This beautifully written, heartfelt memoir touched a nerve among both readers and reviewers. Elizabeth Gilbert tells how she made the difficult choice to leave behind all the trappings of modern American success (marriage, house in the country, career) and find, instead, what she truly wanted from life. Setting out for a year to study three different aspects of her nature amid three different cultures, Gilbert explored the art of pleasure in Italy and the art of devotion in India, and then a ... (show more)
This beautifully written, heartfelt memoir touched a nerve among both readers and reviewers. Elizabeth Gilbert tells how she made the difficult choice to leave behind all the trappings of modern American success (marriage, house in the country, career) and find, instead, what she truly wanted from life. Setting out for a year to study three different aspects of her nature amid three different cultures, Gilbert explored the art of pleasure in Italy and the art of devotion in India, and then a balance between the two on the Indonesian island of Bali. By turns rapturous and rueful, this wise and funny author (whom Booklist calls Anne Lamotts hip, yoga- practicing, footloose younger sister) is poised to garner yet more adoring fans. (show less)
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My stepmother gave me this book to read. I took it with a bit of hesitation -- she can get very new-agey at times, too much for my atheist blood --... (show more)
My stepmother gave me this book to read. I took it with a bit of hesitation -- she can get very new-agey at times, too much for my atheist blood -- but I gave her the benefit of the doubt and dove in. It's amazing. I've found myself (very uncharacteristically) reaching for a pencil to underline a particularly inspiring phrase, paragraph, whatever. (The "spiritual" part of the book I feared most -- too much "God", I worried -- but Gilbert makes sure she clarifies in the beginning that she uses "God" for lack of a better term. I have replaced it, in my own mind, as searching for "peace", and am taking so much away from it.) I've thought so much about my upcoming hike (I've decided to hike the entire Appalachain Trail (2174 mi or 3498 km) in 2010) and just KNOW that I need to have this with me. (show less)
Its definately a well written book. When I overlook the wishy wahshy and I hate to say it "mambo jabo", there is a lot to take away form this book.... (show more)
Its definately a well written book. When I overlook the wishy wahshy and I hate to say it "mambo jabo", there is a lot to take away form this book. Its my first book club read, so I'm kind of sentimental about it. the high poins for me were all the food in Italy. I one took a class in Italian, for like two weeks and now I wish I never stoped. I also love learing about the culuers and customs of the people of Bali. Some of it is really beautiful. It made me feel a bit bad about wishing that we had some of the rituals they did, but I never do any of the rituals handed down to me by those who came before me. In the book Elizabeth speaks of cherri piking religion. I think I cherri pic cultueral practices. Hey why not. I also like the concept of every plce and person having a worrd that encautulates its essents or the essents of the being. Like the word for Rome is sex and the word for NYC is success. What is my word? I'm working on it, but somthing like advnture or earth or childlike wait that's two words. Well still working on it.
But please Julia Roberts playing Elizabeth in the movie? How? When? Why? And how on earth they will make a story that mostly happens in someones mind a film baffels me. (show less)
While the premise is lovely, and parts genuinely touching, am I the only one that found this overly self-indulgent, whiney and rushed?
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Honestly, this book isn't what it's cracked up to be. An interesting read, but the author is a little too whiney and self-indulgent. I am having trouble getting through it and am tired of hearing of her self induced problems.
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It was okay for me, not nothing to brag about. It did make me laugh a few times, but it was long winded and I took a break from it, and did not feel like getting back. The movie will be better, with visual images of such different countries and experiences. I m curious how the scrip will be adapted ;-)
Eva Munoz 20 days agoThe book was OK. I kept putting it down and going back to it. It took me 2 years to finish it.
Facebook-gebruiker 21 days agoI just finished the 2nd part on India, and LOVED what she had to say regarding spirituality and prayer/meditation.
LOVE chapter 58, pages 176 and 177
"Prayer is a relationship; half the job is mine. Destiny is also a relationship - a play between divine grace and wilfull self-effort."
WELL SAID.
Not much I can say apart from how much it is related to my own spiritual experiences. It doesn't get any better than this :-)
Facebook User about 1 month agoI can't believe we are talking about the same book! I didn't have enough breaks at work or time at night at home before i had to sleep to finish this book! I thought the indulgence and "whiny" tendencies was reflective of today's generation. But then she set "it" aside and GOT IT. Full circle..
Amanda Lofthus about 1 month agoThis book has been added to these lists:
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