Title: Eat, Pray, Love
Author: Elizabeth Gilbert
Summary
From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. Gilbert (The Last American Man) grafts the structure of romantic fiction upon the inquiries of reporting in this sprawling yet methodical travelogue of soul-searching and self-discovery. Plagued with despair after a nasty divorce, the author, in her early 30s, divides a year equally among three dissimilar countries, exploring her competing urges for earthly delights and divine transcendence. First, pleasure: savoring Italy’s buffet of delights–the world’s best pizza, free-flowing wine and dashing conversation partners–Gilbert consumes la dolce vita as spiritual succor. “I came to Italy pinched and thin,” she writes, but soon fills out in waist and soul. Then, prayer and ascetic rigor: seeking communion with the divine at a sacred ashram in India, Gilbert emulates the ways of yogis in grueling hours of meditation, struggling to still her churning mind. Finally, a balancing act in Bali, where Gilbert tries for equipoise “betwixt and between” realms, studies with a merry medicine man and plunges into a charged love affair. Sustaining a chatty, conspiratorial tone, Gilbert fully engages readers in the year’s cultural and emotional tapestry–conveying rapture with infectious brio, recalling anguish with touching candor–as she details her exotic tableau with history, anecdote and impression.
Positive Elements
Gilbert is particularly gifted in writing her descriptive narratives. Her description of the gourmet, geography and people of Italy peaked my interest as a potential place to visit. This part of the book will have you craving Italian food. In addition to her narratives, Ms. Gilbert also provides with readers with lots of factual and historical information about the places she visits.
Sexual Content
There is a sex scene in the end of the book between Ms. Gilbert and her “friend.” Its not particularly graphic though.
Violent Content
None
Profanity
A few words but not enough that I found it too offensive.
Drug Content
None
Conclusion
I had heard so many good things about this book. It had been on my reading list of a few months based on the positive reccomendations of others. However, I have never been more disappointed with a book than I was with Eat, Pray, Love. I disliked this book for so many reasons. Ms. Gilbert’s attitude toward life is much like the atttitude of the world today. She comes across as self-absorbed, narcisstic and childish in her pursuit of so called “enlightenment.” It is worthwhile to note that she recieved an advance on this book before the trip. So I wonder how much of the experiences and drama in the book were created and contrived by Ms. Gilbert for a better read. There were many statements and stories that Christians will find offensive. In the beginning of the book Ms. Gilbert states “Let me explain why I use the word God, when I could easily use the words Jehovah, Allah, Shiva, Brahma, Vishnu or Zeus. Alternatively I could call God “that”. …………..God is the name that feels the most warm to me, so thats what I use (page 13). As Christians we know God is not any of those others. The God she references to in the rest of the book is not our Heavenly Father, although her so-called meditations and prayers would have you think otherwise.
In the second part of the book, Ms.Gilbert travels to India to study in an ashram under the teachings of a famous Indian guru. An ashram is a compound of like-minded people coming together to study and meditate. It is similar to a retreat. During one meditative session Gilbert describes it (p. 199) as ” being pulled through a wormhole of the Absolute , and in a rush I suddenly understood the working of the universe. I entered the void ……. The void was God , which means I was inside God.” Gilbert also quotes and Indian book that says ” People follow different paths, straight or crooked according to their temperment, depending on which one they consider best or most appropriate and all reach YOU (God).” This cherry picking of religion is advocated through out the book. We as Christians know that Jesus has said ” I am the way, the truth and the life. No one gets to the father but through me.” John 14:6. I have found that most of the world is always on the search for something beyond ourselves. People are willing to look everywhere but to God to fill that empty void. I am willing to bet the Ms. Gilbert’s new found happiness is temporary and that without knowledge of the on true God she will always have an empty void.
Jennifer Lancey said
Hello there. I was sent a link to your blog by a friend a while ago. I have been reading a long for a while now. Just wanted to say HI. Thanks for putting in all the hard work.
Jennifer Lancey
lisamm said
I haven’t quite finished the book yet, but I also had a problem with that part (p. 199).
Brooke said
I think that this review is a little extreme. One isn’t to take so literally everything written in this book. Religion is always a difficult thing to write about and I think that Elizabeth Gilbert did a pretty good job in describing to the reader what she was talking about and why her feelings and thoughts were what they were. I am Christian and, yes, I can see why some of that might be offensive…if you LET it be so. The whole point is not to be offended by it but uplifted by it. Yes, she has quite a bad attitude, can you say you’ve never had a hard time with something and perhaps handled it badly? Perhaps she is being more honest with her thought and feelings than most would be. I applaud that, especially assuming that she is being honest. I also applaud the fact that she found the balance needed at the time.
