Eat, Pray, Love Book Review

Hi hi! I'm back again with another book review. This was actually my second time reading "Eat, Pray, Love" because my initial attempt was unsuccessful. I first tried to start this book while in college, and wasn't able to juggle all of my commitments AND read. This was fairly typical of my college days- my renewed love for reading has really blossomed since I've been working full time. I purchased this book before it was even committed to be a movie, and decided I wasn't going to see the movie until I finished it... years later I am finally ready. This second attempt obviously had divine timing because I was able to get all the way through it and really felt as though my older self appreciated it more than my college self would have. I've had more relationship experience, finally have the desire to travel, have a love for yoga, a steady faith, and well, my love for pasta has always been here. But you can see that I am basically an ideal candidate for this book.

The book is split into 3 sections, not-so-slyly relating to the title. The author, Elizabeth Gilbert, picks up to travel after a nasty divorce and what I gathered to be a mid-life crisis. She spends her time in 3 different countries- Italy, India, and Indonesia- and explores different aspects of her personality while immersed in the culture of each one.

In my humble opinion, this is a beautiful story of self-discovery as she navigates her travels and healing process. She openly writes about her struggles with loneliness and depression, which I was very impressed with. She could have easily glazed over those details and filled the pages with the rest of the story line. Her self-assurance tactics and connection to her budding spirituality were also inspiring to me.

I found this to be extremely well-written and easy to read. It wasn't a book that I couldn't put down, but I had no problem feeling engaged and excited to pick it back up. I love books with a strong female lead and this absolutely qualifies! After finishing, I have decided that I want to go eat all of the pasta she described in Italy and am excited to develop a more spiritual connection to yoga/meditation. But first, I will settle to just see the movie! I hope it doesn't disappoint!

On a side note, I just started Mindy Kaling's "Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me" and am loving it. I'm looking forward to the next review already!

Have you read "Eat, Pray, Love"? Did you see the film? What are you currently reading/do you have any book recommendations for me?