Do not waste your money! - Rated 
I ordered this book as I read the reviews on this site which led me to believe that it might actually be an interesting book.. but sadly no, I did not like it at all. It is written in a self-absorbed style, all about 'her'. Most people who travel do so because they want to see something of the world - all this girl needed was a mirror - this book tells you absolutely nothing about the places she visited and she travelled for one whole year!
A complete waste of time, incredibly shallow. Would not recommend to anyone and I do not understand the good reviews that it has been given.
Perfect - Rated 
This is the most wonderful book I've ever read. She is whitty, charismatic and her insights and paths are so similar to mine I was able to relate on every page. Even if this is not similar to your path (some of my happily or newly married friends were not fussed by it) she stresses the importance of getting in touch with who you really are and how to find you. I have bought about 10 of these books and have given them to friends around the world from all walks of life. Amazing book I give it my highest recommendation.
Inspiring and empowering - read and pass it on! - Rated
Fantastic and humourous writing - couldn't put it down. Immediately passed the "wealth" to one of my best girlfriends upon completion. Every woman must read this!
I enjoyed the EAT part the best! - Rated
A lovely read and a moving tale which most women can relate to - especially the 'eat' bit where the protagonist re-discovers the jos of good food! I loved every minute of her time in Italy!
Chronicles a Journey of Joy - Rated
This book was really hard to put down. It is an autobiographical story that I wished would go on, that I just did not want to end. And of course, it has not ended, because life goes on, it's just that we are no more allowed access to the inner workings of the author's innovative mind. This book is a great window towards viewing how great emotional pain can be transmuted to an experience of grace and blessing, and leading to the proverbial happy ending, a life, infused with much greater joy, variety and color, besides including worldly success and financial prosperity.
As seen on the cover, this book is about one woman's search for wholeness and healing after two 'failed' relationships. To this end, the author, Elizabeth Gilbert, gives herself a year to investigate three different milieus, each for a more or less equal period of time. The first period would involve feasting in Italy and learning the Italian language, the second, fasting in an ashram in India, and the last, in Indonesia, where she would seek a balance between the two extreme environments.
So, knowing that her basic aim is to heal herself, the author indulges in the epicurean pleasures that Italy has to offer. After four months of travel and partying she moves on to a form of monastic living that is austere in the extreme. She spent her days in service at the Ashram, beginning with menial chores, and going on at a later stage, to administrative duties. All this she did, while meditating several hours a day, practising the Vipassana form of meditation, which is not easy on the ego, as most people, familiar with it, know. She cleared this test of her life with flying colours, being blessed with the experience of Immanence, Finally, after these events, Elizabeth Gilbert, moves on to Indonesia, seeking a balance between the two extremes in living conditions that she has experienced. There, she makes a lot of new friends, becoming part of their lives, and finally achieving true love. The happy ending shows her jetting between continents to family and friends strewn all over the globe.
One important lesson coming across from the book, that I myself, needed to be re-minded of, is that it is the journey towards the goal, that is more important. That the means are even more important than the goal. That your commitment to walk the path that has been charted out, with sincerity is what draws desired circumstances to you, either positive or negative. That full fledged, hundred per cent commitment can and does bring rewards. Many of us have forgotten this in our lives, our cynicism has taken over and shuts out our inner selves with its protectionism. Cynicism does not seem to have affected Elizabeth GIlbert's experience in this book.
An outstanding feature of this book is the heartwarming intimacy with which it has been written. Always open to trying out new games, the author freely makes jokes against herself. Some of her games have amazing repercussions. In one such incident, the author plays a game with a friend, affirming one after one, that several important people would like her to have a certain desire granted. And lo and behold, it was! This particular game alerted me once more to the greatest and most well concealed spiritual secret of the century, 'We are all One'.
The after-effects of this book have stayed with me like a warm blanket. I feel I am a better person for having read it. And of course, I recommend it with all my heart.
|
