On Sunday, 10/11/09, we'll begin (re)reading and discussing EPL. *If this is your first time reading the book, please be aware that Spoilers Are Possible throughout the duration of this discussion!*

There are 3 "books" within EPL (Italy, India & Indonesia) with 36 parts (or "beads" as Liz calls them) in each book. We'll read 9 beads each week, completing 1 book a month for 3 months. *If we need to stretch that out because of Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Years, that's ok! We'll work that out as we come to each holiday so no worries!

Here's the the schedule so far:
Book 1:
Sun 10/11 - Sat 10/17: Intro + beads 1 thru 9
Sun 10/18 - Sat 10/24: beads 10 thru 18
Sun 10/25 - Sat 10/31: beads 19 thru 27
Sun 11/1 - Sat 11/7: beads 28 thru 36
Book 2:
Sun 11/8 - Sat 11/14: beads 37 thru 45
Sun 11/15 - Sat 11/21: beads 46 thru 54
Sun 11/22 - Sat 11/28: beads 55 thru 63
Sun 11/29 - Sat 12/5: beads 64 thru 72
Book 3:
Sun 12/6 - Sat 12/12: beads 73 thru 81
Sun 12/13 - Sat 12/19: beads 82 thru 90

In each book within EPL, Liz explored and focused on something specific and last night Lori suggested that we do the same, which I think is a fabulous idea!

Before anyone cringes, rolls their eyes or wants to back out of the discussion (LOL!), let me say that I don't want anyone feeling as though they Have To participate to this extent Or that we all have to do the same thing here! If you want to (re)read & discuss the book and nothing more, that is perfectly ok! You're all welcome to join in, in any way you are comfortable doing so!

Now there are so many ways we can do this, for example:

We can simply focus on the words "eat," "pray" and "love" with each book within EPL;

OR

We could focus on "the pursuit of pleasure" during Italy (i.e. What makes you feel good?), "the pursuit of devotion" during India (i.e. What is spirituality to you & do you want more of it in your life?) and "the pursuit of balance" during Indonesia (i.e. What is balance for you? Are you in balance or out? How can you achieve balance?);

OR

We could focus on something overall like self acceptance or learning to love who you are... (Those go hand in hand I know and you need one to achieve the other, but you get my drift here!)

It's up to you! Once we each decide if & how we want to participate in this aspect, we can post our journey's along with with our discussion comments!

I'd like to share this for everyone to think about (said by Liz during her 1st Oprah appearance in 2007): "...I never got the memo that said 'you can't be the hero of your own life.'" (She said she was telling herself the following) "...This is your life and you are the only person who can be the hero of it!"

Liz had 3 suggestions to help us (the audience) take our own journey's:

1> Every day (when you wake if possible, if not any time), in your journal, answer the following question: What do I really, really, really want? (And yes, you have to say "really" 3 times). It may start out as what you really really really want for that day but after a while it will unfold beyond that to encompass more.

2> Also in your journal, write down your happiest moment of each day.

3> Refine your mantra. If what you're telling yourself is negative, for example, "I'm so stupid, I'm worthless" and so on, take a step back and decide if your negative thoughts are working for you and if they're not, change your mantra.*

(*My personal thought on #3 change your mantra to something positive and say it every day even if you don't believe it because eventually you will! And another thought is that we aren't just what we eat - we are what we tell ourselves we are!)

Another fun thing we can do is explore the foods of Italy, India and Indonesia! The following links bring you to a list of dishes for each country. Just click on one to get the recipe.

Italy: http://www.litlovers.com/it_.htm
India: http://www.litlovers.com/ind_.htm
Indonesia: http://www.litlovers.com/sea_.htm

What I haven't completely ironed out yet are the discussion questions and at what points I'll post them.

Lastly, I want to remind everyone to keep the discussion open & friendly! Agree to disagree; don't come down on someone else for liking or disliking an aspect of the book that you feel strongly about one way or another. And if you "love" or "hate" something particular in the book, explain why, share what you experienced as you read that part.* Thanks!

PS: I will post questions from time to time in my own comments throughout the discussion and when I do, they will appear in bold print like this.

Reminding again: *If this is your first time reading the book, please be aware that Spoilers Are Possible throughout the duration of this discussion!*

If you are re-reading the book and are going to post something that may be considered a spoiler, please start your comment off with *Spoiler Possible*. Much appreciated!

