Her book (and movie) literally helped me through so so much in my life. So much matched my own emotions. Everything she went through emotionally I went through as well. We were even the same age in life. I Wish I could contact the writer and tell her how deeply her personal story has touched me in my own life and has gotten me through.
I'm nowhere near finished with Eat, Pray, Love, but I'm loving absolutely every minute of it. Elizabeth Gilbert is such a great storyteller, and from what I can see from this interview and from her book, such a down-to-earth person.
What a beautiful story, the way she explained that her journey of self discovery was a four year patient suffering the grew into a blissful self-discovery.
I choose to disregard any of the negative comments I see because I did read the book and it really, really spoke to me. It has really started to change my life and I'm a lot more aware of who I am because of this book and because of the movie. I really am in a better place and I'm so excited to see where it takes me. Elizabeth Gilbert is an inspiration and a Godsend to all who can find a way to identify with her story and with her message.
You've inspired me to write...just about to take a trip for a month to the Balkans and I have a lot of questions...about life, love and what it's all about...thank you!!
I love this book. I'm in the India part right now and so far its amazing. I like how she explains her struggles because it makes it much more real. And it helps me realize that some of the things I go through aren't that crazy, because she has gone through them too. She inspires me and it would be great to meet her one day.
I think the biggest issue was that her husband invalidated her need to travel and she let him. My husband is a traveller. People often say he should be over it now he's married. Why? Who says I don't want to share the experience with him? I don't want him to give it up & be miserable. I do think her view on having kids is too black and white. Life doesn't end with babies - we just took our 8mth old to Spain, Portugal and Morrocco. Sure it wasn't always easy, but then other aspects were easier.
I love the book, and it encourage Woman Traveler to explore more out there. You are right while mentioning people seek for something they don't even know. Thank you Elizabeth for sharing this universal story for Woman Traveler.
I am shocked at how ready everyone is to attack her! If she was not happy in her relationship then she did the right thing. There is no point in being unhappy in your life just to avoid upsetting a marriage. Life is short and at the end of the day, you are living it and have to do what is best for you! I don't think what she did was selfish at all. Because at the end of the day, the only person you are truly committed to is YOURSELF
Her husband the first one, had Narcisstic Personality Disorder apparently. If you have ever lived with some who has that, you would understand how it strips you of your self, and you feel BAD. I understand, I know NPD, and I know how it affects you. The book made sense to me, even though it never highlighted that about her first husband, and the book was not about that aspect, more her recovery of self. It was about learning to get balance and to find trust and love again.
I love her aura so much and I'm going through the same questions that she has to though I've never been in an official relationship ever. There's just so many things that resonate with me through this book. I am on the last section of it which is Indonesia and I don't want to finish reading 'cause it's so good 😢 I feel like I wanted her to be my Guru. I'm excited to read her other books though 💗
Hi everyone, Eat, Pray, Love fans - this event is not to be missed!! Elizabeth Gilbert will be giving a talk about her life and writing at Cadogan Hall, London on 15th September. Check out our website Intelligence Squared for info and tickets. For those not in the country you can stream the event online!
i just finished the book now and i feel like iaid goodbye to a dear friend :( i enjoyed reading it a lot . what i learned from the book is always to be grateful for what you have and if you are nothappy jut start asking yourself question to change your misery into happiness
my freind just returned from bali and was visiting the same old medicaine man and bumped into the filmakers etc there too. Julia alos there. I love this bookcant wait for film
Brilliant, amazing book. This woman is ME. Reading her story was like reading my life. I'd love to meet her some day, I swear she is a soul mate. Our spiritual journey is very similar. :-)
Amé ese libro ha sido de gran ayuda y me sirvio para tomar desiciones, ahora estoy en etapa de trancisión pero tome valentia gracias a comer, rezar y amar. Thanks Elizabeth
@paco11051 You can not judge someone else's desicion for divorce. How can you say what was wrong with her husband? You are not her! Sometimes people just want different things, they want to live different lives. The divorce can be traumatic fot itself, you can feel sadness, guilt. You dont have to be beaten to be traumatized. Maybe people are just jelous becouse of her courage...
