wildflowerz76's review against another edition
5.0
I came pretty late to the game with reading [b:Eat, Pray, Love|19501|Eat, Pray, Love|Elizabeth Gilbert|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1269870432s/19501.jpg|3352398]. I was surprised that I couldn't put it down. So, when Gilbert's Committed came out, I put myself on the waiting list at the library pretty early and was rewarded. I think, technically, this book might be classified as more of a memoir. And, sure, it's about Elizabeth and Filipe making peace with marriage and their struggle to actually do so. But mostly, it serves as a general overview of marriage, both today and in the past. Gilbert does a great job of showing how marriage has evolved and how it continues to evolve as well as how people from other cultures view marriage and how it's changing for them. I really enjoyed reading it.
mverdoorn's review against another edition
3.0
Not bad,but not as engrossing as Eat Pray Love. It was interesting to see how she ended up marrying Felipe.
eak1013's review against another edition
4.0
After my pretty negative reaction to the last 2/3rds of [b:Eat Pray Love|19501|Eat, Pray, Love|Elizabeth Gilbert|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1294023455s/19501.jpg|3352398], I'm as surprised as you are that I even picked this book up. But 1) I'm actually very interested in reading about women who are skeptical of the institution of marriage/actively do not want to be married and 2) I thoroughly enjoyed Gilbert's 2009 TED talk on creativity, which found the balance between the slightly foofoo mysticism and practicality that was missing for me from most of [b:Eat Pray Love|19501|Eat, Pray, Love|Elizabeth Gilbert|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1294023455s/19501.jpg|3352398], as well showing a practicality of "this happened; what next?" that I found v. appealing. She made me want to hear more of her thoughts, even if I didn't fully agree with them, which I found rather remarkable.
And you know what? I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was far more Italy than India or Bali; it was on a topic in which I was already interested (so, you know, spaghetti instead of spirituality); it was engagingly written, and it avoided all the bits of her other nonfiction that made me cringe. It's funny; I deeply resented reading about her deeply personal spiritual experiences, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading her very personal musings on marriage.
Yes, she draws on some more universal research/case studies/etc., but let's be real - this is no [b:Straight|414298|Straight Man|Richard Russo|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320504340s/414298.jpg|3182399] (which, for the record, I adored). This is someone coming from a very mainstream perspective - white, straight, cis, upper/middle class, American - and she makes no bones about that. She does a fairly good job of acknowledging that, of at least brushing on the way not fitting into these categories can affect other people's thoughts and feelings on marriage, but that is not at all her focus. I see it as both a strength (precision of focus) and weakness (narrowness of focus) of the book. Hell, I'm just glad the fact that it is an acknowledged focus, rather than assuming this is Just The Way Things Are.
Gilbert skirts a bit close to The Magical Rural People Of Color Are Teaching The Nice White Lady! thing in her explorations of marriage in the small southeast Asian communities in which she (I was originally going to say "found herself," but, no, it was very much an active choice for her) was traveling while writing this book. Still, I give her credit for at least a) being better than she was in the India/Bali sections of [b:Eat Pray Love|19501|Eat, Pray, Love|Elizabeth Gilbert|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1294023455s/19501.jpg|3352398] and 2) calling herself out on Nice White Ladyness on more than one occasion.
I think what I found engaging about this book is exactly what I found offputting about [b:Eat Pray Love|19501|Eat, Pray, Love|Elizabeth Gilbert|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1294023455s/19501.jpg|3352398]: it is a very personal thought process seen through the lens of something larger/historical.* It just so happens that this time around I'm far more engaged by her personal decision-making process and am more interested in the topic of how and why people choose to perform pair bonds than a search for inner peace.
*Fair caveat - I may be ranking this book higher than it necessarily should be just because I am so. very. glad. that she was a) aware and b) very clear that it was a personal story with research-y context, rather than pretending/tricking herself into thinking it was a research-y examination with personal context. I've been suckered into one of those sorts of books one too many times, and Gilbert's relative transparency about what she was trying to do with this book was delightfully refreshing.
