Eat, Pray, Love--->Discussion questions
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Fili
Sep 12, 2010, 8:41:40 PM9/12/10
to 303 Bookworms
From bookbrowse.com:
1. Gilbert writes that “the appreciation of pleasure can be the
anchor of humanity,” making the argument that America is “an
entertainment-seeking nation, not necessarily a pleasure-seeking one.”
Is this a fair assessment?
2. After imagining a petition to God for divorce, an exhausted
Gilbert answers her phone to news that her husband has finally signed.
During a moment of quietude before a Roman fountain, she opens her
Louise Glück collection to a verse about a fountain, one reminiscent
of the Balinese medicine man’s drawing. After struggling to master a
182-verse daily prayer, she succeeds by focusing on her nephew, who
suddenly is free from nightmares. Do these incidents of fortuitous
timing signal fate? Cosmic unity? Coincidence?
3. Gilbert hashes out internal debates in a notebook, a place where
she can argue with her inner demons and remind herself about the
constancy of self-love. When an inner monologue becomes a literal
conversation between a divided self, is this a sign of last resort or
of self-reliance?
4. When Gilbert finally returns to Bali and seeks out the medicine
man who foretold her return to study with him, he doesn’t recognize
her. Despite her despair, she persists in her attempts to spark his
memory, eventually succeeding. How much of the success of Gilbert’s
journey do you attribute to persistence?
5. Prayer and meditation are both things that can be learned and,
importantly, improved. In India, Gilbert learns a stoic, ascetic
meditation technique. In Bali, she learns an approach based on
smiling. Do you think the two can be synergistic? Or is Ketut Liyer
right when he describes them as “same-same”?
6. Gender roles come up repeatedly in Eat, Pray, Love, be it macho
Italian men eating cream puffs after a home team’s soccer loss, or a
young Indian’s disdain for the marriage she will be expected to embark
upon at age eighteen, or the Balinese healer’s sly approach to male
impotence in a society where women are assumed responsible for their
childlessness. How relevant is Gilbert’s gender?
7. In what ways is spiritual success similar to other forms of
success? How is it different? Can they be so fundamentally different
that they’re not comparable?
8. Do you think people are more open to new experiences when they
travel? And why?
9. Abstinence in Italy seems extreme, but necessary, for a woman
who has repeatedly moved from one man’s arms to another’s. After all,
it’s only after Gilbert has found herself that she can share herself
fully in love. What does this say about her earlier relationships?
10. ilbert mentions her ease at making friends, regardless of where
she is. At one point at the ashram, she realizes that she is too
sociable and decides to embark on a period of silence, to become the
Quiet Girl in the Back of the Temple. It is just after making this
decision that she is assigned the role of ashram key hostess. What
does this say about honing one’s nature rather than trying to escape
it? Do you think perceived faults can be transformed into strengths
rather than merely repressed?
11. Sitting in an outdoor café in Rome, Gilbert’s friend declares
that every city—and every person—has a word. Rome’s is “sex,” the
Vatican’s “power”; Gilbert declares New York’s to be “achieve,” but
only later stumbles upon her own word, antevasin, Sanskrit for “one
who lives at the border.” What is your word? Is it possible to choose
a word that retains its truth for a lifetime?
1. Gilbert writes that “the appreciation of pleasure can be the
anchor of humanity,” making the argument that America is “an
entertainment-seeking nation, not necessarily a pleasure-seeking one.”
Is this a fair assessment?
2. After imagining a petition to God for divorce, an exhausted
Gilbert answers her phone to news that her husband has finally signed.
During a moment of quietude before a Roman fountain, she opens her
Louise Glück collection to a verse about a fountain, one reminiscent
of the Balinese medicine man’s drawing. After struggling to master a
182-verse daily prayer, she succeeds by focusing on her nephew, who
suddenly is free from nightmares. Do these incidents of fortuitous
timing signal fate? Cosmic unity? Coincidence?
3. Gilbert hashes out internal debates in a notebook, a place where
she can argue with her inner demons and remind herself about the
constancy of self-love. When an inner monologue becomes a literal
conversation between a divided self, is this a sign of last resort or
of self-reliance?
4. When Gilbert finally returns to Bali and seeks out the medicine
man who foretold her return to study with him, he doesn’t recognize
her. Despite her despair, she persists in her attempts to spark his
memory, eventually succeeding. How much of the success of Gilbert’s
journey do you attribute to persistence?
5. Prayer and meditation are both things that can be learned and,
importantly, improved. In India, Gilbert learns a stoic, ascetic
meditation technique. In Bali, she learns an approach based on
smiling. Do you think the two can be synergistic? Or is Ketut Liyer
right when he describes them as “same-same”?
6. Gender roles come up repeatedly in Eat, Pray, Love, be it macho
Italian men eating cream puffs after a home team’s soccer loss, or a
young Indian’s disdain for the marriage she will be expected to embark
upon at age eighteen, or the Balinese healer’s sly approach to male
impotence in a society where women are assumed responsible for their
childlessness. How relevant is Gilbert’s gender?