I am madly in love with Liz Gilbert. I discovered her always thoughtful and funny articles years ago in Spin and GQ. One of my favorite women on the planet. And if she actually followed through with this crazy getting remarried thing, I am somewhat crushed. My fantasy of one day crossing paths and wooing her seems to be less and less likely by the minute.
if you ever read the book you can see that she questioned herself alot and experienced lots of awful things to reach her decision, it's not just that she divorced him simply because she is "unhappy". besides, why marry sb you cannot stay for the rest of your life with? Isnt it better than go cheating? besides the message is not wasting your money or leaving a guy, it's about QUESTIONING YOURSELF. so people shouldn't be so serious about how she spent her money and ruined her marriage....
I'm sure everything nowadays is for profit but you can always learn something from hearing another persons story no matter how depressed, how dumb or how crazy they are. I didn't mind that she complained throughout the book, she didn't say that her book was made because she was an ultimate teacher or to fix the problems of the world. It reminds us that we need to savor life, live in the present and even if we go through something that we think is really tough, we can always start over.
In the book Ms. Gilbert said that she didn't want to go into the detail about her divorce--it wasn't about her failed marriage The book is about how she rose above the depression and anguish she experienced; knowing there was more to her life than being constantly despondent. We all have a story to enact, this was hers. Don't recriminate her actions simply b/c they don't fit in your perfect mold; respect her for the obstacles she has overcome to get her life back in order.
@chirchlady I disagree. I think this was an amazing book..it was about her finding herself..yes self, but also in the end, to give advice to others, to find themselves if they are lost. Not everyone has the luxury of knowing where they are going in life, and this very book helped me get through a terrible break-up, when I was feeling lost and uncertain. This book taught me that first one must find out who they are and where they are going in life, and that person must have patience.
@navirose73 thanks for sharing. I have wanted to do that. There is something important about being able to slow down enough to hear your own voice. Illness can do that as well. I prefer travel however, illness lead me through the self-interviewing process and lead me to wellness.
@chirchlady I thought the unlimited number of personal pronouns is quite American but she is one of the best daughters of the USA. Besides, by asking all these questions she made herself emotionally available to thousands of people, who feel the same way. Honesty, sincerity, warmth and self-irony are priceless. She wrote a lovely lovely book!!!!
Siddhartha and Eat, Pray, Love are such great self discovery books. each character went on a journey--went through different teachers to learn a certain lesson. Siddhartha by Herman Hesse is not like "EPL" in its humor or constant interaction with other individuals. But the journey that we have to learn these lessons on our own--in our own way/time/environment is the same. Siddhartha is an awesome book, and I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.
@florazab1 It doesnt have to be for rich people. You dont have to stay at the finest hotels and eat at the finest restaurants. Having that kind of thought process limits you more than money ever could.
Is not that we are going to copy her , as someone said, each person can relate in some way to it, I became curious about it and started to read it and I became aware of how away I am right now of God, I used to meditated before and when I started to work I stop, thanks to this book I will do it again, not as the same level of Elizabeth but to help myself to go on and find my own way.
@30millionwinner I think the medcine man mentioned this not so much as to use her because he knew she was an American but because most of the people who came to him and paid were Americans. They were (and still are) fascinated by those things and look at it as something exotic and almost as a tourist attraction.
@SangreGitana I saw it yesterday too :). I did find some gems of wisdom in the film/book. It's all a matter of perspective. We experience many things each day. The challenge is to actually TAKE something from it. Learn. Grow. Act.
OK and certainly everyone is entitled to her opinion. Just my opinion: I think the agony and heartbreak she went through for several years before she broke up, as well as the pain of the divorce for several years before it was finalized told me this was not a superficial or trivial decision.
Thank you tdottim. Having not read any her previous work I base my thoughts solely on the book under discussion. I have to say that you and I came away with polar opposite views of E.G. based on our evaluation of who she portrays herself to be in this memoir. You find her charming,I think she's bombastic and phony. Could be we have different tastes outside of Hesse. Addressing an earlier comment you made about why people watch You Tube videos of folks they don't like - for me, curiosity.
dunnydayhere: She didn't leave her husband in the dust, if you read the book you'd know. She went through a grueling separation and divorce which lasted for several years--which was completed before she started on the travel! Unhappiness inside of her caused her to want the divorce--that scenario was the start of the book, but not of her travels! Her divorce was settled and all assets distributed before she left for other countries.
Her husband the first one, had Narcisstic Personality Disorder apparently. If you have ever lived with some who has that, you would understand how it strips you of your self, and you feel BAD. I understand, I know NPD, and I know how it affects you. The book made sense to me, even though it never highlighted that about her first husband, and the book was not about that aspect, more her recovery of self.
