Eat, Pray, Love – Elizabeth Gilbert

WOW!!!

I have book-rapture!!

When Eat, Pray, Love came out in the mid-2000’s, I refused read it. At the sight of the word “Pray”, I automatically assumed that this book was far from what I (at the time, a struggling atheist/agnostic/maybe Christian) wanted or needed to read. In my mind, this book was a calling to all women who needed reassurance from another being about God, our Lord and Savior. I pictured middle-aged woman across the nation reading this book and discussing, with vindication, that God DOES EXIST!

THIS IS WHY YOU MUST NEVER, EVER JUDGE A BOOK BY THE COVER.

I was so woefully wrong! I can not even begin to explain my regret of not reading this book sooner… If not when it first came out, I *at least* wish I had found it 5 years ago. So, Liz Gilbert, I am SO sorry for erroneously judging you and your book!

So, for those who haven’t read this book, Eat, Pray, Love is a book about Elizabeth Gilbert’s spiritual and physical journey after a turbulent break from her first marriage. That is the simple, one sentence answer you can provide anyone that asks. However, this book encases so much more within the two covers. Specifically, it is the breakdown of a woman, her physical and her soul, that you bare witness to. As I read, I could literally feel myself experiencing the loss Gilbert felt… her shame, humiliation, sadness that stemmed from the divorce came through to me from those pages… they stuck to me, and I experienced those with her. (Maybe because I’ve struggled in the same way in the past, just not divorce?) Not only that, but while Gilbert builds herself up in Italy, in India, in Indonesia, I felt that with her. Perhaps it’s that Gilbert’s style of writing that aligns so closely with what I like… or maybe it’s that I have struggled exactly as Gilbert has, physically, emotionally, religiously… one way or another, this book took hold of me.

The book is broken down into 3 sections, for each location that she visits (Italy, India, Indonesia). In each location she has a set goal and matches that of the title (Italy-eat, India-pray, Indonesia-love). Personally, my least favorite was Indonesia.. Although interesting and still a beautiful section, the other two sections were far too powerful for me to hold the 3rd to the same bar. I loved everything about Italy not only because FOOD, but also because I can understand the desire to learn a language just simple because you can… For years, I’ve tried to master German. Although it may not be a “beautiful” language like Italian, it just intrigues me more than I can explain.

Then there is India… and honestly, WOW… I have struggled with my relationship with God for many years. In more recent years, I’ve developed a more complex and hybrid version of what I think God means. My roots push me to believe in a King, the Lord and Savior. But the science, logical part of my brain prevents me for accepting this theory in it’s entirety. Add into that all the world drama from the last few years… In my mid-western state, it’s believed that a man who is gay will automatically burn in hell for LOVING another… but a murderer that repents may be forgiven? I can’t accept this… Within the last year, I’ve looked more into a Buddhist style of worship… I’ve tried to better myself in the hopes it betters the world. I believe that my soul will continue to regenerate until I find Karma’s peace… I saw my struggles reflected back to me from the pages in E, P, L. How corny would it be to say that this book helped me find better footing in my religious beliefs? Seriously, my doubts of this book are shameful to me now.

On top of all that, I honestly can say I don’t think I’ve read an autobiography that was so well put together as E, P, L. Seriously, this book is *divinely* written. It mends so well together, and the everything is so wonderfully organized within the sections.

 

Can you tell I have a book crush? This moved straight up the list to one of my favorites. I would highly suggest this book if you are struggling…. If you are struggling with depression… with love… with loss… with religion… anything! Read this. Add this to your list. And if you have wanderlust, read this… because Gilbert visits some magnificent places! I know I want to immediately pack up my shit and get to an Ashram (maybe in a decades time)…

 

Anyway, I hate everyone that didn’t tell me to read this book 10 years ago. You may all make it up to me by suggesting one of your favorite books to me in the comments.

And, since she loves Italian…

~Ciao~

LK

The Light Between Oceans – M. L. Stedman

SO! We’re just about halfway through July! As the world continues to spin, I continue to read!

I just finished the novel The Light Between Oceans written by M. L. Stedman. This was Stedman’s debut novel and it was listed as a top pick in 2012 by O, The Oprah Magazine, Barnes & Noble, and IndieBound. I happened to buy my copy from my local Barnes & Noble after the cover caught my eye and the first review in the cover was from Markus Zusak, author of The Book Thief (one of my absolute favorite novels)! He is listed as one of MANY praise-givers.

