I know what you’re thinking. Enough Eat, Pray, Love already.
Everywhere I go – subway, airport, bakery – someone is reading it. By someone I mean the 90% of the American female population.
Tomorrow, the movie comes out. And more women will be eating, praying and loving again.
But, in my opinion, popular does not equal trite. This book has had the power to change many lives, including my friends and my own. In fact, I actually know a man that read it. And loved it. (Though, admittedly, he did not read it in public for fear of being mocked by others).
Let’s take a look at the universality of this piece. Elizabeth Gilbert, at 31, realizes the American dream (husband, suburbs, children) is not what she wants. A faint internal voice murmurs this reality until it gets so loud that the voice is screaming – and she ends up on the bathroom floor wailing one evening, knowing that change is mandatory. Subsequent chapters describe her journey through Italy, India and Indonesia in an effort to challenge herself to find some inner truth.
Now, let’s back up to the bathroom floor part. I can guarantee with 100% certainty that 95% of the women I know have found themselves on the bathroom floor in a similar fetal position, bemoaning some aspect of their lives that is no longer tolerable. The other 5% are in denial.
This fact is what makes the book so inspiring and yes, popular.
But some people didn’t like it.
Some question it and cite comparative views to other inspirational books and women. I get it. Is finding your answer and purpose all about traveling the world? But what if we don’t have the money, resources or time to do so?
I think there are ways. In my view, the book’s popularity has only had positive repercussions. Women practicing yoga is at an all-time high. Gilbert’s book signings and readings are often sold out. I even wrote to her to let her know how the book changed my life and she wrote back personally, mentioning that the hundreds of letters she’s received have given her great comfort by sharing her truth.
And she d
oesn’t claim to be the Sage For All Women. I saw her speak in Chicago last year and she admitted that since the book, she’s had many low times too. She’s what I might call a Regular Person.
And a Regular Person has the power to choose his or her own adventure and create their own reality in whatever way they are able. I’ve found that it just takes a dash of willingness to plant, tend to and grow your own juicy life, with or without an official passport.
I hesitate to write more about the plot, evolution of character or outcomes because it takes everyone’s personal filter to understand how it will impact you.
But take a look and decide for yourself. If you’ve read it – or even if you haven’t – I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Did you like it? Why? Did you hate it? Tell all.
I’m proud to say, though, that Gilbert has been the inspiration for me to get off the couch, dust myself off and get writing again.
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I know we’ve been hearing a lot about Eat Pray Love lately, but this was a great review! Thank you !
Thanks Dani, really appreciate it!
I LOVED it. It changed my life. There are only a couple of people that draw this kind of idolisation from me but I just think she is fantastic. I read something she wrote about the hate mail she gets from people who object to her inner focus, calling it self-absorbed, self-centred or whiny. But, for me, this book was about the importance of making time for soul. Elizabeth Gilbert just showed us her way of doing this. It wasn’t a how-to guide. Our way will be different because we are different. Maybe it’s just five minutes a day. But we can all give our soul five minutes a day, right?? Purleaaaase say yes!
Hi Nicola! I can’t believe that people actually take the time to send her hate mail (I almost fell off my chair reading it). I completely agree that it is about making time for the soul … and how that materializes will be different for each one of us. You’re right – 5 minutes a day is all we need. Thanks for your comment … let me know if you end up going to see the movie!
I think you’re brave to post this when culturally, the “cool” thing to do at this point is slam the movie/book/author. And I think your defense is fair.
I don’t think the book is really that tremendous as a piece of writing, and it bothers me that the journey she goes on was funded by her publisher… I’d rather hear about the spiritual journeys of people whose journeys weren’t bankrolled; it makes them more relatable and universal, I think. Obviously, that’s partially jealousy talking, but I also think it’s a fair critique.
Anyway, you’re right to point out all of the book’s positive effects (like more people trying yoga), and I agree that Gilbert seems like a cool, down to earth person who has never claimed to be anything but flawed, just like the rest of us.
Anyway – great post! And thanks for the link :) Do we get to meet one of these days?!
Hey Amanda – totally agree on many of your points. I think the “bank rolling” of her journey tends to take away from the story in that it’s hard for many folks to relate – or even begin to think of how they can replicate it. I read this way before it became popular – but see how now, with how it’s been marketed, that the intent of the book can often be viewed differently than how I related to it at the time. I would LOVE to get together! Will shoot you a note – and thanks for writing such an insightful post on your blog too! :)