@eyestrained07 - If a person feels abandoned by a spouse that chooses to travel alone to foreign places for a year, the so-called "abandoned" one is the needy one with unhealthy attachment.
This movie is incredibly inspirational. I saw it in theaters in September when it first came out. Was at Icon VIP theater, so got to sit in comfy chairs with a bottle wine with my best friend. Loved the movie. Walked out of there with a bigger outlook. Two weeks later I put in my apartment lease. Something I’ve wanted to do for over a year. Two months later everything I own that I don’t need is in storage. Two days later I was on the road. More on my blog at bit (dot) ly/fZyLXU
I'M VERY SURE MY NINANG TITA CHRISTINE VELOSO MARQUEZ READ THIS :) LOVE YOU NINANG TITA CHRISTINE VELOSO MARQUEZ AND UNCLE TOTI MARQUEZ AKA PERFECTO MARQUEZ SR.
OK you make some good points catjoyyoung. But what I disagreed with was your saying: "I think she is a passable writer who had a great idea and a book deal". She only had a book deal IMO because of her excellent earlier writing. A quick search of her bio on wikipedia shows nominations and awards (Pushcart Prize, PEN/Hemingway Award etc.) for her various writings. And in 1993 she was the first unpublished short story writer to debut in Esquire since Norman Mailer.
I, in no way, meant to compare her to Herman Hesse (one of my all time favorites as well), and if you had just said "I don't think she is a great writer", then I'm sure I wouldn't have even responded. I think there is luck involved with most success stories, but her talent for writing is why I read her. As for being influenced by my infatuation, I plead guilty. However, since I've never met EG, that infatuation was derived from what exactly? Her writing.
I just realized that in the last hour I have posted 5 lengthy posts about my affection for Elizabeth Gilbert! Liz if you ever read these, I'm not a stalker I swear!
this is a memoir of her, what would she talk about if not herself? I really think this " sillygrip" is a little bit bitter, maybe jealous almost.... I love this book and I recommend eveyone to hear her on TED about nurturing creativity.
I'M HONEST TITA CHRISTINE VELOSO MARQUEZ :) FEEL FREE TO ASK TITA CHRISTINE VELOSO MARQUEZ :) SHE HAS THE BOOK, EAT, PRAY, LOVE BY ELIZABETH GILBERT :) GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME 🙏🙏🙏
@FudgeMeUp thats not the problem, the problem is men have had this problem for years and have done the same thing and women have labeled men as bastards for this kind of behavior. Now this woman does it and she is a women's hero. Ridiculous bullshit! It has everything to do with the fact that instead of asking whether the man was happy or not they just focused on the victimized aspect of it. So as long as its a TWO WAY STREET, I'm cool with this. I liked the movie and the book.
kymbob and others, if you go to India and see the poverty there, and you are on an apparently spiritual quest, surely the compassion that is at the heart of any spiritual system would move you to help? Instad she wrote a book, made a lot of money becoming yet another new age guru and then wrote another book on - getting married... but we don't hear that she ever helped the poor in India or anywhere else. And still no news on the dog either... coraclewoman
As for the anti-Liz comments that precede my previous comment/love letter; I don't know what the posters are like, but anyone who didn't see the soulful humour in Gilbert's musings, is not someone who's company I would expect to enjoy. And I'm always amazed at the number of people who take time from their day to watch videos on RUclips of people they don't particularly care for. It would be like me seeking out all the videos on Tim Allen and posting my 2 cents about how I don't find him funny.
Does anyone here think she left her husband for that other guy(david) and then when it didn't work out she went through the depression? BC i wonder a bit about that. Granted the journey was awesome and her story is moving and funny, did it maybe all start bc she was chronically dissatisfied?
I read the book and still don't like her. I think the idea of traveling and taking some time to really understand yourself is a good thing. When I read the book I felt like she just dumped her husband because she wasn't ready to settle down and have kids. And to top it off she left her husband and ends up with a different man in her life. And for those talking about how unless you've discovered yourself you don't know what it's like, I do know what it's like and I still don't like what she did.
@mamie189 Neither have I produced a Hollywood movie nor raced in NASCAR. But that's not really the point, is it? I welcome the opportunity to offer honest comment on a book I spent $ and time on. I thought that was the purpose of this "comment" site. I enjoy reading other folks' commentary-especially Mythic89's. Whew! I think this sort of feedback from others brings certain features of the book's message to light vis-à-vis our society and the human condition. It's an adult thing to do. Agreed?
