Brought to you by the number "3"

My apologies to my readers for not posting for a few days. I've been really busy with work and in the interim, have not really been running into readers. Well, any readers who are willing to talk to me, that is. But I am happy to report that I attended my friend's book club meeting this past Sunday! (We held it at an Indian restaurant in honour of one of the countries in the book). She's been going to hers for a while and I've been meaning to find a group to stick with so I have it a try. The last book they read was the Bel Canto by Ann Patchett. I started reading it to join in on the discussion but just couldn't bring myself to get past the first few chapters. Anyone else feel the same way about the book? Maybe it was just me. Needless to say, I sat that one out. This time around they were reading Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. I had heard so much about the book especially from my best friend who loves loves loves reading spirituality books and the like. She had suggested it to me months ago but I kind of put it in the back of my mind and never really thought of actually reading it until now. With 1.5 weeks to finish the book I feverishly read every spare moment I got. Sadly, I only made it through Italy and India...never got to Indonesia (because, of course, I get slammed with work towards the end of the week).



Ok, what do I mean by those 3 countries? Well, the author is writing about her spiritual journey after a bitter divorce in her mid-30s. After finally settling with the final paperwork she decided to leave for a year and travel to 3 countries: Italy, India, and Indonesia. Italy is where she goes to enjoy pleasure and does so by learning the language she's always wanted to master, working on leaving behind her husband and her lover, and eating all he deelish foods she can get her hands on!

India is where she goes to perfect her meditating, prayer, and goes to reach absolute spirituality and be able to commune with God better. She lives in an Ashram and dedicates a third of the year to prayer.

Indonesia is where she goes to balance both pleasure and spirituality/divinity.

I really didn't think I would get into the book but I devoured each page as if they were delectable Italian cream puffs and hearty pastas! I must admit that I was in love with the Italy section and was reluctant to finish that part because I fell for the people, the country, and the food. The gals at the table tell me I need to get through Indonesia because it's really good.

I really enjoyed how well Gilbert crafted the book with the mathematical proportions, the number 3, the coincidental "I"s in each country (on her spiritual journey to find herself), the number of beads, the number of chapters within each section...kudos!

It's funny how I found myself engulfed in her practices. I think it's just because I'm impressionable or personally would like to have a stronger spritual well-being. So I find myself resuscitating my whole mantra of looking myself in the mirror and say one positive thing to myself or how I want my day to pan out. Or I find myself digging up my journal that I have not written in in forever and writing out little things to myself again.

Talking to so many readers about spirituality has led me to recognizing my "ego" and trying to be more "positive" - less stressed...and funny how I am always described as "always so happy and positive" and for those who really know me (namely my family and super close friends) they know I am such a stress bunny to the point of tears sometimes. Though, I must say it is less and less so now. (Yay!)

I would recommend the book to my friends. Many girls have especially to friends who are going through a break-up or divorce, it seems. Definitely a hot commodity! I searched and searched for a copy in the libraries and it was checked out in practically every library in the LA county! I was supposed to be #106 on many waiting lists! Insane!

Have you read this book? Which was your favourite country and why?

Sitting in an outdoor cafe in Rome, the author's friend says that every city and every person has a word. Rome's is "SEX", the Vatican is "POWER". Gilbert said that New York's word is "ACHIEVE" while my own city, Los Angeles, is "SUCCEED". Later on she declares her word is "ANTEVASIN", a Sanskrit word for "one who lives at the border". What is your word?