Eat, Pray, Love

Elizabeth Gilbert has an exceptional gift of story telling.  I appreciate her attention to detail, and her down to earth style of writing.  I really was able to follow along easily, and visualize the places that she travelled to.  I loved her journey to Italy, India and Bali.  It was fun to see the world through someone else's experiences. 
I loved how she described Italy, its laid back ways and its beautiful language.  The people there seem to be so welcoming and free from the stresses we place on ourselves here in America.  As with any culture it is intriguing to hear about the everyday lifestyles of others, for me it is anyway.  I loved how free Elizabeth was to just be able to experience different parts of Italy as well.  Quite unrealistic for most peoples lives, but who am I to judge.
I loved how when she went to India she talked about the soulful experience of transcendental yoga.  This has always fascinated me and her description of her struggle with her meditation assignments everyday really made since to me.  This part of the book was beautiful and delicate, and she really bares her “soul” here and shows her vulnerability.
In Bali she is there to learn from a wise man that she had met prior to this trip.  His simple approach to Elizabeth’s questions, really shows how life is a lot less complicated than what we make of it.  I can’t imagine how going to a country that seems to have so little, but is blessed with great beauty at every turn wouldn’t leave a big impression on anyone.
I loved Elizabeth’s journey, but that isn’t my entire opinion.  It is hard to say this because I know Elizabeth is a real person, and I don’t like being mean.  In my opinion, I show no admiration towards people who just walk away from a marriage, because they are unhappy with their lives.  That is completely disrespectful and selfish.  I understand that people can become unhappy, but I am appalled by the way she left her husband. 
Her journey seems lovely and beautiful, but in truth it was a way to run away from her “real issues”.  Granted she had to face them while on her journey, but what about her ex husband?  He didn’t really get a vote in how his life ended up, I am not blinded by this fact.  It was a beautiful, dream vacation of soul searching that anyone would be blessed to experience, but I don’t think it drew the author out of her self absorbed state long enough to accomplish anything good.  Trust me!  Read her next book…

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