Eat, Pray, Love
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puke hate rage
message 351:
by
Joana
(new)
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rated it 5 stars
Jan 27, 2013 12:02PM
O.O I know tastes differ, but I have no idea how can people hate it so much; I thought it very inspiring, funny, clever, mind-opening.. And despite everything, I think Elizabeth Gilbert is very talented with words
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Hated it. Hated her. So shallow, trite, hypocritical. Don't whine to me about your huge advance, your problems with being too young and thin, and your job which allowed you to travel to exotic locales with time to fall in lust/love. Has anyone read the sequel? About her marriage? I can't stomach it, but curious.
I wouldn't even think to begin the sequel...the whole thing makes me think she just got married to write a book about it.
Is she still married? I started the sequel and just couldn't bear it.
I am so thrilled by all these comments. I was one of the few in my book group who just LOATHED this book. The whole thing was nothing but a variety of ways to discuss how fabulous she is - people tell her she's beautiful! She's skinny! She can virtually eat what she wants! She can hit nirvana in 60 seconds or less! She is fighting men off with a stick! What a woman! The odd thing is, I really like her an an author when she's writing books about other people. If anyone on this thread hasn't read WILD by Cheryl Strayed, please consider it. I always say that WILD is the book that EAT, PRAY, LOVE wanted to be.
I thought this book was another version of "The Emperor's New Clothes". I felt like the little boy. There were so many raves. The book was certainly a best-seller and later a movie. I'm glad I saw these Goodreads posts.By the way, I liked the movie much better.
Wow, yeah, I felt like a freak too when I hated it. But then I usually hate Oprah's picks, not always though. Will have to look up "Wild", sounds intriguing.
Mamma23 wrote: "Hated it. Hated her. So shallow, trite, hypocritical. Don't whine to me about your huge advance, your problems with being too young and thin, and your job which allowed you to travel to exotic loca..."I did and I'm assuming you don't like her writing/her being the narrator, but otherwise might enjoy it, since I don't think it focus on Elizabeth as much as people expect, but it's rather a very interesting and global approach of marriage as an institution (with it's different cultural variations, across time and space)
Hmm, interesting. But yeah, I don't know if I want to hear her "voice" again....I am definitely being an "ageist". Had she been in her 40's or 50's, had real, intense life experiences with loss, or facing some tough choices, maybe I could have bought (some of) the whining. For me, she lacked gravitas. She just whined a lot.
Funny enough, I actually LIKED the movie!
Leslie wrote: "I agree-I think the hype is the problem. People read this book thinking it was so much more than it was, then felt angry and disappointed that it fell so far short of their expectations. I enjoye..."I agree with this statement. But isn't that the way we often relate to people, books, film, etc.? By projecting our own stuff on them?
I did enjoy the book, and related to her struggle to end an unhappy marriage, and felt some wistfulness at her ability to travel the world afterward - instead of moving to a smaller place, deal with limited income, etc. But there were times when I wasn't thrilled with her writing and found it a little too self absorbed. Whenever I came across passages like those, I skimmed over them and moved on to what I found more agreeable--just like I do with any other book.
Mamma23 wrote: "Hmm, interesting. But yeah, I don't know if I want to hear her "voice" again....I am definitely being an "ageist". Had she been in her 40's or 50's, had real, intense life experiences with loss, o..."
Yeah well I understand your point of you, and if I hadn't liked her own "voice"/personality, then those two books would be hard to read indeed..I didn't watch the movie because I usually don't like movie adaptations of books I read (they often "ruin" my own views of characters, etc) but I've heard good things about the movie.. If you ever do overcome the not-liking-her-part, then I'd at least suggest Committed, I found it very interesting.
I never even finished this book I was bored to tears!!! The movie at least kept me awake
Joana wrote: "Mamma23 wrote: "Hmm, interesting. But yeah, I don't know if I want to hear her "voice" again....I am definitely being an "ageist". Had she been in her 40's or 50's, had real, intense life experien..."
Thanks for the rec, will do.
Laura wrote: "I never even finished this book I was bored to tears!!! The movie at least kept me awake"I liked the movie, but then I really like almost anything Julia Roberts is in. Hmm, maybe if I picture Julia Roberts I'd like the book. Lol.
Steven wrote: "What a sad book. Amateurish writing ability combined with loads of self-involvement. Shallow and pointless."
I completely agree. Very poorly written. I like coming away from reading a book with a good feeling. This book is definately one that didn't leave me feeling refreshed and happy. It made me feel pity on a woman who should have seeked a therapist help instead of traveling which caused her lonliness most of the time.
