Cover Snapshot of Read Books

Sara's bookshelf: read

Crazy Little Thing
A Kiss at Midnight
The Disenchanted Widow
Hollywood Wives - The New Generation
There Goes the Bride
Table for Five
Do Not Disturb
The Husband's Secret
The Ugly Duchess
Help for the Haunted
The Power Trip
Flawless
The Haunting of Maddy Clare
Fame
Summer At Willow Lake
Barefoot
Every Crooked Nanny
The Mystery Woman
The Woodcutter
How to Be an American Housewife


Sara's favorite books »

Monday, August 30, 2010

Savor Eat Pray Love

I will admit that our book choice of Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert was chosen to coincide with the film release this month. And, I will admit to a little trepidation at the thought of reading another memoir. 

Eat Pray Love was unexpectedly wonderful; I was immediately drawn into this rich and luminous little story.

As with most memoirs, I fought it, I didn’t want to get started and had a fear that the book would be completely dull and uninteresting—perhaps why the book defied me and proved otherwise. One strong key to the Eat Pray Love success is that Elizabeth Gilbert is a writer; she thoughtfully ponders and commiserates on how to tell her tale. Elizabeth is also charismatic and that really comes through in her story telling abilities as she resonates with the modern woman. Liz reminds me of someone, that gregarious friend whom you envy as she has that great job and seems to have it all together. In reality she is unhappy and depressed and is looking to define herself. Liz admits that she has never lived alone, that she has always been in a relationship—ultimately deciding that she needs to travel alone on a soul seeking journey of independence. While Liz’s divorce is a tragedy, it is also the catalyst to her trying to live her life independently.

The book is broken into thirds with Eat encompassing Italy, Pray occurring in an Ashram in India, and Love happening in Indonesia. Liz decides to travel for a year, and take a break from her life while spending four months in each country. Soon Liz is ensconced in Italy, eating the food and learning the language. India is where Liz really struggles as she has to learn patience and discipline and get over her emotional inequities. In Indonesia Liz discovers that she is worthy and ready to receive and perhaps give love again.

The book is very focused on how to find balance in life and how to let go and perhaps find your destiny. I know that some felt this book was very selfish or self-indulgent—but I believe that there are those who bloom later in life and they need journeys of self-discovery. While most of us would not have the joy of being paid to travel for a year, I think we could each translate pieces of this novel into our lives. I know that now I want to incorporate more yoga and perhaps start journaling...simple real things that I can do in my personal journey of spiritualism and balance. I love the thought that you should wake up and say, what would I ENJOY doing today? Hmmm….where to start?

Our book club chose to meet at a local Italian Restaurant for lunch. I  provided little bags of movie candy for each book club member (Chocolate, Licorice, and Skittles) and each bag had a Meditation quote attached. We ate pasta reminiscent of Liz's Italy while we discussed the book and read our meditations. Post lunch we made our way to the movies to see the translation to the big screen. Again, I think we all were pleasantly surprised as the movie was fairly true to the book--I recognized several direct quotes. Obviously this book lends itself to a fun and vibrant book club. Host a Pasta night at your house, make lasagna, go out for Italian--dream big when you host this book! And, how fun will it be to discuss the book, grab some snacks and then watch the movie on DVD?