I know I have a pretty easy (though totally not free) access to the internet, allowing me to get enormous fresh news practically on everything, but don’t blame me that I found out about this book only in recent times. And don’t blame the TV station that had the show only a few weeks ago.

The three words—eat, pray, love—has always been in my mind since Oprah mentioned Elizabeth Gilbert’s non-fiction book title at the end of one of her shows. And as if it were my birthday, I celebrated the day in which I got to watch the re-run episode when Oprah interviewed Gilbert (and I even got to watch it twice—what a ‘sign’!).

I’ve never read this book, but thanks to the internet, I get massive info on it.

Despite some bitter reviews on it (for instance, this and this), I love the core philosophies of Gilbert’s book—the art of pleasure, the art of devotion, and the art of balancing the previous two. Yes, our lives do need those, whether or not we’re conscious of it.

And guess what, the philosophies of eating, praying, and loving fit Gorgeous Inspirations; therefore, days to come, you’ll see those philosophies integrated in many posts here.

In the mean time, let’s hear from my next blog neighbors on how they relate to Eat, Pray, Love:

oneunpolisheddarling enjoys the Italy part most, that she excerpts a part on the history of the country. But the next one is my fave quote from this blogger:

I am still savoring the Italy section. Every word, every detail - it’s like taking a walk through heaven. I have to admit, I told my husband as I embarked on this soul-journey of a book, “babe, you may see me spending some nights wrought with insomnia, and urged by the very inclination that this woman did exactly what I was designed, through every inch of my being, to do - drop it all and travel.” No, but not just travel - live. LIVE in a place and bury my green, inexperienced, clumsy ‘I know nothing about your culture but what I’ve read in books’ hands into the earth of another place. … Not to mention, she LIVES (dolce vita!), soul searches….and basically finds herself in some of the countries I’ve been dying to see …

Laura feels as if she’s traveling with Gilbert herself when she reads it:

The author is so descriptive that you feel like you’re sitting right next to her as she goes on a journey through Italy, India, and Indonesia.

While I can’t quite say the book changed my life (cliché-alert), it definitely made me pause to think about a lot of things. There are interesting spiritual theories discussed, which forced me to consider my own beliefs. More importantly, I felt that I was able to learn from the life-lessons the author learned. The peace-with-self that she obtained by the end of the book made me ridiculously jealous.

…

Granted, the lessons I learned while reading the book only stuck with me for a little while… kind of like that peacefulness you feel when you return from a relaxing vacation, only to come back to an overflowing inbox, a stack of overdue paperwork, and a big fat reality slap in the face. BUT, it was nice to feel that “vacation” feeling while I was still working, and for that alone this book is worth it.

pacifictonz says something wise and definitely inspiring about Gilbert’s memoir:

I thought the book was … a timely reminder that the purpose of life is not to watch it pass in a speed blur.

I myself am looking forward to reading the book (wish me luck)—and certainly looking forward to writing more posts in regards to the philosophies of Eat, Pray, Love

Related Reading:

* Excerpt of Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India, and Indonesia

* Reviews of Eat, Pray, Love

* Oprah.Com Exclusive Eat, Pray, Love

—Diar

If you still remember your last visit to Gorgeous Inspirations online magazine of July/August 2007 edition, you must remember my recommendation for you to read this astounding novel, Looking for Alibrandi (Indonesian title: Mencari Jati Diri) by Melina Marchetta.

Well, I’m going to review it again here, just because I want you all know how gorgeous the book is.

And by the way, I just bought the book for myself, so that I no longer have to check it out from the local library no more. Really, I need the book be around me

My review:
For this matter, say buh-bye to the United States for the reason that apparently Australia has a better—no, THE BEST teenage novel in the universe. It’s apt for women of all ages (grannies, mommies, and daughters). And guess what, this novel even becomes one of the school text books in the country! How awesome is that, eh?

Read this novel, and you’ll undergo practically all kinds of senses and emotions. I still remember how I truly guffawed at the humors inside. I still remember how I truly sobbed for the gloomy scenes inside. I still remember how I was truly mad as well when the characters felt rage. I still remember how I truly felt relieved and literally contented for the happy scenes inside. I just remember how I felt ALIVE reading this great book!

Looking for Alibrandi is such a strong and smart and inspiring and stunning novel, you wanna steal the book from one of those shelves in the nearest book store once you realize you don’t have one. Naaah… just a hyperbole sort of thing—skip this. But seriously, this book is just gorgeous.

From this book, you can learn (and recall your teenagehood) how to recognize your true you.

From this book, you can learn to understand other cultures. This is actually a multi-culture kind of book, in which Ms. Marchetta (I salute you, really, Ms. Marchetta!) shows the cultures of both Australian and Italian and the conflicts between those two in a very clever way.

From this book, you can learn (again) how to love others.

From this book, you can learn (always again and again) how every single person on earth has different perspectives on anything.

To sum up, you can learn anything from this awesome novel!

Looking for Alibrandi was also made into a movie (I’ve never had any opportunity to watch it, but I’m sure it is pretty much as great as the written version, as Ms. Marchetta herself wrote the screenplays).

:: The gorgeous inspiration of this post?
That Looking for Alibrandi is gorgeous, you must buy one for yourself

It isn’t a brand new book, yet always fits all years. And above all, inspiring for sure. Yes, Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach.

I bought this book after felt totally inspired (and enlightened) by almost each single word written (I first read the book at the Public Library). Just gorgeous.

It’s such a revealing moment, realizing that gorgeous stuff come not only in big, concrete things you can buy with money, but also those ‘trifling’, little things that sometimes are ‘hidden’ somewhere and we tend to overlook them.

You know, like the white milk jug by the window with a little daisy in it.

The beautiful maroon of your bedroom wall.

The splashes of rain at your windows.

The smell of the hot bread at that bakery down the street.

Just simply anything.

Gorgeous inspirations are simply here, there, and everywhere.

Get a ‘help’ discovering some of those gorgeous inspirations by reading Sarah Ban Breathnach’s Simple Abundance.