Book Review: Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert Published by Penguin Books
Publication Date: Jan. 30, 2007
Genres: Nonfiction, World or cultural
Pages: 331
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchased
Indie Bookstores | Amazon
Goodreads
Meh. It didn't live up to the hype for me.
Synopsis from Goodreads:
“In her early thirties, Elizabeth Gilbert had everything a modern American woman was supposed to want–husband, country home, successful career–but instead of feeling happy and fulfilled, she felt consumed by panic and confusion. This wise and rapturous book is the story of how she left behind all these outward marks of success, and of what she found in their place. Following a divorce and a crushing depression, Gilbert set out to examine three different aspects of her nature, set against the backdrop of three different cultures: pleasure in Italy, devotion in India, and on the Indonesian island of Bali, a balance between worldly enjoyment and divine transcendence.”
My Thoughts
I really wanted to finish this book before the movie came out. Life got in the way and it took me a loong time to finish. It started out great as I most enjoyed the Eat part of the book but my interest started to wane by the time the end came around. In fact, I was so bored by the end, I didn’t even care to watch the movie.
If you liked Eat Pray Love and books that travel the world, then you may also like to read about:
* the Around the World in 80 Books Reading Challenge I am doing
* Here We Are & There We Go by Jill Dobbe (parents who are teachers overseas and their journey through 4 countries with their young family)
* The Geography of Bliss: One Grump’s Search for the Happiest Places in the World by Eric Weiner
Disclosure: I was not compensated for writing a positive review and opinions expressed are honest and my own. Purchases made from the “IndieBound” (that supports independent bookstores) or “Barnes & Noble” affiliate links will give me a small commission to help support my blog expenses without impacting your cost. Thanks for your support of my blog if you decide to purchase.Â
What did you think of Eat, Pray, Love? If you could take a year off to travel, where would you go? I hope to hear your thoughts and as always, happy reading!
I totally agree with your review. It didn’t live up to the hype. I felt quite conservative when I read her opinion about children, but then again, people have their own right to an opinion. I did however enjoy the world travel and was prompted to visit those places. I have done Italy and loved it. Next stop, Indonesia and India!!! Come with?
I have been to India since my parents arefrom there but havent been since i was a teenager. It was an unforgettable experience. I wish I could go back but honestly with my immune system issues I am scared to. Italy is totally on my bucket list though and if Indonesia has safe for my health, I totally would go too! Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I am glad I wasn’t the only one who was somewhat disappointed.
The previews for the movie looked so fun! I never did get around to seeing it though. I think a lot of the movies and books that are coming out receive more hype than they deserve. It’s kind of disappointing.
I saw the movie. I think there is a lot to be learned once a person gets out of the rat race. I personally have started my own business and this was my way out of the rat race!
Well said Jill. I left the rat race in June to be a SAHM and I couldn’t be happier with my decision. Congrats on the business, what kind of business do you have? I have considered it in the past but never had the guts to do it.
I’d been wanting to read this book. Well, I guess I can just scratch it off the list now. I have plenty of others I want to get too.
I agree that there are better books. I really liked The Geography of Bliss: One Grump’s Search for the Happiest Places in the World if you like nonfiction. Thanks for stopping by Alison!
I never have read it. I saw the movie and it was okay-ish, so I wasn’t motivated to read the book 🙂 Books that get a whole lot of hype usually make me leery that I will be disappointed. I like the weirdo quirky ones no one’s heard of, ha! Well, except Harry Potter of course. Love book reviews, thanks!
I agree with you. I was soooo disappointed in this book. I was like, REALLY? It was okay, but it was definitely mainly hype.
I read the book and watched the movie the same week, and I enjoyed it all. I thought the spiritual part was nicely done. But I know exactly what you mean about hype… it isn’t always a book’s best friend.
I liked this book. I would’ve given it 4 stars. It did make me a little jealous that I hadn’t taken the time to travel before I had kids.
I am one of the few people who did not read it. But pretty much every person I know who did said exactly what you said. I am thinking I made the right call in skipping it! ;)-Ashley
Well glad I am not the only one who was a bit disappointed. I wonder how her new fiction book, The Signature of All Things, is though. I enjoy historical fiction so maybe I will enjoy it more than Eat, Pray, Love.
I didn’t know your family was from India. Do you have any book recommendations that feature India? I prefer nonfiction. I’ve been searching for a good one. Only a fellow book lover would understand a question like this.
And Italy is on my bucket list too.
I have not read any non-fiction regarding India to recommend. The two fiction novels I loved are Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda and The World We Found by Thrity Umrigar. Both stories are set both in India and America, they are emotional, well-written and give you a wonderful taste of the Indian culture. I look forward to reading other books by both of these authors.
I really enjoyed love, started to lose interest with pray and just skimmed love. I agree with the three star review.
yea, with all the hype I thought it would be better than it was and it really fizzled for me at the end. I had read it because I wanted to watch the movie but then didn’t even bother with the movie since I didn’t enjoy the book. But alas, Italy is still on my bucket list of places to visit and being that my family is from India, I have already been there 🙂
This is my FAVORITE book of all time. I read it in 2007 when I was going through a really rough patch, and it really helped me put things in perspective and see the bigger picture. My friends thought it was really boring, but it was a lifesaver for me!
I think it was pivotal that way for many people. Unfortunately, since I read it so much later than everyone else, I probably set my expectations too high. Glad you enjoyed it, certainly wish I could ake time off for such a journey! I would want to go to Italy, India and Bali too! Where would you go if you could? Thanks for posting a comment! Tanya