eat, pray, love
April 10th 2009 01:26
Eat, Pray, Love :
One Woman*s search for everything.
By Elizabeth Gilbert
Bloomsbury Publishing : 2006
ISBN : 978 0 7475 8566 4
About $25 (depending where you go).
One Woman*s search for everything.
By Elizabeth Gilbert
Bloomsbury Publishing : 2006
ISBN : 978 0 7475 8566 4
About $25 (depending where you go).
What can I say about this book that hasn*t been said by word of mouth already? And especially by Oprah, who picked up and was again instrumental in rocketing another enthralling story to the world stage and super success. I don*t watch Oprah very often as I tend not to put the TV on anymore and so I didn*t find out about it that way, more my own usual way. Another book that leaped off the shelf at me, this time at the airport bookshop, simply stating as it did; *pick me, read me!* So I did. The truth is, that Oprah was probably right this time, because eat, pray, love REALLY is ALL THAT and more, and exactly what girlfriends are (or should be) giving to each other (just as Julia Roberts said on the cover).
This book was my initian into the world of Gilbert and I found her warm, self-depreciating style quickly filled me with hope and forgiveness for the frailty and sad position of my own feminine human condition. I found her incandescent talent inspiring and having travelled a fair bit myself during the same period of my life, related personally to an alarming percentage of her emotions, feelings and impressions with both clarity and fondness.
Having come from Europe, lived in India and spent time with meditating Guru*s and wise/medicine Shamen (is that the plural?) since, gave me an extra dimensional portal into her disclosures, not that you couldn*t get all those epiphanies right at home in your back garden too mind, but somehow more enjoyable for those like me who have allowed themselves the sheer pleasure of being swayed to embrace other cultures. The fact is, that traveller or not, if you are a female and haven*t read this wonderfully wise and funny tale, you are missing perhaps one of the best laughs of your lifetime . . . and will probably want to travel after reading it anyway!
For me personally, eat, pray, love went beyond being what a good romantic chic flick and tub of chocolate ice cream can do for you, into the realms of a spiritual supernova chookbook, plunging you deeply into the often insane and illogical cauldron of swirling female emotions that only a woman on a spiritual mission would truly understand and be able to find funny. For Elizabeth (as with many of us) it began to unravel during that special time that consumes all women everywhere, when the biological body clock goes off and those BIG decisions of * to bear, or not to bear children* emerges.
Elizabeth is in her thirties, settled in a large house with a husband who wants ot start a family. But she doesn*t want any of it. A bitter divorce and a rebound fling later, Elizabeth emerges battered yet determined to find what she*s been missing.
So she begins her quest around the world for nine months to find the truth of life, the universe and everything . . .
In Rome, she indulges herself and gains nearly two stone. In India, she finds enlightenment through scrubbing temple floors and meditation. Finally, in Bali, a toothless medicine man reveals a new path to peace, leaving her ready to love again.
Here*s what the Guardian said:
Utterly of the moment: it manages, effortlessly, to be both spiritual and sexy, cute and confessional, all in the same tumultuous breath!
That is no understatement and if you haven*t caught up to this one yet, I suggest you make a date and grab a cuppa on the next rainy day that comes your way. It really is brilliant, hilarious and an effortless page turner, certainly one worth taking a day off work for and a story that I never wanted to end.
As the New York Times said;
Fuelled by a mix of intelligence, wit and colloquial exuberance that is close to irresistible.
As a writer myself, I found Elizabeth Gilberts enthusiasm infectious, and her detail of the customs of the cultures in which she journeyed fascinating.
A must read and five stars from me.
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Comment by Janet Collins
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The Social Critic
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Janet
PS Like your new emblem!
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
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When I first joined Orble in 2006 I used the same emblem, it seemed fitting to return to it as a new leaf turns over in the great book of my virtual life
Lilla ..
Comment by katyzzz
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MS Paint Art
Comment by Lilla
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Happy easter!
Lilla ..
Comment by Michelle Sweeney
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Always Learning
Cinema Voyage
It is great to see people experiencing new things and living their dreams however so kudos to her.
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
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welcome.
But I guess Oprah can do that without even trying.
Isn*t that the truth .. and once you have high expectations of anything . . well, it is not healthy and as you say, usually leads to dissapointment. I spend a lot of time making ready my neutrality before entering into anything new, on purpose, for this very reason.
It is hard when recommending something that you really enjoyed too, becuase you want to mention it but not pass on too much expectation. Agreed.
Better to remain neutral and in may case stay right away from TV and especially Oprah *giggle* This way I am rarely dissapointed and always elated by learning something unexpectedly new. Something I have sniffled out for myself.
As for this one, it sort of fell at me, as they often do and I had no preconceived ideas at all and really enjoyed it, perhaps I was a little bias as I am from Europe, lived three years in India and also hae a couple good shaman friends, who are helping me put it all together. .. not to mention the affinity of being horny after deep meditation sessions
Thanks for your comment, it is really refreshing to get different views on things.
Lilla ..