And you know what? I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was far more Italy than India or Bali; it was on a topic in which I was already interested (so, you know, spaghetti instead of spirituality); it was engagingly written, and it avoided all the bits of her other nonfiction that made me cringe. It's funny; I deeply resented reading about her deeply personal spiritual experiences, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading her very personal musings on marriage.
Yes, she draws on some more universal research/case studies/etc., but let's be real - this is no [b:Straight|414298|Straight Man|Richard Russo|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320504340s/414298.jpg|3182399] (which, for the record, I adored). This is someone coming from a very mainstream perspective - white, straight, cis, upper/middle class, American - and she makes no bones about that. She does a fairly good job of acknowledging that, of at least brushing on the way not fitting into these categories can affect other people's thoughts and feelings on marriage, but that is not at all her focus. I see it as both a strength (precision of focus) and weakness (narrowness of focus) of the book. Hell, I'm just glad the fact that it is an acknowledged focus, rather than assuming this is Just The Way Things Are.
Gilbert skirts a bit close to The Magical Rural People Of Color Are Teaching The Nice White Lady! thing in her explorations of marriage in the small southeast Asian communities in which she (I was originally going to say "found herself," but, no, it was very much an active choice for her) was traveling while writing this book. Still, I give her credit for at least a) being better than she was in the India/Bali sections of [b:Eat Pray Love|19501|Eat, Pray, Love|Elizabeth Gilbert|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1294023455s/19501.jpg|3352398] and 2) calling herself out on Nice White Ladyness on more than one occasion.
I think what I found engaging about this book is exactly what I found offputting about [b:Eat Pray Love|19501|Eat, Pray, Love|Elizabeth Gilbert|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1294023455s/19501.jpg|3352398]: it is a very personal thought process seen through the lens of something larger/historical.* It just so happens that this time around I'm far more engaged by her personal decision-making process and am more interested in the topic of how and why people choose to perform pair bonds than a search for inner peace.
*Fair caveat - I may be ranking this book higher than it necessarily should be just because I am so. very. glad. that she was a) aware and b) very clear that it was a personal story with research-y context, rather than pretending/tricking herself into thinking it was a research-y examination with personal context. I've been suckered into one of those sorts of books one too many times, and Gilbert's relative transparency about what she was trying to do with this book was delightfully refreshing.
flappermyrtle's review against another edition
3.0
This book was written in the same style, but in a completely different tone than it´s prequel. It was much less spiritual and more down-to-earth, considering the issue of marriage very broadly. I think it is very interesting to read about Elizabeth Gilbert's research on the topic and her ongoing problems with it, even though I do not have any particular feelings about the instituation myself. I'd say it's an obligatory read for all people (and then specifically women) about to enter into a marriage, or already in one.
jill's review against another edition
2.0
I think there is probably a context in which I would have enjoyed this book much more. For instance, if I were dating or engaged and giving the whole "should I get married" question a lot of thought. However, in the context of my current life, this book did very little for me. It is dissatisfying as a non-fiction study of marriage (very journalism-lite) and as a memoir (a bit of a yawner). After the initial set-up, I found myself reading just so I could finish it- never a good sign. Definitely a let-down after "Eat, Pray, Love," which I admit to enjoying quite a bit.
mgreco5's review against another edition
5.0
I read this book about 2 years ago and still think of its passages often. The journey of Elizabeth Gilbert is authentic, which is perhaps why I gravitated to it. It may also be because I, too, have often wondered what makes marriage official. She researches in much the same way I do, scouring the internet, buying random books and videos, and talking with other people. If you, too, wonder about the history of marriage and are curious about one woman's journey to find out it's meaning throughout history so she can make peace with the institution on her own terms, this book is definitely worth a read.
mandympower's review against another edition
2.0
The follow-up book to Eat, Pray, Love. Interesting prespectives on marriage.
kakiedo's review against another edition
5.0
Really intriguing history of marriage that makes me want to find a Brazilian lover and have a go at it myself...in like 5 years. Also makes me think of the women in my family, and inspires me to perhaps have a candid discussion or two with them to learn their stories.
bethany_bastert's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book, especially her anecdotes about her family and travels. Unfortunately, this book did not convince me one way or the other about marriage (which is not really the point). But, it was a good story, Elizabeth Gilbert is a great author and I love reading her works!