I have just returned from a five-day journey through Italy, India, and Indonesia. I also just finished one of my favorite books. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert is an amazing story that I didn’t want to put down. I felt as if I was traveling with her, and I was entranced by her, her writing, her story, her adventures, everything. I cannot speak highly enough about this book, and I truly doubt that any review I give of it will give you a good enough understanding of how great I think it is.

This book is made into three parts, each a personal journey the author undertakes to “examine one aspect of her own nature, set against the backdrop of a culture that has traditionally done that one thing very well.” So, she goes to Italy to study the art of pleasure, India for the art of devotion, and Indonesia for the art of balancing the two in her own life. Elizabeth (I can’t refer to her by her last name, I feel as if I know her too well – in fact, I think we could be friends, if we ever met) lets us see her at her worst moments as she goes through a heart-wrenching divorce, and takes us along while she travels in order to find herself.

The day I finished the section on Italy, I was craving Italian food the way only an Italian food junkie can crave it, and I was lucky enough to have a couple of friends who just happened to want to introduce my husband and I to an Italian restaurant in our new city. The section on India seriously wanted to make me start trying to meditate (me, who can’t even sit still for more than 30 seconds without becoming sickeningly bored). And while Indonesia has never really appealed to me as a tourist spot, I can understand exactly why she goes there and exactly why she loves it.

5 out of 5 stars. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. The moment I started it I knew it was going to become one of my favorites. You’ll fall in love with Elizabeth and marvel at her accomplishments, and when you’ve come to the last page, you’ll be begging to read more. By the way, when you’re done reading, go to the author’s website. Under the FAQ page, you’ll find pictures of some of her most memorable friends. ( )

Initially I found this book irritating. The Gilbert in the “Eat” section was so egocentric I felt like reaching into the book and shaking some sense into her. However as you progress into the book you begin to realise why she is so. The rest of the book takes you, with her on a path of personal growth and maturity. Persistence paid off and in the end I enjoyed the book and Gilbert herself. ( )

The book is a very honest account of one woman's struggles and her journey to finding happiness/ balance. It would be great to take a year off to focus totally on yourself as she did. ( )

Delightful, moving, charming, and inspiring. Gilbert explores cultures and customs without either glorifying or patronizing them. She shares with insight and humor her struggles and losses, and she invites us to learn along with her. From indulgence to self-control to letting life be, Gilbert explores finding happiness in the now. ( )

Have you ever read a book that completely envelopes you in its words, calming your hectic mind and allowing you to feel more composed, calm, and relaxed than you would normally be? I read this book at one of the most stressful points of the past few months - in the middle of studying for my second certification exam. During the last test, no matter what I was reading, I could not shut off my brain. I slept horribly, could not focus, and was an overall basketcase. One or two chapters of Eat, Pray, Love and I was all of those things described above and more. I felt zen-like. I felt...amazing.

Divided into three sections to reflect Ms. Gilbert's focus and country in which she was staying, the flow of the book could have been disjointed and difficult to follow. Rather, the story flowed because of Ms. Gilbert's progress on her journey to find peace and balance. Her growth over the course of the book is visible and shapes each word and sentence. The emotional turmoil at the beginning of the book eventually gives way to the most amazing feelings of peace, unity, and love. A reader cannot help but cheer Ms. Gilbert on her progress as well as envy her the financial ability to be able to take such a journey.

There are times where the subject matter becomes difficult. Anyone who has loved fiercely and lost will recognize Ms. Gilbert's pain and suffering. Personally, I struggled with her focus on faith and God. While I was born and raised a Catholic, am raising my children to be Catholic, I have so many doubts and fears and a overall lack of faith that I probably should not be called a part of any religion. I have panic attacks at the thought of death and leaving this world. As a result, I wavered between fighting back the panic as Ms. Gilbert discussed her viewpoints on such ideas as Heaven, Hell, God, karma, and other items of faith and pure envy that she was able to open herself up to the possibilities and was able to discover a faith that works for her. Everyone should have that opportunity to do so, even if it does not mean spending four months in an ashram in India.

There is no way I am going to do justice to this book. The timing of it could not have been more perfect. I was struggling to maintain my composure in the face of this test and was able to do so with the help of one of Ms. Gilbert's mantras she chanted while in India. Ms. Gilbert's language is simplistic but poetic at the same time. Her descriptions of the food in Italy, of the peace and serenity in India, and sheer beauty of Bali left me wanting to drop everything and follow in her footsteps. While reading, I found myself reflecting on my own life, the spiritual holes to which I should attend, the calm I so desperately crave. I found myself taking notes throughout the book, something I never do while reading, as I want to remember Ms. Gilbert's comments on happiness, on faith, on being whole. My favorite quote is as follows; I find it so inspiring:

Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world looking for it. You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestations of your own blessings (pg. 260).

As this year for me has been all about self-discovery and development, this was the perfect book to read. I can see various readers getting different life lessons out of the book based on where they are in their life, which is perfectly acceptable. Ms. Gilbert even stresses the idea that her journey was what she needed at that point in time in her life. However, I feel the poignant life lessons she shares with the reader are worth the time taken to read them and can be adapted to the individual. Eat, Pray, Love is a simplistic and yet completely powerful book - one that will stay with me for a very long time. ( )