BOOK Review
EAT, PRAY, LOVE: by Elizabeth Gilbert

First of all, I am not an avid reader so for me to pick up a book and read it from beginning to end is a feat in itself. So on that note, I will tell you it was an incredible read. Maybe it’s because I’m at a place in my life that so much of this resonates with me. I am not sure but Elizabeth Gilbert exposed herself so open and honestly that it was just real life displayed on the pages of this book. I don’t know a single woman that couldn’t relate to some part of this story.

I watched Julia Roberts interviewed on Oprah about her role in the movie, Eat, Pray, Love. Julia said when she was asked to play this role; they sent her the book to read first. As she started reading it within the first few pages she knew that she wanted to read it at the same time as her best friend and suggested everyone watching to do the same. So I asked Gina Tomaseski, our g3 health editor and one of my dearest, closest friends, to read it with me. She agreed and we got together after each section of the book to discuss the parts that really hit home with each of us. Without even planning it this way, the first time we got together to talk about Italy, we both opened our books and they both were highlighted of all the parts that we HAD to share!!! It made reading this book so much more impactful.

The book is written in three sections, obviously, EAT being the first. Which was time documented while Elizabeth was in Italy for four months to learn the Italian language. In doing so, she met such wonderful people that taught her to embrace the pleasures of life without guilt. So many of us go through life feeling like we have to justify anything we do for just simple pleasure. So after eating her way through a new language, four months and 10 pounds later, she moved on in her journey to India.

In pursuit of her search for God, Elizabeth Gilbert found a new way to PRAY while at an Ashram in India. Her self-talk through this section of the book was hilarious. I think in part because I can hear those same voices in my head! Trying to be still and quiet and focus on one thing for an hour seems like an impossible task for me. I actually don’t think I have EVER done that. EVER. I felt like I was with her on this part of her journey. It was really a soul searching, forgiveness learning, cleansing experience and I wasn’t even in the ashram. After four months in India, she is leaving with a new and improved version of herself. She continued her search of self-discovery to Indonesia.

Not even realizing that her plan for this year long journey was just to experience life on a spiritual level that she had never had before. Each four month phase was strategic for her to grow as a person and learning to LOVE in a new capacity. And she did. By the last segment of her journey she had learned to open her heart on many different levels. In doing so, she not only found love in friendships but she found a new LOVE to share her life with.

This is a MUST read. I think this book could also be sitting in the SELF-HELP section of the bookstores! Go buy this book for you. Buy two and give to a friend to read along with you! You will definitely benefit from this journey!

 
MOVIE REVIEW

EAT, PRAY, LOVE : Directed by Ryan Murphy, starring Julia Roberts

After completing the book, Gina and I went to see the movie. I am a huge fan of Julia Roberts and was so excited to see her in this role. She was the perfect fit as I envisioned Elizabeth Gilbert to be throughout the book. She is very down to earth and real. As I stated at the beginning of the book review, I am usually not the girl who reads the book and then sees the movie to compare. But I have heard people who do say many times, “the book was so much better”. So now I am in that club. The book was so much better! But knowing they had to condense everything down to two hours meant that many of the people and scenarios were cut out in the movie.

I would have to say that had I not read the book first, I would not have understood the movie as much. It was a bit confusing in the movie how they transitioned from one location to the next. It was a feel good movie, very enjoyable. All in all, I loved it. However, I would recommend reading the book before you go! The book was life changing not just a story about someone else.