OK, so book recommendations don’t really have anything whatsoever to do with parenting (unless they’re parenting books, of course). For some of us busy parents, though, reading a book is a great way to escape, even if only for a few minutes at a shot.
Right now, I’m reading Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, which I admit has been sitting on my shelf for several years. I’m not a big fan of the memoir genre, typically, so despite this book’s glowing reviews, I wasn’t too anxious to crack it open.
That all changed when I finally sat down and watched the movie of the same name starring Julia Roberts. It wasn’t the best movie I’ve ever seen, but it resonated with me, and I decided that I simply must read the book. Once I found it somewhere in the depths of my multiple bookshelves, that is.
I’m so glad I did. The book is divided into 108 parts. Some tales are quite short, less than a page, while others are multiple pages, making this a perfect book for parents who can steal a few minutes here and there.
Each piece is an exquisite essay. As an essayist, I appreciate the very essence of a writer that goes into a personal essay. One of the essays I wrote that was recently published in the book, Fits, Starts and Matters of the Heart (okay, yes, that was a shameless plug), took me several years to write, not to mention dozens and dozens of drafts. I can’t imagine how much of herself Elizabeth Gilbert must have put into this book. It boggles.
One of the goals, if not THE main goal, of a personal essay is to get the reader to feel what you, the writer, felt, so that he or she, the reader, walks away feeling a connection with your piece. The reader must be able to, consciously or not, identify the universality in your work, or all you’re doing is navel-gazing, which nobody wants to read.
Gilbert is exceptional at this very skill. She makes you taste what she’s eating, see what she’s seeing, feel what she’s feeling, care about what she cares about. To say that’s not an easy task is a gigantic understatement.
I’m nearing the end of the first of three sections in this book and I’m savoring it, like a rich dessert. Each piece is a gem, a beauty of finely-crafted, witty prose that makes me feel strangely comforted and comfortable.
I love this book. It speaks to me on a universal level. If your library carries it, check it out.
If you’ve read EPL, what did you think of it?
I’m glad you’re just as passionate about the book as I am. It surprises me when friends are just “meh” about Gilbert’s novel. I found it to be surprisingly moving, funny, creative, honest and touching. However, I was not as impressed by the movie. Thanks for reminding me of Eat Pray Love’s wonder.
I’m happy to meet another EPL lover, Lisa. I probably wouldn’t have liked the movie as much had I read the book first, but the movie absolutely inspired me to finally blow the dust off the book and give it a whirl. I’m still reading and enjoying it very much.
I’ve seen the movie but haven’t read the book. I may have to download it to my new Nook Color.