I continue to read Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert for my book group this month. Here's another little excerpt:
I am so surprised sometimes to notice that my sister is a wife and a mother, and I am not. somehow I always thought it would be the opposite. I thought it would be me who would end up with a houseful of muddy boots and hollering kids, while Catherine would be living by herself, a solo act, reading alone at night in her bed. we grew up into different adults than anyone might have foretold when we were children. It's better this way, though, I think. Against all predictions, we've each created lives that tally with us. Her solitary nature means she needs a family to keep her from loneliness; my gregarious nature means I will never have to worry about being alone, even when I am single.
This is another one of those paragraphs that struck me as true for me. I look around my life, with the whirl of activities, people and sheer "things to do" and think, "How did a loner get so involved in all this stuff?"
But then I have to admit that God's plans are better than mine would have been. (Why I am always surprised about this is another question!) He has given me the things that have made me happy, and they are not what I would have ever considered doing/being/having when I was so wise (ahem) at 18 or 20 or 25.
I'm finding a lot that's interesting in Eat, Pray, Love. More than I thought I would when I picked up the book. Do I agree with her spiritual path? Oh, no. She's one of those "we all believe the same, deep down" folks. And I think that is manifestly untrue. BUT, her questions, her seeking, her drive for a relationship with God? THAT I can empathize with and see myself in. I don't think it's always necessary for us to agree with an author to get something out of the book.
I'm not necessarily recommending the book. But I am saying it's not being a bad read.
Anyway......
I'm also reading These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer. It's fab, as always.
And I'm fixing to start (that's a Texas colloquialism, ya know) a biography of Padre Pio for my spiritual reading.
Hope you're reading something good!
I read through Zippy the other day on your recommendation. Great read! I'm now on to Kite Runner, since I finished my Book Club book of The Shadow of His Wings by Fr. Goldmann. Read once before and still a stirring read.
I keep picking this book up in the bookstore and then putting it down. I saw Elizabeth Gilbert interviewed twice by Oprah and I feel at the same time attracted AND put off by it, likely for the same reasons you articulate above. Same yearnings, different fundamental truth.
Hmmm...
I reading Evelyn Waugh's Sword of Honor trilogy and a book called The Apostles which is a compilation of Pope Benedict's Wednesday audiences.
These Old Shades is my favorite Heyer...mainly because it was the first of her novels I ever encountered. Read aloud on the back porch of our college apartment in Irving, Texas by my beloved roommate and best friend when we had many more important things to do, like exams to study for or papers to write.
Right now I'm looking for something good to read. i keep picking books up and putting them down again. Haven't found the right one yet, though I know it's on one of these shelves somehwere.