The things bookish prejudices make us do.
I like to listen to the news on public radio in the mornings but since I am an early riser on the weekends too and the news coverage doesn’t start until 7, I often get stuck listening to all of part or a decidededly non-vegan cooking show on Saturdays and a show on Sunday called “On Being.” For the most part I enjoy “On Being” though sometimes it gets a bit too religious for my preferences.
Several weeks ago I tuned into “On Being” around halway through its 60-minute time slot. The host was talking to a woman about creativity and courage and fear and some other things that got my attention and held my interest. I was nodding along over my coffee and breakfast and wondering who was this person she was talking too. Then, well after I had been hooked, I learned the woman being interviewed was Elizabeth Gilbert.
I know many of you love Gilbert. I, however, for no fault of Gilbert’s own, had decided to not like her long ago when Eat, Pray, Love became such a big success. The book was so successful it seemed that everyone had read it or was reading it and everyone had nothing but good things to say about it. But I stubbornly refused to read the book no matter how many trusted readers raved about it. Everyone was reading it and I had no interest in being part of crowd.
I would like to blame my mom. When I was a kid and would go running to her to ask if I could do something and I would say “but all my friends are …” She would reply with “and if all your friends jumped off a cliff would you jump too?” When people start jumping, I tend to drag my feet and strike out in a different direction. But it is not fair to cast blame on my mom. I have always had a bit of a stubborn streak which she will happily confirm I am certain.
The prejudice against Gilbert is all my own and it is founded on nothing other than lots of people liked her book Eat, Pray, Love. After hearing her on the radio I decided that maybe I was being a bit rough on her. So I brought home her new book on creativity from the library.
I started reading Big Magic last night and while I am not far, I am enjoying it very much. My enjoyment is not because Gilbert says anything revelatory and new, but it is her tone, her encouraging voice, giving permission to pursue creativity while also acknowledging how scary it is that is appealing. I am not going crazy over the book, she goes a bit too far in the magical wonder thing for me to be completely won over. My prejudice against her is, nonetheless, slipping away. This does not mean I am going to rush out and read her other books, but I think I will be more amenable to considering reading other books she writes in the future.
I don’t usually develop prejudices against an author, but I do against particular books, including Eat, Pray, Love. Sometimes when you wait too late to read a book like that, you know you’re going to be snarky about it. If I’d read it before it got too popular, who knows? Maybe I would have changed my life in a totally non-characteristic way!
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Jeanne, for me it starts with a book and then I go all in 😉 Yeah, if I read a book before everyone else becomes interested I don’t have any problems it’s only after the explosion of interest when I reach the I am know I am going to be snarky no matter what stage.
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Good for you! It can be scary setting aside any sort of prejudice, but I’m glad you were able to do so and am finding the experience enjoyable. If only it were always that easy.
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Michelle, if it weren’t for hearing her on the radio show I would never even have considered reading any of her books.
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I’m in the same place! Maybe I’ll look for Big Magic the next time I’m at the library.
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I am pretty sure the radio show I heard can be listened to as a podcast and you could go to mpr.org and find the On Being page if you want to “sample” before you dive in to the book.
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Thanks!
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I will say that I’ve never been sorry I set aside my instinctive refusal to like any book that became overly popular. It wouldn’t have served me well as a book blogger anyway, I don’t think! I started reconsidering it after unexpectedly loving Harry Potter in eighth grade, and by now I am fully on board with having fun by reading things while everyone else is. It’s just nice to have people to enthuse about things with! (see also: Hamilton, 2015 :p)
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Jenny, I am getting better and I find I am more willing to read popular SFF or graphic novels and comics. There is something to be said for having other people to enthuse with. You were only in 8th grade when Harry Potter hit the shelves? You just made me feel so very very old 🙂
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I’m a bit like you in that way. But most of the books I’ve then (at some point) still read, I enjoyed them. Books that I haven’t enjoyed at all, even with them being a huge success are: Twilight and Fifty Shades Series (I have only read the first books of each). I’ve liked Eat Pray Love, but it didn’t have a huge impact on my life or thoughts. I tend to messure books by that 😉
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Julia, heh, I’ve had a similar experience, if I end up reading the book eventually, I usually like it even if it is sometimes reluctantly! 🙂
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This is very interesting commentary.
I try not to hold popularity against an author of a book. However, I thing a little prejudice against that sort of stuff creeps on for me anyway 🙂
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We haven’t heard much about Eat Pray Love over here (and I am afraid its title would confirm quite a lot of prejudices and a UK equivalent might be Snaffle Belch Curse!). However it is nice to lay snarkiness aside and acknowledge that Gilbert does her thing with skill!
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Ian, now if Snaffle Belch Curse was the title I would have been all over that even if it became popular! 🙂 As much as I didn’t want to put snark aside, after being fooled by her on the radio I had to give her new book a try.
