Just for a moment I want to mention Sicily. I know Vikki has been there and loved it, right Vik? But did you all get a little shiver when they talked about the uglified city blocks with those concrete apartments wherein countless Mafiosa victims are embalmed? The ugly underbelly of Italian life, to be sure.
So India ... my new favorite saying is "congratulations to meet you!" I find Indian culture, people, dress and film intoxicating and strange. If there are past lives, I'm sure one of mine was in India, because I've always loved, and benefitted from yoga. I credit my enduring figure to yoga. I love what she says on p. 122, "yoga is the effort to experience one's divinity personally and then to hold on to that experience forever." I have never reached this depth of practice, but it's an elegant aspiration.
I guess I'm the only one who found the character of Richard a tad contrived. Don't get me wrong, I mostly liked him, but I can't buy the nickname Groceries, I just can't. Every time she used it in the book I cringed. Just felt random. But I probably need a Richard in my life. Nearing 48 it is difficult to recall how wrecked we can get by unhappy relationships--I almost couldn't believe how silly she was about David, until I thought back. What IS it that we do when we're young, that self-torture? I cannot exactly recall when it was, but suddenly I didn't feel so TIED to a man anymore. Anyway, let Richard's "please open my heart" prayer be a cautionary lesson to us all, eh? I'm analyzing my prayer carefully after that little episode (p. 140).
I used her chant, Om Namah Shivaya, to get to sleep now several times. I like it. Would any of you ever consider (if you had the funds) going to an Ashram? I was SO into it until the scrubbing of the floors part. I've been scrubbing Iris' pee spots all over my house lately, and I'm feeling anything but self-realized.
A lot of folks told me they found the portion of the book that took place in India their least favorite, but I LOVED it. I want to meet Elizabeth Gilbert, and I wish we could be friends. These thoughts and cravings for realization and spiritual quest are so near and dear to me. I think some of her richest passages come from her time in India--many mentioned by Nancy in the free-form post comments below.
Bead 49: I found her young existential crisis about death and aging charmingly told. I've had it, too. Stopping time, or being able to revisit ourselves with perspective--how cool would that be? Also in that bead is a lot of talk about enlightenment, which is a notion I find intriguing, but I'm skeptical of it. Do we attain enlightenment or ultimate delusionary states? I constantly struggle with inner restlessness and skepticism. I loved this last sentence from this bead: "look for God, suggest my Guru. Look for God like a man with his head on fire looks for water." Whatever God means to any of us, it's good to seek the magic in life, IMO.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Sunday, October 3, 2010
New Post Coming Soon, in the meantime ...
Feel free to post thoughts about E, P ,L here! I've finished the book, but will post some guides to start dialogue. Sorry, but I've been super busy with work, etc., and felt that maybe this experiment wasn't taking off! So anyone, everyone, just have a little stream-of-consciousness free-for-all here!
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Some Reader Response
For me this section of the reading was loaded with little pearls. She began with a lovely deconstruction of her feelings about God/Spirit/Jesus. Her take on spirituality really jives with mine--traditional and literal illustrations fail in my eyes, but a more metaphysical, representative interpretation (as she explores) has merit. Now that I've returned to the Bible belt that personifies a large portion of So Cal, I'm reminded of how fervently much of America wants religion enacted in our political system--which most Europeans have learned (from things like the Dark Ages, the Spanish Inquisition, and periodic witch-burning hysterias) should remain as individual choice, rather than mandated by law. Thus, and I've seen this first-hand, there is a compartmentalization of behavior that could be perceived as duality at best. So in SEXY Rome, we have the Vatican, which Luca tells us is not Rome at all, but virtually another country. The Vatican is entirely another topic--and I'm surprised she didn't tackle it in E,P, L, but I bet she weighed that possible chapter against massive Catholic protest.
