Why do people not like this book?

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all)]

"Spirituality" has become such a blanket term since the 80s, anyway. These days it seems to mean to many authors, "Those things that make me feel better about myself, my life and my choices". See also the minor Audrey Tatou film, "Dieu est grand, je suis toute petite." The character she plays resonates with the Gilbert main character.

[Christina]

Had her entire story been posted on a blog/memoir, I would say "excellent" but as a novel, it fell short. I felt like the book wanted me to sympathize w/a breakup I didn't understand, which served as a catalyst for a trip across the world that most people couldn't take, and rejoice in a new unlikely relationship that happened as a result of said breakup and excursion. None of the big questions were even tackled and no further mention of the ex, and no examination of the things that compel a person to leave town. Those are the only reasons I read novels with a hundred awards and accolades and I didn't get any of that. Not being a hater though, she wrote well, for me not substantive.

[Kelly]

It took me for ever to get into this book. Then it just kinda dragged on and on. It took me forever to finish. I lost interest several times and just had to put it down.

[Marcia]

Wow! How did this book become such a best seller! I personally thought it was a good read. Not all of us go through as much existential angst as the main character did in this novel, but I found her journal interesting. I like books that take me out of my own world and into someone else's. apparently some people have no patience for that when it is so totally different from their own - they think it unrealistic. Again I liked the book a lot - I did not see the movie, only snatches of it.

[Maria]

I thought this book a total waste, She comes across as a whinny, self serving adolescent egotist.

[Marcia]

Well, I read to experience things good and bad that are beyond my own world and experience, not just to reinforce my own POV. Not everyone has an easy path or is bright enough to avoid pitfalls, etc. while she may seem whiny and self serving she is embarking on a personal journey which will lead her through all of that to my mind.

[Linda]

I thought the author was totally self centered.

[Marcia]

Well I can't argue with that one :)

[Jacob]

Roo wrote: "I've read the book, and watched the movie, in my opinion it's because the writer isn't really someone you can relate to, she leaves her husband and has different love stories with other different m..."

On the contrary, Gilbert is very relatable, and she is not afraid to reveal her own faults and shortcomings.

[Marcia]

I agree

[Jennifer]

Summoned up in one word-SELFISH!!!

[Marcia]

Still - you can't confine your reading to characters that more closely reflect your world view or at least your desired world view. I would find that very confining as I like to stretch myself by reading all sorts of things.

[Norreida]

I fall in the camp of considering both book and movie whiney, hedonistic, and childish. It's a story of minor, First-World problems most of us learned to handle long ago. Now, if it were a story about a 22-year-old, it would have made more sense.

I couldn't get past the first couple chapters of the book, and only watched the movie because a friend begged me to. The cinematography was excellent, acting good, but the story was better suited to YA fiction. Monty J. is right - it's immature and offers nothing new or revelatory.

[Gina]

because it's not really about anything. and after a while you kind of ask yourself, what is this aimless woman doing? who is she? does she have any kind of idenity?

[[deleted user]]

i also agree with misteeyed: the author came across to me as a spoiled brat with nothing to lose; she reminds me of all the hippies who went to Nepal in the 60s looking for enlightenment; of course all of them could afford the plane ticket, which helps.

[Marcia]

While I am a baby boomer, I only had friends who went to NYC, San Francisco and other places in the US. I never knew anyone who went to Nepal

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all)]

People still go to Nepal, and they are now the kind of people who can afford the plane fare in their search for "authenticity and simplicity" which is nice for a few days and then they come back to their comfortable lives and tell you how wonderful it was.

[Jane]

I was astonished at how ignorant she remained despite claiming to speak Hindi - usually learning a local language opens people to lots of insights. I guess when I went to live in the subcontinent (albeit in Nepal) I was also privileged but when life dealt us some difficulties, I found the local approach - which was basically 'get on with it and don't expect anyone but you to sort things' - helped us move forward. See

[Christine]

The author is self-involved and takes herself way too seriously. I agree she comes across as narcissistic and shallow. After all, she lives a privileged life - wouldn't everyone going through a breakup want to spend idle time in Italy and Bali as a reward??!!! I found the character unsympathetic and definitely winy; most importantly, I thought the writing was ordinary.

[Lisa]

I adored this book! The reason I think it draws such ire is because we still live in a male centered culture.

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all)]

I'm not sure how "male-centered-culture" has anything to do with the fact that I, a woman, disliked the book. I am a woman, I live and work with women, but the main character was simply not someone I could admire or relate to. Her self-absorption and first-world-problems have nothing to do with gender, from where I sit. Many of the people who have posted reasons they dislike the book are also women, and their reasons are their own, just as the reasons of those who liked it are personal.

[Mochaspresso]

"first world problems". That is perfect. That perfectly explains why I had difficulty relating to some of her issues.

[Marcia]

And it is one thing to have difficulty relating to her issues and quite another to ... Dismiss the book entirely.

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all)]

Have you never dismissed a book you disliked? Or a piece of music, or a TV show or film?

The fact that one person dislikes a given work cannot (or should not, at any rate) change another's reaction. If that were so, we would all have to enjoy the same stuff.
And that would make the world very dull.

[Marcia]

There are a lot of books that I pick up and decide not to read, but once I start reading I finish with a few rare occasions with books that were connected with college classes but not required reading. I guess I am odd in that respect. Some books I find slow or plodding which is no doubt a reflection of my interest as well as anything contributed by the writer. The writer took the time to write the book. Someone else found it of value and published it. In this case enough people enjoyed the book so they made a movie out of it.
Everyone is entitled to their own reaction, I am just amazed at the strength of dislike by some.

[Lara]

I have entirely dismissed many books that someone thought worthy of publishing, the 50 Shades of Grey series comes to mind. I see no reason not to. Dismissal is not censorship.

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all)]

Lara wrote: "I have entirely dismissed many books that someone thought worthy of publishing, the 50 Shades of Grey series comes to mind. I see no reason not to. Dismissal is not censorship."

Indeed. That's what I meant. It took me until university to learn I didn't have to feel guilty for abandoning a book that didn't interest me or which I found poorly written. So many books, so little time.

[Marcia]

I think I learned to get pretty good at screening. I haven't read 50 shades of grey.

[Lara]

Oh, yes...I dismissed 50 Shades before I even touched it. Really not my thing.

[Sonia]

The woman is not smart. She goes to Italy in order to...eat pasta???
Oh, my God! She doesn't perceive the Italina Art at all, and the landscapes and the amazaing people.
Then she goes to India and she said to become wiser then she returns and...she goes to many suerficial parties, drinks a lot, dates different gays and write a book in order to receive money??? Awful.