Usually I don't bother to review a book that I read but disliked. I'm making an exception for Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. Why? Because it has received a bunch of good reviews, is currently number 1 on the New York Times paperback best seller list, and yet it is a load of codswallop not worthy of your time or mine.I picked the book up in the airport in Dallas because I'd finished the book I took with me and needed something to read on the flight home. I vaguely remembered reading something about it somewhere and thought its theme was about a search for God and might be interesting. Boy was I wrong about that.
Here's the background to this non-fictional memoir: after dumping both her husband (because she didn't feel like being married anymore) and her subsequent boyfriend, a successful thirtyish writer receives a hefty advance from her publisher to write about a planned year of self-discovery in Italy, India and Rome. So the book deal drove the experience she relates, not vice-versa, which makes the entire narrative seem contrived.
Gilbert takes the money and whines around Italy eating, whines around an ashram in India trying a vague sort of New Age spiritualism on for size, and then whines and obsesses around Bali with her new love, a Brazilian expat. The author comes off as an annoying, irresponsible, shallow twit spouting self-justifying twaddle. Sorry for the vitriolic language, but you can tell that this book got my goat.
I'm astounded by the fulsome praise this self-absorbed book and author have received. Check out the reviews on the Amazon website and you will see that my opinion is definitely in the minority. It is a sad and embarrassing reflection on our culture that the faux spirituality Gilbert preaches is so readily accepted, acclaimed and admired. I will agree that she is an engaging and skilled writer, but the fact that she packages this narcissistic opus well reminds me of the old saying about putting earrings on a hog: it's still a hog, just dressed up.
At one point in the "India" section of the book, the author relates her problems meditating with the mantra given to her by her guru. How about this for a mantra that might actually help her on her journey: It's NOT about me.
Don't waste your time with this one.
25 comments:
But what did you REALLY think of it?
;-)
Yes, tell us your REAL opinion ;)
Did you actually leave a review at Amazon?
QG,
I have lurked about your blog for well over a year enjoying it. But you made me laugh loudly to-night so I just have to say thanks.
I know a few other books like that.
LOL--I am glad other people say what they think, it's not just me!
However, I actually did really like this book, but I think it had more to do with descriptions of places she went and food she ate, and occasionally people she met....it was sort of travel-memoir-ish to me, I guess. Though I do resonate with the idea of getting away in order to see more clearly. I've done that more than once.
Cathy--
No I didn't leave a review at Amazon. There are about 200 reviews of EPL there and as I said most of them are positive. I prefer to post my reviews on QG where my blogfriends can read and comment.
Viola--
Thanks for commenting and de-lurking. I read with interest your blog exchange with Bayou Christian and appreciate your writing, too.
Teri--
She IS a good writer and you've identified the strengths of the book. Such as they are ;-)
Okay, I trust your judgment. Not a book for me.
I hope you get your goat back.
I was thinking before I read your review, that I might enjoy the Italy part. Now I won't bother.
Codswallop: a fine word.
Yes, the popularity of this type of book does speak volumes about our "all about me" culture.
Songbird totally stole my comment.
Wow.
Uh, why did you bother finishing it?
I actually don't agree that she's that strong of a writer, but found it entertaining, though not at all deep.
Amen! I had to read this book for book club and loathed it. I am glad to hear I am not the only one.
RM,
Good question. The only reason I finished it is because I decided to write a review of it in the hope I'd get my goat back.
:-)
Codswallop.
hee hee.
My vocab word for the day.
OK, I was already going to write about hearing Ann Patchett at the Cathedral this week but I ponder some of this Eat Pray Love stuff so I thought you would want to know! Up at my place.
I though you said after I wrote about this book that you would skip it!
I guess it does have that irresistible train wreck quality.
Did you see that Beauty Tips calls it Gripe Brag Screw? I laughed so hard when I saw that.
Too bad my memory's so bad--I'd forgotten about your post. I missed PeaceBang's quip but love it!
She is on Oprah today (10/5) and I of course was immediately turned off by someone who left a committed relationship and then questioned if she went on the journey and then wrote a book or if the journey was for the book. You have answered that.
I wish I could make money off of my midlife crisis.
ps - Songbird reminded me that you had posted about it.
I saw this woman on oprah today and her story seemed so contrived that I immediately questioned the legimitacy of her experiences and wondered when the book deal was made. It seemed to me like she thought this whole thing up expressly to be on oprah's show to sell her book and it worked! food, prayer, travel with faux spiritual insights that are right up oprah's alley. she should have called the book Eat+pray+love = $OPRAH$
Her 4 month odessey through each country with her prepackaged theme for each one was bad enough but what really made me angry was her so called "meditation experience of being in the palm of God" that she describes as her aha moment that made the struggles all worthwhile. Just from her description of this so called event (totally non verifiable of course) I could tell that it was a made up mishmosh of all the transcendent meditation experiences she has ever read and that she inserted it in there because she needed a catharsis for he book. It was way too vague and did not sound real. Not to mention that it happened on schedule within the alloted 4 month plan. Of course Oprah lapped it up with a spoon and focused on it for much of the hour. But elizabeth is clever because unlike james frey's fictionalizations, this event cannot be disproven. When asked if she was enlightened, she said she got a taste that will never leave her but no she is not.
BALONEY.
She just seemed like a total fraud.
After watching the Oprah show yesterday, I felt like Melissa Gilbert was leading me to this table full of good things to eat, and yet when I tasted what she offered I was not satisfied. Unfortunately others will be satisfied with these leavings, and they will miss the true feast that is found in a loving relationship with Jesus Christ. Oh may I have the influence to lead others to your table Lord!
Who the heck are all you people, anyway?
I feel as if I've stumbled into a core group of members of 'Snides Anonymous'.
I can't imagine trashing someone's personal experience in this mean spririted way. Seems to me none of you have ever ventured forth into the world of personal growth and/or spiritual development..
I think your 'Lord' would be profoundly ashamed of your smallness and your intolerance .
Go read your bibles, or some such.. and please don't get busy 'begatting'.
We have a plethora of closed minds in this America of ours already.
Mercy me..!!!
I must say that i found this review to be very irritating. Not only was it vague, you didn't even correctly state the facts of the book. Yes, she did go to Rome, but that was not the third section of the book. I see that you claim to be christia. Well, as a christian you are taught not to pass judgement on others right? Then what was all the banter about her experience meditating... and in response to the comment about it being fake: you obviously have never experienced such grace...
This is bad review. You should rewrite it. I, for one, appreciate your take but it is still a poorly written.
I, like Anonymous 1, am disheartened by the reviews of Eat, Pray and Love in this blog. The judgement and intolerance oozes from the review and several of the conmments later.
An experience, no matter how one finds themselves in it, counts! It counts for every aspect of aesthetic, spiritual, philosophical and intellectual that is gained by the individual - and much of what is absorbed may not become clear for years to come. These types of experiences often result in a more well-rounded and understanding person - one who tolerates "the other" more - this tolerance ultimately, can contribute to a better world - if only all of us took advantage of every opportunity to raise our awareness and tolerance levels - whether in India, Italy or in our own back yards.
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