Thursday, October 18, 2007

Eat $, Pray$, Love $

I finished reading the best seller book "Eat, Pray, Love" about a month ago. I really enjoyed the book, laughed aloud at some spots, teared up at others but I had this nagging feeling that I couldn't shake throughout the whole book. It kinda prevented me from enjoying the book completely.
Where the hell does she get the MONEY to spend 3 months at a time in Italy, India and Indonesia eating, praying and loving? She goes on and on about how she couldn't "fight the fight" anymore and gave EVERYTHING to her ex. She suffered severe clnical depression. No mention of the one thing that at times has me contemplating depression and that's money or lack there of!
I started the book and really felt for her and couldn't wait to embark on this journey with the author to find peace and happiness. Not once did I enjoy a trip to the bank with her to negotiate the loan to pay for this adventure. Not once did I join her in Italy getting paid under the table while waitressing at the many restaurants she enjoyed.
It was while "we" were in Italy that my funds were exhausted. That was when I had to jump ship and watch from afar. Not quite " with her" on the final legs of her journey of self discovery.
Yup, there's no way I could sit still and meditate in the Indian Ashram with those bills piling up. My mind would be swimming with thoughts of the collection agency tracking me down ruining my peace and tranquility and, frankly, embarrassing the hell out me in front of my newfound ( albeit wierd) friends.
By the time "we" got to Indonesia I was stressed right out! I'd have to stay in Indonesia under an alias. By then several collection agencies would be after me, my family would probably have an interventionist hired to kidnap me from the feet of my new Indonesian guru. Oh, not to mention that part in the book where she gets all of her friends to send money to her Indonesian friend who needs a house. By then the bank would have reposessed mine!
Anyway, I'm not completely pooh-poohing the book. I just couldn't really get behind her in her struggle to find inner happiness. I really didn't enjoy the trip knowing how hard I'd have to work to pay it off!!
Anybody want to buy a used book???