Good discussion, though this film needs to break free from the chick flick genre... it's much bigger than that. Looking forward to seeing the film & reading the book.
@blupheonix44 1. I think debating on youtube is pointless. 2. However; Please don't make these generalized statements if you haven't read the book. Which you haven't, obviously. The divorce is hardly part of it. It is just about taking time to discover what you love. Its gender neutral. if the book was written by a man, it would be just as good. It is nice (as a woman) to hear such a unique femaile voice, because I identify with a lot of the insecurities, and passions. But that is all.
Well tdottim, imo although she may do well with small aricles ( I will have to defer to you on that as I have not read any of them) I stand by my assessment of her as a passable writer when it comes to her book. I reserve the compliment of "Great writer" for the likes of Doris Lessing, Thomas Hardy, Maya Angelou, Hermann Hesse etc. Perhaps you are influenced by your infatuation for her.
@ritter89 The book IS much better. I don't think the movie will be able to capture the depth of her transformation as written in the book. Have you read the book yet? If you haven't, I suggest that you do. :) The book is hardly romantic at all.
@btp248 exactly are you serious. self discovery's the type of thing you just cant understand unless youve been through it yourself its like love. you dont know what it feels like unless youve actually been through it. so you guys dont know what your talking about at all and just make yourself look ignorant when you say whatever it is that you say.
hmmm... i don't know if i can agree with you or not with ur oppinion, but here what i know, MOST people are prejudice you know, esp with all the things going around with moslems... and it takes more than 'not that bad' to recover the image of islam esp in the western world. been to indonesia capital city, I think the people are great
Rarely does one read a book with more personal pronouns than this. More than 600 pages of self-absorption. In this video she says: "The point is...ask the same questions that led to this journey." She offers: "Why am i so unhappy?" Well in the book she wrote that traveling is the love of her life. She answered her own question with that vapid statement. At least she's honest. This is a quintessential book defining our present generation lost in a journey of self-absorption (& uninspired writing)
What's wrong with being selfish? Self discovery is selfish, they have "self" in it, lol. Everyone has their own methods to process their discovery, the only thing that makes everyone's journey the same is that they are selfish, and there's nothing wrong with that because it creates happiness. There might be happiness from selfless acts, but there is no such selfless happiness. The book was not published so people could copy what she did, what's that gonna do? It means to inspire others.
@bootymanager I am so sorry for you and for all people that is thinking like you. , the money is not the motor of the life, so your comment is so far away of this message. To do what she did not need a lot of money but need your faith that is possible to do it. You must believe that is possible and work it out to get it. IS Completely simple. Take your time to build your dream. Be the number one in your own life one time and then you will see the big difference.
Her book (and movie) literally helped me through so so much in my life. So much matched my own emotions. Everything she went through emotionally I went through as well. We were even the same age in life. I Wish I could contact the writer and tell her how deeply her personal story has touched me in my own life and has gotten me through.
Yes, exactly, me also
Eat, pray, love is one of my all time favorite books..
Absolutely amazing!
These ladies are SO LUCKY to meet elizabeth gilbert!!!!! her book saved me
I'm nowhere near finished with Eat, Pray, Love, but I'm loving absolutely every minute of it. Elizabeth Gilbert is such a great storyteller, and from what I can see from this interview and from her book, such a down-to-earth person.
What a beautiful story, the way she explained that her journey of self discovery was a four year patient suffering the grew into a blissful self-discovery.
I choose to disregard any of the negative comments I see because I did read the book and it really, really spoke to me. It has really started to change my life and I'm a lot more aware of who I am because of this book and because of the movie. I really am in a better place and I'm so excited to see where it takes me. Elizabeth Gilbert is an inspiration and a Godsend to all who can find a way to identify with her story and with her message.
You've inspired me to write...just about to take a trip for a month to the Balkans and I have a lot of questions...about life, love and what it's all about...thank you!!
I love this book. I'm in the India part right now and so far its amazing. I like how she explains her struggles because it makes it much more real. And it helps me realize that some of the things I go through aren't that crazy, because she has gone through them too. She inspires me and it would be great to meet her one day.
Damn, I'm so in love with this woman
I read the book in one night! Love it so much I fall asleep listening to the audible book once in awhile because it has such amazing awesome wisdom!