R said
Totally agree with your review
Darlene in Tennessee said
I have only recently been exposed to the book, Eat, Pray, Love. I listened to(most of) it while commuting to work.
I was extremely sad for the author as I listened to the last few chapters. The sentiments were well written and heart felt I’m sure, but very far off base. I fear as you do that her relief will be short lived. She seems to think that she is God and that her own divinity has saved her. Her own strength will not carry her far. I pray that when her strength fails, and it will, that she will find her true peace in finding Jesus Christ. Her journey to know God will truly begin.
Lorie said
Why does it matter to the reviewer that Elizabeth Gilbert was able to receive an advance on the book. I was pleased to discover that she was able to receive an advance so that she could spend a year in spiritual retreat. How wonderful that she decided to selflessly spent a portion of that time in spiritual practice and volunteer. What greater service is there then spending time on mediation, prayer and volunteer work? Not only did she spend time in service to others but also selflessly offered her story. I myself am on a path of spiritual discover and work. Jesus is my guide however I have been extremely fortunate to have studied and compared various religions and traditions. What does it matter the name that you call god? and if jesus were to come here tomorow would you recognize him? Jesus is beyond any religious/ form or name. If you expect Jesus to be exclusive to christianity or any religion than you are wrong. ( he certaintly did not adhire to organized religion last time he was here)
Many people that have spent time in deep meditative retreats are often wary to share their experiences as they can be misinterpreted. It is a deeply personal experience.
” Judge not, least you be judged”.
” the kingdom of heaven is within”
I strongly encourage you to discover your own spiritual path and also to be open to the experiences of others. TOO many wars have occurred as a result of religion. Jesus is beyond religion.
Charity said
Lorie,
I appreciate that you took the time to comment on my review. As a Christian you must believe the Bible to be 100% true or it is 100 % false. This is what my response is based on. There are several points that we can agree on:
1) Too many wars have been fought over religion. I think religion in of itself as gotten way too legalistic and led to many God-fearing Christians to fight among themselves. Jesus is above religion. He offers us His grace and mercy and forgiveness in hopes of obtaining a personal relationship with Him. Many Christian denominations have gotten tightly wrapped in their laws and proceed to become very insular.
2) There are many names for God. According to the Bible: LORD, I Am, The Alpha and Omega, Beginning and End, Creator, King, Jehovah, etc. Muslims do not believe that Jesus Christ in the incarnate Son of God (which is the basic tenet of Christianity). They believe him to be a prophet. Therefore a Christian could would not call God, Allah, and being talking about the same God. Hindus worship 3 distinct gods, which are in the form of statues. Jesus’ role in their beliefs is also that of a great prophet. Again not the same god Christians worship. Jesus as Christians know him to be is exclusive to Christianity. If I thought he was just a good teacher and prophet I couldn’t call myself a Christian
Matthew 7:12, “Judge not, or you too will be judged in the same way you judge others, you will be judged. And with the measure you use it will be measured to you.” In this verse the author is telling us believers to be careful in judging the sins of others because the judgment will be turned on to us. We should not give occasion or grounds to those who attack us. As Christians we should remove the sin of our own lives (and as every Christian knows this is a daily struggle). The Bible does in fact command us to judge with righteous judgment. (John 7:24). We are to speak out against that which God already condemns.We all judge in life. We judge character of people in friendships, who we marry, in playmates for our children.
Luke 17:20-21, ” Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come,Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say,”Here it is, or There it is.” because the kingdom of God is within you.
In the many other versions such as the NKJV the word “within” is also translated as “among”. I believe that in answering the Pharisee’s question Jesus was telling them that the kingdom of God was right in front of them. (literally meaning Jesus himself.) It isn’t something you have to search for. Jesus is as accesible to us today as he was to the people 4,000 years ago. The kingdom of God is in all of us who profess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and believe that he was crucified, rose again 3 days later and lives forever. It is that easy.
Every one has to take their own journey to finding God. Some are fortunate to grown up in Christian families, some find Him in the midst of trials and some simply seek Him to fill an empty space within themselves.
Matthew 7:13-14 says, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
I so sincerley hope that you find what you are looking for on your spiritual journey. Again thank you for your comments. They did encourage me look deeper.
Charity
followeroftheway1 said
Great review and even better response. Yet another serving of New Age theology from Mrs. Oprah.