Eat, Pray, Love: A Review

This book is about one woman's search for sanity and enlightenment. Elizabeth Gilbert author of The Last American Man goes through several life altering events; divorce, depression, and the ultimate loss of everything she believed important. In an effort to regain her sense of self and her happiness she embarks on a very personal and rewarding journey. She quits her job, sells her possessions and decides to travel through Italy, India and Indonesia in her search for everything. I enjoyed most every minute of this joyful book.

Gilbert begins with Italy (Eat) where she quickly learns that her vow of celibacy has no place in Italy and seems to be in direct opposition to her goal of studying the art of pleasure while there. She gains 23 pounds and spends a lot of time in self-reflection, concentrating mainly on her exes. She also practices speaking Italian with the handsome and much younger Giovanni. In an excerpt from this chapter she talks about her double major in speaking and in eating, mostly gelato:

"The amount of pleasure this eating and speaking brought to me was inestimable, and yet so simple. I passed a few hours once in the middle of October that might look like nothing much to the outside observer, but which I will always count amongst the happiest of my life. I found a market...almost algae-green leaves of spinach, tomatoes so red and bloody they looked like cow's organs, and champagne-colored grapes with skins as tight as a showgirl's leotard." pg 63

Next Gilbert travels to India (Pray) in search of devotion. This is a big change in lifestyle after Italy. Here she meets Richard from Texas who likes to call her "Groceries" and spends a lot of time in meditation and spiritual work. She also receives a set of "instructions for freedom" from a plumber/poet at the Ashram. He sends her to a beautiful mountaintop to read the instructions as the sun is going down. My favorite instruction is "You have just climbed up and above the roof. There is nothing between you and the Infinite. Now, let go."

Finally, Gilbert travels to Indonesia (Love). In Bali, she searches to strike a balance between the world of earthly pleasures she enjoyed in Italy and the divine transformation she enjoyed in India. Here she helps a family make their dreams come true and gives up her vow of celibacy. Eat, Pray, Love is a wonderful memoir of self-discovery.