"You can survive this. Talk to others that have"

Jessy1501 posted 6/18/2010 21:06 PM

Just picked it up at Barnes and Noble. Anyone read it?

luvbug0915 posted 6/18/2010 22:24 PM

I bought it recently too but haven't started it yet. I'm interested to see others comments.

GroundZero posted 6/19/2010 00:30 AM

I read it. Liked it. Not life-changing for me. But it resonated. If I had the wherewithal to just tool around the world for a year.

Just a warning, there is a pretty heavy infidelity theme at the beginning.

Sad in AZ posted 6/20/2010 13:45 PM

I've just started reading it, and was taken aback by the beginning; I didn't think I'd be able to relate to it, but I'm finding it parallels my life (and my some of my future, I hope) quite a bit. I've had a difficult time getting back on track with my reading, so I hope I will finish it.

stretch13 posted 6/20/2010 15:56 PM

i second groundzero. i happened to pick it up traveling solo to japan, so it's "journey" metaphor worked really well for me. it resonated, made me want a couple of years to wander around. reading it was very calming, human, a bit inspiring. it's worth a read.

[This message edited by stretch13 at 3:56 PM, June 20th (Sunday)]

InnerLight posted 6/20/2010 20:49 PM

i read it twice and liked it. Her self depreciating humor and introspection was enjoyable for me. And I related to that journey from the pits of despair to rebuilding a new more positive self identity.

It didn't occur to me from what she wrote that she was describing an affair at the beginning. It sounded like she separated from her H then got involved with someone while she was having a long drawn out difficult divorce.

[This message edited by InnerLight at 8:53 PM, June 20th (Sunday)]

lawyergirl25 posted 6/20/2010 21:52 PM

Hated it. I didn't like the author at all - I found her to be self-indulgent and narcissistic. I thought the idea of a spiritual journey around the world to find yourself post-divorce sounded pretty cool, but I found myself struggling to take her seriously. I don't want to post any spoilers, but the first part of this review comes pretty close to summarizing how I felt reading it: http://www.worldhum.com/features/travel-books/one_mans_odyssey_into_eat_pray_love_20080211/

I read "Drink, Play, F@#k" on vacation last month. I much preferred it. The book was crass, but felt more honest.

Jessy1501 posted 6/21/2010 10:40 AM

Thanks for that perspective lawyergirl. If there are spoilers in that link, I won't look at it until I'm done with the book!

lawyergirl25 posted 6/21/2010 10:45 AM

It does contain spoilers - definitely form your own opinion before reading it!

And you may love the book. One of my best friends felt the same way about it that I did, but my SIL and another close friend absolutely loved it. I think it just hits people differently, as most books do.

runoverbytruck posted 6/21/2010 11:31 AM

I loved it Jessy! I'm on my second round of reading it right now. The story is very inspiring to me. My favorite part is India.

BTW, It never actually says she had an affair, but I'm sure that's what happened.

Happy reading! I'm interested to hear your perspective!

stefanie posted 6/24/2010 22:13 PM

[This message edited by stefanie at 12:30 AM, April 26th (Tuesday)]

travels posted 6/24/2010 22:20 PM

I 3rd what lawyergirl said.
The "eat" section was the best part, for me. The rest had me .

Sad in AZ posted 6/24/2010 23:58 PM

I finished it on the plane coming home on Tuesday. I enjoyed it but could not say I loved it. She & I have similar perspectives on God, but it was not like looking in a mirror.

As for it being self-indulgent and like a blog, well, it was a first party narrative...

refuz2bavictim posted 6/25/2010 07:32 AM

I enjoyed the book. I also enjoyed the whole journey aspect. I will say that I can see why others felt that it had a "me-ishness" to it, but considering its in the first person narrative, it would be hard not to feel that way.
Overall it was a enjoyable, non stressful read.

Jessy1501 posted 6/25/2010 07:41 AM

I haven't been able to do any reading this week as I've been overloaded with work (and posting on SI ). But I do plan on spending a "me" day relaxing on the beach...just me and my book.

lawyergirl25 posted 6/25/2010 08:40 AM

As for it being self-indulgent and like a blog, well, it was a first party narrative...

I've read plenty of first-person narratives where the author/narrator didn't come off looking (in my opinion) like a self-absorbed jackass.

I had high expectations of this book because I had heard such glowing reviews. My SIL went as far as saying that it was her favorite book of all time and she felt it was so representive of her own spirituality. After I read it, I kind of thought, "well, that explains why we're not on the same wavelength!"

8blessings posted 7/6/2010 02:24 AM

My sister in law gave me this book thinking that I might like it and relate to it. I enjoy the author's writing style but the book itself I find nauseating.

I found myself very sympathetic for her BH.

travels posted 7/11/2010 21:21 PM

Bump

positively4thst posted 7/11/2010 21:27 PM

[This message edited by positively4thst at 7:49 PM, July 14th (Wednesday)]

ScribblingMum posted 7/19/2010 00:07 AM

I sorta liked it...read it when it first came out. I just remember thinking: Must Be NICE she can just take off & travel & not worry about money--lol!

I just finished her 2nd book Committment. She's a bit more self-aware/mature in this book, but I wasn't thrilled. Not sure i really buy HER version of the history of marriage...but it had some good parts.
Again, she had time & MORE $$$$ (since her 1st book did so well) to travel/hang-out & not work for months...
A bit hard for me to relate to.