I recently finished reading Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. The book was recommended to me by several people, but the title sounded a little too “self-help” for me, so I put it off for a long time. But I was recently on a plane for a few hours with nothing else to read, so I thought I’d give it a shot.
Doing so reminded me not to judge a book by its cover. This quickly became my new favorite book. The author is witty, clever, and very down to earth. The book is kind of self-help, but manages to fill that bill without being preachy. The author is so descriptive that you feel like you’re sitting right next to her as she goes on a journey through Italy, India, and Indonesia.
I have a tendency to get emotionally attached and involved with books (hence my love of reading) and this book was no different. I got angry alongside the author, sad in tandem the author, and more tranquil and peaceful than I’ve ever felt with the author.
While I can’t quite say the book changed my life (cliche-alert), it definitely made me pause to think about a lot of things. There are interesting spiritual theories discussed, which forced me to consider my own beliefs. More importantly, I felt that I was able to learn from the life-lessons the author learned. The peace-with-self that she obtained by the end of the book made me ridiculously jealous. If you’ve read much of my blog, you know I’m a somewhat conflicted person, and the author’s self-realization was inspirational. Granted, the lessons I learned while reading the book only stuck with me for a little while… kind of like that peacefulness you feel when you return from a relaxing vacation, only to come back to an overflowing inbox, a stack of overdue paperwork, and a big fat reality slap in the face. BUT, it was nice to feel that “vacation” feeling while I was still working, and for that alone this book is worth it.
If you need a little peace in your life (and, seriously, who doesn’t?), give this book a shot. If imagining alongside the author helps relax you as much as it did me, it will be well worth the read.
Come to think of it, I’m feeling a little overdue for another mental vacation… better go start reading it again.