Book Review - Committed

 

(image: adlibris.com)

The book cover, in Swedish, which is the one I've read.

(I also thought it was a purdier cover than the English one)

Swedish title 'I nöd och lust: en tvivlare försonas med äktenskapet',

i.e. 'for better or worse; a doubters reconsiliation with marriage'.

The blurb:
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.


I agree with what I've highlighted.
I don't necessarily agree that Liz ever comes to the conclusion that marriage is a 'humbling responsibility of adulthood' or that it's 'destined to become a ... handbook' or that marriage is an actual consequence of real love, in the real world...which is the conclusion that I feel the blurb-author has come to. ;P I don't believe that Liz and 'Felipe' would have ever gotten married if they hadn't been forced to. This doesn't make their (or any other unmarried couples) love any more 'unreal' or 'irresponsible'... But! That's me being critical not of Ms. Gilbert's book but of the blurb-author! :) ;P :)

Now, here's the book review! ;)
So...even those who've haven't read Eat, Pray, Love knows it ends in Love. ;)  Committed is the 'epilogue' of that love and Liz's...reconciliation of marriage. :) The Swedish title sorta says it all :D and the ending is no surprise! ;)

Despite knowing where the book will end it is a good book! Just like in Eat, Pray, Love we're taken on Liz's journey, although now a more internal one (despite the fact that there is a great deal of actual journeying in the book too) on her 'quest' to 'get' the ancient institution of marriage. She shares with us what she's found about the subject, which is a lot and mostly very interesting. We follow her through her contemplations about what she's seen, heard and experienced of her own previous one and the marriages of her female relations. It's an interesting journey, her journey, but also one that other 'doubters', whether 'committed' or not, can/will enjoy.

It's a book about marriage, the history and sometimes consquences of marriages both today and 'yesterday'...the book is well worth reading for anyone interested in the subject. :)