so I went home for a couple of weeks recently and a number of people recommended eat, love, pray. So I picked it up, I'm almost done, and I know some people will find it too 'new agey' as in my X, but I'm enjoying it and recommend it - and gents, GQ said it's not only for the ladies.

http://www.elizabethgilbert.com/eatpraylove.htm

Err, so would 'new agey' be ladies' literature or what?

only if you think so

So why, mafzal, do you recommend that book?

too tired tonight to write the well thought out response it deserves, but in short, a witty tale which hits a personal chord with me.
if you have a chance to read it read it, let me know how you find it

Eat, Pray and Love was on of the best books I read last year!
Definitely recommend it. I love Elizabeth Gilbert's writing style.

Got 3 more of her books (Stern Men, The Last American Man and Pilgrims)
Am reading Pilgrims now....it was first published in 1997..her first collection of short stories.

BTW did U know that she was the one who inspired Coyote Ugly? (yes that very bad movie with female barkeeps dancing on tabletops)
She wrote an article about her own experience working in a Coyote Ugly type bar for GQ and tht inspired the film.

the book was cute. i enjoyed it bc i had travelled to many of the places she had been
right now - i recommend the book INFIDEL by ayaan hirsi ali.
this book opened my eyes and shocked me in so many ways. i think all women should read it. all women in muslim countries should read it. all muslims should read it.
hell... you all should pick it up and see why she has been called one of the most influential women of all time
and why she needs to hide from death threats

what 's the book about exactly?

which one? infidel - an autobiography of an african muslim woman - her shocking childhood, her marriage and later her incredible life in holland as a political refugee
eat pray love - a woman who travels to 3 different places to fulfill three different things in her life that she thinks are missing. nice monologue and description. she is a funny woman and its an enjoyable read

[quote user="banana" post="112022"]which one? infidel - an autobiography of an african muslim woman - her shocking childhood, her marriage and later her incredible life in holland as a political refugee
eat pray love - a woman who travels to 3 different places to fulfill three different things in her life that she thinks are missing. nice monologue and description. she is a funny woman and its an enjoyable read[/quote]

thanks, infidel is the one I was wondering about. I just finished E L &P. I enjoyed it - liked her sense of humor and writing style. She does get a little annoying at times, but overall I'd recommend it.

...I think one of the first books I ever read about women and the challenges they face was West with the Night by Beryl Markham - of course there i always the controversy that she didn't write the book - her husband did...

i would agree that e,p,l was a little annoying at times.. but as is anything where the person is seeking to fulfill themselves... they go through some sort of selfawareness thing that as an outsider you read and roll your eyes and say "right... whatever. it was just a damn plate of pasta." or think to yourself that someone is fooling themselves if they think their work of seemingly selfless charity is taking them to a higher plane
... cynical? perhaps.. but i thought she was a little diconnected and flighty sometimes.
but it was cute. that i think we can all agree on.

but yes.. i recommend infidel. shocking. eye-opening. i have recom. to all my friends and we have spent hourse discussing it.

also just finished : the year of living biblically - AJ Jacobs - writer for esquire - HILARIOUS and interesting beyond words. laughed learned had a good time.

do these books all have a theme? hmmm
reading "a thousand brilliant suns" right now... sad. depressing. but good i suppose

read and be literate... enjoy life : )

[quote user="banana" post="112066"]

but yes.. i recommend infidel. shocking. eye-opening. i have recom. to all my friends and we have spent hourse discussing it.

also just finished : the year of living biblically - AJ Jacobs - writer for esquire - HILARIOUS and interesting beyond words. laughed learned had a good time.

do these books all have a theme? hmmm
reading "a thousand brilliant suns" right now... sad. depressing. but good i suppose

read and be literate... enjoy life : )[/quote]


I'll have to add those 2 books to my reading list....
A thousand Splendid Suns is probably one of the best books I read last year.... This is a purely emotional reaction on my part. Having lived in Iran (pre-revolution) for a few years as a child, I can totally identify. I think I was in tears for a good part of that book... again totally because of my background and an emotional reaction... many critics said that the Kite runner was a better book, but I don't agree. Splendid sun is a stronger book.