Quickly, as a reminder from the post above:
~*If this is your first time reading the book, please be aware that Spoilers Are Possible throughout the duration of this discussion!*

~If you are re-reading the book and are going to post something that may be considered a spoiler, please start your comment off with *Spoiler Possible*. Much appreciated!

~*Lastly, I want to remind everyone to keep the discussion open & friendly! Agree to disagree; don't come down on someone else for liking or disliking an aspect of the book that you feel strongly about one way or another. And if you "love" or "hate" something particular in the book, explain why, share what you experienced as you read that part.*


So, what are your initial thoughts on what we're reading or re-reading in EPL?

I want to move to Italy! That's my initial thought.

But more than that, I'm remembering how things were in my life the first time I read this book. My boyfriend had broken up with me about 6 months before that, but we kept seeing each other over the summer. And as I was reading this book, I had a fling with a guy. It was like the book told me (or helped me realize) it was OK to let go and move on. This time, I've realized that the guy I had the fling with was desperate love. I created this role for the guy and he could never live up to that role and he didn't want to. I wouldn't say I was devastated when it didn't work out, but I was a little sore.

This book is making me so introspective! For example, the ex previously mentioned (let's call him Ass-face) sent me a text on Friday night...after he texted me 6 months ago that if I left his friends and family alone, he'd never bother me again. (It was easy to agree to because I wasn't talking to his friends and family) Anyway, he texted me on Friday to let me know his cat died. I really liked this cat. She'd play with my hair when it was down. But really?! I wouldn't even tell this guy if I were getting married. I had this big debate about whether the graceful thing would be to tell him I'm sorry but he can't do this anymore or should I flat out ignore him? After getting very very angry at him for thinking he had the right to run to me whenever his reality got to be too much to handle, I realized that flat out ignoring him was the best solution. I needed to stop being permissive and allowing him to escape back to Fantasyland whenever he couldn't deal...because that's what our relationship was: pure Fantasyland. So, I didn't say anything and he hasn't said anything else. And hopefully it will stay that way.

Also in this section was my favorite passage about the drawing! One of these days, I'm going to draw it for myself. I began thinking of things to keep me grounded: family, books, friends, education. And then the way to see through my heart is to know myself, know my feelings, know my heart, and know God.

All right...those are all of the unprompted epiphanies I've had so far.

Lori, that's incredible and I'm so glad you're getting even more from EPL this go-around! I really wish that a book like this had been out when I was your age (not that I'm an old hag, LOL!) but I'm not sure I was as sophisticated as you are and I definitely wasn't as confident and goal oriented as you are so I'm doubtful it would have helped me see things differently when I was your age the way it did when I first read it in 2007. (I was 32).

Jo, I like to think that the reason I'm so well put together is because I've had you ladies to talk to and glean wisdom from this past year. You've all been like big sisters. So I credit you with a lot of my put togetheredness.

Okay I have a lot to add but it's my little mans birthday so I will be back tomorrow. =)

Lori, that is so sweet! Thank you!

Mandy, enjoy your day (Happy Birthday Little Man!) and look forward to your comments tomorrow!

It's been awhile since I read this book, but I remember being really hungry throughout. Pasta never read so good!

Lol! I do love her food descriptions! I'm like that about food too I just don't have a knack for writing about it like that (as of yet).

When I read Eat, Love, Pray the first time I was in a totally different place in my life then where I am now. As a result I am able to step back and really analyze the challenges Liz is facing and also be a bit more introspective then before. I am almost through the first section and I have questions and the same thoughts that run through my head whether the book is in my hand or not.
I can relate to Liz's relationship with David, from the women I know in my life it seems like her relationship with David is a common one that plays out in a lot of woman's lives. Why is that? Do we all have that one token relationship that results in us taking our sanity and placing it on an out of reach shelf? I have been there, in the relationship where you lose all sense of self, where you need the other person to love you in ways even you don't understand. As Liz states it, a "desperate love." But why is that relationship so common? Why as women must we lose ourselves in someone (most of the time an unhealthy someone) someone whose love is almost unattainable, always out of reach, before we can find ourselves. Why do we have to torture ourselves beyond recognition to be able to determine who we are as independent people? I have packed my David in a secure box and placed the box in the back of a dark closet (by this I mean he choose to move around the world) and that is how I have found peace and solace. I have moved on with my life and I am years removed from the situation but reading her words stir up old emotions and confusion. Is the relationship depicted by Liz one that we all go through? Do we have to have crazy, unstable love in order to love in a healthy, steady way? Are these relationships our road blocks to finding pleasure that is ours, that we own, that is not derived from someone else, or depends on another persons love?