7. In what ways is spiritual success similar to other forms of
success? How is it different? Can they be so fundamentally different
that they’re not comparable?
8. Do you think people are more open to new experiences when they
travel? And why?
9. Abstinence in Italy seems extreme, but necessary, for a woman
who has repeatedly moved from one man’s arms to another’s. After all,
it’s only after Gilbert has found herself that she can share herself
fully in love. What does this say about her earlier relationships?
10. ilbert mentions her ease at making friends, regardless of where
she is. At one point at the ashram, she realizes that she is too
sociable and decides to embark on a period of silence, to become the
Quiet Girl in the Back of the Temple. It is just after making this
decision that she is assigned the role of ashram key hostess. What
does this say about honing one’s nature rather than trying to escape
it? Do you think perceived faults can be transformed into strengths
rather than merely repressed?
11. Sitting in an outdoor café in Rome, Gilbert’s friend declares
that every city—and every person—has a word. Rome’s is “sex,” the
Vatican’s “power”; Gilbert declares New York’s to be “achieve,” but
only later stumbles upon her own word, antevasin, Sanskrit for “one
who lives at the border.” What is your word? Is it possible to choose
a word that retains its truth for a lifetime?
Mosigg
Nov 4, 2010, 1:32:14 PM11/4/10
to 303 Bookworms
I honestly don't like any of these questions lol... But I did love the
book. It was a great read about how she overcome a hard "bump in the
road."
book. It was a great read about how she overcome a hard "bump in the
road."
Fili
Nov 8, 2010, 1:28:11 AM11/8/10
to 303 Bookworms
I thought the book was ok. I lost interest in it for quite some
time. I loved Italy and went through it pretty fast, but then I hit
India and I felt like getting through that part was hard and took me
forever. The last part picked up again for me. I am curious about
what else has happened in her life and would read her other nonfiction
book. And maybe one of her fiction books, since I know her as a
person and am curious about how she would write fictional characters.
I do wish I could actually do something remotely close to what she did
with my life. It really makes me feel a need to get out and do
something. I would love to travel. Peace Corps here I come! Just
kidding (maybe...)
time. I loved Italy and went through it pretty fast, but then I hit
India and I felt like getting through that part was hard and took me
forever. The last part picked up again for me. I am curious about
what else has happened in her life and would read her other nonfiction
book. And maybe one of her fiction books, since I know her as a
person and am curious about how she would write fictional characters.
I do wish I could actually do something remotely close to what she did
with my life. It really makes me feel a need to get out and do
something. I would love to travel. Peace Corps here I come! Just
kidding (maybe...)
Mosigg
Nov 8, 2010, 11:48:49 AM11/8/10
to 303 Bookworms
I like how my last post about this book was so "vague" hahahaha...
alright alright... I'm with Fel on this one where Italy was
tremendously more entertaining then India... However, when thinking
about the lesson's that were learned in both, I think India made it
easier for me to relate. Especially about relationships and such (how
she was always trying to control the situation)... I think this book
is definitely a good read, I never found it irritating but I did find
it one of those harder books to continuing reading (if that makes
sense). All in all, we should definitely go travel together ;)
hahahaahahahaha
alright alright... I'm with Fel on this one where Italy was
tremendously more entertaining then India... However, when thinking
about the lesson's that were learned in both, I think India made it
easier for me to relate. Especially about relationships and such (how
she was always trying to control the situation)... I think this book
is definitely a good read, I never found it irritating but I did find
it one of those harder books to continuing reading (if that makes
sense). All in all, we should definitely go travel together ;)
hahahaahahahaha
Sexy Bitch
Nov 8, 2010, 2:31:18 PM11/8/10
to 303 Bookworms
I don't know why, but I didn't like this book. I thought she
complained the whole time, which you would think I would like since I
do that all the time, but no. Although it made me want to start
meditating. I think it would help with my anger problems ;-) But
seriously, I had a very hard time reading this book. What I learned
from this book is that I need to travel more!!
complained the whole time, which you would think I would like since I
do that all the time, but no. Although it made me want to start
meditating. I think it would help with my anger problems ;-) But
seriously, I had a very hard time reading this book. What I learned
from this book is that I need to travel more!!
Chris Spishock
Nov 8, 2010, 2:49:24 PM11/8/10
to 303-bo...@googlegroups.com
I love the support guys :-) Mo I already pawned that book off to my mom haha. Amanda you are a little harsh there, I'm not saying ur not right but still. Oh well I guess we shall see.
On Nov 8, 2010 12:31 PM, "Sexy Bitch" <aman...@gmail.com> wrote:
I don't know why, but I didn't like this book. I thought she
complained the whole time, which you would think I would like since I
do that all the time, but no. Although it made me want to start
meditating. I think it would help with my anger problems ;-) But
seriously, I had a very hard time reading this book. What I learned
from this book is that I need to travel more!!
On Nov 4, 10:32 am, Mosigg <morgan21...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I honestly don't like any of these ques...
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