Title: Eat, Pray, Love
Author: Elizabeth Gilbert
Pages: 334
Originally Published: 2006
Format I Read: Paperback
Publisher: Penguin Books
Rating: 
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On a whim at Borders the other day (which was partially influenced by the ubiquitous promotion for the movie), I bought this book to read during my lunch hour. After the lunch hour, I was hooked.
Elizabeth Gilbert’s prose is captivating. She writes in a way that both makes you want to get to know her better and lets you feel that you are, in fact, getting to know her better. This book is honest. It’s about her and her post-divorce spiritual journey. That is, by definition, self-centered. But I really really enjoyed going on the ride with her.
The book is separated into three main parts – Eat, Pray, and Love – which each, in turn, consist of 36 parts. “Eat” takes place in Italy. This section was my favorite. Largely, I think, because I’ve actually been to Rome and Naples and Venice. Also, I love that she kind of wanders about, eating and speaking Italian. It sounds delightful to me, because I have a very different kind of life now that is scheduled down to the second with a baby, a husband, a dog, a job, a house, a blog, etc. It was nice to live with Gilbert in Italy for a while.
The second section, “Pray” takes place in India. Gilbert goes to live in an ashram there to study under a guru. She spends months there practicing meditation and working in the ashram. This part wasn’t as fun as “Eat,” but I enjoyed it too. The practice of meditation is completely foreign to me, but this made me want to try it out.
The final section of the book, “Love” takes place in Indonesia. A couple of years prior to the time in the book, Gilbert was invited by a Bali medicine man to come and stay with him. So she went. I love that about her. She loves to travel and just goes. And she’s a pretty good writer to boot. Here are some lovely quotes from the beginning of the book:
In the end, what I have come to believe about God is simple. It’s like this — I use to have this really great dog. She came from the pound. She was a mixture of about ten different breeds, but seemed to have inherited the finest features of them all. She was brown. When people asked me “What kind of dog is that?” I would always give the same answer: “She’s a brown dog.” Similarly, when the question is raised, “What kind of God do you believe in? my answer is easy: “I believe in a magnificent God.” (14)
I feel about travel the way a happy new mother feels about her impossible, colicky, restless newborn baby — I just don’t care what it puts me through. Because I adore it. Because it’s mine. Because it looks exactly like me. It can barf all over me if it wants to — I just don’t care. (41)
This turned out to be a book that particularly spoke to me at this time in my life. It made me want to spend a little more time in self-meditation. But mostly, it was just a fun read.
Eat, Pray, Love, by Elizabeth Gilbert
Other Reviews:
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Books I Done Read
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The Girl from the Ghetto
It’s All About Books
Literary Escapism
The Literate Housewife Review
Lotus Reads
Maw Books Blog
My Fluttering Heart
{ 14 comments }
I always notice that Eat Pray Love seems to be one of those books that people either love or hate. I couldn’t get through it. I liked it enough right up to the India section and at that stage I found Gilbert’s narration so annoying that I just couldn’t read anymore.
I think I might enjoy the movie though since she won’t be narrating it. ;)
I’m glad you enjoyed it though! :) Maybe if I had stuck it out longer I would have gotten into it.
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I’m glad to see you enjoyed this so much – I may go see the movie next week. At this point, I want to see the movie before I read the book. If I read the book first, I know I’ll hate the movie.
Hmm. Maybe I’ll get this one.
Bluestocking´s last post ..Farworld- The Hero’s Journey II
I’ve had this book on my shelf for over 6 months now, unread. I think I’m afraid that the hoopla set my expectations too high. But I’m encouraged by your review…..perhaps I should just get over it and pick up the danged book….lol….(tells self: it’s just a book).
;)
Michele@ A Reader’s Respite´s last post ..Top Ten Reasons for NOT Finishing The Brothers Karamazov
I’ve been reluctant to read it, because of the ubiquitous promotion (and the self-indulgent sound), but I’ve read several reviews by reluctant reader’s of the book and they enjoyed it. I may have to pick it up and try it out. I have noticed that most seem to at least enjoy the first part, and have heard some say what Dominique said, that they lost interest at the second part.
Are you going to see the film? would be interested to read some comparisons.
leslie´s last post ..libraries unlimited
I just finished Eat Pray Love today and I liked it too. In my opinion the best part was the time Elizabeth spent in Italy – the “eat” part. I started to lose interest after that, but overall I found it to be inspiring and interesting.
I can see how some people wouldn’t enjoy this book–it’s really all down to whether you enjoy Gilbert’s narrative voice. I liked the book in spite of the sort of cultural appropriation aspects of it, because I thought Gilbert seemed very self-aware and conscious of the absurdity of many of her situations. That kept it fresh and funny for me!
Jenny´s last post ..The other two Mary Renault books I got from the university library
I picked this up off the clearance table at Books A Million a few months ago–clearly they were trying to work through the current cover in anticipation of a new movie based cover. I have yet to get to it but really want to read it before heading off to the movie. My daughter wants to see the movie and far be it from me not to take every chance I can to spend time with my teen-aged daughter when she wants to hang out with me!
Lisa´s last post ..Backseat Saints
I know it sounds ridiculous, because this book has been everywhere lately, but I haven’t read about it until your review. It actually sounds like something I would really like. I’ll be curious too to see if the movie is any good.
I loved this book because I agree with what you said about Gilbert’s prose – it made me want to get to know her better, but also made me feel like she was opening herself up and letting me in. It made me want to become friends with her, is the best way to put it. I’m glad you enjoyed it so much! I’m interested to see how the movie compares.
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Dominique – Yep, I can see how it’s a polarizing book. I’m sorry that you didn’t enjoy it. I agree that it kind of slowed down there in India.
Kathy – I really want to see the movie. Let me know if you enjoy it.
Bluestocking – Let me know if you get it.
Michele – I think my perception of this one was enhanced by my very low expectations. I hope I haven’t just added to the hype. It’s not a perfect book, but I enjoyed it very much.
Leslie – I do plan on seeing the movie. I’ll have to post about it when I do. The book has three very different tones in each of the three different parts, so some people may like different parts better than others.
Ashley – I definitely agree that “Eat” was the best part.
Jenny – I think that is a very good description.of the book. I think Gilbert had a healthy sense of humor about her experience that endeared her to me.
Lisa – Hooray for clearance! And bonding with daughters. I hope you enjoy the book and the movie.
Alyce – I think knowing little about it will actually be an asset as you read it. I wouldn’t want it to be ruined by all of the buzz.
Heather – I really loved her narrative voice. It makes me want to check out her other books to see if they are as inviting. I’m interested, too, to see how the movie is. I’ll probably post about it once I see it.
This is such a refreshing review! I am a fan of this book and defend it when I can even though I do understand how people may not like Gilbert.
Care – I really enjoyed it, but I, too, understand why it may not appeal to everyone.
I finished Eat, Pray, Love two years ago this week. I still haven’t posted a review. I really loved the book, and I had so many thoughts and feelings to process. Maybe now is the time to finish doing that! Thanks for your review!
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