A book review (Nami)

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Any novel couldn’t be better to make readers sympathized with the main character, the thirty two year-old New Yorker, Elizabeth Gilbert, whose name is same as one of the author. No one doubts she is successful and happy because she has a career as a writer and owns a house in New York with her husband. However, she is unhappy and depressed with her marriage and lost in her life. Getting divorced, she decides to take a year vacation and travel in the world to change her life. The destinations are Italy, India, and Indonesia. She enjoys eating in Italy, learns spirituality in India, and looks for a balanced life and love in Bali.

What drew me into the novel is an essay-style description about her travel. The story is divided into three parts, Italy, India, and Bali, and each chapter contains many factors; beautiful scenery, people who Elizabeth make friends with while traveling, and the cultural and historical background about the destinations. As I followed her record of travelling, I felt as if I was travelling in those countries. In addition, it is fascinating to know how she changes since meeting new people and encountering the new cultures.

Here are the important characters whom Elizabeth meets in her trip. David, her ex-boy friend during and after Elizabeth’s marriage, is her obsession which she has to overcome. Richard is her good American friend who talks with her about love and friendship. Ketut, a Balinese medicine man, helps her search a balanced life. Especially with Richard and Ketut, there are a lot of valuable conversations for Elizabeth to open her eyes. Moreover, these conversations are very personal and emotional, but they seem like to talk to you directly.

This novel, based on her own experience, must fascinate you because Elizabeth’s anxiety is nothing special, but happens to anyone in this modern society. The novel is very personal, serious, but humorous. You will find interesting and valuable ideas and perceptions through the story about life, love and friendship. After reading the book, I bet you want to read her another book, “Committed” which is about her new life after the travel.

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Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

No novel could be better to sympathize readeres with the main character, the thirty two year-old New Yorker, Elizabeth Gilbert, whose name is the same as the author. No one doubts she is successful and happy because she has a career as a writer and owns a house in New York with her husband. However, she is unhappy and depressed with her marriage and lost in her life. After getting divorced, she decides to take a year vacation and traveled in the world to change her life. The destinations are Italy, India, and Indonesia. She enjoys eating in Italy, learns spirituality in India, and looks for a balanced life and love in Bali.

What drew me into the novel is her essay-style description about her travels/trip. The story is divided into three parts, Italy, India, and Bali. Each chapter contains many stories such as beautiful scenery, people who Elizabeth make friends with while traveling, and the cultural and historical background about the destinations. As I followed her account of travelling, I felt as if I was travelling in those countries. In addition, it is fascinating to know how she changes when meeting new people and encountering new cultures.

Here are the important characters whom Elizabeth meets in her trip. David, her ex-boy friend during and after Elizabeth’s marriage, is her obsession which she has to overcome. Richard is her good American friend who talks with her about love and friendship. Ketut, a Balinese medicine man, helps her search for a balanced ife. Especially with Richard and Ketut, there are a lot of valuable conversations for Elizabeth to open her eyes. Moreover, these conversations are very personal and emotional, but they seem like to talk to you directly.

This novel, based on her own experience, will fascinate you because Elizabeth's anxiety is nothing special, but can happens to anyone in the modern society. The novel is very personal, serious, but also humorous. You will find interesting and valuable ideas and perceptions through the story about life, love and friendship. After reading the book, I bet you will want to read her other book, “Committed” which is about her new life after her journey.