Elizabeth Gilbert - Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India And Indonesia Books Review

I always have a book with me.  Waiting in line grocery store or doc's office, waiting in the theatre for a movie or concert to start, you name it I've got my book and I'm not afraid to whip it out and keep myself occupied.  And rather than let me be weird and read in peace people have to comment as if they've never seen someone read a book in public before.  Whatever.

Anyway, people loved to comment about my reading Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert because it was one of Oprah's book club picks.  I read it despite the fact that it was an Oprah pick (Oprah hype totally gets on my nerves) because I heard it was a really good book that was also interesting and easy to read.

Eat, Pray, Love is "one woman's search for everything across Italy, India, and Indonesia."  That's what the cover says and that is totally true.  It's about 30-something Liz Gilbert who felt unfilled with her life and feeling a constant state of panic and confusion.  After a nasty divorce and subsequent turbulent relationship she found herself presented with the opportunity of spending a year traveling and examining pleasure, devotion, and love in Italy, India, and Indonesia.

This book was very good.  I finished it last night and had not planned to finish it until tonight but it got really good there at the end and I knew I would not be able to fall asleep unless I knew how everything was wrapped up.

The language was informal and easy to follow and the chapters short and easy to absorb.  I'm about the same age as the author and feeling some of that same confusion, depression, and panic in life so I was very much able to relate to what she was experiencing.  There were several places in the book that I actually highlighted because I identified so strongly with what the author had written.  I could have written those exact words myself (if I was as good a writer as she is).  Her life is literally now an open book.  Very honest and heartfelt.

I do not have the resources or type of job that I can go away for a year and find myself, but because I feel that the author and me have a similar personality and strategy for dealing with life I was able to take away some life lessons and learn some things about myself.  I've got a bit of a weakness for those sweet boys from Texas so of course I absolutely fell in love with Richard from Texas.  He seemed like a great guy to have there with her in India or anywhere else.   A friend who truly has your back, gives it to you straight, and cuts thru the BS. 

There are also some things with regard to Eastern religions and beliefs that have me intrigued enough to follow up.  That said, Eat, Pray, Love is very heavy on Eastern religion, Yoga, meditation, and new age subject matter so it may not appeal to everyone. 

4 stars - really enjoyed Eat, Pray, Love and looking forward to Gilbert's next book.  I usually immediately donate books I've read to my local library but I'm keeping this one to share and maybe read again one day.