So, this book is somewhat of a love-novel with a twist of fate and thrill. The character that plays the largest roll in the entire book is Tom Sherbourne. After becoming estranged from his family, and after serving at the front lines in the war, Tom ventures to become the Light Keeper at a lighthouse on Janus Rock. Janus, located just offshore of the coast of Australia, is a desolated and lonely area where Tom finds solitude to cope with his life past. During his time serving as the Light Keeper, Tom meets Isabel, a local Point Partageuse (port closest to Janus) native. Both are swept away by each other, and she moves with him to Janus after their marriage. Sadly, during their time on the island, Isabel suffers from 3 miscarriages that spiral her into grief. She is only pulled back by the appearance of a small row boat that contains a dead man and a live baby.  From there, her and Tom’s decision to not report the findings causes a rippling effect on their lives, as well as the life of Hannah Roennfeldt, the baby’s birth mother.

So this book was okay. It didn’t make it into my top favorites, but I still didn’t dread reading it. Lighthouse keeping is interesting, but not fascinating to me. I also don’t necessarily fancy Australia, so I wasn’t enthralled by that, either. The only aspect of this book that kept me reading was Tom and Hannah. Both characters were so full of hope and such depth that I couldn’t help to be drawn to their voices.

I felt that this story should have been a bit shorter. About half-way or so through this book, the number of characters’ voices we hear increases. That continues throughout… There was a lot at play at the end that added extra passages in that could have been omitted, or at least told from someone we had already heard from the beginning. The only points-of-view that I cared to read came from Tom, Hannah, and Isabel. The occasional Lucy-Grace addition was necessary and appreciated, but the others were useless.

Tom’s character was so magnificent! The quirkiness of this personalities due to his past were, in my opinion, expected and appreciated. I like that Stedman kept true with the troubles men often faced coming home from war. Tom struggled to appreciate that he had made it out alive and deserved a good life, and I think that was important for the reader to hear and understand. On top of that, I loved that he was still so genuine and loyal, despite his personal turmoil. He was struggling to understand his life, but was still willing to protect a lady on the ship! Even in the end, he was willing to sacrifice himself to give his wife a chance. He was written to be a noble man, and that is why, in the end, I was not surprised at how it turned out.

Hannah’s story and character were well written also. Stedman did a great job providing a background for their family and enough information to know how and why that baby ended up where it did. Hannah’s personal doubt, and her determination, were raw. She was willing to sacrifice her own life for another, proving her strength. Honestly, I liked her and her tale so much better than Isabel’s. If only Tom had introduced himself the night of the ship! How different this book could have been!!

Isabel’s character is where I find fault. She was written to be utterly selfish throughout the entire novel. She demands to be seen and to be loved by Tom in the beginning, despite him telling her about the loneliness on Janus. Later, she blames him for the loneliness he warned her of. She also holds resentment towards him for feelings that she is not even sure he has (anger for her miscarriages). Even in the end, I did not really care for her character. Unwilling to budge an inch to see that perhaps Tom was right. Grief is a monster, and I definitely saw that side in Isabel more than her good deeds.

This will sound a little…. picky… to notice such a thing…. but Stedman had an “inaccuracy” that I couldn’t forget! At one point, Isabel tells Tom that if she had to walk a straight line to prove her soberness she didn’t think she would pass. Correct me if I’m wrong, but walking the line in the sobriety test didn’t start until after at least the 1960’s (according to Google). Perhaps this is different in Australia, or maybe there have always been those test about walking prior to motor vehicles… but the phrasing made me pause. Little things can get to me.

Finally, I was so sad how this book ended. Despite the fact I didn’t care for Isabel, I think Stedman missed a grand opportunity to write about Isabel and Lucy’s encounter. It was a nice wrap-up though, and the book ended with a touching moment high-note.

 

Over all- good read! I learned names for animal’s that I’d never known before, and the mechanisms used for Lighthouses way back when… I also was reminded that Australia does not suffer the seasons in the same months as the US does (HA). It was an interesting story! I would suggest reading it on a rainy day.

Toodaloo, my book friends!

LK

Lost & Found – Jacqueline Sheehan

Hello, Friends!

First and foremost, I want to say Happy 4th of July weekend to all my fellow readers out there. Although not all of you will be celebrating the liberation of my nation this long weekend, I still extend a hardy “Who-rah” to you. Nationalism, in healthy doses, is important for every person to have. Although my nation’s actions are not always a direct reflection of my personal beliefs, I’m thankful for my country and the people that have fought for it. Cheers!!

So- back to what I do! I have spent the last few days reading Lost & Found written by Jacqueline Sheehan. I will keep all spoilers to a minimum, although I’m not sure that will matter as I do not believe anyone will be persuaded to read this book by my review. This was my first Sheehan novel, and I’m not sure I will read another.

