Anonymous wrote:I read a couple of pages of the book, and it happened to be the part where she told her husband she was leaving him. She just seemed so unconcerned with his feelings that I was horrified. I never understood the "phenomena" of the book/movie.

I know her ex slightly. He is now very content seeming with 2 kids, an accomplished wife, and a cool job. I also met EG once or twice (and like a lot of her writing other than EPL which I couldn't stand.) My impression was that she was a very charismatic and flighty person - not a match with her ex really. So it is a happy ending!

Hated the book didnt finish. Never bothered with the movie

Learning that she apparently had a book deal to write Eat Pray Love before she began her travels colored my view of the book.

Anonymous wrote:I actually loved the book and the movie ... and I dislike narcissism as much as the next person. She is writing about getting over a painful divorce and the way I read it, she takes full responsibility for her role. I thought it was very honest ... the way you get when you just can't stop sobbing. she was probably clinically depressed. And I think she is also honest that she was incredibly privileged to go on that journey. Was fun to read about. Having read all of her other books, I can confirm she is a very talented writer. I also love her stance on creativity.

I am simply amazed that she wrote other books and that someone actually read them.

Anonymous wrote:I read a couple of pages of the book, and it happened to be the part where she told her husband she was leaving him. She just seemed so unconcerned with his feelings that I was horrified. I never understood the "phenomena" of the book/movie.

I loved the book. I think the phenomena is because so many, if not the majority of married women, wake up at some point and realize what a raw deal they got. they are martyrs for the husbands and kids, the are on a never ending daily grind etc. The book pissed a lot of women off because Elizabeth made a conscious decision to NOT have a kid at the risk of ending her marriage. I think quite a few women would have preferred to not have kids but kind of fell in line and married whoever they were dating at the time, the clock was ticking, had some kids and realize its kind of shitty.

I actually loved the book and the movie ... and I dislike narcissism as much as the next person. She is writing about getting over a painful divorce and the way I read it, she takes full responsibility for her role. I thought it was very honest ... the way you get when you just can't stop sobbing. she was probably clinically depressed. And I think she is also honest that she was incredibly privileged to go on that journey. Was fun to read about. Having read all of her other books, I can confirm she is a very talented writer. I also love her stance on creativity.

Anonymous wrote:I also thought the book was self centered and narcissistic, which is why I have no interest in seeing the movie, or reading anything else she writes!

+1

OP here - OK, so I'm not the only one! I thought I was crazy because I'd heard so much about the book/movie.

I did finish watching it, hoping it would have some sort of redeeming ending, but I have to say I hated it until the very end. I can't remember the last time I disliked a movie this much.

It just seemed like she was blaming her situation for her unhappiness ... you know, like she just ended up in this life she didn't want, and she had no choice in the matter. Instead of tackling those issues and working out her own depression, she just ran away from everything on a whim with no thoughts for those around her.

Ugh. Big thumbs down.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:The film is better than the book, which probably won't make you feel better. It's all just a love letter from Elizabeth Gilbert to Elizabeth Gilbert. She sure loves how genius she thinks she is.

I can watch the film, but I cannot ever read that self-obsessed book again.

OMG no the movie is the worst thing EVERRR

I LOVED the book when I read it at 22. I'm sure if I read it now I would roll my eyes hard.

Whether people love this book or hate it tells you a lot about them and where they are in life. It's like a Rorschach test.

I actually could see myself as potentially having liked it IF I had read it at 22. At 35, with a little more perspective on life, marriage, and relationships, I thought it was awful. I thought she was awful. What a terrible person to walk out on an apparently very nice husband who loved her and wanted to work things out, just because she was bored.

Well, she didn't have kids so it wasn't such a bad thing. Hopefully he found someone who loved him.
I liked the book in my twenties but doubt I would like it today.

I remember not minding the book. The movie was horrible.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The film is better than the book, which probably won't make you feel better. It's all just a love letter from Elizabeth Gilbert to Elizabeth Gilbert. She sure loves how genius she thinks she is.

I can watch the film, but I cannot ever read that self-obsessed book again.

OMG no the movie is the worst thing EVERRR

I LOVED the book when I read it at 22. I'm sure if I read it now I would roll my eyes hard.

Whether people love this book or hate it tells you a lot about them and where they are in life. It's like a Rorschach test.

I actually could see myself as potentially having liked it IF I had read it at 22. At 35, with a little more perspective on life, marriage, and relationships, I thought it was awful. I thought she was awful. What a terrible person to walk out on an apparently very nice husband who loved her and wanted to work things out, just because she was bored.

It's so ironic she was bored because she's pretty boring.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The film is better than the book, which probably won't make you feel better. It's all just a love letter from Elizabeth Gilbert to Elizabeth Gilbert. She sure loves how genius she thinks she is.

I can watch the film, but I cannot ever read that self-obsessed book again.

OMG no the movie is the worst thing EVERRR

I LOVED the book when I read it at 22. I'm sure if I read it now I would roll my eyes hard.

Whether people love this book or hate it tells you a lot about them and where they are in life. It's like a Rorschach test.

I actually could see myself as potentially having liked it IF I had read it at 22. At 35, with a little more perspective on life, marriage, and relationships, I thought it was awful. I thought she was awful. What a terrible person to walk out on an apparently very nice husband who loved her and wanted to work things out, just because she was bored.

I have never read it! I wish I could go back in time to read it at 22. Now it's way too late and sounds like I would eye roll too.
I'm trying to think of books I have read (as a carefree single) that I should read again though.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The film is better than the book, which probably won't make you feel better. It's all just a love letter from Elizabeth Gilbert to Elizabeth Gilbert. She sure loves how genius she thinks she is.

I can watch the film, but I cannot ever read that self-obsessed book again.

OMG no the movie is the worst thing EVERRR

I LOVED the book when I read it at 22. I'm sure if I read it now I would roll my eyes hard.

Whether people love this book or hate it tells you a lot about them and where they are in life. It's like a Rorschach test.

I actually could see myself as potentially having liked it IF I had read it at 22. At 35, with a little more perspective on life, marriage, and relationships, I thought it was awful. I thought she was awful. What a terrible person to walk out on an apparently very nice husband who loved her and wanted to work things out, just because she was bored.

The book sucked. I put it down after 25 pages. Would never bother with a movie version. Ugh.

Anonymous wrote:I love a "ditch the man and find yourself" story as much as the next feminist, but I'm halfway through this movie and it just sucks. The woman is a depressed, self-centered, indecisive wacko. Please tell me it'll get better off I keep watching?

When it first came out there was a very divided opinion on the film some championed her plight while others looked at her as a completely selfish disappointments - something about her rubbed me the wrong way and I did watch it a second time, seeing her on Oprah cemented my decision