I think the biggest issue was that her husband invalidated her need to travel and she let him. My husband is a traveller. People often say he should be over it now he's married. Why? Who says I don't want to share the experience with him? I don't want him to give it up & be miserable. I do think her view on having kids is too black and white. Life doesn't end with babies - we just took our 8mth old to Spain, Portugal and Morrocco. Sure it wasn't always easy, but then other aspects were easier.
Maybe you should Express yourself More respectful
A sincere, articulate, intelligent, creative and generous person.
"what am I doing with this one wild and wonderful life?"
I love the book, and it encourage Woman Traveler to explore more out there.
You are right while mentioning people seek for something they don't even know.
Thank you Elizabeth for sharing this universal story for Woman Traveler.
shes my inspiration! I'm reading the book before I watch the movie. Can't wait to see the movie now that I'm almost done with the book :)!!!!!
I am shocked at how ready everyone is to attack her! If she was not happy in her relationship then she did the right thing. There is no point in being unhappy in your life just to avoid upsetting a marriage. Life is short and at the end of the day, you are living it and have to do what is best for you! I don't think what she did was selfish at all. Because at the end of the day, the only person you are truly committed to is YOURSELF
Bea Allen Yeah, you've got a point there. But hey? If she only thought of herself, then she shouldn't have gotten married. End of story.
Yes, she is :) With that Brasilian guy she met on Bali.
I'm reading this book right now and i'm really enjoying it!! I can really identify with her
Her husband the first one, had Narcisstic Personality Disorder apparently. If you have ever lived with some who has that, you would understand how it strips you of your self, and you feel BAD. I understand, I know NPD, and I know how it affects you. The book made sense to me, even though it never highlighted that about her first husband, and the book was not about that aspect, more her recovery of self.
It was about learning to get balance and to find trust and love again.
Maybe you should Express yourself More respectful
she rescued me... i thank her with everything i can for that
I love her aura so much and I'm going through the same questions that she has to though I've never been in an official relationship ever. There's just so many things that resonate with me through this book. I am on the last section of it which is Indonesia and I don't want to finish reading 'cause it's so good 😢 I feel like I wanted her to be my Guru. I'm excited to read her other books though 💗
Hi everyone,
Eat, Pray, Love fans - this event is not to be missed!! Elizabeth Gilbert will be giving a talk about her life and writing at Cadogan Hall, London on 15th September. Check out our website Intelligence Squared for info and tickets.
For those not in the country you can stream the event online!
Can I get one of those tickets or u think it's too late to ask:(
@@mohsak8237 lol they posted the comment ten years ago 😂
@@isaskak9751 I know lol
julia robet in bali/INDONESIA now to shooting for this movie..cant wait to watch her movie.. :) !
i just finished the book now and i feel like iaid goodbye to a dear friend :( i enjoyed reading it a lot .
what i learned from the book is always to be grateful for what you have and if you are nothappy jut start asking yourself question to change your misery into happiness
I love the book!
my freind just returned from bali and was visiting the same old medicaine man and bumped into the filmakers etc there too. Julia alos there. I love this bookcant wait for film
Brilliant, amazing book. This woman is ME. Reading her story was like reading my life. I'd love to meet her some day, I swear she is a soul mate. Our spiritual journey is very similar. :-)
love it love it love it
such an inspiration
I Love Da Book, And Da Movie!!!!!!♀️🦋🌻❤☯️☮
Amé ese libro ha sido de gran ayuda y me sirvio para tomar desiciones, ahora estoy en etapa de trancisión pero tome valentia gracias a comer, rezar y amar. Thanks Elizabeth
She is so beautiful!
@paco11051 You can not judge someone else's desicion for divorce. How can you say what was wrong with her husband? You are not her! Sometimes people just want different things, they want to live different lives.
The divorce can be traumatic fot itself, you can feel sadness, guilt. You dont have to be beaten to be traumatized.
Maybe people are just jelous becouse of her courage...
She is seriously amazing...
I am madly in love with Liz Gilbert. I discovered her always thoughtful and funny articles years ago in Spin and GQ. One of my favorite women on the planet. And if she actually followed through with this crazy getting remarried thing, I am somewhat crushed. My fantasy of one day crossing paths and wooing her seems to be less and less likely by the minute.
Gracias. Wonderful!! Veronica Marulanda
I also think that book is amazing. My favorite. Can't wait movie...
Exactly!
i am going have 2 go get this book
She seems such a bright person.
