'Eat, Pray, Love'...Book Review

I begin with thoughts on one of the first books that helped bring me to where I am now in my own life's journey. Many of you may have already read this book and I look forward to getting your feedback. ‘Eat, Pray, Love' by Elizabeth Gilbert is a memoir of how she struggled with desperately wanting to leave her marriage, but feeling tremendous guilt for wanting to do so. It is about the journey she sets out on to heal after finally making the decision to leave. Her struggle and pain are a bit difficult to read in the very beginning, especially if you've been in a similar situation, but the rewards as you continue are well worth hanging in there. This part of her story is important because it is through this experience that she is catapulted into a life changing journey and travels through Italy, India and Indonesia (specifically, Bali).

Upon leaving her relationship she convinces her editor to allow her to write about her personal journey to these three countries. In each, she pursues a different life lesson that is important to her. She then journals her experiences and what she learns as a result. In Italy she indulges in the pure pleasures of the local foods and other delights; In India she pursues her spirituality at an Ashram savoring the practice of meditation; In Indonesia she finds the love and acceptance she'd been yearning for. As we encounter our own life's journey we make some tough decisions, and as women, we often put others before ourselves. Ms. Gilbert's journey helps remind us that once we make the choice to speak our own truth and take care of ourselves first, we will come out stronger on the other side. Ms. Gilbert's voice is strikingly honest, with generous swirls of wit and humor that capture the reader's attention and hold it throughout the book.

Not long after I'd finished her book (which I found difficult to put down and was sad when it ended), I had the privilege of meeting Elizabeth Gilbert during one of our local bookstore's signings last fall. You can only imagine how excited I was! On the day of the event I hurried to the book store thinking I'd have ample time before the event started. As I drove by looking for a parking spot I could see that the line swept around the building like an unanticipated turn in my adventure. I found the nearest parking spot, walked the three blocks I had to go to find it, walked past the myriad of other ‘Eat, Pray, Love' enthusiasts and took my place in line. Within a few moments I'd made myself comfortable and proceeded to chat with other ladies about the book. Had they already read it? What did they think? Didn't they just ADORE it!??? I was in love with the book, with the author's writing, and I wanted to BE the author and travel the way she had, write just like her. I couldn't have been more excited about meeting Elizabeth Gilbert, and frankly, I'd never even been to a book signing before. Book signing? Are you kidding? Definitely not my bag, though I love reading, I'm not into book signings....boring! But, this was the author of the book I'd fallen in love with, so here I was.

As my fellow ‘Eat, Pray, Love' fans and I continued to chat and wait, one of the women decided that she would have plenty of time to run for some food. I have to admit that I'd come to this event without eating myself, but I would not even consider leaving this line. As it turns out the book gods were on my side at this moment because not long after she scurried away from ‘the line', a woman came outside to announce that only the first 75 people would get a seat. Even they hadn't anticipated this many people showing up and fire codes would not allow them to bring more people into the store. She then promptly began passing out the coveted tickets that would guarantee a walk through that door. I watched her walk down the line passing out ticket by ticket praying she wouldn't stop before she got to me. A sigh of relief came over me as she put the number 75 ticket into my hand. I was meant to be here because if that girl had not left for food when she did.....well, you get the idea. Oh, don't worry, if she'd come back in time I would have let her have that place back in line, I think?

I took my seat among the other lucky ticket holders and waited anxiously for Ms. Gilbert to begin speaking. As she spoke I found her to be just as down to earth, humorous and witty as her writing reflected. She is someone who makes you feel as though you were her long lost best friend and she's just arrived in town for a visit. When it came time to have books signed I waited again very patiently thinking all the while about what I would say to her when it came my turn. In the end I decided to ask her about Felipe, one of the people she meets in her travels. I will not divulge what she told me about him because it would ruin it for you! (If you really need to know you can write to me once you've finished the book and I'll fill you in) I've recently learned that she is writing a sequel to this book where we will learn more about him.........I'm SO excited (nearly as excited as I am about the ‘Sex in the City' movie coming out of which I will probably have to discuss after I see it with all of my girlfriends). Anyway, I think the new Elizabeth Gilbert book comes out this summer.......I will definitely keep you posted on this event!

So, why did I enjoy this book so much? I was encouraged by the author's honesty in telling her story, difficult as it was. Because the truth is, we all experience some kind of pain in our lives and it's always nice to know that someone else has been there too. Not because ‘misery loves company,' but because we all want to know that we aren't alone on this path. I also relished in the way she embraced her pain and worked through it in such undaunted fashion. I was fascinated by her tenacity in traveling alone seeking out the life lessons she so fiercely wanted to learn. For myself, I mostly learned through her experiences at the Ashram in India. That meditation is an amazing source of peace, tranquility and being in touch with our own inner power. After my second reading of the book I entered into my own practice of meditation and have since sought out other books on the subject.

In closing, I would also like to mention that in addition to the hard copy of the book, there is an audio version narrated by Ms. Gilbert that I highly recommend. A few months after reading the hard copy of this book I listened to it on my MP3 player as I commuted to and from work. I enjoyed her story with an even greater appreciation of her talent for expressing herself verbally as well as in written form. If you are an audio book lover I suggest that you join an audio book club such as the one I use at Audible.com. For a monthly fee you are able to quickly download your favorite books in just a few moments and listen to them immediately. I've belonged to this club for a little over a year now and have amassed quite a large library of listening pleasure!

Happy reading and please let me know what you think about ‘Eat, Pray, Love' while you are reading or once you've finished!