Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia

by Elizabeth Gilbert | Biographies & Memoirs |
ISBN: 9780143038412 Global Overview for this book
Registered by indygo88 of Lafayette, Indiana USA on 12/21/2007
Buy from one of these Booksellers:
Amazon.com | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon DE | Amazon FR | Amazon IT | Bol.com
This book is in a Controlled Release! This book is in a Controlled Release!
9 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by indygo88 from Lafayette, Indiana USA on Friday, December 21, 2007
"This beautifully written, heartfelt memoir touched a nerve among both readers and reviewers. Elizabeth Gilbert tells how she made the difficult choice to leave behind all the trappings of modern American success (marriage, house in the country, career) and find, instead, what she truly wanted from life. Setting out for a year to study three different aspects of her nature amid three different cultures, Gilbert explored the art of pleasure in Italy and the art of devotion in India, and then a balance between the two on the Indonesian island of Bali. By turns rapturous and rueful, this wise and funny author (whom Booklist calls “Anne Lamott’s hip, yoga- practicing, footloose younger sister”) is poised to garner yet more adoring fans."

Received this as a gift from my birthday buddy, sunmom. Thanks, sunmom! It was an excellent choice, as my book club is reading it for next month's selection. Review to follow....

Journal Entry 2 by indygo88 from Lafayette, Indiana USA on Monday, January 7, 2008
Before reading this book, I feared that it might be a little too philosophical or too self-spiritual for my liking. But I truly loved this book. It's very easy to read & has a nice blend of humor, spirituality, wanderlust, & deep meaning. I found the middle section, in India, a little drier & more difficult to relate to, but it made a nice bridge between the Italy & Indonesia episodes. Without giving anything away (I don't think!), a few comments:

(1) As an obvious lover of books (as we all are), I'm a little distressed over the lost box of books in Italy (!) (What ever happened to them???)
(2) I really related to the quote from Liz' New York friend who commented about her desire to live in an Ashram and search for divinity: "Oh, there's a part of me that SO wishes I wanted to do that . . . but I really have no desire for it whatsoever." (LOL!)
(3) In Indonesia, Wayan's "cure" for male infertility. That's all I'll say. You'll appreciate it when you read it! :')
(4) And finally, after you've read the book, you might find this link interesting. It includes some photos from Liz' journey! Elizabeth Gilbert FAQ

Journal Entry 3 by indygo88 from Lafayette, Indiana USA on Monday, January 7, 2008
I'm offering this up as an international bookray! General courtesy guidelines apply. Please journal when you receive the book & again with your review, along with when you're shipping it back out to the next person. Try to keep the book no longer than 4-6 weeks. If you're backlogged or need to be moved further down the list, please let me know. Thanks! And enjoy! :')

Mail order:

dg7500 (Pennsylvania, US only)
emmagoldmanzine (Pennsylvania, US/CAN only)
FeralReader (California, anywhere)
AceofHearts (CANADA, anywhere else)
klaradyn (SOUTH AFRICA, anywhere)
scrutiny (HONG KONG, anywhere)
Tuttasb (NORWAY, anywhere) (no response to PM's)
Kiki66 (GERMANY, anywhere)
Isabelopes (PORTUGAL, anywhere) (wants to be skipped)
spoiledrotten (New Jersey, USA, US only) (received another copy)

Journal Entry 4 by indygo88 from Lafayette, Indiana USA on Sunday, January 27, 2008
Wrapped up & shipping off tomorrow to dg7500 to start the ray. Happy travels! :')

Journal Entry 5 by wingdg7500wing from Lancaster, Pennsylvania USA on Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Arrived safely in today's mail. I'm finishing up "Night" by Elie Wiesel at the moment, but hope to start on this by the weekend.

I started this with great anticipation, but quickly came to the conclusion that this wasn't a book for me, and gave up after reading a bit past page 100. The author seemed incredibly self-centered & whiny, and from other reviews I've read, it's just more of the same as the story continues. With so many other books on MtTBR calling to me, I opted to 'quit while I was ahead', and will be sending this out to the next in line shortly.

Journal Entry 6 by wingdg7500wing at BookRing in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Released 16 yrs ago (2/19/2008 UTC) at BookRing in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Sorry for the delay in sending this out...I meant to get it out before heading on vacation, but things got hectic, and I didn't get to the Post Office.

Mailed out this morning to emmagoldmanzine.
Sent out via media mail with delivery confirmation

Journal Entry 7 by emmagoldmanzine from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA on Saturday, March 22, 2008
Okay, i don't know what was up at my PO, but i spent some quality time there today and the book was tracked down--hooray! It's in great shape and read to be read. I've got a couple conferences over the next couple of weeks so i'm hoping i'll have a chance to read it as i travel and send it off ASAP.

Journal Entry 8 by emmagoldmanzine from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA on Monday, June 2, 2008
Okay, i've been a bad book ring participant. i realized i've had this book for two months--sorry. i finished it this weekend and hope to get it out today or tomorrow (as soon as i get an address).

as for the book. i really enjoyed it. at some points Liz drove me nuts--she was attempting to be a little TOO whitty for my taste--but all and all it was quite a hilarious and heartfelt adventure. I was a bit frustrated that she didn't truly admit how privileged she was to take a year off to travel, get money to help someone buy a house, and just do what she wanted (she just didn't seem genuine enough for me at parts). Still, it seemed like the chance of a lifetime. i would love to spend a few months eating my way through italy and seeing the world. Anyway, again sorry for the lateness.

The book is on its way to FeralReader

Journal Entry 9 by FeralReader from Davis, California USA on Sunday, June 8, 2008
Received in yesterday's post, ten days after my return from an amazing trip to India. What great timing, as I am still in deep reflection on my experiences. Can hardly wait to read this one. Thanks for sending it along to me!

