Eat, Pray, Love
Elizabeth Gilbert, 2006
338 pp.
June 2007
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single woman in possession of a broken heart must be in want of a meal. —June Austin
Elizabeth Gilbert takes that famous maxim to extraordinary lengths in her smart, delightful book and heads to Italy, where she eats four-months worth of pasta, gelato, calamari, stewed rabbit, pickled hyacinth bulbs, and the best pizza in the world. In the process she puts on 15 pounds, which should endear to pretty much everyone in the over-30 crowd.
Having lost twice at love, Gilbert is an emotional train wreck, so she embarks on a year-long spiritual journey, dividing her time equally between Italy, India and Indonesia. Her pursuit of pleasure and devotion is both funny and serious. The goal is not only to mend a broken heart but to repair a bruised, confused and empty soul—to find and accept her true self.
Gilbert writes with irresistible wit, but she also writes with wisdom and well-researched knowledge. She has done her homework, and passes on fascinating information about Italian history, Balinese culture, Hindu philosophy, as well as her own views on spirituality.
Gilbert has developed the habit of sobbing on bathroom floors, just about anywhere, and at times her self-absorption is tiring. But she’s ready and willing to poke fun at her own foibles and, most of the time, gets us to laugh with her. This is someone you’d love to meet—and reading her book is the next best thing.
See our Reading Guide for Eat, Pray, Love.