So, the food in Italy as described by Gilbert--it's surely another character in this section. I have been lucky enough to have shared her experience during my month in the country, and this woman is not exaggerating. Her tantalizing descriptions in the memoir convinced me to spend $5.99 for a tiny pint of pistachio gelato at Henry's the other day--it was divine, BTW! I remember the fried broccoli flowers, why aren't these an option instead of French fries here, trust me, they are delicious. The food moments make me think of another book I love, Laura Escoval's Like Water for Chocolate, where the connection between appetite and pleasure is pivotal. And in Europe, particularly Italy, people take their time with this eating ritual. It was comical how I would eat as slowly as I thought humanly possible in Italy, and still Aaron and I would arrive last to a restaurant and leave first. I noticed people watching us leave in relative disgust. I can't help it, it's my Lutheran half--although we were on a sabbatical lingering, or interpreting ingestion as an art, wars with my utilitarian framework. Finally on the food, does anyone want to fly to Naples with me next week to find that pizzaria?!? My mouth waters as I recall her description. Randine, don't EVEN let a Neopolitan scare you, the Croatians/Czechs/Slovenians were far more sinister in my book. Italians are like the snappy terriers who bark and fuss and pee all around their property line, but the Eastern Euros are the pit bulls that stare you in the eye and clamp down without a sound.
Has anyone else every been accused of looking like their boyfriends/mates? I have not. No one has ever suggested this to me, and I'm glad. But I've seen it happen. Usually in extremely tight-knit relationships with tons of immersion, but no scope. I'm far too committed to my identity, although I did falter once. Still, thank God I did not ever look like my obsession. I watched a video lecture of Elizabeth Gilbert, and it surprises me that she was this woman. This made me wonder if she viewed herself objectively, which of course reminded me that not only is this impossible, but the theory has been presented that there is no potential for written objectivity.
I realize I'm rambling and making this all my own. I'll offer up some opportunity for discussion questions in addition to the few I buried in the blather above--choose to answer what you feel like answering:
1. Favorite food moment so far.
2. What aspects of their personality do you feel were revealed in their cursing vocabulary at the soccer game?
3. Did you love or disdain the Italian approach to bureaucratic malaise? (i.e. the postal service, strikes)
4. Should we try to start a trend of bakery/espresso bars (no beer) for sports fans? As a side note, after the Italians won the world cup while I was in Rome in 2006, there was plenty of bar activity--and I didn't notice a single open bakery that was overflowing with patronage.
5. I loved the discussion of sadness as a place (in English vernacular), as opposed to sadness being experienced on one's skin (in Italian). How would you describe your sadness (would it be a dog snapping at your heels, or water pouring over your head, etc.)?
6. Liz's sister Catherine sounds like a hoot. I felt she was more like me. Is there a character in the story, aside from Liz, who resonates with you?
There are so many elegant turns of phrase in this book that. I was taken by her description of her mother as "able to cheerfully plant gardens of daisies among the inexplicable stone walls of silence that my dad sometimes builds up around himself." I understand that sort of existence, but I've never been a good gardener. My mother came from that time and place, but she didn't effectively hide her misery (I'm so glad I don't have daughters who could say something like that about me) ... did you feel your mothers were happy in their marriages?
I'll stop here because this just might be the world's longest blog post.
P.S. I'm not going to lie to you, it was a HUGE relief for me to hear Elizabeth Gilbert reveal the "most improved" status of the Italian male. I was 44 when I went there, and almost humiliated when no one grabbed my bottom! ;-)
So, the food in Italy as described by Gilbert--it's surely another character in this section. I have been lucky enough to have shared her experience during my month in the country, and this woman is not exaggerating. Her tantalizing descriptions in the memoir convinced me to spend $5.99 for a tiny pint of pistachio gelato at Henry's the other day--it was divine, BTW! I remember the fried broccoli flowers, why aren't these an option instead of French fries here, trust me, they are delicious. The food moments make me think of another book I love, Laura Escoval's Like Water for Chocolate, where the connection between appetite and pleasure is pivotal. And in Europe, particularly Italy, people take their time with this eating ritual. It was comical how I would eat as slowly as I thought humanly possible in Italy, and still Aaron and I would arrive last to a restaurant and leave first. I noticed people watching us leave in relative disgust. I can't help it, it's my Lutheran half--although we were on a sabbatical lingering, or interpreting ingestion as an art, wars with my utilitarian framework. Finally on the food, does anyone want to fly to Naples with me next week to find that pizzaria?!? My mouth waters as I recall her description. Randine, don't EVEN let a Neopolitan scare you, the Croatians/Czechs/Slovenians were far more sinister in my book. Italians are like the snappy terriers who bark and fuss and pee all around their property line, but the Eastern Euros are the pit bulls that stare you in the eye and clamp down without a sound.