Mamma23 wrote: "Laura wrote: "I never even finished this book I was bored to tears!!! The movie at least kept me awake"I liked the movie, but then I really like almost anything Julia Roberts is in. Hmm, maybe if..."
Ya she's a great actress, I think she was the one who made the movie. I have no idea how this book made it on the best sellers list. Unless everyone who bought it was like me and couldn't finish it lol
Ugh the book was so depressing. Haven't seen the movie yet, own it though. I have to say the memoirs that are coming out these days should not be on the best sellers list. This book ranks above "under the Tuscan sun" that was a snore fest. Couldn't even get through 20 pages!
Ashley wrote: "Ugh the book was so depressing. Haven't seen the movie yet, own it though. I have to say the memoirs that are coming out these days should not be on the best sellers list. This book ranks above "un..."Are you saying Under The Tuscan Sun was a snore fest? Just making sure I'm reading that right. If so, I can see that if you're expecting more of a traditional linear story. I like Frances Mayes work because I like her writing and she's good to pick up when you're feeling mentally lazy and just want to drift through a cozy existence elsewhere. If you didn't (or even if you did) like Mayes' memoirs, I recommend you try her novel Swan. It's dark and mysterious, small southern town, with plot twists. Much different from her summers spent overseas leisurely gardening, cooking, and reading poetry.
Joana wrote: "O.O I know tastes differ, but I have no idea how can people hate it so much; I thought it very inspiring, funny, clever, mind-opening.. And despite everything, I think Elizabeth Gilbert is very tal..."I think she's a genius with words. I love her writing style... I just didn't like what she was writing.
Anakalia84 wrote: "Ashley wrote: "Ugh the book was so depressing. Haven't seen the movie yet, own it though. I have to say the memoirs that are coming out these days should not be on the best sellers list. This book ..."Yes lol. I was saying the Under The Tuscan Sun was a snore fest. I felt she described everything in too much detail that wasnt needed. I also felt the book had no flow. But I'll definately check out "Swan". I try so hard to expand my genre of books I read but personal memoirs I just dont get!
Mamma23 wrote: "Hated it. Hated her. So shallow, trite, hypocritical. Don't whine to me about your huge advance, your problems with being too young and thin, and your job which allowed you to travel to exotic loca..."Well said! My thoughts exactly!
Reading these, I just have to laugh. I read this in one of my book groups so I made myself get through it. It was horrible, but everyone in my book group loved it. I Love the fact that so many here didn't like it. Kidding aside, it was an ok written book, with very good character development and while it had it plot, I personally thought it ridiculous. I don't like to read about weak and silly women who whine.
As a book, it is not spectacularly written or anything; however, I enjoyed reading about her journey; and, it will likely not do this for most readers, but for me personally, it fell into my hands at exactly the moment I needed it most, and as cheesy as it sounds, it helped me get my own life and act together, make some changes in my life, and rediscover my priorities. I think it's silly to assume that it would have this effect on all who read it; however, it just chanced to happen to me. Whether that will happen to you or not, remains to be seen, and hopefully either way you can simply enjoy it and get something positive out of the reading experience.
Dorene wrote: "Reading these, I just have to laugh. I read this in one of my book groups so I made myself get through it. It was horrible, but everyone in my book group loved it. I Love the fact that so many he..."Thank you! And how many of us can afford to travel around the world to "fix ourselves" every time a relationship ends. Funny thing is, after all her journeys, she ends up in the arms of another man - (who she didn't stay with for long). Guess she doesn't feel too complete on her own. I felt cheated making that journey with a character who doesn't learn a single thing along the way.
Hedda wrote: "This book should be used to equalize unstable tables."It is one of the few books that makes me want to throw something at a wall- ugh! When it got to the Ashram and that guy called her vegetables or something I nearly exploded.
Boring boring boring and such a waste of talent. And you have to wait so long to see Javier Bardem.
You can tell the whopping advance came first and then she went on a nice holiday to write a book. As you say, waste .
Sabrina wrote: "Dorene wrote: "Reading these, I just have to laugh. I read this in one of my book groups so I made myself get through it. It was horrible, but everyone in my book group loved it. I Love the fact ..."She's married to him...
Leslie wrote: "I agree with Karencilla--I don't think the author thought she could heal people with her book. I notice a lot of people have a strong negative reaction to this book and I'm not sure why. Unrealis..."I an older reader and didn't particularly care for this book. Personally, I didn't trust that the author was telling the truth. I also found her self indulgent.
I just finished it. I liked it, but I think your subject line is hilarious.