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Brian Joseph, my rational brain says it is silly to hold popularity against a book, but my gut reaction wins out more often than not!
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I’m very much like you in this sense. I do develop prejudices about authors if I read that they’ve said or done certain things. When I finally read Eat, Pray, Love, I didn’t see what the fuss was about. But I saw Elizabeth Gilbert on TV talking about her house and I then decided she might be fun to know. Still not sold on her books, though.
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Joan, heh, yeah I am not sure I would have especially liked Eat, Pray, Love anyway since it isn’t the type of book I would normally like. Talking about creativity on the other hand is interesting but until I heard Gilbert on the radio I would not have picked up her book on the topic. Even though I don’t expect to amazed by the book, it is still pretty good.
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The main things I’ve heard against Eat, Pray, Love (and many people do NOT like this book) is that the author is a privileged white woman who got to go globe-trotting and made a lot of money doing it. The other thing people hate about the book is that it’s terribly repetitive. People love the “Eat” part, are half-okay with “Pray,” and by “Love” are so tired of this woman. I haven’t read the book, but I saw the film and lost interest about half-way through the “Pray” section (mainly because she was so bad at it and didn’t seem to take praying/meditation half as seriously as eating).
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GTL, I’ve heard those criticisms too which only served to make me even less interested in reading the book and even more prejudiced against GIlbert.
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I haven’t read her books, but I did see one in the Little Free Library, so I snagged it for future perusal.
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If you ever decide to try Elizabeth Gilbert again, might I recommend her novel, “Signature of All Things”?
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darkorpheus, thanks for the tip. I will keep that in mind!
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We read Eat, Pray, Love in my book club, and it was one of the most polarizing things we ever read. A couple people loved it and most people hated it with the intensity of the sun. There were only two of us (myself included) who thought it was just OK.
My sister was in the “hated it” group, but a friend of hers (who had also disliked Eat, Pray, Love) convinced her to try Gilbert’s novel, and they both really liked it.
My theory is that Eat, Pray, Love was Gilbert working through some necessary self-indulgence that most of us just do on a blog (or, back in the day, in a journal), but that she’s actually a good writer and once she was past the self-indulgence, her stuff might be good. I confess I haven’t read any to find out, though.
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Tungsten Hippo, interesting it was so polarizing for you group! Hmm, your theory sounds like it could be a good one from all I have heard about the book. So far her book on creativity is not self-focused or indulgent so I am optimistic about it.
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I admit I am a crazy Elizabeth Gilbert fan. I adored both Eat, Pray, love (which came out at just the right time for me – I was in my late 20s, unsettled in my job and dreaming of escape, and love travel memoirs anyway – and Big Magic. (Have you read the story with Ann Patchett yet??? It’s amazing!)
I got to meet her and hear her speak a few years ago, and was struck with how utterly unpretentious and generous she is. She is fully aware of her good fortune, and worked hard at many jobs just scraping by for years beforehand, so I think she deserves it. I am so glad that you heard her speak on the show and decided to give her a shot. Her latest novel, The Signature of All Things, is terrific as well. It’s a sweeping historical novel about a female botanist in the 19th century – and it’s unexpectedly lusty!
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Laila, I am still early in Big Magic and have only read about the hermit poet so far but that was a very good story. Now you have me looking forward to the Ann Patchett story!
Very cool you got to meet and hear Gilbert. From what I heard of her on the radio she does sound unpretentious and very thoughtful too, like someone it would be interesting to talk with. If Big Magic goes well, I will keep Signature of All Things in mind!
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I had the same aversion to Eat Pray Love and Elizabeth Gilbert – and admittedly many other things that I have snootily deemed “too popular” (I’ve still never seen Titanic). I’m often grateful that I discovered Harry Potter before it exploded, as I might have been averse to that as well, and it’s provided some of the most enjoyable moments of my life!
But I gave Big Magic a shot too – and really enjoyed it. Like you, I really like her gentle and inspiring encouragement, I find it very appealing. Reading & enjoying Big Magic has led me to like Liz Gilbert a lot more – I’ve been seeking out interviews with her, and find her completely delightful. (She did a series of 12 creativity podcasts leading up to the release of Big Magic last year – they are wonderful, and she speaks to other wonderful people that I love. I highly recommend them!)
I’ve overcome my Liz Gilbert prejudice so much that I’ve decided to give Eat Pray Love a shot too! Not sure when I’ll get to it, but I have the audiobook waiting. 🙂
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Emily, I am glad I am not the only one! though I have seen Titanic, my prejudices don’t seem to extend to movies! The podcasts sound great. I will have to go look for them!
