American Saturday Review: Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
In what could be construed as a coming-of-age story for thirtysomethings, Gilbert leaves behind an excruciating divorce, tumultuous affair, and debilitating depression as she sets off on a yearlong quest to bridge the gulf between body, mind, and spirit. Part self-deprecating tour guide, part wry, witty chronicler, Gilbert relates this chapter of her life with a compelling, richly detailed narrative that eschews the easy answers of New Age rhetoric. In the book’s early pages, a flashback finds the smart, savvy, successful Gilbert on her knees on the bathroom floor of the Westchester house she inhabits with her husband, wailing and wallowing in sorrow, snot, and tears (“a veritable Lake Inferior”), awkwardly embarking on her first conversation with God.
It’s a memoir weekend for “American Saturdays” and believe me, it won’t be happening again for some time. I’ve definitely gotten my fill over the last few weeks. Eat Pray Love is actually a book I have now attempted at least a couple of times to complete. I did accomplish my goal this time, thankfully. My primary reason for trying this time was the upcoming movie release here in the United States on 13 August 2010. I’m still not sure I will see the movie, but I’m glad I was able to read through the book.
Elizabeth Gilbert’s journey is mapped by her travels to three completely different countries: Italy, India, and Indonesia. She initially starts by drastically, and without little explanation, leaving her husband and starting an affair with another man. Quickly, after her divorce is settled and she has started to slip away from her newest relationship she makes the decision to escape her troubles by eating, praying and loving in these foreign lands. Her discovery and path is explored all while finding her sense of self is undeniably tied to her relationship to her version of God.
From the beginning of Eat Pray Love I had a difficult time getting through it, as I said, this is my second attempt. One of the first acts of the book happens to be her announcement of her desire to divorce her husband at the time. Without any explanation at all, other than the fact that she doesn’t want children and she doesn’t see herself as a mother. This was difficult for me to swallow, there are many people today who marry and never have children, but yet are happy with their lives. If I could have changed anything about the book it would be to know even a glimpse of why she left her husband, because as it stands, all I could think of was that she was a completely selfish person and it continued through the entire book.
The negative selfish point aside, there was still much to be gleaned from Eat Pray Love. Her desire to find purpose in life and truly know her path is enviable. If only we all had the time to focus as much as she did. On her path, while in India, she meets a strong Texan who quickly nicknames her “Groceries” because she can eat more than anyone he’s seen in some time. The Texan is by far my favorite person she meets. His advice about opening your mind and letting go of all the questions you have, is one of the best bits of conversation I’ve read in a book in quite a long time. As she finally takes the words in and allows herself to change she starts to feel more comfortable with herself and the world.
Eat Pray Love isn’t a book I’d recommend to everyone I know. It’s difficult to get past the selfishness and gluttony she gorges herself on throughout the book. There are many occasions I caught myself rolling my eyes at her lack of ability to appreciate her incredible circumstances and embrace her opportunities. But there are still incredible moments for those seeking a bit of enlightenment and can overlook her desperately human qualities.
I’m still at a loss for exactly why Gilbert’s story has become so popular in the US, but for those not interested in reading the book there is always the movie. Take a look at the trailer, is this a story you think you’d rather watch on the big screen than read in the pages of a book?
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July 31st, 2010 at 5:40 pm
I’m looking forward to this film it should be good. i wasnt sure at first wen i saw the trailer but then i saw it again and thought yeah that sounds good.
July 31st, 2010 at 6:08 pm
I had to smile after reading your review of Eat, Pray, Love. A friend of mine and I did the same eye-rolling as you while reading this book. We kept asking how can she be so unhappy when she’s traveling all over the world for free! Yes, free because she received an advance to write this book. So all the “woe is me” was way over the top and after finding out that she had been paid to write a book about her journey it all seemed a bit too contrived to me.
Great review!
Cynthia
July 31st, 2010 at 8:29 pm
The real problem with only seeing the movie is that it glosses over the tragedy of life. The trailer asks “Have you lost touch…with who you are?…Then risk everything…and let yourself go. Based on the incredible true story.” Eat. Pray. Love. It makes her journey seem so fulfilling, free and happy. Wait a minute! What is happy about an affair, a divorce and self fulfillment. We have become so enamored with ourselves that any casualty of another party is well, presumed to be okay, because one was in pursuit of happiness. Please.
By reading the book you get more of the story, albeit her side of the story. And then, quite possibly arrive at the impression you’ve written about above. Self exploration is a good thing, however when it is at the expense of another, it can never truly be appreciated to its full extent. There are costs for everything and when another bears those costs for you, is it worth it?