Hedda wrote: "Well all the women that I came into contact with in the past three years all gushed and said, "Have you read Eat Pray Love?" I recieved a copy of the book and a cd of the book from women friends, s..."Hedda,
I have to say that if I was presented the book under the circumstances you were, I probably would have similar feelings. Fortunately, I found the book on my own at a library book sale and all I knew about it was that it had been made into a movie, but I had never seen the movie.
Through the entire book I struggled to be convinced of the sincerity of the author. After the first half of Eat, I became much more comfortable accepting the honesty with which the book was written, but still had episodes of feeling that the author was taking more liberties with the story than she'd led me to believe she would.
In the end, she's presenting her perspective on the experiences she encountered and that's all I need to acknowledge in order to internalize the valuable parts of the book (of which I found plenty).
I may be wrong, but didn't she have a contract to write this book before she even set out on her travels? That made the whole thing just a fake for me.
Read this way back in another book club.. we hated it. Correction: We loved Eat, but hated Pray & Love!
Mamma23 wrote: "Hated it. Hated her. So shallow, trite, hypocritical. Don't whine to me about your huge advance, your problems with being too young and thin, and your job which allowed you to travel to exotic loca..."This is exactly how I felt. I'll never read anything else by her for this reason. Also I hated that she had to bring politics into it :-/ but I'm sure that's just me.
I made it about halfway through and even that was a struggle.
Hedda wrote: "I guess, well, yes, I think it is that bad. Some one gave it to me to read in order to heal myself after my long term relationship failed. The more I read the more puked, hated and raged, instead o..."Leave your husband because God told you to, get a million dollar advance to spend the year in Italy, India, and Indonesia for no reason whatsoever, and you, too, could have written Eat, Pray, Love. AKA The 3 I's.
I think the author was looking for a way to get paid to take a vacation. I agree with Hedda except I don't even want it under my unstable table.
I agree completely, its a pathetic book about a pathetic person and I will never ever read anything by this "author" ever again.
Really one the most shallow trite books I have read in ages......goes to show not everyone is a writer. I am sure she had wonderful revelations as this privileged woman toured the woman....she just is not able to articulate them well or transcend them beyond herself.
Awful waste of paper
Hedda wrote: "I guess, well, yes, I think it is that bad. Some one gave it to me to read in order to heal myself after my long term relationship failed. The more I read the more puked, hated and raged, instead o..."
Hedda wrote: "This book should be used to equalize unstable tables."it is such a diaphanous book. it 'helps' people on a very superficial level, by allowing them to escape into some tidy idea of healing that does not exist. but then, true healing is long, tedious and unpleasant much of the time. i can understand that people would rather rather take the 'simplistic' route to healing. alas, it doesn't work like that. no matter how many planes we climb aboard, no matter how many countries we visit. healing = work. there is no way around it. and people will realize it after they've indulged themselves in this softcover fantasy and come back to their same wounds and their same ails. she created an escape it has its value. i guess. bravo for her for capitalizing off of her pain. but then, i think it's easy to do that when someone hands you a fat check and says 'here, travel, write about your pain, get over it, come back, and we will give you more money to publish it... oh, and make it movie-worthy.'
The only redeemable quality of the book, besides the usage of balancing a table (lol), is the part where she talks about Italy and the wonderful food, not to mention the beautiful language. That's what I would need to heal from a long term relationship!
My title for this book is "Whine, Moan and Complain, The story of a self involved, self centered wealthy woman on her quest to make even some of the most beautiful and interesting places in the world boring."
Mairzi wrote: "My title for this book is "Whine, Moan and Complain, The story of a self involved, self centered wealthy woman on her quest to make even some of the most beautiful and interesting places in the wor..."That is a very accurate description. I love it! lol
Just wanted to put my two cents in and say, after reading this book, I know now what a whinny bitch sounds like...Glad I am not the only one who didn't like the book.
I couldn't even finish it and I always finish a book I start but I just couldn't even skim to the end. Not impressed at all
I'm a dude and I really dug this book. I'm going in for my fourth read soon (the movie was another story). I think Gilbert nailed a lot of unique dilemmas that we Gen-Xers go through including: universal follow-our-heart syndrome, relationships that need to end for no reason other than because, and the sitting-on-the-floor crying pain of divorce.
I never understood what all the hype was about for this book...but was interested enough to read it. Didn't like it. Total self-promotion on the part of the author. Don't waste your time.
Oh my gosh! Yes! I totally agree with you! It was not a very thoughtful book...I think the reason for her writing this book was just to make money....the funny thing is, when Julia Roberts was giving an interview on her role in the movie...she didn't sound enthusiastic at all...clearly!Hedda wrote: "This book should be used to equalize unstable tables."
