Simultaneously needy and smug..., March 19, 2007

Simultaneously needy and smug..., March 19, 2007
By J। Trembczynski "jillwrites" (Chicago, IL)
This review is from: Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia (Hardcover)I had looked forward to reading this, but the author's immaturity quickly turned me off. Even while in Italy, most of what she discusses is her divorce, and her nasty break-up with her boyfriend - and occasionally, gelato. I had looked forward to the secondary characters in the book, as Ms. Gilbert writes that she can make "friends" with anyone, anywhere. Unfortunately, we only get a vague sense of her friends - the one she mentions most is Richard from Texas, and he mostly provides comic relief and a welcome piece of dialogue between the author's agonizing over meditation.
I refer to the India section of this book as "Self Esteem Boot Camp". The only part of this that is entertaining at all is Richard from Texas. My favorite passage is this one:
"Why don't you go and make something of your life, Groceries?"
"I already have!," I replied.
There is a part in this section, however, where Ms. Gilbert decides to be pious and prays that God will let those who are attending a spiritual retreat will be able to join God thru their meditation, and that she hopes God will let them join Him instead of worrying about Ms. Gilbert. Then, miraculously, Ms. Gilbert is resting on God's palm.
The trip to Indonesia is equally annoying, long, and tiring. It becomes clear here that she cannot, absolutely cannot, be alone. If there is one thing this woman is afraid of, it is her own company.
In short, I did not enjoy this book. If, upon hearing that a child has cancer, you say, "That family needs grace", please, buy this book, you might appreciate it. On the other hand, if upon hearing the same news you say, "What can I do to help that family? Do they need a babysitter? Food? Their lawn mowed?" - well, than you can skip it altogether because it will be a little too sanctimonious for you. I personally found the author too smug to tolerate (almost instantly after praying for her husband to sign the divorce decree he does; she goes to sleep praying for a nephew's sleep problem to cease only to learn that it did that very night)...it makes me want to assign the word "narcissistic" to her.