Leaving behind the outward marks of success, the author of Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia committed herself to a year of self-discovery. A journey away from the emotional pain of her divorce and a broken relationship afterwards…toward a spiritual awakening.
She divided the year into increments, beginning in Italy, where she would enjoy the pleasures and sensory experience of eating. And practice her Italian. In India, she lived in an Ashram and devoted herself to the art of meditation, in order to connect with her spirituality. And the final leg of her journey would be in Bali, where she hoped to find balance.
I must admit that I had some fascination for the story, and how devoted the author was to her quest. And I enjoyed following her journey through the months in Italy. The experiences in India bored me…and I could not relate to them, try as I would.
Bali felt a little more like a time of connecting to others, as she helped families and people she met there, and formed lasting relationships.
Sometimes our journeys in life yield just what we need. And sharing them with others can help them. But that didn’t happen for me with this book, which I almost gave up on several times. However, I must say that the book is well-written, and sometimes for several pages in a row, I could engage with it. But not enough to recommend it to anyone other than those who are on a similar quest. Therefore, I’m awarding it three stars.
AN INTERIOR JOURNEY 
She has a new one out that is totally different.
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I have heard that….her writing is great. I just wasn’t crazy about parts of this one…lol. Thanks for stopping by, Patty.
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I read this some time ago. I gave it 4*. Here’s my take: http://booketta.blogspot.co.uk/2011/08/eat-pray-love-elizabeth-gilbert.html
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Thanks, Booketta….glad you could stop by.
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I enjoyed this also-though India was SO SLOW for me too.
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Thanks for stopping by, Kerri…perhaps India was such a contrast to the lush indulgences of Italy…but it was definitely not my favorite part.
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I loved the movie, but I never got to read the book, which I want to. Your review just reminded me that I need to read the book as well, if only out of curiosity. It’s been sitting on my kindle for a while.
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Yes, I read it out of curiosity, too; after seeing the movie first, I couldn’t help by “see” Julia Roberts as the narrator…lol.
Thanks for stopping by, Melinda.
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I haven’t read Eat Pray Love (a friend’s vitriol for it completely ruined any enjoyment I might get from it!) but I love The Signature of All Things (fiction). Hoping to finish it this week.
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Oh, my…the vitriol can definitely take away any enjoyment. I saw some of that vitriol in reviews on Amazon. But there were plenty who enjoyed it, too. I enjoyed Italy and Bali more than India, as I mentioned.
Thanks for stopping by, Sam, and I am considering reading The Signature of all Things.
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The movie was entertaining, but I passed on the book. Italy seemed the best part & place to me!
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I would have passed…but I already had it on the shelves. Curiosity won out. Thanks for stopping by, Susan…
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One of these days I’m going to take this off my shelf and read it. There is such a wide range of opinions on it I’ll have to find out for myself!
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That’s how I felt, too, Leslie…if a book can evoke so many different opinions, it deserves investigating. Thanks for stopping by, and I’ll be watching for your thoughts on it.
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I have this one my bookshelf but have yet to read it. If the part in India bored you then it probably will bore me too. I haven’t seen the movie either.
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Yes, I actually didn’t like that part of the movie, either, Laura….thanks for stopping by, and maybe you’ll like the rest of it enough to manage…lol.
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