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Committed by Elizabeth Gilbert, with Giveaway

February 14, 2011 by 5 Minutes for Books

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

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I recently watched the movie adaptation of the mega-bestselling Eat Pray Love book by Elizabeth Gilbert which I had read and loved years ago. Click through the link to my review and comparison of the book and the movie at 5 Minutes for Books.

In February of last year, I reviewed another of her books — sort of part two of the story: Committed: A Love Story (interestingly enough the subtitle of the hardcover book is not “A Love Story,” but “A Skeptic comes to Terms with Marriage,” both of which fit in different ways).

In the book, Gilbert herself addresses the problem of publishing a follow-up to the kind of book that Eat, Pray, Love turned out to be. Whereas that book was a book of self-discovery, Committed is more of a nonfiction research/memoir cross.

I like these types of “project memoirs” as I call them, in which the author takes the approach that a journalist would — examining his or her own life and supplementing it with intensive research on the subject. Yes Gilbert shares her personal experiences, but mostly explains or reacts to other studies she’s read on marriage — and divorce — or laws, or social commentary on the institution.

Ultimately, she’s not trying to change the world (well, she might be trying to sway thoughts and laws about marriage and what it does to women) — she’s telling her story. She’s telling why she chose love, and why she had chosen to be unmarried and child-free before being forced to take another look at marriage.

If you are looking for information on the institution of marriage — particularly if you feel disenfranchised from it either by divorce, or singleness (by choice or circumstance), or exclusion (by the legal definition of marriage), then I can highly recommend this book to you. As she says in the hardcover’s subtitle “A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage,” she is in fact looking at the institution of marriage from the viewpoint of one who does not believe that marriage has been a good thing — for her personally and also more broadly for women in general.

But for me, a happy-to-be-married woman who is (fairly) socially conservative, it is more of a flatline. I am glad I read it, because I do like Gilbert’s style and matter-of-fact way of looking at life, but I don’t need to read it again, and I’m not sure that it will stick with me as other memoirs, including Eat Pray Love, have.

We have a copy of Committed: A Love Story to give to one of you (U.S. addresses only). Please leave a comment if you’re interested. We’ll announce the winner on February 28 here in our weekly book column.

Jennifer Donovan would love to be able to travel as widely as Elizabeth Gilbert has. She blogs at Snapshot, where she shares about some of the trips she’s been able to take as well as the ups and downs of her marriage (but not quite as candidly as the memoirist does).

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46 Comments

  1. mile high club la says

    December 18, 2024 at 10:09 am

    I have been reading out some of your posts and i must say pretty good stuff. I will surely bookmark your site.

    Reply
  2. car part under front bumper says

    December 13, 2022 at 7:48 am

    You must take part in a contest for among the best blogs on the web. I’ll recommend this site!

    Reply
  3. picnic themed party decorations says

    January 27, 2022 at 8:49 am

    This actually answered my problem, thank you!

    Reply
  4. jamie says

    February 28, 2011 at 9:41 am

    This looks like a good read!

    Reply
  5. Cindi says

    February 27, 2011 at 1:19 am

    My friends and I are fans of “Eat, Pray, Love!”
    This would be fabulous to read and pass on to
    my friends…
    Much thanks to you!
    Cindi

    Reply
  6. Danielle K says

    February 26, 2011 at 4:44 pm

    Loved Eat, Pray, Love & would love to win this!

    danielleaknapp at gmail dot com

    Reply
  7. melissa says

    February 25, 2011 at 12:00 am

    i would love to read this! thanks for another great giveaway

    Reply
  8. Lanna Gayle Buchanan says

    February 24, 2011 at 11:28 am

    I love to travel, and although I’m thankful for the few places I’ve been,
    I’ am looking forward to traveling when I’ve met some family
    needs I’m, now, responsible for. I use books to fulfill that need for now.
    I really enjoyed Eat Pray Love for that reason, and I’d love to read her
    follow-up memoir.
    Gayle

    Reply
  9. Colleen Turner says

    February 23, 2011 at 3:10 pm

    I have heard such great things about this book! Cannot wait to read it 🙂

    Reply
  10. Ladytink_534 says

    February 22, 2011 at 12:45 am

    I remember reading Eat, Pray, Love shortly after it was first released and loving it. I would love to be entered for the sequel!

    Reply
  11. Jen Tawse says

    February 20, 2011 at 8:35 am

    I have read Ms. Gilbert’s fiction and it is wonderful plus the famous book, Eat, Pray, Love and now I am not sure if her next book,Committed, is for me but I am curious.

    Reply
  12. tabitha says

    February 16, 2011 at 11:18 pm

    please enter me:)

    Reply
  13. Fabs says

    February 16, 2011 at 1:29 pm

    I’d love a new book to read!

