant. I mean, surely even Elizabeth Gilbert herself would urge me to follow this spiritual guidance and skip the India section. I did and felt immediate relief and freedom—almost a sense of nirvana.*

Moving on to the Bali section was a relief and almost as delightful as returning to Rome. Although Gilbert continues to meditate, this final section once again contains portraits of the people she meets and the experiences she has in Indonesia.

I am not going to start eating more, praying more, or loving more after reading this book, but it did keep me entertained for several hours.

*I did eventually return to this section, believing it is unfair to write a review if I haven't read the entire book. My opinion about how tedious this section is did not change. (less)

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Apr 17, 2008

Sarah rated it:

bookshelves: 2008-reads

Read in May, 2008

I have recorded my feelings before: books about spiritual journeys are, generally, the worst (causing me to make a spiritual journey back to the library for some pleasantly vapid chick lit). Since this entry in the genre is also dolloped pretty lavishly with self-involvement and self-indulgence, you would think that I would have thrown in at some point across the room while shouting invective, mostly at myself for reading something that everyone else is reading AND that has that asinine cover/t...more

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Oct 13, 2008

Edan rated it:

recommends it for: My friends who are into acupuncture, soul searching, pizza.

I read Eat Pray Love because the book group I am facilitating chose it for their first meeting. Otherwise, I would've never picked it up--I rarely read memoirs as it is, and I have no interest in the story of a recently divorced woman's quest for pleasure and the divine. I'm not even interested in my own spirituality, let alone that of some woman I've never met!

Still, this book actually won me over. Gilbert writes an enjoyable and funny narrative, and I found myself first wanting to...more

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Oct 25, 2007

L rated it:

bookshelves: nonfiction-memoir, travel

Read in July, 2008

recommended to L by: countless people from cafe mom

Amazing! At first I thought it was going to be just ok, but this book has a little of everything (witty while at the same time thought provoking, informative but interesting).I wanted to read this book because of the countless references to it, and book club recomendations for it. I thought I might like it because of it being a travel memoir, and I can always find appreciation for those. I find it; upon reading the first 5o pages; to be less a travel memoir and more of one woman's search for her...more

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Jul 05, 2007

Elizabeth rated it:

(review of isbn 0670034711)

bookshelves: chicklit, india, italy, new-york

A memoir by a woman who recently went through a divorce and a tumultuous affair, who then travels to Italy, India and Indonesia.

I enjoyed this book. However, a friend of mine told me that her mother's reading group nearly came to blows over it and I can understand why. On one hand, it's an absorbing tale from a narrator who is witty, fun-loving and insatiable for new experiences.

On the other hand, I think that many people take moral issue with the fact that she may have...more

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Oct 20, 2008

Sonia rated it:

bookshelves: memoirs-about-a-girl, spirituality-religion

Read in October, 2008

recommended to Sonia by: lots of women recommended this
recommends it for: young women

I can see why this book is popular. E.Gilbert writes about herself with child-like candor and enthusiasm. She goes through the whole spectrum of emotions during this year of her life that she recounts. She shares with us the experiences of her heart-break, depression, low-self esteem, hope, self-doubt, happiness, healing, bliss, passion—everything. I liked it because I can totally relate to being depressed after getting your heart broken, and then needing to search for spirituality/God to ...more

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Aug 05, 2007

Claire Saldivar rated it:

B O R I N G !!!!! It's very slow!!!!!Too many trivias and infos in the book that I already know and most well read people already know. A total insult to anyone's intelligence!!! It is basically a SPOILED woman's tale of her selfish, self indulgent and narcissistic trips to three countries!!! What does she want us to do? Give kudos to her because she was brave enough to leave her six figure job and blindsided husband because she woke up one day and realized she needed change. PLEASE!!!!

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Jan 03, 2008

Amanda rated it:

Read in January, 2008

recommended to Amanda by: Oprah

Another good Oprah book. I wasn't sure about it, but the chapter on Italy, with the great descriptions on the scenery and the food, pretty much had me hooked. The sections were about Italy (Eat), India (Pray), and Indonesia (Love).

Excellent book that pretty much anyone would like.

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Jun 18, 2007

Lisa rated it:

Read in June, 2007

recommends it for: Adults, armchair travelers

A wonderful book that has made me realize that it is possible to travel, find spirituality (and yourself) at any age. A non-fiction version of "The Alchemist," about finding one's Personal Legend. It reminds me of the quote - "It is never too late to be what you might have been."

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Apr 18, 2007

ducky rated it:

Read in December, 2006

There's nothing complex about the way this book is written, it's very straightforward as far as language and style go. On the other hand, the emotions, characters and even places are expertly chosen and magnificently described by the author. I love this book.

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