Eat Pray Love. Really?

Disclaimer:
This is my personal thoughts on a book I just read. Spoiler alert.

I’ve come to believe that Oprah Winfrey is indeed responsible for (mostly American) women’s lifestyle. And as a TV addict (I’m not allowed to say professional anymore, because I don’t work in TV now), I find her power very amazing indeed.

But in the end as I don’t work in TV anymore, I often forgot that Oprah’s power is used not only to empower and inspire women of all ages, but to turn garbage into bestsellers. She has the ultimate mystique to even sell ice to eskimos. And hats off to Oprah for that.

Yesterday I have been a victim of her so-called superpower.

Yeah, I purchased the ‘it’ book that everyone (in America) was raving about, titled ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ by Elizabeth Gilbert. I know it’s not my kind of book, as I don’t read self-help books or so-called ‘spiritual’ books and tend to indulge in Charles A. Monagan -ish silly humor when it comes to reading. I read things people don’t care about, and I laugh at the stuff which only a few find funny. In fact, the ‘deepest’ book I own is probably Da Vinci Code, and I got it because of I like suspense aside from humor. So I live the lighter side of life, and am unapologetic about it…

…because some people like Ms. Gilbert couldn’t even think about living lightly. They dwell in their sorrows, break down over ‘everything they already have’, fly to Italy to meet gorgeous twins to study Italian with (insert a loud “PHAH!” here) and then went to an India to scrub floors on an ashram and then finally ending the yearlong trip vacationing in Bali. Well, she said she’s looking for balance, but then I think it’s basic math to most working people on earth that when you’re burned out… you have to go on a vacation to balance yourself.

I mean, come on.

It’s about a woman’s search about everything. At least that’s what’s printed on the cover. After I read it, I thought: well, if a woman’s true searches are only indeed food, yoga and sex with an exotic stranger (that of course turn into love at the end of every sappy love story), then this book might be right.

What made me bought this book is my curiosity after hearing a statement of a woman on Oprah’s show, and I quote:

“I was a self-proclaimed atheist. But I have since found religion, and I made my bathroom my ashram.”

I was like… whoa. This book has to be that powerful. It can turn an atheist into a believer!

And as much as I want to stick to my own taste on silly books stashed on the lower corner on the singled out (read: abandoned) ‘humor’ shelf at Kinokuniya Book Store, I felt intrigued. Whatever was written in the book must enlighten the majority female readers. So I thought, well, I’m female and I read. Thus the dragging of le boyfriend all over Plaza Indonesia to get the book -because apparently it’s sold out here as well-.

So I read and read. I even read in the cab on a long trip, denying my car sickness, in search of her point. In comedy, I was vigorously searching for the punchline. But there was no punchline. Nor point. Nor inspiration. I can only wonder how delicious was that pizza from Pizzeria da Michelle in Naples and how does a vitamin lunch actually taste.

And I started to question why some people are unfortunate enough to have to go all around the world to ‘reclaim’ their lives. I mean, okay, who wouldn’t wanna travel around the globe and brag about it when they get home, as some of her audience at Oprah said… “The best feeling is coming home and telling people about it”. Of course it’s nice. But is living really supposed to be that hard? Reclaiming your life, if indeed it was stolen, methinks, should start from where you lost it in the first place. Simple logic. Troubles are always there, everywhere, if you still breathe and your heart is still beating. You don’t run away from troubles. You deal with it.

Well, all in all, this book isn’t for me. And I have to say, I bow to America for its ability to sell almost anything. I probably should go there and study that from you people. Seriously. Because as a woman, I kinda feel that the women ‘inspired’ by this book is only acknowledging that women are weak and they need vacations to get away and ‘deal’ with their problems. We’re way stronger than just being able to purchase tickets to Italy, India and Bali. What about the women in Africa who are struggling to live day by day, taking care of their sick and hungry kids? Do they need to travel the world as well before they can, um, ‘reclaim’ their lives? Oh, sorry, I meant… do they need to get into their personal walk-in closet with a glass of wine to read magazines and listen to music?  And I see nobody giving them $18,000 to build one house for each person. Gimme a break.

One thing I really learn from reading this book is how I should trust my instincts more. If it says ‘stick to comedy’ next time, I will.

I am also so relieved that some people do share my opinion on the book, so I know I’m not the only one who’s kinda disturbed about all the annoying whining.

PHEW!