These are my rambling thoughts that I am working out as we go through this first section. Any insight?

It's been a while (at least a good 4 months or so) since I read EPL, but I really enjoyed it. I loved that it was about a woman striving to get her life back, and to learn to be comfortable being herself and being happy with who she is, seperate from any relationship.

Her story is more shocking because her love affair with David was so passionate, but I believe that this book is a good read for people who have even had less-serious relationships. All relationships, good and bad, dull or extreme, leave their trace on us. Sadly, it seems like most women will keep jumping into relationships because it helps define them - I love that Liz makes her relationship with herself the top priority in her life.

Also, the food did sound absolutely incredible. I just wanted to hop on a plane, learn a new language, and read and eat all day!

Emilytessa, for me those all consuming love relationships were, a lot of time, borne out of immaturity and not having a sense of my own self and what I needed in life. I personally tend to lose myself in a relationship when I'm lost anyways.... when its a horrible time in my life and I am too overwhelmed to figure out what I need to do to fix myself. I think those relationships are just a byproduct or a side effect of what's going on with me.

I find now that those desperate loves in my life happened out of my desperation for love, to be loved & loved unconditionally and for my desperate need to have a normal & stable life - of course anything but that happened as a result, LOL!!! I was putting on them what I didn't have inside of myself and in doing that & being unconditional with them, I gave/sacrificed myself to the point there was nothing left. Of course they never lived up to my expectations of who I wanted them to be! I was taken advantage of and abused. The long road to who I am and a good life has been a Long one filled with lots of pot holes & bridge collapses but I'm on smoother pavement now.

I agree with Holli. In my personal experience, those relationships (desperate love)are definitely a result of me not being at my best (feeling insecure and lost); a type of relationship that I do believe we all experience at different times in our lives during different situations (whether it be when we are young and trying to figure out who we are, or when we are going through some emotional upheaval in our lives, or when we are needing to feel loved, etc.). And I do think that we gain so much from these relationships - in terms of helping to uncover truths about ourselves.

I agree Nadia, I can honestly look back now and see how much I learned about myself and about love and life from being in those relationships. Even as bad as they were I could still grab what I needed to from the experience to keep moving forward in life to a better place.

Nadia wrote: "I agree with Holli. In my personal experience, those relationships (desperate love)are definitely a result of me not being at my best (feeling insecure and lost); a type of relationship that I do b..."
Nadia, I couldn't agree more when you say that we do gain from these relationships.

Every experience, both good and bad has something we can glean from it If we're open to it. I'm sure we've all seen & learned something from an experience that the person going through it doesn't. (How frustrating is that, right?!) Along with being open to learning those lessons I think we also have to truly believe we deserve better than what we were/are giving ourselves at a time like that because unless you believe it, you find yourself back there time & time again until you do.

I'll be back later with where I was the first time I read EPL and where I am now. (In the middle of something & don't have time to post).

Going back to where we were when we first read the book, for those Chicks reading it now for the first time, were are you in your life at this moment? What so far has stood out to you as you've read?

i have to chime in that i also wanted to move to italy and eat lots of pasta. but also, i wanted to search for that inner spiritual peace and get to know myself the way the author did. everytime i think about the book i want to go explore the world and find myself. i am also interested to see how the movie turns out. julia roberts stars.

I'm so looking forward to the movie as well Dawn! I can't imagine anyone but Julia playing her (seeing footage of her shooting in India on the news is what prompted me to re-start this read & discussion) and I'm curious to see what they're going to do with the book in translating it onto the big screen. Very curious!

Just a FYI here: I've made slight adjustments to the initial post in this thread which includes the info on outlining our discussion and I've also noted, so everyone can look for them that I will post questions from time to time in my own comments throughout the discussion and when I do, they will appear in bold print like this.

When I first read Eat, Pray, Love a couple of years ago, the book really stuck with me. It wasn't that I was having a hard time right then, however, I could relate some of my experiences to Liz'. Not all of the experiences were "mine", I noticed some of them had happened to other people I knew.
I think that the desperate love gets most of us at one time or another. I also think that not everyone sees it for what it is (either during that time or after). That said, when I read the book, I found myself really thinking about the things that had happened to me and took the time to really think about the situations and what they really were. I was able to put so many things into perspective. I found it extremely empowering to be able to finally "own" these things and put them where they needed to be. I felt I was free of them.
I find that when I am out of sorts and really not feeling all that balanced, thats when things tend to come up. I try to remind myself that the issue at hand is not permanent and try to not let it take over my life.

