By Elizabeth Gilbert
Publisher: Penguin
334 Pages, $15.00
Book review on Elizabeth Gilbert “Eat Pray Love
In her memoir “Eat Pray Love” Elizabeth Gilbert turned her personal journey into a funny, witty, humorous book. Gilbert knows how to organize interesting parts of her life journey into short story chapters that made it easy to read and understand the nature of what she explored and treasured through that experience. Than 32 years of age, Gilbert leaves behind a disband marriage, struggled with depression to purse spiritual and personal exploration in Italy, India and Bali.
I must admit that I saw the movie first before I read the book. Although, supposedly, the movie seemed superficial and does not do the book justice, I should point out that the book gives you so much more details. The early pages of the book instantaneously capture your attention and connect you “to explore the art of pleasure in Italy, the art of devotion in India, and, in Indonesia, the art of balancing the two.” and once I finished reading the entire book, I understood why it’s # 1 New York Times bestseller for so long.
The fascination with Gilbert is that she has a way of telling a story in its most natural truth and form. Yet knowing that Gilbert is not out to deceive her audience, she attempts to translate some of her most memorable Italian expressions in chapter 23-24. Moreover, knowing how well she writes, she managed not to fail to actually put some emphasize on the most eloquent words.
In prospect, Gilbert spiritual journey, first begin when she was ceaselessly waiting to finalize her divorce, Gilbert agree to a magazine assignment in Bali and while on her trip there, she meet a spiritual leader who told her that she would one day venture on a journey of pleasure, devotion and balance.
During her trip to Italy, Gilbert draws attention to the many wonderful aspect of Italy. She taped on the beauty of its people and the taste of food. She in particular, layered out the idea that Italy has “the best pizza in the world” when ordered at a little restaurant Pizzeria da Michele in Naples.
Some may find this thrilling, however others may think it is an over statement in time as she points outs that it’s like “having a relationship with this pizza, almost an affair.” Yet trying to find the line it joins happiness and experiencing “four months of pure pleasure” with its people and Architecture.
In India “36 tales about the Pursuit of devotion” Gilbert focused on the union that transpired between her mind and Yoga. The ability to devote one’s self to an object or task through study and by a practice of silence, even more, having the patient to with stand the duration. And in short “trying to find God through meditation”.
By the time Gilbert arrives in Indonesia, because “of careless travels”, she has already experienced her many guilty pleasure, except for one, “LOVE”. But In her happiest moment and of all things positive, Gilbert found “believing in love again” in the arms of a gorgeous Brazilian man named Javier Bardem. And although she was sometimes smiling or crying, Elizabeth Gilbert‘s “Eat, Pray, Love” is a must read.
A great personal reaction to the book. It's always interesting to read a textual book after having seen a motion-picture adaptation. It's hard to create your vision of the characters and settings when someone else's vision has planted in your head by the film.
ReplyDeleteWhere is the information on the length, the author, the publisher and the historical context of this book? This is a good recap and response, but lacks as a "review".