Has anyone else every been accused of looking like their boyfriends/mates? I have not. No one has ever suggested this to me, and I'm glad. But I've seen it happen. Usually in extremely tight-knit relationships with tons of immersion, but no scope. I'm far too committed to my identity, although I did falter once. Still, thank God I did not ever look like my obsession. I watched a video lecture of Elizabeth Gilbert, and it surprises me that she was this woman. This made me wonder if she viewed herself objectively, which of course reminded me that not only is this impossible, but the theory has been presented that there is no potential for written objectivity.
I realize I'm rambling and making this all my own. I'll offer up some opportunity for discussion questions in addition to the few I buried in the blather above--choose to answer what you feel like answering:
1. Favorite food moment so far.
2. What aspects of their personality do you feel were revealed in their cursing vocabulary at the soccer game?
3. Did you love or disdain the Italian approach to bureaucratic malaise? (i.e. the postal service, strikes)
4. Should we try to start a trend of bakery/espresso bars (no beer) for sports fans? As a side note, after the Italians won the world cup while I was in Rome in 2006, there was plenty of bar activity--and I didn't notice a single open bakery that was overflowing with patronage.
5. I loved the discussion of sadness as a place (in English vernacular), as opposed to sadness being experienced on one's skin (in Italian). How would you describe your sadness (would it be a dog snapping at your heels, or water pouring over your head, etc.)?
6. Liz's sister Catherine sounds like a hoot. I felt she was more like me. Is there a character in the story, aside from Liz, who resonates with you?
There are so many elegant turns of phrase in this book that. I was taken by her description of her mother as "able to cheerfully plant gardens of daisies among the inexplicable stone walls of silence that my dad sometimes builds up around himself." I understand that sort of existence, but I've never been a good gardener. My mother came from that time and place, but she didn't effectively hide her misery (I'm so glad I don't have daughters who could say something like that about me) ... did you feel your mothers were happy in their marriages?
I'll stop here because this just might be the world's longest blog post.
P.S. I'm not going to lie to you, it was a HUGE relief for me to hear Elizabeth Gilbert reveal the "most improved" status of the Italian male. I was 44 when I went there, and almost humiliated when no one grabbed my bottom! ;-)
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Rome, Gelato, Passionate Cursing and Il bel far niente!
Hi All! It's late and I should have posted this by Tuesday at the latest, but as so often is my reality, I am remiss.
So for this weekend sometime, please try to read up to Chapter 34 (pg. 104). I'm really starting to enjoy the book and have slid into the groove of the author's personality and experiences. Hope you're liking it, too.
Since week 1, we appear to have lost Sarah and Carol, but have gained Vikki McGuire, and hopefully Holly's sister-in-law Laurie! My friend Stephanie indicated that she might join, too. Randine has been reading and will be weighing in soon I'm sure.
If anyone wants to start a discussion post, please e-mail me and I'll give you my sign-in and password so that you can initiate a post/thread. Otherwise feel free to stick a comment in anywhere--we'll find it! ;-) Happy reading trails to you all.
P.S. If, as Nancy pointed out, Luca Spaghetti is a substitute name, what do you think his real name might have been?
So for this weekend sometime, please try to read up to Chapter 34 (pg. 104). I'm really starting to enjoy the book and have slid into the groove of the author's personality and experiences. Hope you're liking it, too.
