Its been a long time since my last post. Forgive me for the delay. Lot had happened here in Andamans. A flood! And we were stuck in the flood for more than 48 hrs! Thankfully, we reached home safe and sound and so did everyone else too. The cyclone, Phailine, that struck Orrissa and AP, had struck Andamans earlier and no one even reported on national TV! Nonetheless, we are just happy to escape the flood without any casualty.
Well, over to the blog now.
I recently read a book that touched my heart in a way that no other book ever did, even though the book deals with something starkly different from what I am experiencing in my life right now.
You have guessed it right! I am, indeed, talking about the book ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ by Elizabeth Gilbert.
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I had ordered the book long ago but got to read it only a fortnight back. And as I read it, the more I read it, the more I loved it. The book has also been made into a movie by the same name.
Eat, Pray, Love is a woman’s journey across three countries where she searches for peace and stability in her life. This woman is none other than the author herself, Elizabeth Gilbert.
Elizabeth, who is fondly called Liz throughout the book, is in her early thirties, has gone through a failed marriage that ended in a devastatingly ugly divorce, failed in another short rebound love fling, and who is now out on a journey of one year that would change the way she looks at her life.
The book is a memoir and runs in first person narration. Over the next 250 pages, the book spans across Liz’s odyssey into the three countries and Liz talks about her life in these countries as things happen. Also, the book gives you some amazing quotes that I have listed throughout this post in highlights.
“People think a soul mate is your perfect fit, and that’s what everyone wants. But a true soul mate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that is holding you back, the person who brings you to your own attention so you can change your life.”
She first lands in Italy for four months where she not only learns Italian language (out of her pure love for the language), but also eats lots of tasty, delicious pasta and gains weight. Hence, Eat!
Next to Italy is India, a destination for four months in an Ashram near rural Mumbai. In India, Liz stays at an ashram, learns meditation, finds a path to devotion and peace and gets rid of the commotion and chaos of her life. Hence, Pray!
Finally, she flies to Indonesia where again she lives for four months and learns how to find balance in life. It is here in Indonesia that Elizabeth gets ready for falling in love again and she actually does fall in love with a Brazilian man. Hence, Love!
“This is a good sign, having a broken heart. It means we have tried for something.”
Like I said, the book is about a woman who seems to have lost lot in life in terms of love and marriage. But she still has her well paying job that she not only needs but also desperately loves. While, my life, atleast at the moment of reading the book and writing this post, has lots of love but not job or career. Still, I absolutely loved the book. Why?
Eat, Pray, Love is written in a language that is universal. I may be happily married right now but I did have my share of heart breaks. Many of them. There were times when I sat on the bathroom floors and sobbed for hours to find out a way. Just a way. Just a bleak ray of light to show me the direction. I had times of utter shock and grief when I did know what I wanted from my life. And there were times when I knew what I wanted, but I did not know how to have what I wanted.
“I have a history of making decisions very quickly about men. I have always fallen in love fast and without measuring risks. I have a tendency not only to see the best in everyone, but to assume that everyone is emotionally capable of reaching his highest potential. I have fallen in love more times than I care to count with the highest potential of a man, rather than with the man himself, and I have hung on to the relationship for a long time (sometimes far too long) waiting for the man to ascend to his own greatness. Many times in romance I have been a victim of my own optimism.”
During those times, I also did what Liz did in her book. Just that I did it in parts.
Since childhood, I had this habit of rushing to the nearest bakery when I was upset. Each time I was scolded or I lost something precious or I just failed in some exam, I would rush to the bakery and eat a pastry! Really. It did wonders to my mood. I have got a strong sweet tooth for nothing!
Then there were other times when I lived away from family in a working women’s hostel or in a rented flat and the bakery was a little far away and I felt terribly tired to walk, I would just lie down, close my eyes and converse with God. I would often ask him, ‘why me?’, ‘why only me?’, ‘why not me when you are upto for a good thing?’
