Saturday, October 31, 2009

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Genre: Adult Fiction

Author Website: www.elizabethgilbert.com

One Word Review: A Waste (I know that is two words)

First Line: “I wish Giovanni would kiss me.”

Synopsis: At the age of thirty-one, Gilbert moved with her husband to the suburbs of New York and began trying to get pregnant, only to realize that she wanted neither a child nor a husband. Three years later, after a protracted divorce, she embarked on a yearlong trip of recovery, with three main stops: Rome, for pleasure (mostly gustatory, with a special emphasis on gelato); an ashram outside of Mumbai, for spiritual searching; and Bali, for “balancing.” These destinations are all on the beaten track, but Gilbert’s exuberance and her self-deprecating humor enliven the proceedings: recalling the first time she attempted to speak directly to God, she says, “It was all I could do to stop myself from saying, ‘I’ve always been a big fan of your work.’

Jess’s Review: I did something I rarely do, but I put this book down about 55 pages in and all I can say is hallelujah. I’ve been seeing this book everywhere so I thought I'd give it a try. Only in American can a self-centered and pathetic woman make the New York Times Bestsellers List by re-telling her so-called life story about being so darned depressed because she lives in a big house in the suburbs with a husband that for some inexplicable reason she just doesn’t love anymore. Picture that sentence written in whinny 4 year old’s voice and you’ll understand the way this book comes across while reading it. I have a solution for Miss Gilbert. Pull yourself off the bathroom floor or whatever other surface you are “sobbing” on and get a life, stop thinking (and writing) about yourself and try helping or serving someone else. Once you’ve done that, write a book that matters and stop inflicting your personal pity party on the American public. I’ve always known the following to be true and this book just drove it home for me: Ingratitude is one of the grossest sins and will leave you helpless and sad. Funny, but also how reading this book will leave you. In all fairness I did only make it 55 pages so if I missed some “a ha” moment that made this book worth the paper it is written on please feel free to call me on the carpet.

6 comments:

  1. Jess, I couldn't tell from your review if you liked the book or not? JK I heard they are making a movie about this, starring Julia Roberts. I've seen the book around as well but never got around to reading it. I think I'll skip it. =)

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  2. Is this fiction? I thought it was supposed to be a memoir.

    I haven't read it, but I know people who did and enjoyed it. It doesn't sound that interesting to me. Maybe I'll wait for the movie.

    Thanks for the review!

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  3. This one's on the list for me, but I think people enjoy stories like that in order to feel better about themselves, like, oh my life is way better than that...makes them appreciate, supposedly what they've got. I don't know, though...I'll find out when I read it! Sorry it didn't work for you, but I've heard that if you get to fifty pages and it doesn't work for you to give up since life's too short and there are more worthy books out there!

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  4. Amen. I haven't read it, but I agree with you.

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  5. Oh man, I couldn't agree more. Someone lent me this book so I finished it just so I wouldn't hurt her feelings, but DANG, I hated it.

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