Book Review - Eat Pray Love

I'm using a book My Reviews: Books as the template on which to write my review. The book is just the blank reviews that I fill in. It's pretty cool. There is a website, www.myveryspecialreviews.com, but it doesn't work.

Date: June 9, 2007
Author: Elizabeth Gilbert
Title: Eat Pray Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India, and Indonesia
Rate: 7/10

How I got a hold of this book: I bought it at Politics and Prose for the upcoming book club next Monday to be held at P&P.

Where I read this book: On my couch, on the metro, at my dining room table.

This book made me feel: Validated. I didn't have a life of the author, but the inner thoughts she wrote down made sense to me.

Why I like it: The author is funny.

Why I don't like it: I can handle people on spiritual journeys, but part of me just couldn't follow her on hers. That is where I wasn't a validated person, but a reader of a memoir.

The plot in five words (phrases): lost love/gained pleasure/finding support/travelling/exploring in many ways including spiritual and carnal.

This book made me think of: Because it started out with a successful professional in NY it made me think of all the incredibly intelligent people in high school who had it made. Maybe they had emotions, too. Maybe they had senses of humor I could understand. I just received news of my 20th anniversary so these people are on my brain.

Memorable Character: Many! The author, Richard from Texas

Memorable Quote: Man, they got mosquitos 'round this place big enough to rape a chicken - Richard from Texas

Person I met while reading this book: People at kickball including Jen, Hillary, Rob

Something memorable that happened in my life during the time it took to read the book: I pulled a muscle playing kickball.

If I could recommend this book to one person it would be to: The one person who consistently attended the book clubs I organized at work.

How this book changed my life: Memoirs can be funny without being gross.

Will I read it again: Not likely

Notes: The memorable character topic noted above really brought up that all the characters were developed, multi-dimensional and interesting. She also excels at humor. I would read another book of hers. In Bali for some reason it was streteched longer than the other countries of Italy and India probably because so many things happened in Bali. The writing wasn't as topic focused as in Italy (food+language) or India (prayer). I would recommend it.