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What Members Thought
I was so prepared to hate this book but guess what, I actually had a perfectly fine time reading it. The Italy section was my favorite but the other two I's were interesting as well. Gilbert is clearly a privileged woman (in more ways that I think she even realizes) but she is also a vivid and honest writer. I don't need to see the movie version and I don't plan to read her next book (because my least favorite section was the last). However, I'm happy that I can now return this to Kelly and I do
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I've heard a mixed bag of reviews for this book...the bad ones made me hesitate to pick it up, but the good ones made me hope it was as good as said reviews claimed. The popularity of the book made me afraid it was gimmicky, which I hate. I don't read books just because Oprah tells me they're good. My biggest factor in reading it was that one of my best friends recommended it to me. She has known me well enough and long enough at this point for me to feel comfortable in any recommendation she gi
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Three stars is a gift, Elizabeth Gilbert. Just so you know.
I enjoyed reading about Italy, India and Bali. I am still hungry for the Italian pizza she was always eating. Still.... the entire point of her journey (it seemed to me) was to reach a comfortable self awareness, to recognize and like herself again, apart from the men who defined her from a very early age. And when she reaches the end of her journey? .... wait for it: She's found another man. Blech. I was disappointed in the ending, obvi ...more
I enjoyed reading about Italy, India and Bali. I am still hungry for the Italian pizza she was always eating. Still.... the entire point of her journey (it seemed to me) was to reach a comfortable self awareness, to recognize and like herself again, apart from the men who defined her from a very early age. And when she reaches the end of her journey? .... wait for it: She's found another man. Blech. I was disappointed in the ending, obvi ...more
New Review (2010):
I was not disappointed the second time through this book. Gilbert found so many things in her journey that resonate with me. This time through I especially identified with her statement that happiness is not something that comes in fleeting moments; rather it is something you work hard to achieve and then continually strive to maintain. I enjoyed her honest, witty voice so much that I went the library today and checked out her new book Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marr ...more
I was not disappointed the second time through this book. Gilbert found so many things in her journey that resonate with me. This time through I especially identified with her statement that happiness is not something that comes in fleeting moments; rather it is something you work hard to achieve and then continually strive to maintain. I enjoyed her honest, witty voice so much that I went the library today and checked out her new book Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marr ...more
I was suprised at how much I enjoyed this book, as I usually don't enjoy memoirs or books about spirituality, but Gilbert is a well-traveled journalist, who is irreverent, hilarious, courageous, intelligent, and in masterful command of her sparkling prose. In the book, she chronicles her intrepid quest for spiritual healing. Driven to despair by a punishing divorce and an anguished love affair, Gilbert flees New York for sojourns in the three "I"s. She goes to Italy to learn the language and rev
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So, maybe it's because I had low expectations. My mom didn't love it, my friend told me I just had to get through "Eat," then I would like it, but I totally loved this book. I wish I could give it 4.5 stars because while it's not up there with the 5 stars for me, I feel like it's more than 4. Elizabeth Gilbert and I are very different people in many ways but I completely identified with this story. I was worried it was going to be too new agey for me and while I don't have a desire to go to an A
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I have to admit, I liked this a lot more than I thought I would. Based on the title and what little I knew about it, I expected that I would find it to be very new agey. But, Gilbert's retelling of her quest for balance and spirituality is balanced by her New England personality - pragmatic, skeptical, sarcastic. Perfect. There were definitely some times when I laughed out loud, and I really enjoyed reading about her journey. Even during the most intensely spiritual parts of the book, she still
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I know this book is so cliche and Oprah and everything else, but I thought it was great. Elizabeth Gilbert is hilarious if self-indulgent. India was a bit tedious, but Italy and Bali more than made up for it. I was really happy for her at the end of the book; it seemed she achieved the goals she set for herself, but was realistic about the fact that you will ebb and flow and have to work to maintain your mental balance and state of happiness. Most importantly to me (perhaps because I don't harbo
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I liked this one. I enjoyed "Book 1, Italy" the best. I laughed out loud at some parts and enjoyed the Italian language interspersed. Indonesia and India were interesting-the descriptions of the meditations and her journey through that aspect of herself parallels well with a different book I'm reading about meditation. I thought the end of the book dragged a bit. Some of the people Liz was dealing with seemed shady, and I felt worried for her through the last half even though she had supposedly
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i really enjoyed reading this one. the only reason i didn't give it 5 stars is because i sometimes was distracted when gilbert felt the need to justify herself or her actions. i understand that it showed her growth, but she is so funny and well-written otherwise that i could've done without.
on a completely different note...i loved the message of being honest with yourself and dealing with your own issues.
i also will say, the last page gave me chills. literally.
loved the message! ...more
on a completely different note...i loved the message of being honest with yourself and dealing with your own issues.
i also will say, the last page gave me chills. literally.
loved the message! ...more
I was excited to read this book and I wanted to like it...but in the end I was disappointed. Italy was OK, I actually liked the India part, but she lost me in Indonesia. I will say, I at least liked the underlying message: Love yourself.
Interesting. The author is pretty courageous, traveling around the world by herself, but I was uncomfortable with her extensive foray into Eastern philosophy (a third of the book).
One of the most disappointing, offensive books I've ever acquired.
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Jul 24, 2010
Pat Tea
added it
Aug 25, 2010
Leslie
marked it as to-read