August 1st, 2010 at 3:00 am
It’s so interesting to me to read impressions like yours - I read the book and completely loved it, didn’t see anything wrong with it, but then my sister read it and, like you, felt Liz was incredibly selfish. Robyn’s comment above is really interesting too, talking about others bearing the cost for your happiness. So now I am looking at this book in a slightly different way and yes, I can see that she was selfish. But I am willing to give Liz the benefit of the doubt regarding her reasons for leaving her husband; I think there is probably so much more to the story of why she was so unhappy in her marriage, she just chose not to dwell on it in writing this book. I have had friends go through divorce and I have, to be honest, been quite judgemental in my impression of the whole thing (ie I didn’t think they had tried hard enough to salvage their relationships) but then, how can I truly know the whole story unless they tell me? We can’t know the whole story about Liz’s marriage. I think she says in the beginning of the book that she left large parts out in respect of her ex’s privacy.
Anyway, I am really looking forward to seeing the film (love that they’ve cast Richard Jenkins as the Texan). And I’ve read the book about three times, and I read Chapter 50 whenever I need a spiritual kick up the backside.
August 1st, 2010 at 11:56 am
You know, I think Liz would agree with you. Her selfishness was part of the reason her marriage ended (as for her childlessness — I also know a lot of happy people without kids, but it’s a big deal when one person desperately wants kids and the other desperately doesn’t). I’m reading Committed right now, her next memoir, and if you ever get in a memoir mood again, I recommend it. She seems to have grown up a lot between the books, and her research into the history and cultural views of marriage is fascinating.
As for her desperately human qualities, I think that actually is part of the appeal. True, she’s not always likable, but her honesty is fascinating. I know that I would never be able to write so openly about myself. I’d gloss it over and make myself look like an angel.
August 2nd, 2010 at 12:20 pm
I couldn’t get through this book either. I tried to read it when I was going through a divorce. My husband had left me over similar circumstances. I was trying to figure out how to survive financially after this and she had the money for a year of world travel and was whining. LOL. It made me crazy! I keep thinking I should read it again when I’m not so close to the subject but I just can’t bring myself to do it.
My new fiance read the book before we met and he thought she was really self-absorbed and whiny too.
August 2nd, 2010 at 12:23 pm
I found the book nauseating. I have no idea why it was so popular. I found the “India” section particularly awful. I struggled to get to the end and then I threw the book away.
August 13th, 2010 at 9:23 pm
If you don’t already have a copy of the book you can buy it through this link WHILE also having a percent of your sale go to VH1 Save The Music Foundation:
http://shop.vh1savethemusic.com/eat-pray-love-shop
You can also get your EAT, PRAY, LOVE movie tix here too…
Enjoy!
September 22nd, 2010 at 6:47 pm
I feel like many of us have selfish moments like Liz’s. It’s weird that she keeps wondering if she deserves the vacation, but never really answers the question. I’m only halfway through the ‘India’ bit, but i feel like she sees only one side of Hindusim. It’s not just about praying and chanting and feeling good about yourself, you know. It’s all about doing good, living a life of ‘dharma’.Only by doing good can one feel good. So far she hasn’t done one selfless deed in the book.
I have no idea why the book is so popular. I think it’s just because Julia Roberts stars in the movie. Some bits of the book are half-decent and I find her radical honesty both shocking and heroic in equal measure. It’s an okay book to read once when in a chick-lit mood, i guess.
June 27th, 2011 at 5:15 am
I think this book and whether you “get it” or not depends on your life experiences. From the second I started reading it, I felt like someone was explaining things I had thought and felt, but never could put words to. This book moves me and speaks to me in a way that is so personal it seems as if it was written for me. I have not gotten a divorce, I have children, I have not traveled the world, but I HAVE felt the feelings, the turmoil, the confusion, the self-doubt, etc that is expressed in Liz’s words. I have read and listened to this book 5 times; it is highlighted on almost every page. If you dont get it, that is fine - I completely understand that it is not for everyone. But please understand that it is not a hit because of Julia Roberts - it has nothing to do with her. There are simply many, many women out there who have these same thoughts and feelings and they were finally given a voice…and an encouragement that spoke directly to the deepest part of us.
July 14th, 2011 at 6:00 am
While I understand the criticisms, Gilbert has the gift of telling stories, and I’d definitely recommend EPL, and especially the follow up “Committed” to almost anyone despite any failures it may have.