    Reply
  14. Martha says

    February 16, 2011 at 12:20 pm

    Would love to read this book! 😀

    Reply
  15. Grace says

    February 16, 2011 at 11:25 am

    Please enter me.

    Reply
  16. brandy says

    February 16, 2011 at 10:59 am

    I would love to win this book!

    Reply
  17. Natalia says

    February 16, 2011 at 12:02 am

    Please enter me.

    Reply
  18. John D. says

    February 16, 2011 at 12:01 am

    I am very interested in this book.

    Reply
  19. Tia says

    February 15, 2011 at 9:13 pm

    I am always up for a good book!
    [email protected]

    Reply
  20. katklaw777 says

    February 15, 2011 at 6:48 pm

    Looks interesting…thanks for the giveaway.

    Reply
  21. Beth C says

    February 15, 2011 at 12:36 pm

    I’d love to read this. Thanks for the chance.
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

    Reply
  22. Susan Heim says

    February 15, 2011 at 8:30 am

    I heard this wasn’t as good as “Eat Pray Love,” which I really enjoyed, but I’d like to read it anyway. The author is a very good writer.

    Reply
  23. Some Lucky Dog says

    February 15, 2011 at 4:10 am

    I loved this first book and would love to read this one!
    someluckydog at gmail dot com

    Reply
  24. edj says

    February 15, 2011 at 1:28 am

    well I never read Eat Pray Love and I am committed to my marriage and feel it’s been good for both of us. but I’m curious, and an omnivorous reader, so I’d like to read this one!

    Reply
  25. nan says

    February 14, 2011 at 8:36 pm

    sounds like a great book
    nannypanpan at sbcglobal.net

    Reply
  26. Linda Kish says

    February 14, 2011 at 7:26 pm

    I would love to read this book.

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

    Reply
  27. Kim says

    February 14, 2011 at 7:05 pm

    looks like an interesting read–thanks for the chance to win!

    Reply
  28. Maureen says

    February 14, 2011 at 6:25 pm

    Would love to win this! Thanks, Maureen (jnomaxx at hotmail dot com)

    Reply
  29. Leanne M says

    February 14, 2011 at 4:51 pm

    I would love to read another Elizabeth Gilbert book.

    Reply
  30. Anita Yancey says

    February 14, 2011 at 4:10 pm

    The book sounds wonderful. Please enter me. Thanks!

    Reply
  31. Amy says

    February 14, 2011 at 4:04 pm

    Looks and sounds like a wonderful read! Thank you for the opportunity! 🙂

    Reply
  32. annaliza says

    February 14, 2011 at 3:51 pm

    sounds like a sweet book. thanks for the opportunity.

    Reply
  33. Shantel Cannon says

    February 14, 2011 at 3:44 pm

    I loved eat ,pray, love it really helped me get through my divorce and bring new meaning. I have found LOVE again and I would enjoy reading this and seeing her prespective! Thanks for the chance! 🙂

    Reply
  34. Jennifer Orozco says

    February 14, 2011 at 3:27 pm

    Would love this book…

    Reply
  35. Kim says

    February 14, 2011 at 3:12 pm

    love to win!

    Reply
  36. Karen J Massey says

    February 14, 2011 at 3:08 pm

    Sounds llke an interesting read.

    Reply
  37. riTa says

    February 14, 2011 at 1:24 pm

    Love story that is memoirish sounds like a winner to me!

    Reply
  38. Sarah - PS Mom Reviews says

    February 14, 2011 at 1:22 pm

    This looks like another great book.

    Reply
  39. Kate {The Parchment Girl} says

    February 14, 2011 at 12:32 pm

    I read Eat, Pray, Love and would be very interested in reading Committed as well. Thanks for the giveaway!

    Reply
  40. Jen E says

    February 14, 2011 at 9:20 am

    I adored Eat, Pray, Love and have been wanting to read this follow up, I’d love to win it!

    Reply
  41. Jen says

    February 14, 2011 at 9:01 am

    This book look awesome. Great giveaway on Valentines!

    Reply
  42. Sandra K321 says

    February 14, 2011 at 8:57 am

    I would love to read the continuation of the original story.

    Reply
  43. Susan says

    February 14, 2011 at 2:40 am

    I read Eat, Pray, Love, and loved it! I really want to read Committed. Elizabeth Gilbert is a gifted writer.

    susanbillietaylor [at] gmail [dot] com

    Reply
  44. Jennifer H. says

    February 14, 2011 at 1:18 am

    Looks like a good read!

    Reply
  45. Stacie says

    February 14, 2011 at 12:23 am

    I’m always up for a new book.

    Reply

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