Okay. I'm gonna sound off here, so be forewarned.
First let me say I have nothing against anyone making money. Second, I'm not one to write reviews/critiques of books (or movies.) I know how much time it takes, I know that it's hard work. I know just as everyone has a bellybutton, everyone has at least one opinion. Besides, someone liked it enough to publish it, so just because I don't care for it doesn't mean it's a bad book, just that it's not for me. That said...I have this nagging feeling that something just isn't right with this eat, pray, love craze.
I happened to actually see the Oprah Winfrey show when she interviewed the author Elizabeth Gilbert. My first thought was: It must be nice to be able to go to Italy to eat, then go to India to pray. It must be nice to have the money and time to be able to do that. I for one have to eat at home, pray at my local church or in my back yard. In other words, I have to stay put to find peace of mind. I don't have the luxury of going somewhere else to "find" myself and learn how to de-clutter my life.
So I thought good for her but her life doesn't apply to me and so I didn't read the book.
Now there's a movie and I thought:
Isn't that nice. Julia Roberts playing the author. I might actually watch it once it comes out on DVD. (For sure I wouldn't spend the money to go to the theater to watch it.)
BUT THEN I starting hearing and reading about all the merchandising that's connected to the movie. It's truly frightful. Here's a story about someone trying to de-clutter her life, and here's STUFF (check it out) we poor schmucks can buy to "help" us find happiness and peace of mind. Something's not right.
Unless I hear that the money earned from all this STUFF (you too can buy candles, moisturizing creams, jewelry, book marks and tote bags, furniture, food, clothing, prayer beads and scarves to name a few) is going to be used to help say, the Haitians, or the Pakistanis, or destitute women in Africa, or abused and neglected children here in the U. S. of A., I'm boycotting. How about you?
Well, since you opened this subject, I'll say that EPL lost me when the author had an affair and left her marriage and then felt she had to go abroad to pray and love. She wrecks her own life and then gets to travel the world to fix it? That is MESSED UP. I suppose I can see women's longing for a year off to find themselves as the draw here, but wouldn't the self-indulgence/sabotage be a turnoff for a lot of real people? If the premise is messed up, no surprise that what follows is.
ReplyDeleteWell you see? I didn't know about the affair part. So, yes, since the premise is messed up it's no surprise about what's happening now.
ReplyDeleteHee hee. What Marcia said. I've never understood people who say they need to go find themselves in Nepaal or wherever ... dude, there are a lot of lost souls out there.
ReplyDeleteStill, one has to wonder what is so appealing about this midlife crisis that a movie had to be made.
I didn't know there was stuff associated with it.
Thank you thank you thank you so much for taking the words out of my mouth. My mother bought me the book when it came out and I still haven't read it.
ReplyDeleteNow that Julia's playing the part, I won't go see the movie either -- not that I don't LIKE Julia, but I'm just sick of Julia. Give someone else a chance.
As for finding myself, all I have to do is look in my daughter's eyes. I don't need to go to Nepal or India. The backyard is fine with me.
Vijaya, Not only are there a lot of lost souls out, seems to me the great masters all teach that "finding" oneself begins with where you are.
ReplyDeleteI so agree with you Anne! Although I loved the see the Himalayas, it wouldn't be because I need to find myself.
I haven't read the book yet. I've heard lots of wonderful things about it, but I haven't gotten to it yet. I bought it (for a couple bucks at the library book store), but I always have problems when the world starts hyping something.
ReplyDeleteYou make an excellent point about finding yourself at home vs traveling the world. Maybe if I had the funds (and didn't have children) I would do the same. Maybe.
As for the merchandising that's going crazy...not sure how much blame we can put on the author. That's our crazed society finding ways to cash in on the current fad.
Still, the irony of decluttering your life by buying a bunch of crap is kinda funny.
I'm all for praying and eating and loving, but I'd rather do it all at home . :)
ReplyDeleteI haven't read the book nor watched the movie and it doesn't sound like one I will read or watch.
I do have a bookmark that says "Eat. Prey. Love" about zombies!
I haven't read the book nor seen the movie. Not really drawn to it. But I am tired of STUFF. This problem continues with every hit, and our lives become filled with the stuff that then ends up in the landfills and oceans. That really makes me mad.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read it either, nor seen the movie. Interesting about the "stuff" though, as I didn't realize there was so much out there. I guess I'm just out of the loop ...
ReplyDeleteI read the book awhile back and I truly didn't see what all the fuss was about. It's an OK book with some interesting messages but I couldn't connect with the author very much. I won't be seeing the movie anytime soon.
ReplyDeleteI will admit that there is a whole hollywood/merchandising BS aspect of mistrust for me with this whole project. I haven't read or seen the story but I've heard a lot about it.
ReplyDeleteOn the one hand it does seem like a pathetic example of material excess for her to talk her publisher into advancing her the money to travel the world, eat gelato, stay in nice hotels and then write about it. Without so much as lifting a finger to improve the lives of anyone she meets along the way.
Then again that's not to say I wouldn't jump at that opportunity myself if given the chance.
It's not like she made the world a worse place by writing this book, but I don't really think she made it any better either.
Very interesting debate here. I haven't read the book or watched the movie because frankly, I'm not interested.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you and Tricia about the "stuff." There is waaay too much stuff in our lives. I'd hoped the recession would have taught most of us that we don't need "stuff." Sadly, I guess not.
What an interesting post and set of comments! I didn't know about the affair or the stuff. These sort of put a different spin on things. I read the book and I must say that I can't imagine that it will translate into a entertaining movie. Or, at least not a movie I'm compelled to see. Thanks for a great post!
ReplyDeleteUm, yeah. Maybe I'll write a book about my midlife crisis and document my travels to free classes, Goodwill, and family therapy. Wheeeeeee!
ReplyDeleteBTW, have you seen the film The Story of Stuff? Check it out on YouTube - I think you might find it interesting.
Something about this movie annoyed me from the very first commercial for it...I also didn't know about the 'stuff'...but being Hollywood, it doesn't shock me that they have to have stuff and more stuff...
ReplyDelete