Finished reading 'Eat, Pray and Love' 2 months back. I wanted to write about it ever since. the reason it took so long to pen down my thoughts was mainly due to fact that I was unable to conclude my own opinion about this one. this happens rarely with me as typically while reading the few chapters of any book, i either like the book or dislike it.
I had read the Marathi translation of this around 8-10 years back. somehow it didn't make a lasting impression that time. Either the emotions and gravity of Elizabeth's own words was lost in the translation or may be I was too young that time to be able to relate her exploration towards E-P-L.
EPL is memoir of American writer Elizabeth (Liz) in her thirties, who after her divorce decides to spend next one year in Italy, India and Indonesia searching for 'everything'.
She eats well in Italy, experiences prayerful meditation at an ashram in India, and meets a variety of loving individuals in Indonesia.
Like I said, this book took me on a whirlpool ride, i honestly could not decide if I loved or disliked it.
At one hand, I was thrilled to read about her multi-country, multi-culture, "looking at rest-of-the-world through American eyes" experience. but at the same time, at many spots it would force me to think this writer as the most self-absorbed person.
My biggest problem with this book was I had difficulty at times believing if Liz actually achieved the enlightenment she talks about because most of the times she is so internally focused.
Italy part was quite ok. 2nd part of India experience - being Indian and Hindu, I have fair idea how tough & how long it takes to reach the state of igniting your kundalini and to even experience the glimpse of out-of-worldly experience which Liz claims she had in Ashram. The 3rd part in Indonesia - was again quite believable for most of the part.
In the end the overall effect on me was rather like sitting at a party listening to someone telling a long involved story all about themselves, and you're alternately annoyed and fascinated, so you want to get up and leave. But she's just so entertaining that you keep telling yourself you'll leave in the next minute--but you end up sticking through the whole story.
When the fascinating journey of reading this memoir ended, I couldn't help rolling my eyes and thinking "huh, this is a tale of a privileged but emotionally self-indulgent woman who is unsatisfied with her life." but at the same time it also tipped me to think if I get an opportunity to spend one year as all-advance-paid job to explore the world on my own terms, would I do anything differently?
The book became more famous after the movie was released with same title as of book starring Julia Roberts as Liz.
