Customer Reviews
An Inspiring Story - By: NYC Reader, 03 May 2008 
I reallly enjoyed this book & was surprised to see so many uncomplimentary reviews that have been posted. I admire Elizabeth's courage & honesty to tell the world her personal experiences. Throughout the book she lets the reader into her private world.
In each of the 3 sections of the book I felt included in Elizabeth's life.
While Elizabeth was in Italy, I felt her passion for food & empathy for her while she weaned herself off anti depressants (that certainly takes courage in my book). While in India, Elizabeth tells us about how she learned to find balance. One chapter that stood out for me was when Elizabeth speaks of how when the harder she tried to quiet the voices in her head, the louder they got, & when she finallly stopped trying the voices quieted on their own. In Bali, Elizabeth found balance & love. I truly enjoyed this book.
Another book, by renowned authors Ariel & Shya Kane "Being Here Modern Day Tales of Enlightenment" also a book I reallly enjoyed & highly recommend. The book consists of short stories about transformation.
Flawed, but still a good read - By: Julia Flyte, 03 May 2008 
Before reading "Eat Pray Love", I noticed that many of the reviews on Amazon were highly polarised. While overalll I very much enjoyed this book, I can also understand those who didn't. In many ways the book feels like a self-indulgent first draft that needs the hand of a good editor to tighten it up. While Elizabeth Gilbert has an intimate style of writing & a witty turn of phrase, it did feel like EVERY funny story & EVERY clever thought had to be crammed in. Sentences like: "every word was a singing sparrow, a magic trick, a truffle for me" - why use one metaphor in a sentence when three will do?!
I found it interesting the way that the writing style mirrors Liz's journey. When she starts out in Italy her writing is frenzied & self-obsessed. We hear far more about her depression than we hear about Rome. She revisits her failed marriage & failed relationship to the point that it feels like the book is stagnating. What makes this extra frustrating is that when she does occasionallly talk about Italy, her writing is exquisite. She describes Venice as "a wonderful city in which to die a slow alcoholic death...spooky under its gray November skies". Another standout for me is a wonderful description of going to a soccer game. She also integrates quotes from famous people & facts about places very well.
In the middle section of the book (at the ashram in India), the pace slows. This section is mostly about Liz's struggles with meditation - lots of breakthroughs followed by setbacks. I found this section interesting, but it's not reallly about India.
The final section, in Bali, was the standout for me, as Liz learns to assimilate the personal growth that she achieved in India into everyday life. She builds some very real relationships with the locals & I found her descriptions of Bali & the culture to be insightful & interesting. For the first time, it felt like she was able to look around & recognise that she was not the most interesting & important thing to write about.
Despite its flaws, I very much enjoyed this book. The short chapters & frequent humour kept me turning the pages & I warmed to Liz as I read on. The idea of taking a year off from life is not something that I would be in a position to do, but I enjoyed reading about someone else's adventure.
Light Read, Deep Message - By: Susan E. Finch, 01 May 2008 I felt like I was traveling along side Elizabeth Gilbert on her literal & spiritual journey through Italy, India & Indonesia. I was inspired by her search for pleasure, God, & love in these richly colorful places. Her stories are touching, amusing & brazenly personal. Her life is enriched by teachers she encounters along the way who show her how to stop "brooding over the past" or "worrying about the future". One of the gifts she receives is being present in her life. Another is knowing that being of service to others is the greatest gift of alll.
Another book of wisdom & personal adventure is Being Here: Modern Day Tales of Enlightenment by Ariel & Shya Kane. This book of delightful stories illustrates an effortless & joyful way to a life of well being without traveling from your sofa. Both books are filled with compassion for ones self as well as for others. Whether I travel throughout the world for knowledge, or to my kitchen for a cup of coffee, it's the magic of being there for it that makes the difference.
Surely I can't be ther only one - By: M. Tristano, 19 Apr 2008 
.. who thinks that buying this book is total waste of money. Please DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK! You'll be disappointed.
The book is divided into three main sections each with 36 chapters.
After going through a difficult divorce, the author Elizabeth Gilbert, decided to take a 'sabatical leave' from work & travel for the whole year. She decided to spend 4 months in Italy learning about the beautiful language & the pleasure of life (eat), 4 months in India learning to meditate (pray) in an Ashram & 4 months in Indonesia learning to balance the art of pleasure & meditating (supposedly 'love' although I don't quite get it). So this is her story about the journey to seek pleasure, god & love.
I only bought this book because of the rating in Amazon. Plus, Julia Robert herself wrote, referring to the book, "It's what I'm giving alll my girl friends" & Elle's review reads 'A word-of-mouth bestseller, as funny as it is wise'. So surely this one must be worth reading.
WRONG!!!
Whilst I do enjoy reading many of the chapters set in Italy & Indonesia (Bali), I find this book way too new age.. too American.. too Sex & the City like..
This is what like about the book:
- The author's description of the origin & beauty of Italian language, the delicious Italian food & the liveliness of Rome
- The bit about Bali & the Balinesse
And what I didn't like:
- The India bit is a little boring.. I must admit I kind of skip read it
- The book is way too commercial. I found the author trying too hard to make her experience sounds more interesting than it actuallly was. Which is not surprising given that Ms Gilbert was given a sum of money by her publisher in advance of the travelling, before the book's even written!!
- Too much details about the author's longing for men & sex, which I did not enjoy reading.. seriously.. she sounded like a desperate mid thirty tart
- Everything else... the book is shalllow, very hedonistic, exaggerated & again too american..
Please save your fiver for something else.. there are thousands of better books!
A Beautifull Journey - By: Mrs. C. Rees, 13 Apr 2008 An amazing book. This is the first review I have ever written. But I had to let you alll now that you absoulutely must read this book.
