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Committed: A Sceptic Makes Peace with Marriage

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Committed: A Sceptic Makes Peace with Marriage [Paperback]

Elizabeth Gilbert (Author)

3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)

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Product details

Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC (4 Jan 2010)
ISBN-10: 1408805766
ISBN-13: 978-1408805763
Product Dimensions: 23 x 15.2 x 2.4 cm

Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)

Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank:: 368 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

#2 in	Books > Health, Family & Lifestyle > Relationships
#11 in	Books > Health, Family & Lifestyle > Men's Health & Lifestyle
#1 in	Books > Health, Family & Lifestyle > Families & Parents > Marriage

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Product Description

Review

'A writer of incandescent talent.' Annie Proulx Praise for Eat, Pray, Love: 'A word-of-mouth bestseller. As funny as it is wise' Elle 'It's what i'm giving all my girl friends' Julia Roberts 'Utterly of the moment: it manages, effortlessly, to be both spiritual and sexy all in the same tumultous breath' Guardian

Product Description

At the end of her bestselling memoir "Eat, Pray, Love", Elizabeth Gilbert fell in love with Felipe - a Brazilian-born man of Australian citizenship who'd been living in Indonesia when they met. Resettling in America, the couple swore eternal fidelity to each other, but also swore to never, ever, under any circumstances get legally married. (Both survivors of difficult divorces. Enough said.) But providence intervened one day in the form of the U.S. government, who - after unexpectedly detaining Felipe at an American border crossing - gave the couple a choice: they could either get married, or Felipe would never be allowed to enter the country again. Having been effectively sentenced to wed, Gilbert tackled her fears of marriage by delving completely into this topic, trying with all her might to discover (through historical research, interviews and much personal reflection) what this stubbornly enduring old institution actually is. The result is "Committed" - a witty and intelligent contemplation of marriage that debunks myths, unthreads fears and suggests that sometimes even the most romantic of souls must trade in her amorous fantasies for the humbling responsibility of adulthood. Gilbert's memoir - destined to become a cherished handbook for any thinking person hovering on the verge of marriage - is ultimately a clear-eyed celebration of love, with all the complexity and consequence that real love, in the real world, actually entails.

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	75% buy the item featured on this page: Committed: A Sceptic Makes Peace with Marriage 3.9 out of 5 stars (16) �7.54
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Customer Reviews

16 Reviews

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

Average Customer Review

3.9 out of 5 stars (16 customer reviews)

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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Insightful, 21 Feb 2010

By	Leah Armstrong ""expat"" (Genoa, Italy) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Committed: A Sceptic Makes Peace with Marriage (Paperback)

I could relate to this book because I also felt the same about marriage. Once divorced, I couldn't imagine wanting to get married again ever. But I was faced with a similar situation in my relationship. I did not qualify to stay in Italy with my boyfriend and try and "make a life with him" so we were forced to get married for Immigration purposes.

Gilbert's search for the meaning of marriage is interesting because she explores other cultural traditions and opinions and leaves you with a feeling of utter confusion. I would like to think that this was a bit on purpose because it exemplifies exactly what she is struggling with, which is not wanting to fall into the North American dillusion that another person "completes us".

As North Americans we have a tendency to "romanticize" about love and marriage and yet this book hits the nail on the head from any "Government State" perspective around the world, which is marriage is meant to keep some sort of order in the world and community. But, at the same time, the rules of "engagement" is a shifting platform with the integration of education for women in otherwise secluded villages, the virtual world of the Internet, affordable travel and Expatriate societies sprouting up everywhere.

Gilbert never loses sight of the emotions she feels for her spouse (good and bad), but as a woman, she struggles with her sense of self and independence. She has taken a leap of faith indeed, but isn't everything in life worth having a bit of a leap of faith?

This book left me with a feeling that Gilbert's plight is not a solitary one. She has spoken for many in this everchanging world we live in. It's inspirational to know that she was not going to take orders from the State sitting down.