Life changing comments by Elizabeth, saludos desde Canadá
if you ever read the book you can see that she questioned herself alot and experienced lots of awful things to reach her decision, it's not just that she divorced him simply because she is "unhappy". besides, why marry sb you cannot stay for the rest of your life with? Isnt it better than go cheating?
besides the message is not wasting your money or leaving a guy, it's about QUESTIONING YOURSELF. so people shouldn't be so serious about how she spent her money and ruined her marriage....
I'm sure everything nowadays is for profit but you can always learn something from hearing another persons story no matter how depressed, how dumb or how crazy they are. I didn't mind that she complained throughout the book, she didn't say that her book was made because she was an ultimate teacher or to fix the problems of the world. It reminds us that we need to savor life, live in the present and even if we go through something that we think is really tough, we can always start over.
In the book Ms. Gilbert said that she didn't want to go into the detail about her divorce--it wasn't about her failed marriage
The book is about how she rose above the depression and anguish she experienced; knowing there was more to her life than being constantly despondent.
We all have a story to enact, this was hers.
Don't recriminate her actions simply b/c they don't fit in your perfect mold; respect her for the obstacles she has overcome to get her life back in order.
one wild and wonderful life - well said :)
@chirchlady
I disagree. I think this was an amazing book..it was about her finding herself..yes self, but also in the end, to give advice to others, to find themselves if they are lost. Not everyone has the luxury of knowing where they are going in life, and this very book helped me get through a terrible break-up, when I was feeling lost and uncertain. This book taught me that first one must find out who they are and where they are going in life, and that person must have patience.
@navirose73 thanks for sharing. I have wanted to do that. There is something important about being able to slow down enough to hear your own voice. Illness can do that as well. I prefer travel however, illness lead me through the self-interviewing process and lead me to wellness.
Why is everybody so upset? Self-discovery isn't selfish, if you become a better person you can better help others!
@chirchlady I thought the unlimited number of personal pronouns is quite American but she is one of the best daughters of the USA. Besides, by asking all these questions she made herself emotionally available to thousands of people, who feel the same way. Honesty, sincerity, warmth and self-irony are priceless. She wrote a lovely lovely book!!!!
Nita, you don't need to go anywhere for spiritual fulfillment: everything you need is already in your soul!
Siddhartha and Eat, Pray, Love are such great self discovery books.
each character went on a journey--went through different teachers to learn a certain lesson.
Siddhartha by Herman Hesse is not like "EPL" in its humor or constant interaction with other individuals.
But the journey that we have to learn these lessons on our own--in our own way/time/environment is the same.
Siddhartha is an awesome book, and I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.
Are you still here? I would love words back from you.
@florazab1 It doesnt have to be for rich people. You dont have to stay at the finest hotels and eat at the finest restaurants. Having that kind of thought process limits you more than money ever could.
Wow!!!!
Is not that we are going to copy her , as someone said, each person can relate in some way to it, I became curious about it and started to read it and I became aware of how away I am right now of God, I used to meditated before and when I started to work I stop, thanks to this book I will do it again, not as the same level of Elizabeth but to help myself to go on and find my own way.
@chirchlady and what great book did you write?
this novel will be filmed?
(sorry my english bad lol)
@30millionwinner I think the medcine man mentioned this not so much as to use her because he knew she was an American but because most of the people who came to him and paid were Americans. They were (and still are) fascinated by those things and look at it as something exotic and almost as a tourist attraction.
Elizabeth Gilbert does talk about the poverty in India. She has a lot of respect for local people.
@SangreGitana I saw it yesterday too :). I did find some gems of wisdom in the film/book. It's all a matter of perspective. We experience many things each day. The challenge is to actually TAKE something from it. Learn. Grow. Act.
OK and certainly everyone is entitled to her opinion. Just my opinion: I think the agony and heartbreak she went through for several years before she broke up, as well as the pain of the divorce for several years before it was finalized told me this was not a superficial or trivial decision.
Thank you tdottim.
Having not read any her previous work I base my thoughts solely on the book under discussion. I have to say that you and I came away with polar opposite views of E.G. based on our evaluation of who she portrays herself to be in this memoir. You find her charming,I think she's bombastic and phony. Could be we have different tastes outside of Hesse.
