I just picked it up this weekend. Julia Roberts is staring in the movie version that has yet to be released. It is the story of someone (a writer) who bowed out of marriage and babies at the age of 31 or so, and then took off to travel the world to mend her broken self/heart. She spent about 4 months in Italy learning the joy of pleasure (strictly) through the food and language. Then she set off to India for a Yogi Guru pilgrimage of soul searching and meditation. I haven't finished the book yet but I think the "love" chapter takes place in Indonesia somewhere.
I have mixed reviews. Can't put it down because I have kind of been there done that, but not in her way. I feel her feelings but honestly, don't appreciate how she has conducted her life. She quite literally states that once she decides a relationship is over, she embarks on the next one while the old one isn't quite completed. [Kudos to me here for I could never do that. I am so invested that I take a year or two in between before I can even conceive of someone else again.]
Mostly what irked me and I know it is my own jealously, is that this is a true memoir and this woman had everything - career, husband, two houses, yadda, yadda. He wanted children and she was not ready. She decided on divorce, initiated it, gave him everything monetary (houses, etc. ) and then got an advance on a book about her experience to travel the world on a whim for a year.
This is where I need my own Yogi Guru to help me through this. I have the utmost empathy for anyone going through what we went through. But honestly? She blindsided her husband, bailed on her marriage, started another relationship before the divorce was final, and was given the grace of having all the money she gave away dumped back in her lap to enable her to go travel for an entire year, no monetary worries, to seek her inner self.
Although I can totally relate to all her thoughts, I totally resent them at the same time because she is the one who chose to leave and she has no f'n financial worries. It bothers me to listen to her talk about depression while she is in Rome, eating fabulous food, making many new friends, and planning her future travels.
I am pissed on behalf of myself and everyone like me. However, I feel I should be more empathetic but I just can’t. I don’t like how this is revealing my ugly self that says NO! You are just a selfish person and don’t have a clue about the meaning of suffering. (Pretty much @ those that don't suffer financially as a consequence.)
[This message edited by positively4thst at 9:03 PM, July 11th (Sunday)]