Finally, when nothing of this worked – no pastries and no more conversations, I took to travelling. Like when I came to India after my MBA, I deliberately took up the job in Kolkata even though I knew no one there. I wanted to travel, explore a new place and find solace in solitude. I made some lovely friends there who are now my friends for life. It was here that I made a short and quick trip to Manipur with a very close friend and that trip was life changing in many ways.
“When I get lonely these days, I think: So BE lonely, Liz. Learn your way around loneliness. Make a map of it. Sit with it, for once in your life. Welcome to the human experience. But never again use another person’s body or emotions as a scratching post for your own unfulfilled yearnings.”
So, even though I do not and can not visualise my life as Elizabeth Gilbert’s life in Eat, Pray, Love, I still can relate to her and her book very well. I am sure I could have related very well even in the absence of these pastries, conversations and the travels.
The best thing about the book is the way it is written. The book uses very simple, easy to comprehend English that is not only witty but very sensible and honest too. The book is written in a way that it feels as if Elizabeth is narrating her story to you, just to you, sitting right in front there. She has opened up her life to bits and that only makes her adorable.
I so wish to meet her now. After reading her book, it feels I know her. Not a surprise, I am sure anyone who reads her book feels the same.
The book is funny. The first page itself gives you smiles and the smiles only keep broadening in the pages to follow.
“In desperate love, we always invent the characters of our partners, demanding they be what we need of them, and then feeling devastated when they refuse to perform the role we created in the first place.”
Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love is a manifesto of finding balance and stability in life. She teaches how many a times you just need to let go of things silently and watch a new life coming out of darkness.
The book does not advise anything in particular. It is certainly not a self-help book. It is a book that just makes you feel better. It tells you that it is wise, essential and easy to laugh at yourself. Liz does just that.
This is a book that you should pick up each time you feel low. This would pick you up! For sure!
A MUST READ BOOK FOR ALL WOMEN! I highly, highly recommend it. I wish I was earning enough to give a copy each to all my beloved readers. I hope a day like that comes soon!
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I've heard a lot about the book and I've been wanting to read it. I better get hold of it soon! Great review!
You should probably go and see the movie, if you have not already done so!
How wonderful that you live in the Andamans! I went there for my honeymoon !
I have read this book too.. And yes i have loved it. Truly one of the best books i have read till date 🙂
Hi Surabhi. I have read the book and seen the movie and loved them both. You are right it is a must read book.
You MUST read it. Its an awesome book.
I havent seen the movie but I am trying to find a way to watch it. And Andamans is lovely. I am in love with this place.
Yes, it is. I loved it too. I have started to read it again twice.. "D
The book is awesome and I am sure the movie would be good too. This book is marvellous.. so honest, simple and relevant.
Glad you are all safe and sound. I have seen this movie. Is it Julia Roberts in that?
Have heard about this book a lot but never got around to reading it. Must order soon. How lovely that you stay in Andamans! I really want to visit the place. 🙂
What a coincidence, i can this book on my table right now screaming to be read.I have seen the movie and absolutely loved the phenomenal Julia Robert. But yes i would still going to read it.You really captured the essence of the book beautifully.
Yes, that's the one Poornima. They say the movie doesnt stand upto the expectations that the book has built. I havent seen the movie yet, but I can vouch for the book!
Come visit Andamans! 😀 its an awesome place. You MUST read this book. Its a must read for all women.
Thank you Anu..! I guess, the book would give you good company on a cruise! 😀
i wanted to read the book first,but watched it first:) will read soon..My fav book till date is The Alchemist..:)
-Soundarya
Alchemist is a great book! You must read EPL. You would love this one too. How you doing? long time.
ya,doin great surabhi..went to dubai for vacation..week of fun,desert safari,hot air ballooning and being on top of burj khalifa,dhow cruise..had a nice time..how about u? wen moving to delhi..