Addressing an earlier comment you made about why people watch You Tube videos of folks they don't like - for me, curiosity.
dunnydayhere: She didn't leave her husband in the dust, if you read the book you'd know. She went through a grueling separation and divorce which lasted for several years--which was completed before she started on the travel! Unhappiness inside of her caused her to want the divorce--that scenario was the start of the book, but not of her travels! Her divorce was settled and all assets distributed before she left for other countries.
perhaps she may not seem glamorous but she is typical of the type of new age author as seen in any bookstore.
coraclewoman
me too :)
Her husband the first one, had Narcisstic Personality Disorder apparently. If you have ever lived with some who has that, you would understand how it strips you of your self, and you feel BAD. I understand, I know NPD, and I know how it affects you. The book made sense to me, even though it never highlighted that about her first husband, and the book was not about that aspect, more her recovery of self.
@eyestrained07 - If a person feels abandoned by a spouse that chooses to travel alone to foreign places for a year, the so-called "abandoned" one is the needy one with unhealthy attachment.
This movie is incredibly inspirational. I saw it in theaters in September when it first came out. Was at Icon VIP theater, so got to sit in comfy chairs with a bottle wine with my best friend. Loved the movie. Walked out of there with a bigger outlook.
Two weeks later I put in my apartment lease. Something I’ve wanted to do for over a year.
Two months later everything I own that I don’t need is in storage.
Two days later I was on the road.
More on my blog at bit (dot) ly/fZyLXU
I'M VERY SURE MY NINANG TITA CHRISTINE VELOSO MARQUEZ READ THIS :) LOVE YOU NINANG TITA CHRISTINE VELOSO MARQUEZ AND UNCLE TOTI MARQUEZ AKA PERFECTO MARQUEZ SR.
@jujujujuparisxx Did you even READ the book?
@RealVeracity I admire anyone sane & spiritual enough to be able to reject and blow off Christianity.
OK you make some good points catjoyyoung. But what I disagreed with was your saying: "I think she is a passable writer who had a great idea and a book deal". She only had a book deal IMO because of her excellent earlier writing. A quick search of her bio on wikipedia shows nominations and awards (Pushcart Prize, PEN/Hemingway Award etc.) for her various writings. And in 1993 she was the first unpublished short story writer to debut in Esquire since Norman Mailer.
I, in no way, meant to compare her to Herman Hesse (one of my all time favorites as well), and if you had just said "I don't think she is a great writer", then I'm sure I wouldn't have even responded. I think there is luck involved with most success stories, but her talent for writing is why I read her. As for being influenced by my infatuation, I plead guilty. However, since I've never met EG, that infatuation was derived from what exactly? Her writing.
I just realized that in the last hour I have posted 5 lengthy posts about my affection for Elizabeth Gilbert! Liz if you ever read these, I'm not a stalker I swear!
this is a memoir of her, what would she talk about if not herself? I really think this " sillygrip" is a little bit bitter, maybe jealous almost....
I love this book and I recommend eveyone to hear her on TED about nurturing creativity.
I'M HONEST TITA CHRISTINE VELOSO MARQUEZ :) FEEL FREE TO ASK TITA CHRISTINE VELOSO MARQUEZ :) SHE HAS THE BOOK, EAT, PRAY, LOVE BY ELIZABETH GILBERT :) GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME 🙏🙏🙏
@FudgeMeUp thats not the problem, the problem is men have had this problem for years and have done the same thing and women have labeled men as bastards for this kind of behavior. Now this woman does it and she is a women's hero. Ridiculous bullshit! It has everything to do with the fact that instead of asking whether the man was happy or not they just focused on the victimized aspect of it. So as long as its a TWO WAY STREET, I'm cool with this. I liked the movie and the book.
@slothypunk i think Muslim in Indonesia is not that bad... we just like an ordinary people like common people...
I'm italian and I really loved the book ^.^
kymbob and others, if you go to India and see the poverty there, and you are on an apparently spiritual quest, surely the compassion that is at the heart of any spiritual system would move you to help? Instad she wrote a book, made a lot of money becoming yet another new age guru and then wrote another book on - getting married... but we don't hear that she ever helped the poor in India or anywhere else. And still no news on the dog either...
coraclewoman
Who edited this book? There are some terrible grammar mistakes.
As for the anti-Liz comments that precede my previous comment/love letter; I don't know what the posters are like, but anyone who didn't see the soulful humour in Gilbert's musings, is not someone who's company I would expect to enjoy. And I'm always amazed at the number of people who take time from their day to watch videos on RUclips of people they don't particularly care for. It would be like me seeking out all the videos on Tim Allen and posting my 2 cents about how I don't find him funny.
