Book review: Eat Pray Love

Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert has created a hype since it was published last 2006. As a fiction reader, memoirs and inspirational books never stirred my curiosity before. As a student, at the time of the publication of Gilbert’s novel, the schedule of my student life has been very chaotic and school readings here and there has already occupied my time that there’s no more room for some luxury reads.

Now that I am being very conscious of my reading, I let myself be swept by the still very hyped-up novel of Gilbert’s, especially now that it already has a movie adaptation showing. First things first, by the time that I bought the novel, the book cover has already changed from its original simple, macaronis that form the word “eat”, and the word “pray” formed by a Buddhist rosary, and the word “love” written in scarves, the new book cover is now changed to the movie illustration. Julia Roberts sitting on a bench that she shares with two nuns and the three of them are eating their ice creams on a cup, with Italian backdrop is now adorning the cover of Gilbert’s novel. Although I love the look of Julia Roberts in the cover, posed as if she is the happiest child on earth with her ice cream spoon inside her mouth, looking around her with her doe-eyes, I still want the original cover, which I always prefer.

Reading the book, the first part of which is Gilbert’s agony in New York and then she flew to Italy to experience “pleasure”, away from her chaotic life in New York, the book has already failed to capture me. For me, the most important part of a book is the beginning, the first few pages of the first chapter. If the beginning does not interest me, it would be a struggle already to continue reading. As really want to know what the hype is all about, I gave it the benefit of the doubt and continue reading. The Italy part is about the pleasure of eating and learning a new language. As I am also a food blogger, I expect myself to like this since it talks mostly about the food that Gilbert explored and discovered while in Italy. But I must admit, the book failed my expectation and did not satisfy my hunger for imaginary food trip. Although I understand that it is not a food blog or review, I thought since she is talking about the pleasure of Italian food, she should have gave it a more delicious approach.

The next stop, which is India, has been a nightmare for me. Not only did Gilbert sang a lullaby to me, she also used this part to yak. While reading the India part, I expect it to be serene, to be divine, to let her fly me to religious pleasure and at one point or another, give me a peace of mind, a calming effect. But no, I felt that she just went on ranting about her life, her disappointments, that the “magical” serenity that I have been looking for was blocked out. I think she just yak and yak her way throughout the chapter that when finally, there was a moment of tranquility and divinity, I can only read without feeling anything as if I’m a corpse, letting be pushed in a coffin.

The third part, Indonesia is supposed to wrap up the whole novel by combining what she has learned and discovered in Italy and in India. This part, I like. I think, this is the only chapter where there really is a story. Where Gilbert finally let go of the objective of the chapter and instead focused on telling how the events really occurred while staying in Bali. This is the only part where I enjoyed the whole chapter without falling asleep or urging to fight away the sleepiness that has been creeping in.

All in all, I suggest that if you really want to discover what Eat Pray Love was all about, just borrow a copy from somebody than buying one for yourself. This is one of the books which the moment I put down, I would have to force myself to pick up again to continue reading. I think I got my expectation way high above that the novel failed to meet it.

Boss's Assessment

Yesterday is the 100th day of President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III in office. He delivered a report, in which the theme of the event was aptly called "Report kay Boss". I am impressed by the program's theme because at the end of the day, they have not forgotten yet that his countrymen are his boss, as how they called them during his SONA. As I was impressed by this, I cannot ignore the fact that the President's speech was almost dedicated wholly to blame past administrations. I know that the past administration, especially the last one has been stained with too much controversies but this is a report of a subordinate to his superior. In a corporate setting, you do not include blames of your co-workers on your official report, do you? The speech should be reporting to us, the progress of the nation, and what has been accomplished over the oh-so-short 100 days of the President. Yes, I think that the report is not appropriate because I think that 100 days are too short for the President to accomplish any major thing worthy of reporting. I would also like to suggest to the President to caution or better yet, look for another speechwriter. His speeches to the nation from his Inauguration to the SONA, to his 100th day report was full of accusations and blames of the previous administration. As truthful as these things can be, I do not think blaming other people when you are the one in power now will help the President nor the President's image. Do not keep on blaming other people, this is a report of YOUR progress as the new OIC of the nation. We do not need to hear bow bad the previous presidents were. Our concern is YOU and the now, and the future, or at least the next 6 years. Your blaming past administrations will only make you indifferent from the other administrations. So please, stop.

Although, I do not like the come out of the "reporting" by the President yesterday, what of the same tone of his speech, the vague answers given, and the "corny" answers, I also do not agree of the interruption did by the students. It is but shameful to yell your sentiments, in a private place, not your place, and to the President. I believe these students were enrolled in schools so that they learn how to be a better person. How come they do not know how to respect when it is one of the very first lessons that you will learn in school? Is it very cool for people to know that you do not have respect? Are you proud that your name, and your school name are published in the media and it is not because you have done something very worthy of your school and your parents' pride? I think you should have at least behaved yourself instead of interrupting and shouting at the venue.

The problem is this, no matter what kind of administration we have, seems like there are some people who are always in the opposition. Those who do not even know what they are fighting for anymore. Those who are even before y0u act, already have their objections. If this will be the case, then how can this nation be a better one? How can the country's politics improve? If we will always be on the other side of the court no matter what, will this help in resolving conflicts among the Filipinos? How does being vigilant turn into being over-vigilant? There's nothing wrong in being vigilant. There's nothing wrong either in being careful. This country has already seen bad to worse days of its existence. This country has already gone through too many problems and yet it has always managed to survive. Nobody wants to go through "hell" all over again. But let us be fair and patient as we should be careful and protective of our country. Giving the new leader a little faith is not that difficult, is it?