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44 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Patchy, but ultimately satisfying, 7 Jan 2010

By	Julia Flyte - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Committed: A Sceptic Makes Peace with Marriage (Paperback)

Like so many others, I was curious to know what happened to Elizabeth and her Brazilian lover Felipe after Eat, Pray, Love ended. As the book opens they are still happily together, but with no intention of marrying. It becomes clear however that they will not be able to live together in the US unless they are married. (Or as Elizabeth puts it, they are "sentenced to marry by the Homeland Security Department").

This book is about how they spend most of the next year traveling in Asia waiting for Felipe's visa to process and for much of this time that Elizabeth researches the concept of marriage. So the book is part love story, part travelogue and part history. Or again as Elizabeth puts it, a memoir (with extra socio-historical bonus sections!) about her efforts to make peace with the institution of marriage.

The results are patchy. The historical/sociological parts are well written and interesting enough, but after a while it feels too much like a lecture. (Especially when Elizabeth puts her case for same sex marriages. I have no issue with her views, but neither am I very interested in them). It's when she's describing her own experiences that Gilbert's writing really shines. There are wonderful accounts of encounters with the local people in Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam and I was also totally absorbed in her relationship with Felipe which she describes in a very honest and moving way. While she still has the same chatty and open writing style (which is very easy to read), she comes across as more mature and less self-absorbed this time around.

I'm not sure this book will stay with me in the way that Eat, Pray, Love did, but it was a satisfying read that did also make me think more about my own views on marriage.

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Modern Bride's Bible, 5 April 2010

By	Tracy (London) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Committed: A Sceptic Makes Peace with Marriage (Paperback)

Committed explores the history of marriage and Elizabeth Gilbert's own feelings about her upcoming nuptuals. As a sceptical bride-to-be myself, I found this book both heartening and thought provoking. There were moments when I felt Gilbert's anger at how marriage tends to treat women unfavourably, but by the end of the book I joined her in thinking that marriage - on my terms - does not have to be the institution I once thought it was.

Essential reading for anyone about to embark on their own nuptuals.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars a sequel but with more facts
This is a sequel to Eat Pray Love in that it takes the (real) story of Liz and her lover Felipe into the next stage of their life together (ie, marriage), but it is much much more... Read more

Published 10 days ago by Strangford Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars A (perhaps inevitably) disappointing sequel
I bought this for my mum after she read and loved the first one. Unfortunately, apparently, this sequel is disappointing in comparison. Read more

Published 1 month ago by Jazz

5.0 out of 5 stars Not chick lit
In my view the biggest error made by the publishers of this book was the cover. It leads one to believe it is a much lighter 'chick lit' type of read than it really is. Read more

Published 2 months ago by A. Costain

3.0 out of 5 stars Bit Heavy Going
Thought provoking and extremeley well researched and beautifully written - but not as much fun or quite as personal as Eat Pray Love and so it became a bit heavy going in places.

Published 2 months ago by Avid Reader

3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing after Eat, Pray, Love
I felt a lot of this came across as a textbook on the history of marriage with some personal aspects added for good measure, I did not feel the rapport or compulsion to keep... Read more

Published 2 months ago by Ms. P. Heenan

3.0 out of 5 stars Should have stuck to the original story
I have to say I really loved Eat,Pray Love and was very excited to receive her follow up book having thoroughly enjoyed her style of writing..but I was disappointed... Read more

Published 3 months ago by Louise N. Knight

5.0 out of 5 stars a drink and chat with a friend
Reading Commited is like having a glass of wine with your cleverest and wittest friend and chatting about something that is actually really interesting and something that we have... Read more

Published 3 months ago by N. Lidberg

5.0 out of 5 stars Helpful, funny and mind-opening
One of a kind - all history and controvercy of marriage in one book, well structured, easy to read and very very helpful. A must to read before answering "yes" :)

Published 3 months ago by Kolobok

4.0 out of 5 stars what next?
as a fan of Eat, Pray, Love this is a great read to see how the relationship develops as well as cultural 'look' at marriage

Published 4 months ago by anastasia tulloh

5.0 out of 5 stars Its explores marriage. Well.
If you ever asked yourself "Why" in regards to marriage, this is a fascinating book taking in our cultural biases, the history and purpose of the institution, and Elizabeth's... Read more

Published 4 months ago by Enroute8

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