Here is the bare-bones of this story (focusing only on the main character). L&F was about Rocky, a woman who suffered the tragic, sudden death of her husband Bob. Shaken by this loss, Rocky decides to abandon all her life (home, job, family) to move to an island. On the island, she becomes an animal warden, where she saves a lab’s life after he was found shot with an arrow. She decides to take the dog in until staff on the island are able to find the owner. *Que dog foster mom falling in love with dog*. Eventually, the dog’s original owner is found to be dead. Rocky struggles throughout the book, first with her husband’s death, and then with the facts surrounding the original owner’s death, and then again when the original owner’s parents want the dog back. Apparently, to help process the information, she takes up the hobby of the former owner, archery (supposedly to be “closer” to understanding why the dog was shot). On top of all this, she is also being “hunted” for putting her nose in other’s business and has to fight for her life and for the dog’s.

Throughout the book, there are numerous crazy characters thrown at the reader. Start with Rocky, a supposed psychologist who can not see her own grief and is not able to process it in a more structured manner. At points, Sheehan wrote Rocky to sound like a turbulent adolescent instead of an educated doctor. In the book Rocky demeans eating disorders and condemns the young girls that suffer from it. How can someone that finds that disease so sickening work anywhere that has to do with counseling?? Also, her character was unbelievable to me due to the fact that she was just down-out-right rude on multiple points in the book… How would she have been able to hold down a job with her attitude?

Then you have all the side characters. OH MY GOSH. Some were so useless. Here are just some of the main mentions:

• Melissa, the anorexic, workout obsessed youth
• Tess, the Synesthesia sufferer
• Liz, the dog’s  bipolar previous owner
  • Peter, Liz’s crazy ex boyfriend
  • Liz’s parents, who were estranged
• Rocky’s brother, autistic,  and her mother
• Hill, the archery/high school teacher

I have no idea why Sheehan included the story line for Melissa. She was completely useless to this story, in my opinion. The most baffling part, to me, was when Sheehan wrote about her eating dog food. I scuffed at that- to suggest that a teen-aged girl would eat dog food or even to say that a dog would actually save some. HA, sure. Then Sheehan included Tess, who is a sufferer of Synesthesia, a mental condition that causes the brain to misfire and react in multiple parts of the brain. For example, the word Sunday had a shape and color associated with it that Tess could see. What was the point of including this? It had no baring on the story, what-so-ever. Take that out, and Tess’ part could have stood on her own. Sheehan missed including anything important about the brother other than the occasional mention. I felt that the brother’s part in the book should have been larger and Tess and Melissa’s smaller.

The back story for how the dog (Cooper/Lloyd) was shot and the steps that lead to his owner’s death weren’t too well written, either. Sure, Liz suffered bipolar disorder, but I could never see how a parent would become so estranged from her daughter for that. Plus, Liz’s fling with Hill was out of NOWHERE. What Sheehan was trying to hint at was forced, if you ask me… Plus, Rocky had a HUGE overreaction to this. It was so uncalled for. Plus, get real with the wacko Peter. Any guy that is so obsessed with a woman wouldn’t allow her the decision to end her own life. He clearly had to be in control and would have done something much different than what the book said he did.

There is so much I disliked about this book, I can’t even get into it with this review. I want to commiserate with someone about it!! Ahhh!

Literally, Sheehan included so much into one book, how would anyone be able to enjoy it?? This novel would have been a TON better if she focused on telling one character’s story, not 5. The story line would have stood alone if most of the characters were removed, or at least taken away their wacky flaws.

Perhaps I would have liked it more if Sheehan hadn’t wrote the book from the perspective of multiple characters, including the dog’s… Unless the character has some major weight to add to the story, I don’t need to read about their happenings and thoughts. Melissa’s bits were the ones most unnecessary. Her entire story needed it’s own book, not to be smooshed into this one…  At least, Tess’ “flaw” was interesting, but I just really felt there was no point to including her mental disorder in the book.

Or, perhaps I would have liked this book better if it was interesting within the fist 100 pages. The speed of the book didn’t pick up (at least for me) until page 102. All of the most important happenings took place within the last 25 pages or so. Essentially, there were at least 180 useless pages in this book, IMO.

The whole book just seemed like a bunch of random topics that Sheehan found super interesting so she wrote about them all. It reminded me of a book project from a high school creative writing class; it was messy and needed refinement.

Would I suggest this book? No.

Alas, I have wasted another few days on not completing a book off my reading list. Since this book was clearly a disappointment to me, I will be doing a review in the next few days of one of my top reads. At least I know that review will be positive and happy! I don’t want you all to think I can only do negative reviews haha.

Hope you all enjoy your coming week! Auf Wiedersehen!