I originally read Eat Pray Love about a year ago and just about fell in love with the book. I seriously wanted to sit in a cave in India and meditate. It's one of those books that I can read every so often and take away something different each time.

I've never had a desperate love in my life in the form of a man. My husband has been the only man in my life in any serious, more than a few dates, sort of way. I don't think that a desperate love has to be someone else. So often we are own desperate love. There have been countless times that I have lost myself trying to be someone else. I was caught up in thinking that if I had just the right thing I'd be transformed into the woman I thought I wanted to be, that if I looked a certain way, dressed a certain way I'd be Cinderella. In the end I only hurt myself because I wasn't true to who I am. After years of thinking that way I finally figured out that it doesn't matter. We are who we are, but the experiences we have getting there and figuring out who we are makes us all the stronger, and sometimes better. Sometimes we need some sort of desperate love to push us to discover who we really are.

Good point Lizzi, I've done the waiting for the perfect thing to happen in my life and lost myself in trying to acheive it. "It" has taken various forms over the years. I've come to a place in my life now that I think I know who I am (think is an important word because I'm always learning and growing) and I can accept my shortcomings as part of my charm. :o) Sure I can do better, but I'm OK now with doing my best and always striving to be and do better, as I learn better. I think it was Maya Angelou that said, "when you know better you do better."

Personally, I've had the desperate love a couple of times in my life. I've lost myself in a man and had to rediscover who I am when the relationship ends. My goal for my next relationship is to find a way to say true to myself in a relationship.

I read EPL probably about 2 years ago. I love this book because of all the self-discovery Liz goes through and I could take pieces of her journey into mine.

You are so right Lizzi - desperate love does not have to come in the form of a partner. I think you absolutely correct in that we do need to experience a desperate love in order to be pushed further so that we can become more of who we are. So true!

This is my first time reading this book and so far I am really enjoying it. I'm relating to some things in the book and that has been great, because it helps me to look at my own life and reflect on decisions that I have made. And since turning 31 this year I have been feeling a bit lost and this book is slowly helping me to realize some things, which has been great.

Nadia, I will be turning 33 soon and am hoping that in re-reading this book, I will get more out of it and be able to put some of the lessons into action. Turning 30 made me really think about who I am and who I want to be.
Unfortunately for me, I found who I was about 8 years ago and have slowly let her slip away. I want her back!

Lizzi, Thank You for putting into words what I was trying to! I was thinking of it during my post above but couldn't really get what I was feeling into anything coherent. Yes, we can indeed be our own desperate love.

Cyndi wrote: "...I was able to put so many things into perspective. I found it extremely empowering to be able to finally "own" these things and put them where they needed to be. I felt I was free of them..."

I found the same too Cyndi! I was also able to gain different perspectives that I hadn't even thought of or considered before (for whatever reason).

Thauna wrote: "...and I could take pieces of her journey into mine"

I love how you put that Thauna! I feel that way too about this book (and others like it) which is why I so Cringed when I heard women in the audience of Liz's 2nd appearance on Oprah calling EPL their new "Bible." (And you could visibly see Liz cringe at that too). I immediately thought to myself, 'Oh dear, I've been there and you are going to be right back where you started in no time if you treat this book like your Bible!'

I think we will all find that we've had similar experiences while reading the book.
I would really like to see what each of us takes away from the book, as I'm sure they will vary.

Nadia wrote: "This is my first time reading this book and so far I am really enjoying it. I'm relating to some things in the book and that has been great, because it helps me to look at my own life and reflect on decisions that I have made. And since turning 31 this year I have been feeling a bit lost and this book is slowly helping me to realize some things, which has been great."

I was 32 (closer to 33) the first time I read it and now am 34 (nearly closer to 35!). I was feeling a bit lost once I got into my 30's and it started with turning 31 for me too! (What is it about that #?) I'm so glad you're enjoying it and I feel you're going to come away with a lot once we've finished.

Cyndi wrote: "I think we will all find that we've had similar experiences while reading the book.
I would really like to see what each of us takes away from the book, as I'm sure they will vary."

I'm very curious about that too! I already had in mind asking everyone along those lines once we're finished!

Cyndi wrote: "Nadia, I will be turning 33 soon and am hoping that in re-reading this book, I will get more out of it and be able to put some of the lessons into action. Turning 30 made me really think about who..."

