I know I promised you a post about the India section of Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat Pray Love. I am still attempting to participate in Bored Mommy’s virtual book club.
Truth be told, I haven’t been able to finish it. I have tried, but I cannot get into this book. I really wanted to love Eat Pray Love because so many people like it and recommend it. However, right now I am ready to put it down and not pick it up again. I am struggling through each page.
I wasn’t impressed with Italy and I still don’t like Gilbert’s writing style. I am about three quarters the way through India and I am annoyed. I know that this book is about Gilbert and her journey, but I am finding this section incredibly self-indulgent and tiresome. She complains a lot. About everything. Her negativity brings me down, which is disappointing because she is on a spiritual journey while in India. Maybe some of her enlightenment shines through in the pages I have yet to read.
The bright light in the India section (and yes, there is one), is Richard from Texas. He is honest and insightful. Any of the little gems I will take away from this section come from him. He is a refreshing contrast to a whiny (yes, I said it) Liz.
Hopefully, I will get through this section and provide you with a more fair, inspired review.
In the meantime, wish me luck.
I agree with you – she complains ALOT in the India section. But I found that Richard really made the chapter worth reading – love him. I found myself underlining almost everything the guy said.
You can do it Sarah!! I have faith – the non-boring, less whiny kind.
“the non-boring, less-whiny kind” Haha! That made me laugh. I’ll trust you that he redeeems the section. I will keep plugging along…
I have put down books mid sentence, even highly recommended ones. Sometimes I don’t like the writer’s voice, sometimes the subject isn’t right. I hate forcing reading. Some books I come back to later. Others just piss me off. That said, I read Eat Pray Love a while back and remember the reading but aparently took little from it. Except that I want to go to Bali.
I didn’t even make it through the first chapter of the book before dropping it in the bin. Sorry I missed the Richard character but not sorry I missed the rest of it
I was so freaking bored with that book, especially the India segment. Richard completely saved that section. I, too, couldn’t get over how much she bitched and moaned. Jeez!
Well, I had planned on reading the book first before seeing the movie, but by everyone’s reaction, sounds like I’m not missing anything….I certainly don’t want to pick up a book and struggle through it. That said good luck Sarah!
oh, let the book go…like me…:)
Or finish it and tell me if I should bother picking it up again (over a year later)
I’m with Lee, that’s about how far I got. I hear Richard from Texas is also the best character in the movie. I read a review in People magazine by someone who hated the book that says the movie is a bit less painful.
I’ve resisted the temptation to come and read your post, because I so loved this book. It’seen a while since I read it (2 years) but it’s is up there as one of my all-time favourites. So I’m sad you don’t like it. And I was afraid your review would colour my opinion, but it hasn’t. It’s like anything, I probably just read it at the right time for me, or maybe her style is just right for me. Who knows.
It is so hard when you can’t get into a book. I read The Fountainhead because so many people recommended it and said it actually changed their life. I got 400 pages into the 700 page monstrosity and literally couldn’t stand to read one more page. I never give up on books half way but I had to call it quits. Not everyone will like every book.
)
Same here. I’ve started Indonesia, and it’d better be good. I will finish it!
This happened with “Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius.” Joe loved it, couldn’t recommend it enough. It took me 2 months to finish. And I read fast. It was that boring.