Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert has sat on my shelf for quite some time.  I tend not to read the novels that produce a lot of hype, but a couple of days ago I thought of it and read the description again.  I hadn't even realized it possessed the two qualities I enjoy in a novel: watching a character deal with some unfortunate events and also a novel that explores different cultures.  The first place she travels is Italy and seeing how half of my fiances family is Italian I am enjoying learning little bits of history and the language.  


I instantly fell in love with her use of language-conversational, yet organized.  The first quote that struck me was, "Because God never slams a door in your face without opening a box of Girl Scout cookies (or however the old adage goes)".  She's a woman that has suffered numerous struggles and I love that she puts humor in her writing.  


She struggles with not knowing what exactly to do with her life (don't we all).  She focuses on her two passions traveling and writing.  She sets off and decides to bring us with her.  I admire her for following what makes her passionate-it is not an easy thing to drop everything for one year and just go.  I wish more people knew what their passions even were-so many just live day to day without dreams and goals-it just seems like a waste.  Then there are people like me who knows what I'd like to doing, but simply can't seem to get there, but I know I'll keep trying until I do. 


Until then, I can read and write about it, which in a way does fulfill my passion.  I will report often about the novel I am reading, please fill free to comment and share your own personal opinions about the novel or anything that you may be reading...


-Toni