Wow. With a title like that I feel like I'm back in 5th grade! But, I can't help but blog about a feat that has been accomplished in my life that hasn't happened in quite a while. I actually finished a book! Now, that's not to say I haven't started books, sure that's happened, but completing one from cover to cover is a whole different issue. Ah yes, the book-- "Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert-- a book I read for a 'Book Club' I recently joined. Now, the title may seem like a book that you'd use for a nice women's bible study... but not so much. First the author is not a Christian, the book hardly mentions the Bible that I can recall, too many expletives, sexual references, and just bad theology, to be honest, for that. This is not to say that I disliked the book altogether, though, either. Unfortunately, I can relate to some of the author's "battlefield of the mind" issues and she came across writing like a friend who was basically spilling her guts out to you-- her writing was warm, witty, and interesting. I will quickly add that this book, in my opinion, is not for the young adult or teen reader. Too many 'adult details' about her life-- nothing crazy-- but I wouldn't feel comfortable passing this on to girls in my Sunday school class, if you catch my drift. Now, onto more details about the book.
First, let me say, I was excited when this book was presented as the choice for our reading group. I happened to see a brief portion of the author's interview on Oprah. Everyone seemed to be raving about the book. One lady even referred to it as her 'bible'. (Uh- no thanks.) To quickly sum up the book the author, who has a successful writing career and seems to have done well for herself, emotionally spirals out of control after a nasty divorce. She becomes severely depressed and looks for many things to fill the despair and void in her life. When she can't find what she's looking for in her current situation, she decides to take whatever money she has left after the divorce to travel for a year to find some sort of peace with God, herself, and her past. She travels to three places, four months a piece: Italy to learn about their ability to enjoy life's pleasures, India where she lives in an Ashram to learn from their strict adherence to a life of prayer and devotion, and finally the Indonesian island of Bali, where she hopes to learn from the people there how to balance the two.
Okay, the good points: Easy to read, colorful writing, funny, honest, transparent, great storyteller, wonderful descriptions, did I mention transparent? I definitely found myself rooting for her in her vulnerable search for God. I just wish I could sit down and have a cup of coffee with her to share some from the Word!! With that said, her experiences made me think more about meditation-- on God's word that is, the Bible. Taking time to just be still and listen to God. My God, the God of the bible! Finally, I appreciated the author's courage as she revealed her inner dialog to anyone who reads the book.
Not so good points: Her spiritual experience was a little out there for me. Too much 'tossing in the wind' listening to anyone and everyone-- taking on their belief systems. At one point during the book, I did tire of it a little bit. I guess that's just me wanting her to 'move on' with some of her issues as much as she did! And, Lord knows, I have enough issues in my own life that I have a tendency to 'beat a dead horse' on-- so no pointing fingers there.
All that said, not a bad read, but unfortunately, our belief systems are just too different for me to truly appreciate her experience. Mostly, I appreciated the author's vulnerability, writing skills and the adventure of it all. Ultimately, the book left me examining my own walk with the Lord and clinging to the blessing that it is to be close to your Maker, through Christ!
Now, on to my next read about another journey: "The Pilgrim's Progress" by John Bunyan-- which I think I've read before, but it's part of a reading project a friend and I are working on based on the book "The Well Educated Mind". I'll keep you posted! Now I have to get to work on the things I really need to get done today! Have a great weekend everyone.
3 comments:
I have really been wanting to get and read this book. I think its great to read from a non Christian perspective. Hopefully her spiritual journey simply reinforces the truth of the one you are on!
I would really like to have time to read...maybe in a few years!
Brit,
I agree with your comment and I hope that came across in my post. Yes, our belief systems are different, but I could definitely appreciate and relate to the raw desperation she had to find God. What I took away from that, though, was a reinforcement of the idea that Christ is the only way to God and through Him we have complete access to God-- simple as that.
And as for finding time to read-- I hear you. I think that reading the book as a part of a book club helped, that way I treated it more like a homework assignment.
Interesting to know.
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