Review: Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
March 26th, 2010 | 
Author: 
Title: Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia
Author: Elizabeth Gilbert
Genre: Memoir, Spiritual, Autobiography
Publisher: Penguin Books
Year: 2006
Acquired via the lovely Santa Clara University Library
My Thoughts
When I started reading, I thought that Gilbert was just going through a midlife crisis. She feels discontent for her life. Even though she appears to have it all: the husband, the great job, the great friends, the New York success story, Elizabeth Gilbert feels empty. So she decides to give it all up and journey around the world to Italy, India, and Indonesia in a search for .. pleasure, spiritual enlightenment, and finally a way to balance the two. The book chronicles these journeys as Liz tries to get her self back by leaving her former life behind.
Once she left New York, I fell in love with Elizabeth Gilbert. I wanted to take her out of the pages and make her my best friend. She is refreshingly honest in a voice that is so easy to relate to. I loved hearing her talk about all the wonderful new people she met in all these wonderful places. Her descriptions were wonderful but even better than simple descriptions were her beautiful introspective thoughts on all she was experiencing. Liz did not idly consume on her trips but she was very mindful of everything that was happening to her as she embarked on all the stages of her journey.
And that’s what makes this book stand out. It isn’t just some crazy women traveling around the world to experience different cultures. Liz is going on a spiritual journey in hopes of finding her true self. It’s a beautiful sentiment – something I wish everyone could do at some point in their life. And that’s what I think really makes this book special: I mean, this book is a risky thing: she is letting countless people into her innermost thoughts and experiences. It’s a brave thing to do. But I feel like I learned a lot accompanying Liz on this journey. I found her anecdotes to be truly inspirational. I tagged so many parts of the book. I just wanted to take it all with me.
I highly recommend this book. Although it took me a while to get through, I loved every section of it. I didn’t want to miss any of the journey but savored every piece of it and I encourage anyone who hasn’t read this to do the same.
And with that I will leave you with Liz’s favorite Italian word, one that I have grown to love because of her: attraversiamo. Let’s cross over. Beautiful sentiment that maybe you too will pick up in your life.
© 2010, Jennifer Lesnick. All rights reserved.
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This seems to be one of those books you either love or dislike. I am of the latter category. I couldn’t get over her supposed “real spirituality” while it seemed so superficial. And I thought her writing style was bad. I did like reading about her time in Italy though.
I can totally understand where you’re coming from. When I started reading it, I couldn’t help but feel that way a little too. But then, when I think of spirituality, it’s something so personal and something so difficult to really convey that I decided to give her the benefit of the doubt. Being someone who is still trying to figure out what I believe when it comes to religion/spirituality, I enjoyed reading about her views and experiences. And I totally agree with you, Italy was definitely my favorite part of the book.
I’ve been on the fence about this one, because like you, I thought it was the story of her midlife crisis. Your review has piqued my interest.
I think it definitely begins with a midlife crisis, but I think it turns into so much more. I mean how many people leave behind everything to travel around the world when they come into their midlife crisis?
I’m so glad you liked this book! And thanks for stopping by my blog! It looks like we’ve read a lot of the same books. I look forward to looking around your blog more when I’ve got a bit more time (read: when I’m not working overtime). Cheers!
Thanks! I look forward to stopping by your blog more in the future too!
I’m glad you liked this book. I’ve been going back and forth about it for awhile now. I sort of want to read it before the movie comes out, since I’m sure I’ll see that with girlfriends or something, but sometimes memoirs like this don’t work for me.
I know what you mean. Memoirs like this usually don’t work for me but I couldn’t help but fall in love with Gilbert. I feel like if anyone else wrote this book, I wouldn’t like it that much. And I can’t wait for the movie – I love Julia Roberts!
This one started out as very promising for me. I liked the honesty about her marriage, and her time letting loose and exploring in Italy and some of the yoga parts, but it eventually petered out as she wandered along. By then I thought it was an okay book. I haven’t rushed off to read her latest.
This book definitely has its highs and lows. I really enjoyed reading about her time in Indonesia. She met so many interesting people there!
I enjoyed the book but am really looking forward to the movie with Julie Roberts…I think it is coming out in the fall?
i really struggled with this book–the first few chapters did nothing for me…and i put it aside. it’s still on my nightstand, i’m sorry to say. i won’t actually admit defeat, just deferment. lol.
did you happen to pick up committed–gilbert’s newest?
I haven’t picked up Committed yet, but I’m definitely interested.
I know that the first couple chapters can be a little rough, but once she sets off on her journey, it really does get a lot better. I promise.
I agree with Nicole…Italy was my favorite part. The rest of the book was good, but didn’t knock my socks off. She’s hilarious in person, though, if you ever have a chance to hear her speak.
I can totally see her being hilarious in person. I often found her writing to be quite funny: there were numerous moments in the book where I found myself literally laughing out loud.
I loved loved loved this book too! I just finished reading her follow-up, Commitment. If you liked Eat, Pray, Love then I think you would enjoy it.
I loved this book so much too; especially Italy! I was worried about the other two parts, but I actually really enjoyed them as well, and maybe even got more out of those despite there not being so much about food.
The audio version is excellent; Gilbert does the reading and I liked hearing her emphasis.
I loved this one as well! Her voice, her travel (mis)adventures, and her spiritual journey were quite interesting.
I’m not a huge traveler, and I don’t EVER just hop on a plane somewhere I’ve never been without a plan. So that part was pretty fascinating as well.
[...] Justice Jennifer Reads has a GREAT review of Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert which makes me want to read it all over again. [...]