Thanks Cyndi! I know what you mean about having found yourself already and then losing that person. That is how I felt at 23 (silly me!) - I felt like I knew what I wanted, I had my path all figured out and then I got diagnosed with an autoimmune disease and had to be put on all of these pills and became terribly depressed and slowly let my 'self' slip away. And I do mean slowly, because for years afer I was diagnosed I kept on my path and took my meds, but realized a few years ago that I wasn't really on the right path anymore and was instead running away from my self (I went away to England for school to get away from everyone and everything). And though this realization came rather later then I would have liked, I am just glad that I am able to acknowledge that I have lost my former 'self'. Now, I am focused on finding my 'self' and discovering how much I've changed. The way this book is going, I feel as if it will help me to dig deeper, which is something I need to do.

I hope that this re-read of the book helps bring you what you need. I think it will, because it feels as if this is the type of book that can be read again and again and that each time it will provide you with what you need for that moment in your life. Good luck!

Where was I when I first read EPL? October 2007. My life had grown in leaps and bounds and was so much better than anything that had come before (starting as of May of 2004). I was (and still am) married to a wonderful, loving and respectful man (the most amazing man I've ever known) with whom I have a very good relationship with. We had lived here now for nearly 2 years at that point. But things were very hard for me, and especially financially for us. We were still appealing my Social Security Disability denials which meant I had no money coming in at all on my part (state and private insurance disability monies had long run out the year before). My health was still completely in the toilet too as I worked my way through each med approved for my Psoriatic Arthritis & AS diagnosis (all proved to be ineffective until the very last one which I didn't start until 01/98!). I was still battling severe deep depression (as I had been for many years) and I was still trying to find my way out of post traumatic stress and anger the result of 2 very Very abusive relationships prior to my husband (which totaled 9 years) and my daughter's passing. My demons were many and fierce. I was better yes, but I needed to be even better than I was, I just had no idea how to keep (or begin?) healing. I was 32 and drifting.

I never expected to get anything out of EPL! I first heard of it way back in 2006 when it was first out in hardback because a blogging friend had recommended it on her blog. I promptly forgot about it. In 2007, when the paperback was released, I saw it Everywhere. You practically walked into 3 bookcases of it when entering our local B&N. I kept thinking what a great title that was and wondering why it was so vaguely familiar. I put my name on the library waiting list for it. Then Oprah started talking about it which made me mildly curious. As a result, it E.X.P.L.O.D.E.D.. This made me Very wary of it. (The more something is hyped, the less interested in it I become). In October 2007 Liz was going to be on Oprah so I taped it. When I watched it, I liked Liz and that's why I decided to buy her book. We couldn't afford it so I returned Luanne Rice's Sandcastles in exchange for EPL and a few extra dollars.

I started it the beginning of October 2007 and did Not connect with anything I was reading. So I put it down. Sometimes when I do that, the book will nag at me while I'm reading something else. This was one of those books so I picked it back up on 12/4 and finished it on 1/24/08. Here's what I wrote when I was done: "I'm sad that this is over. It's been an interesting, amazing and emotional read! Thank you Elizabeth for writing what I feel is the most honestly written memoir I've ever read! Thank you for writing about it all, the good, the bad and the ugly. Especially the ugly."

Cyndi wrote: "Unfortunately for me, I found who I was about 8 years ago and have slowly let her slip away. I want her back! "

It's not unfortunate that you found who you were those 8 years ago! Unfortunate perhaps that you've let her slip away as you said, but knowing you want her back is already bringing you back to you! I hope this (reading & discussing EPL) helps you on that journey!

Nadia wrote: "Cyndi wrote: "Nadia, I will be turning 33 soon and am hoping that in re-reading this book, I will get more out of it and be able to put some of the lessons into action. Turning 30 made me really t..."

Nadia, I have an auto-immune disease too! Well actually I'm very "lucky" because I have 2 of them, lol! I have Psoriatic Arthritis and Ankylosing Spondilitis. (PA and AS for short).

I am so sorry you've had to go through all that auto-immune diseases entail and hope you are doing well with your health now.

Jo wrote: "Where was I when I first read EPL? October 2007. My life had grown in leaps and bounds and was so much better than anything that had come before (starting as of May of 2004). I was (and still am..."

Jo my experience with this book was similar to yours in some ways. I saw Liz on Oprah and that got me interested enough to want to read the book. But to be honest, I started reading it with a chip on my shoulder -- anything this popular had to be silly and trite, I reasoned. So I read a few pages and put it down and didn't pick it up again for a while - I think until a friend whose opinion I valued told me she'd enjoyed it. When I finally did go back to it, I first enjoyed the introspectiveness and then the spiritual quality of it. Oh, I liked the food, of course, but a lot more. I think the charm of the book is that it has something for almost everyone -- if you don't find it in one chapter, you'll likely find it in another.