Since week 1, we appear to have lost Sarah and Carol, but have gained Vikki McGuire, and hopefully Holly's sister-in-law Laurie! My friend Stephanie indicated that she might join, too. Randine has been reading and will be weighing in soon I'm sure.
If anyone wants to start a discussion post, please e-mail me and I'll give you my sign-in and password so that you can initiate a post/thread. Otherwise feel free to stick a comment in anywhere--we'll find it! ;-) Happy reading trails to you all.
P.S. If, as Nancy pointed out, Luca Spaghetti is a substitute name, what do you think his real name might have been?
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
And Away We Go ... (slight spoilers up to page 30)
It's official--I've started reading, have you? I admit I knew next to nothing about this book, except it was a bestseller, was made into a movie, and takes place in several countries. I may not have selected it had I realized it was a memoir, as I've read a number of them lately (3 Cups of Tea, The Liar's Club, Reading Lolita in Tehran).
So here we have a memoir. Do you generally enjoy the memoir format? I'm iffy on them--but when I was actively writing, almost all my stories were memoir, or slightly ficitionalized memoir. I suppose this indicates I'm drawn to the style.
At this point I am enjoying the author's conversational, current, and fully-disclosing style of writing. I took exception with her need to protect the reasons for the demise of her first marriage. I guess in order for me to empathize with her state of mind, I would have liked to understand why she was consistently on the floor crying (she spends a lot of time huddled on floors). So, I was left cold as she attempted to portray herself as devastated and tortured, when it felt self-inflicted--which was further suggested by her relationship with David. One of the things I remember in my creative non-fiction courses, was this idea that we need to be disassociated from ourselves in order to connect our story to the reader. I haven't felt that with this writer, in fact she feels fully subjective ... but so far in a good way.
I'll keep reading and stop musing now.
So here we have a memoir. Do you generally enjoy the memoir format? I'm iffy on them--but when I was actively writing, almost all my stories were memoir, or slightly ficitionalized memoir. I suppose this indicates I'm drawn to the style.
At this point I am enjoying the author's conversational, current, and fully-disclosing style of writing. I took exception with her need to protect the reasons for the demise of her first marriage. I guess in order for me to empathize with her state of mind, I would have liked to understand why she was consistently on the floor crying (she spends a lot of time huddled on floors). So, I was left cold as she attempted to portray herself as devastated and tortured, when it felt self-inflicted--which was further suggested by her relationship with David. One of the things I remember in my creative non-fiction courses, was this idea that we need to be disassociated from ourselves in order to connect our story to the reader. I haven't felt that with this writer, in fact she feels fully subjective ... but so far in a good way.
I'll keep reading and stop musing now.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Welcome Readers!
Thank you for joining up with this group, founded to read and discuss virtually. Because I just bought it and wanted kinship in the reading, we are starting out with Eat, Pray, Love. Friends, I've never been in a book club before, so if any of you actually have, please feel free to take charge with format or discussion leads! I'm not the fastest reader, so I was thinking somewhere around 50 pages a week--does that sound good to everyone? It's 334 total pages. This is a no pressure, no judgment, no editing zone. It's for fun and to delve deeper into themes and relevance to our lives. Please don't worry about spelling, I'm the queen of typos.
I'm so happy that you all have decided to join, please introduce yourselves however you feel like doing so. I'll start: I'm Pamela, I'm approaching my 48th birthday, and I am not a mom. I bring this up because it takes me out of many opportunities to make friends, and it probably impacts my reading choices. Some of you know me very well, some of us haven't laid eyes on each other since we were kids (Carol!). But I'm very happy to have all of you back in my life!
I'm so happy that you all have decided to join, please introduce yourselves however you feel like doing so. I'll start: I'm Pamela, I'm approaching my 48th birthday, and I am not a mom. I bring this up because it takes me out of many opportunities to make friends, and it probably impacts my reading choices. Some of you know me very well, some of us haven't laid eyes on each other since we were kids (Carol!). But I'm very happy to have all of you back in my life!
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