Eat pray love made me do it Life journeys inspired by the bestselling memoir

With an introduction by Elizabeth Gilbert, this collection of 47 short essays on how her bestselling book changed the writers' lives will be of interest to the author's fans as well as to others wondering what the Eat Pray Love hubbub was (and still is) all about. The selections are varied, though a few themes run throughout. Like Gilbert, a number of writers left unhappy marriages, found the courage to travel to far-flung locales, or came to epiphanies on their bathroom floor. Others faced serious health problems, or abandoned unrewarding careers. Some contributors are parents; others are childless-some, like Gilbert, by choice. The stories shared are often fascinating, though readers may tire of the countless (and perhaps unnecessary) expressions of gratitude to Gilbert. Nevertheless, the collection clearly reveals the myriad ways in which her groundbreaking memoir has affected its readers. No doubt, like Eat Pray Love itself, this follow-up will inspire people, as Gilbert writes here, to step out of "their tired old selves" and follow their dreams. (Apr.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

When librarians recommend a book, they often never learn if that book had an impact on the patron's life. This is a book that does exactly that: a collection of essays by people who read Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat Pray Love and were inspired to take action in their own life. The almost 50 entries run the gamut from light to intense, funny to serious, but they are all poignant and thoughtful. Narrators Cassandra Campbell, Marc Cashman, Robbie Daymond, Mark Deakins, Ariana Delawari, Jorjeana Marie, and Emily Rankin lend variety to the essays, making sure the entries don't all blend together. Even listeners who have not read Gilbert's book will find this one interesting and inspiring. Gilbert wrote and reads the introduction, providing a smooth entry into the essays. VERDICT Highly recommended for any library where Eat Pray Love was popular-in essence, every public library. ["More than one contributor mentions being given a copy of Eat Pray Love by a concerned mother or friend; such readers will relish this work. It will also appeal to those whose lives were similarly changed, or those who hope to be so": LJ 3/1/16 review of the Riverhead hc.]-Donna Bachowski, Orange Cty. Lib. Syst., Orlando, FL © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.