Does anyone here think she left her husband for that other guy(david) and then when it didn't work out she went through the depression? BC i wonder a bit about that. Granted the journey was awesome and her story is moving and funny, did it maybe all start bc she was chronically dissatisfied?
there are different parts of india. concidering elizabeth herself is a tourist, give her credit. im sure u have stereotypes of americans as well.
I read the book and still don't like her. I think the idea of traveling and taking some time to really understand yourself is a good thing. When I read the book I felt like she just dumped her husband because she wasn't ready to settle down and have kids. And to top it off she left her husband and ends up with a different man in her life. And for those talking about how unless you've discovered yourself you don't know what it's like, I do know what it's like and I still don't like what she did.
"Eat, Pray, Queef". South Park has done it now.
@mamie189
Neither have I produced a Hollywood movie nor raced in NASCAR. But that's not really the point, is it? I welcome the opportunity to offer honest comment on a book I spent $ and time on. I thought that was the purpose of this "comment" site. I enjoy reading other folks' commentary-especially Mythic89's. Whew! I think this sort of feedback from others brings certain features of the book's message to light vis-à-vis our society and the human condition. It's an adult thing to do. Agreed?
Good discussion, though this film needs to break free from the chick flick genre... it's much bigger than that.
Looking forward to seeing the film & reading the book.
ELIZABETH GILBERT IS A EXPLICIT AUTHOR :)
@blupheonix44 1. I think debating on youtube is pointless. 2. However; Please don't make these generalized statements if you haven't read the book. Which you haven't, obviously. The divorce is hardly part of it. It is just about taking time to discover what you love. Its gender neutral. if the book was written by a man, it would be just as good. It is nice (as a woman) to hear such a unique femaile voice, because I identify with a lot of the insecurities, and passions. But that is all.
Well tdottim, imo although she may do well with small aricles ( I will have to defer to you on that as I have not read any of them) I stand by my assessment of her as a passable writer when it comes to her book. I reserve the compliment of "Great writer" for the likes of Doris Lessing, Thomas Hardy, Maya Angelou, Hermann Hesse etc.
Perhaps you are influenced by your infatuation for her.
@ritter89
The book IS much better. I don't think the movie will be able to capture the depth of her transformation as written in the book. Have you read the book yet? If you haven't, I suggest that you do. :) The book is hardly romantic at all.
She reminds me a little of Melissa Etheridge.
@btp248 exactly are you serious. self discovery's the type of thing you just cant understand unless youve been through it yourself its like love. you dont know what it feels like unless youve actually been through it. so you guys dont know what your talking about at all and just make yourself look ignorant when you say whatever it is that you say.
GOD KNOWS :) I'M 💯 PERCENT SURE :)
hmmm... i don't know if i can agree with you or not with ur oppinion, but here what i know, MOST people are prejudice you know, esp with all the things going around with moslems... and it takes more than 'not that bad' to recover the image of islam esp in the western world. been to indonesia capital city, I think the people are great
Rarely does one read a book with more personal pronouns than this. More than 600 pages of self-absorption. In this video she says: "The point is...ask the same questions that led to this journey." She offers: "Why am i so unhappy?" Well in the book she wrote that traveling is the love of her life. She answered her own question with that vapid statement. At least she's honest. This is a quintessential book defining our present generation lost in a journey of self-absorption (& uninspired writing)
@lesileee Let me see if I read correctly... you are expressing hate towards a person that you have even met, right? Just checking.
I can't believe some of the things I'm reading on here. Have half of you even read the book?
What's wrong with being selfish? Self discovery is selfish, they have "self" in it, lol. Everyone has their own methods to process their discovery, the only thing that makes everyone's journey the same is that they are selfish, and there's nothing wrong with that because it creates happiness. There might be happiness from selfless acts, but there is no such selfless happiness. The book was not published so people could copy what she did, what's that gonna do? It means to inspire others.
@bumzurvaj why do u think so? she even attempted to suicide! do u mean that she had to stay in that marriage n die?
@bootymanager I am so sorry for you and for all people that is thinking like you. , the money is not the motor of the life, so your comment is so far away of this message. To do what she did not need a lot of money but need your faith that is possible to do it. You must believe that is possible and work it out to get it. IS Completely simple. Take your time to build your dream. Be the number one in your own life one time and then you will see the big difference.