April 2008 Host: Colleen

Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Summary

This is a journey of self discovery of a woman in her early thirties who decides to shed the accouterments of a suburban housewife (a husband, home, and future children) and then travel for a year, through Italy, India, and Indonesia. In Italy she makes friends, indulges in the gastrointestinal delights that only Italy can offer, and hones her Italian language skills. In India she lives in the ashram of her guru and spends hours each day in meditation, yoga, and prayer. In Indonesia, she spends time with a medicine man and befriends a healer who she raises funds for to buy a house. She also finds a fulfilling relationship. The author raises many good points in the book and throughout she is funny, self-deprecating, and clever.

Discussion

-All of us enjoyed the book - some more than others. It read like a friend’s journal.

-It was felt that at times, the author was a bit too self absorbed. The widespread poverty in Italy and India were never mentioned.

-It was also felt that the section in India was drawn out, there were pages and pages of her trying to meditate and the conversations she had with herself..

-The author did not seem to be fazed by anything during her travels (e.g., she arrives in Bali with no plan at all as to where she would stay). It was noted that perhaps a large part of her success was due to sheer persistence and courage.

-She does experience being one with God - and it is interesting how she describes it. She talks about understanding the universe completely, she steps through time and enters a void which was a place of limitless peace and wisdom. The void was God and she was part of it.