Journal Entry 10 by FeralReader from Davis, California USA on Sunday, June 15, 2008
I awoke early this morning, eager to finish reading this treasure of a book. I can identify with a lot of Elizabeth's experiences and reflections, and find her writing entertaining and inspiring. Numerous times I felt provoked to pay more attention to things I already know, and I sincerely appreciate that.

Had to knock off a point for the feeling that the author was working toward a publisher's deadline and didn't take the time to correct some awkward writing, such as the tendency to jump from the present to past tense in the middle of describing a single event. Oh, those wicked deadlines....

Thank you so much, indygo88, for sharing Eat, Pray, Love with all of us!
Will PM AceofHearts today and send this book to Canada soon.

Journal Entry 11 by FeralReader from Davis, California USA on Sunday, June 15, 2008
Packing up for a northeast leg of bookray journey. Bon Voyage, little book!

Journal Entry 12 by wingAceofHeartswing from Mississauga, Ontario Canada on Thursday, July 3, 2008
received in the mail today along with a number of wishlist books Thanks!!!!

Journal Entry 13 by wingAceofHeartswing from Mississauga, Ontario Canada on Sunday, July 13, 2008
This book is about one woman's journey for one year. Liz Gilbert went to Italy (eat), India (pray) and Bali (love). She has just suffered through a bitterly contested divorce and a failed love affair. First stop, Italy. Liz locates herself in Rome and immerses herself in Italian language and food. She travels all over the country and has some of the most phenomenal meals. This was very interesting to me as I have just returned from Italy myself. I wish I could have eaten like Liz and not have had to worry about the weight gain.

Next stop, India. Liz now is at an ashram in India. This part is very spiritual and very dry. I just could not relate in any way. I am a practitioner of yoga but I can not envision myself meditating for hours on end. I could not get into this part at all

Next stop, Bali. Here Liz 'trains' with a Balinese medicine man. This part detailed some of the Balinese customs and ceremonies which are so totally different from the Western world. I enjoyed Wayan's cure of male infertility. Again I found this section interesting and even in parts very funny. It is fantastic that Liz is able to raise so much money so quickly to help her friends.

Journal Entry 14 by wingAceofHeartswing from Mississauga, Ontario Canada on Thursday, July 17, 2008
mailed today

Journal Entry 15 by klaradyn from Praha, Praha Czech Republic on Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Arrived today! Thanks for sending, AceOfHearts, and for sharing, indygo88. I'll read it and move it along again as soon as possible.

Journal Entry 16 by klaradyn from Praha, Praha Czech Republic on Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Well, I finished this book last week, and I have mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, it was well-written, and charming, funny and touching in various places.
At the same time, I couldn't shake the feeling that Gilbert was busy "om te kla met 'n witbrood onder die arm", as we say in Afrikaans. This translates as "complaining with a loaf of white bread under your arm", which means that you are complaining while actually being a fortunate person. There are people with far more tragic lives who don't have the luxury of taking a year off to "find themselves". Maybe I'd have appreciated reading about her personal journey more if I had been interested in spirituality. (I must admit that I thought this was going to be more of a travel book.)
However, I am interested in reading Gilbert's other books and comparing it to this one.

Journal Entry 17 by klaradyn at Cape Town, Western Cape South Africa on Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Released 15 yrs ago (12/3/2008 UTC) at Cape Town, Western Cape South Africa

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

On the way to scrutiny in Hong Kong today.

My book #81 for guinaveve's Keep Them Moving challenge.

Journal Entry 18 by scrutiny on Friday, January 9, 2009
Arrived in the mail today! Will get started right away.

Journal Entry 19 by scrutiny on Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Hum... I got about a third of the way in and I still wasn't drawn in by it. I didn't identify with her plight at all, and I thought she was just waffling a bit. So I'm giving up on reading the rest of the book and I will pass it on once I get the address.

Journal Entry 20 by scrutiny on Wednesday, February 4, 2009
I have PM'ed Tuttasb twice and no reply. It could be that my PMs are not working. Shall I try Kiki66, or can someone else PM Tuttasb for me? Please advise. Thanks!

Journal Entry 21 by scrutiny on Monday, February 16, 2009
On the way to Kiki66 from today!

Journal Entry 22 by wingkiki66wing from Gauting, Bayern Germany on Monday, February 23, 2009
This arrived safe and sound ...
all the way from Hong Kong! I am impressed :-))

Thanks.. will read it asap...

Journal Entry 23 by wingkiki66wing from Gauting, Bayern Germany on Sunday, April 19, 2009
Sorry, I haven't realized that this book is already here for quite a while :-(

I gave it some tries but never really got into it so I have decided to send it on.. it has been here too long and
there are too many books on my MTBR ...

I've asked Isabelopes to send me her address...
Edit: Isabel wants to be skipped so I've asked spoiledrotten...
Edit 2: the book has been on its way for a while (April 30th) .. I just wonder where it is?? hopefully not lost :-&

Journal Entry 24 by spoiledrotten from Waldwick, New Jersey USA on Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Received in the mail today. Have already read this book, guess pm was received after the book was sent asking to skip me. Will do whatever indygo88 wants done with the book. Thanks anyway for sending and including me.

06/04/09 This book is now being made available.

Journal Entry 25 by spoiledrotten at East Rutherford, New Jersey USA on Monday, September 27, 2010

Released 13 yrs ago (9/27/2010 UTC) at East Rutherford, New Jersey USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Gave to my cousin to read.

Are you sure you want to delete this item? It cannot be undone.