Well said Teri!

***SPOILERS IN NEXT COMMENT! PLEASE SKIP NEXT COMMENT IF YOU DON'T WANT TO READ SPOILERS!!!***

Everyone told me to read this book so when I bought a copy I thought I was in for a treat.... but I couldn't get past the first few chapters. I didn't like the writer/narrator at all; she marries a man who is head over heels in love with her and she treats him like crap and leaves him to go travel where she develops a crush on some young foreign guy. I don't like or respect people like that at all. She also seemed really full of herself and wants other people to pity her (oh no, I married a sweet, loving, rich man- my life is so hard and miserable!). Sorry if I offended anyone but I just wanted to be honest.

Here are a few quotes that I found to be touching from the first nine beads:

"This was my moment to look for the kind of healing and peace that can only come from solitude."

"Something was about to occur...that would change forever the progression of my life-what happened was that I started to pray. You know--like, to GOD."

"God abides very close to us indeed...breathing right through our own hearts. I respond with gratitude to anyone who has ever voyaged to the center of that heart, and who has then returned to the world with a report for the rest of us that God is an experience of supreme love."

"I believe in a magnificent God."

and

"To find the balance you want, this is what you must become. You must keep your feet grounded so firmly on the earth that it's like you have four legs instead of two. That way, you can stay in the world. But you must stop looking at the world through your head. You must look through your heart instead. That way, you will know God."

Mary Catherine wrote: "Everyone told me to read this book so when I bought a copy I thought I was in for a treat.... but I couldn't get past the first few chapters. I didn't like the writer/narrator at all; she marries a..."

Honesty is always appreciated here at CoL and everyone is entitled to and encouraged to her opinions! I'm sorry you didn't like the book. I assume this means though that you're not joining us here for our discussion? Also, for future comments in active book discussion threads, if you're going to give a brief synopsis of the book, please type "*Spoilers Possible*" at the beginning of your comment so others who have read the book can skip it if they don't want to have any part(s) of the book given away. Thanks and much appreciated!

Cindy wrote: "Here are a few quotes that I found to be touching from the first nine beads:

"This was my moment to look for the kind of healing and peace that can only come from solitude."

"Something was ab..."

Thank you for sharing these with us Cindy! I'm going to do the same as you've done here tomorrow. I think that's a wonderful idea! (Sharing quotes that stand out as we read).

I only read the first 2 chapters so I don't think that I gave away any spoilers since I didn't get that far haha If what I wrote is a "spoiler", then technically anything discussed about the book here is.
I wrote that post in order to participate in the discussion of the book. If I hadn't posted, then I wouldn't want to participate.

Jo, I thought that you had said at the beginning of the discussion in your first post that spoilers were possible throughout the thread? Do you want us to write spoilers now too in our posts?

Holli, this may be my doing. I know that some people are reading the book for the first time and if we get too far ahead of the reading schedule and are posting, I think it could ruin it for those people. Just my 2 cents. If posting spoilers in the comment is too much, I totally understand.

I was just confused because Jo had made that a point in her first thread to know that spoilers were a possibility in here.....

Either way is fine with me!

:)

Mary Catherine, I think what Jo is trying to say is that this discussion is not a debate about whether or not we like the book, rather it is intended to be an exercise for us all to find...balance, something more...by reading this book together.

I can be truthful and say that I read this book once and didn't care that much for it. I am participating in this discussion because I am going to try and find something in this book that will make a positive impact on my life with help from my friends in this group. The pursuit of pleasure...devotion...balance.

Well written Cindy! To be honest, there are parts of the books that I do not like and I don't completely identify with Liz, but I am choosing to focus on certain parts in the book that I do connect with and am using those sections to help me on my own journey. Of course that is how it is with any book - you always find something to relate to or identify with (even if it is something trivial or huge).

Part of discussing a book is voicing your opinion and that is all I was trying to do.

I think that since what Mary Catherine was talking about occurred in the first 9 beads that we were already supposed to have read, it isn't a spoiler and anything in those 9 chapters is fair game to be discussed. Since I think that most of us are only going to be discussing 9 chapters a week, the use of a spoiler alert isn't necessary. Obviously, if you're going to talk about something ahead of where we are, use the alert.