Hey! Nice to meet you! My name is Merrill but please, call me Mez. I am going to be your official We Heart Life Reviewer. You can read my reviews every Saturday, right here.
Is there something you think I should review? Let me know and I’ll give it a go! You can find me over at my blog It’s Days Like These… I hope you enjoy my reviews!
It was with great trepidation that I originally bought Eat Pray Love. I had always been put off by the hype. I had no interest in yoga, or backpacking around the world (or so I thought!) I ended up buying it after seeing the trailer for the movie, which features Julia Roberts. I love Julia so I thought well; maybe it won’t be so bad. And besides here I was at a bit of a crossroads in my life so maybe I’ll find something useful in it. As it turns out my initial reaction couldn’t have been further from how I felt upon finishing Eat Pray Love.
This is not just an indulgent romp through someone’s life nor is it just a tale of backpacking and yoga. This book is a journey of growth, love and pain. I immediately fell in love with Eat Pray Love. Gilbert’s writing is straightforward, funny and honest. At times I found myself laughing out loud at this honesty, identifying with her. She writes with incredible imagery, painting a picture not only of the scenery but of the journey itself. At one point as we learn more of her cloistering marriage, you can almost taste the sense of freedom she had upon leaving, so tangible it is in her writing.
The book is split into three sections. In Italy we Eat, in India we Pray and in Indonesia we Love. Yet in all honesty, Gilbert does all three throughout the book. She talks of pleasure in Italy, of how she has denied herself all manners of pleasures for so long. And let’s face it, who hasn’t? She eats carbs, buys masses of lingerie and reads all day. All these things that people deny themselves, for fear of what exactly? I don’t have an answer for that!
In India we are transported to an Ashram where she hopes to discover God and Mindfulness through meditation. Sceptic or not, my friends, after reading this section of the book I, (crazy, hyperactive, loud me) began to take some time out every day just to sit and breathe. Gilbert’s inherent struggle to quiet her mind reverberated strongly with me. I, like, Gilbert, want to be able to meditate for hours, with a complete sense of mindfulness. Fact is, it’s very hard to stop those random thoughts floating on through. Gilbert’s description of her mind struggle is hilarious and had me nodding in agreement. Let me give you an example of the Mez mind struggle, so similar to hers:
Me: Okay time to be still. Mind: Ok, still. Me: Think happy thoughts, blue sky. Mind: How about pink sky? Me: Sounds good. Shush. Mind: Pink sky, pink sky, PINK NISSAN MICRA! ON SALE! Me: No, no, no…Sale? Mind: Yep, plus you could put all your stickers on there. You need more stickers actually. Me: More? True, NO! Pink Nissan Micra, I mean sky! Ugh. Mind: Pink sky, Edward Cullen. Me:Hmm, pink Edward Cullen! Mind:I bet Edward would want you to buy the Micra. Me: Sigh.
See? Hopeless. But does Gilbert break the barrier? You’ll have to read the book to find out.
Tell you one thing, I’m still trying!
And finally, in Indonesia we see Gilbert reunite with the world. This is not Gilbert’s first trip to Bali; she purposely chose this as her last stop in order to reunite with a medicine man who had assured her on a previous visit that she would return to him. As she settles into life in a Balinese village, we watch her connect with, and learn from those around her. In many ways I think Gilbert’s faith not only in herself but in humankind is restored in Bali when she discovers the great generosity of those around her. What she ends up ‘taking’ from Bali might surprise you, it did me!
My only tiny issue with Eat Pray Love is that we don’t hear more of the before or after of Gilbert’s journey. I imagine she would answer that with the book is the journey, not the before or after. Yet, I would have liked more on Gilbert’s family, her ex husband and her previous knowledge of, and experiences with, Yoga and Spiritualism in general.
Elizabeth Gilbert isn’t some celebrity glamazon who jetsetted around, staying in 5 star hotels and pretending to experience the ‘Simple Life’. She opened her mind and soul to the world and was truly able to experience living beyond the daily grind. Something so many of us (including myself) lament over not doing or having done. Eat Pray Love reminds us that taking this kind of journey really is within our reach. It opened my mind and heart to a gentler, more thorough way of living and loving.
Read this book, you will not regret it!
PS: If you can, buy the book over borrowing. It’s something you’ll want to read again and refer back to! Trust me!
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Hello,
I want to see the movie for a while now and had no interest in reading the book. But (there is always a but in a good story) Mez’s review is wonderful that i have decided to read the book first.
Great review Mez…Well done…looking forward to reading you more in the future.
Flo