by Rachel Walker

Created on: August 15, 2008

There's usually a very good reason a book sells over 5 million copies world wide. It's a stellar read for one, and Elizabeth Gilberts "Eat Pray Love" is just that. The result of a failed marriage, a publishing advance, and a passion for travel "Eat Pray Love" is a philosophical, honest and often amusing account of Gilbert's self imposed pilgrimage to Italy, India, Bali and spiritual enlightment. Each destination offers something distinct and she writes: "I wanted to explore the art of pleasure in Italy, the art of devotion in India and, in Indonesia, the art of balancing the two."

Gilbert manages to do this with panache, spinning words with the ease and charm of a seasoned storyteller. Her fervor for writing along with her meticulous research has resulted in a narrative which is as edifying as it is educational and entertaining. If there is a downside to all of this it's that the spiritual philosophizing and in-depth descriptions of meditation are at times tedious, particularly during her time at the Ashram in India. She has an uncanny knack of filling the void with words and at one point reflects: "To be honest I've been talking too much my whole life, but I've really been talking too much during my stay at the Ashram." The reader might be inclined to agree, and sometimes, like the meditation she practices, it would be nice to feel that same sense of comprehension in silence and simplification.

If Gilbert's search for enlightment forms the meat of her story then it's the characters she meets along the way that are the gravy. The rantings of an overzealous Italian football fan; the quips of Richard from Texas at the Indian Ashram; and the wise words but somewhat hazy memory of a Bali medicine man injects humor and wit into the prose and otherwise deep deliberations on mortality, spirituality and divine love.

The final point that Gilbert makes is that her journey to fulfillment and new love is no mistake, no clumsy discovery that fate has dished up lavishly to her luck. Rather she admits to being "administrator of her own rescue". She had a plan and she stuck to it: pleasure, devotion and balance all being found where they were searched for. She grew fat from delicious food in Italy, her soul was revitalised and repaired at the Ashram in India, and Bali offered a balanced and satisfying conclusion to her travels. Her final instalment is ultimately a result of self belief. It's an inspiring thought for any of us who are daring to take on our own dreams and make them reality.

Learn more about this author, Rachel Walker.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.