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I know what you mean about prejudice and reading or for that matter viewing. I watched EPL the movie, couldn’t even finish it and after that had no desire to read the book. And as your blog name says, so many books, so little time. I’m afraid I’ve to move on to higher priorities. 🙂
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Arti, we must have priorities that’s for sure! I never did see the movie and had no interest in it because I was anti-book but also because Julia Roberts was the star and I don’t care much for her and I can’t say why, only that there is something about her that makes me grind my teeth.
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I had the same sort of reaction as you did to be honest, but I did read Eat Pray Love and liked parts of it. I think it was just too much talked about (like Girl on the Train) and you just get tired of it. But I do think she seems like an interesting person. I read Stern Men when it came out ages ago, before she was so famous, and liked it very much. I am not as interested in all her later books, but I do have to say I am wanting to read her The Signature of All Things (and will you be surprised to hear it is on my CO list?). 😉
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Danielle, yeah, maybe it just got talked about too much. Good to know you liked one of her other books before she became famous, that’s heartening. Signature of All things is on your CO list? is it going to make it into your suitcase? I will be curious to know!
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I’ve been known to hold out on some books because they had Oprah’s seal of approval! And, I do like Oprah and read her magazine. Makes no sense. For me I think I got this way after I fell into several books that people raved about only to sort of like them. What was all the fuss about? was it me? You know, that sort of thing. Anyway, glad you are enjoying this one and that’s actually one that I think I would be interested in too. I don’t think I’ve heard On Being but I do love so many of NPR programs. One of my favorite weekend programs is The Moth.
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Iliana, oh yes, I totally know that everyone is raving about this but I found it meh experience! That very often is what helps me form my prejudices. On Being is an interesting program, lots of writers turn up on it. I have not heard of The Moth. will have to investigate that one!
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I also am kind of prejudiced against Gilbert and especially Eat, Pray, Love. Not everyone can take off on an exotic journey and not everyone finds a soul mate at the end of that journey. In fact most heart breaks are gotten over through long painful nightmare like days and in the face of such pain, Gilbert’s book while optimistic seemed to provide solution to only a particular variety of women. I am sure her writing is good, but I do not think she writes for me!
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cirtnecce, yes! you have expressed my prejudices quite nicely on this one. And then they carried over to Gilbert and everything else she has written. But it turns out she is not a bad person at all and is rather interesting. Still not going to read EPL, but I am willing to give the author a go on other books.
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I’m not sure I’ve had a prejudice as such but there are lots of books I haven’t read or have decided not to read for a long time before of the hype and expectation. There are quite a few of those at the moment, actually. I am sort of prejudiced against Philippa Gregory’s work but that was after reading it and seeing what she was trying to pass off as fact.
This said I’ve no plans to read Eat, Pray, Love, because since it’s been a while we’re now in that ‘but was it really that good?’ phase, and having read those opinions I’m not sure it’d be worth it.
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Charlie, you are smart! Wait until the furor dies down and then assess with clearer eyes. 🙂
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I finished Big Magic yesterday! I hope you love the lobster story – it is endearing. (spoiler alert?! not really)
I have had a prejudice against Steinbeck since HS but then decided I was being silly so I read East of Eden. WOOOOW! So good! I still may never read Grapes of Wrath, though.
That said, I listened to Signature of All Things and it has a lot of good things going for it. Gilbert is true and I admire her for it.
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Care, so I take it you liked the book? I will look forward to the lobster story! I can understand your prejudice to Steinbeck, he kind of gets forced down your throat in high school, at least he did in mine! I liked Grapes of Wrath though so that saved me from a fate like yours 🙂 Sounds like I will have to give Signature of All Things a try sometime!
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So much of this resonated with me. Yes I have a prejudice against books that feel hyped – like the Ferrante series and Gone Girl. Which means I could be missing out on something special but that’s the risk. The reason I have not read Eat,Pray Love is partly because of the hype but it’s more that I had read a similar book which I loved and couldn’t believe Gilbert could better it. The book I mean is Without Reservations: The Travels of an Independent Woman by Alice Steinbach https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/524878.Without_Reservations.
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BookerTalk, oh the Steinbach book sounds really good so I totally understand why no one could do better after that! It’s funny how many of us have prejudices against popular books.
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I had the same reaction to Gilbert and Eat, pray, love. And I still haven’t read her, but my prejudice has gone given the acclaim she has had since. If I ever get through my high priority TBR – and it’s not looking good at present (and you can tell by the fact that I’ve not even visited you for over a week!) – I’d be very willing to read her. (And if my reading group scheduled her, then that would be it, I would read her.)
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whisperinggums, as I continue to read through Big Magic I like her even more. She was completely taken aback by the success of the book and is humble about it and has a good sense of humor regarding both the positive and negative reviews. Not sure that this will turn me into a fan, but I no longer think poorly of her so that’s something.
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