Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

I've been seeing and hearing about this book for some time now, always meaning to pick up a copy, but never quite getting around to it.  On a recent road trip through California, I was given a copy by a dear friend with the request that I pass it on to someone who'll appreciate it.  That road trip resulted in lots of new books, some that I never would have chosen on my own.  I'll be writing about them as quickly as I can.

Back to Eat, Pray, Love.  The book is divided into three sections, each chronicling about four months in the author's life as she tries to regain her sanity after a painful divorce.  Eat is the part about Italy, where she gained 20-some pounds gorging on pasta and wine while learning Italian and re-learning how to pay attention to her desires. Part two is at an ashram in India, and of course the pray part. Surprisingly this section has some of the funniest lines (thanks to Richard from Texas).  The final part is about her time in Indonesia, where she spends time with two different healers, and a crew of interesting ex-pats.  And yes, she finds love, unexpectedly.

The journey she takes is personal and universal.  For everyone who's looked for something more in their life, you'll probably devour this book.  It's an amazing and wonderful way she chose to heal herself after a great pain, a breaking open, which eventually allowed her to become more of herself.  And, I don't know about you, but I sure could use a little bit of that.