Just a quick note or two.  I may spoil the book, or possibly the movie, for you in any of these upcoming four posts on Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Love, Pray.  I am re-reading the book with Maria at BOREDMommy.  Those of us who choose to do so will be posting four pieces on the book: one on Italy, one on India, one on Indonesia and a final wrap-up.  You can visit her blog to see all those posting, reading along.

As I said above, this book is a re-read for me.  I first read it last summer with a notepad in hand.  I have this issue about writing in books other than text books.  Not sure how that came about but it is just what it is.  This time through I didn’t take notes so I am hoping that all those thoughts I had as I was reading about Italy return to my mind as I am typing.

For those of you who live without television and visits to the movie theatre, the book chronicles a year in Gilbert’s life where she travels alone to Italy, India and Indonesia.  Her first four months are spent in Italy – mostly in Rome but she does travel around the country on short trips.

First, I can just relate to the beginning of the book and the ending of Gilbert’s marriage so intensely.  As I read that initial part, I was torn between it being like my marriage’s end and it reflecting a friend’s journey.  Her quip about hoping no one ever has to go through a divorce in New York State is so true, or was until the past couple months.  Until just recently, NYS was the only state in the US that still required “grounds” for divorce.  These grounds were laid out in law and turned many divorce proceedings very ugly.

The simple act of asking that was discussed while Gilbert was on a book tour prior to leaving for Italy sticks with me to this day.  She had been experiencing the horrors of divorce.  Her husband had refused to talk settlement at all and then decided to take everything that had been offered and ask for more.  Gilbert had to negotiate and finally a settlement had been put on paper but the looming question was would her husband sign it as it was not all he had asked for.  As Gilbert and her friend were driving to book tour stops for a previously written book, the friend just asked her if she had asked God, or whatever higher being there is, to have him sign it.

The simplicity with which Gilbert composes a letter to God asking for this simple act from her husband just shows the strength that her faith provides.  It shows that she has faith and a belief  that had held her back from asking but that also enabled her, when this flaw was pointed out, to just ask.   Watching Gilbert grow in faith and her faith grow in strength before she ever leaves the US is a part of the book that I love.

There are so many other parts – mostly the people, the characters – that call to me in this book.  I could go on forever on those but will close here.  If you are wondering if this book is a travel book, the answer is yes but it is not one to use as your sole guide to any of the countries involved.

Go pick up this book!