So, I was browsing through the library a few weeks ago and there was a display for Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat Pray Love, which was #1 on the New York Times Bestseller List. I figured, eh, why not, and picked it up.
This book is basically a chronicle of one year of the author's life, in which she sets out on a quest to regain her sense of happiness and fulfillment following a period of depression and a difficult divorce. Gilbert traveled to Italy, India and Indonesia on a "search for the self."
First off, I found Gilbert's writing style to be wonderfully inspiring. Her writing displayed vibrant personality and originality, and I found it to be at once lightly humorous and full of depth. My favorite part of this book was how Gilbert managed to portray the distinctive flavor of each of the cultures into which she traveled. The section on Italy--the origin "Eat" portion of the book's title--literally made me crave gelatto and authentic pizza. The section on India--"Pray"--had a very meditative atmosphere to it, and hence left me to quietly consider my own spirituality and faith. The final section, taking place in Indonesia--"Love"--contained many interesting messages on balance and the definition of personal fulfillment.
My only real complaint after reading this book was that it was a little awkward in places. Gilbert quite openly describes a very difficult period in her personal life, almost to the point where the reader feels slightly uncomfortable that the author has placed herself in such a vulnerable position. Or that's what I felt, at least.
I can see why this book topped the bestseller list. It is a smooth, comfortable read separated into short, manageable sections so that the book can easily be picked up in the reader's moments of free time. Gilbert digs deeply into common emotional issues--love, contentment, peace, fulfillment--and brings out very interesting points about human wants and needs. In the end, Gilbert leaves the reader with a very nice sense of simplicity, and the thought that maybe many of life's problems can be solved with three words: "Eat," "Pray," "Love."
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