Bought from the local charity shop, I have already seen the film.

I saw the film a couple of months ago, and picked this up at a charity shop later.

After a horrendous break-up, Liz sets off for the trip of a lifetime, a trip to mend her broken heart as well as to find a peaceful centre.

Her first stop is the dream of foodies everywhere - Italy. Liz spends time eating, learning Italian, eating ice cream, learning about local culture from new friends, eating pizza, drinking wine and eating pasta. In Italy, a country synonymous with passion, Liz tries to reawaken hers, not just for food, but for life itself. She moves on to India, to an ashram, where she has to disengage and meditate. Her final stop was Bali, where she finally stops her pity party and tries to help a young single mum. Life is not that simple though, as Liz comes up against legal issues and falls in love.

Gilbert chose three very different places to visit, which make the story interesting. For me, the first and third parts were a lot more engaging than the middle part at the ashram in India. This could be because it was that part that was the most inward-looking, and maybe as I have never really seen the appeal of that kind of experience. As the part dragged on, the text just screamed "me, me, me!".

Gilbert shares her feelings, in an honest way which does not always show her in the best light, which makes her book more accessible. Although, I agree with other reviews that I have read that talk of a UK/US divide, as a Brit, I did find parts of the book rather self-absorbed, but overall I'm glad I read it.

On the bookshelves.