Stern Men by Elizabeth Gilbert

Stern Men by Elizabeth Gilbert
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Perfectly cute plot to pass the time. Nothing terrible or amazing here. Skippable, but if you want a relaxing read on your New England vacation, this might be good.

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Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

When I first read this book, I kind of hated it. (Not sure why I read it again, but...) My biggest issue was that she seemed to have left her husband for no reason, and didn't appear to try to work it out without him at all, and so it was really hard to relate to her. Back then, I also didn't have divorced friends. Now I understand the fact that she declined to trash her husband in the book doesn't mean she didn't have great reasons for leaving him.

Also, back when I read this book the first time, nothing very terrible had ever happened to me. After the death of my dad, I was depressed for a long time (maybe I still am?) so now I can relate to her sadness in the book. I've also tried meditation (it's very hard) and understand how much weirder it is than it seems. Gilbert got a lot flack for trying to "find herself" in India (but not for trying to "find herself" in Italy), but that's not really what it's about. She's trying to achieve a different state through meditation- which a lot of people have tried to do. It just so happens that she goes to India to study meditation full time.

I liked the book much better this time, but I do think it could have been tightened up with better editing. Less rambling would have made the book better.

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Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'd heard good things about this book and didn't recognize the author's name until she explained who she was. Then I was dubious about the book. The beginning wasn't very good or useful, but since it was a short book I pushed through anyway. My fear of missing out was rewarded again! The book got better and more interesting but most of all worth it for the story of the costume party which I gather is a true story the author heard from someone else.

All this would be enough for only 3 stars, except that despite how much I resisted the book and it's message, it is actually inspiring.

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