On the Nightstand : Eat, Pray, Love

So with the Borders going out of business, B and I were able to pick up quite a few books for a steal. I am really trying to make more of an effort to read rather than chill in front of the zombie box so I am starting a little book review section called "On the Nightstand" I hope you enjoy it and suggest other books to read! The first book I decided to read was Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert.

I thought it was a great book following a woman's journey to find herself. I do think this notion is quite stereotypical but this lady had enough money to spend a year traveling and devoting all of it towards this goal. If only everyone had the time and funds to go on this, imagine how well-adjusted we would all be, right?

The book starts with her wanting out of her marriage and she continues talking about the pain this divorce and dissolution of a union was for her. I cannot personally relate to this and I hope to never have to even consider this horrible notion. B was a little put off on the fact that she just wanted out and it left a little sour taste in his mouth. I do understand that relationships are very diverse and full of complications because ultimately most people are pretty screwed up and pairing two of those crazys together cannot be easy. So she starts this self-evaluating journey by traveling to Italy first coming off of a younger lover relationship that sounded extremely disfunctional.

Her time in Italy was consumed with time devoted to herself and indulging in her desires of language, sites, and of course food. As someone who used to know a few languages, I know that when there is a desire to fully engulf yourself in an environment, the best way is to learn the local rhetoric. You will then find all the best places, people are more friendly, and you can feel almost a part of the country. This part of her journey was about indulgence and her later travels were about self-control.

She then travels to India to learn a better way to meditate and pray. I personally understood her struggles to quiet her mind and be able to listen and not think too much. She did end up learning a way to quiet her mind and pray and listen. I felt myself cheering her on when she finally understood that you can push all that excess from your mind. It also made me want to take up yoga to harness my mind and body in a way that allows me to relax and let things go. Maybe that is something I can take up when I have more time...

Finally she goes to Indonesia to study under a medicine man she met a few years prior. This is the time for her to find balance. Balance is something I feel most people struggle with and I know I definitely do. She finds true happiness and understanding during her time and she is able to end her travels on a true high note.

I will not ruin the book but I do think it was good read and I am looking forward to seeing how they did the adaption into a movie.