Having received the Ophra seal of approval, recommendations from several people in my circle of friends, and a stream of near perfect reviews from the likes of the Washington Post and New York Times our book club wanted to discover what the fuss was all about.
Eat, Pray, Love is the story of Elizabeth Gilbert’s search for everything across Italy, India and Indonesia following a divorce, a rebound romance, and a crushing depression.
It is thoughtfully written, charming, and delightfully witty.
Her story is also annoying and self righteous; and for the most part I find the author to be rather spoiled.
Either way you look at it she is undoubtedly human; whew - finally a celebrity who is not trying to be perfect – just real.
Eat, Pray, Love is really a tale of self love and self kindness. Gilbert makes a decision to end a lifestyle that was no longer authentic for her. She takes a risk, changes behaviour, leans on her faith, and allows for some Divine intervention resulting in new opportunities that seem more fulfilling and meaningful for her.
Through her penmanship Ms Gilbert opens up and vulnerably allows all of us to accompany her on this emotional and spiritual voyage all while trying to overcome mental health issues.
As readers some are annoyed that she would in a most ungracious and ungrateful manner throw away a lifestyle that many would love to experience. Others find the story lifting and are amazed that someone could have the courage to make such drastic changes. Many want her life - either the before or the after. But, we are not her.
It should be of no surprise why Eat, Pray, Love resonates, politely or not, with so many people. According webcache.googleuserccontent. com the divorce rate in America is more than fifty percent; 1 in 18 people in will suffer from depression; and fifty of divorcees rebound by remarrying within the first three years of divorce and length of that second marriage is less than seven years.
Right now all around the world, there are indeed people from different economic and cultural backgrounds, lying on the floor of their bathroom, bedroom, or laundry room hiding in their real pain and praying for a different life. Too afraid to take action towards changing even the smallest thing that could bring about greater quality of life.
Like it or not somewhere hidden within the text of Eat, Pray, Love there is a message that touches every reader; and that is what makes this book life changing. Gilbert is no Pulitzer prize winning author, but she authentic. It is her genuineness that makes Eat, Pray, Love worth the read.
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