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Eat, Pray, Love, Write Sequel
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Let’s take a swing through Spoiler-town, specifically for the book “Eat, Pray, Love.” If you have not read it and do not want the ending spoiled, click out now.
I said:
Click.
Out.
Now.
Still here? OK. I have to admit I enjoyed Elizabeth Gilbert’s memoir, even though it has become one of those books some people roll their eyes over, and not without some reason. On the one hand, Gilbert is guilty of all the sins of self-absorption that memoirs are heir to these days. On the other hand, she lived a pretty cool adventure.
The Wall Street Journal ran a great article recently about the book, but mainly about the very savvy marketing thereof. It was a minor success in hardback (hey, even that’s something), but really took off when the publisher started pushing the paperback edition like $10 bags at a Dead concert. The paperback edition has been riding the best-seller chart for 32 weeks, and now a movie version is in the works, according to the Journal, starring Julia Roberts.
But here’s what bugged me. Gilbert is working on a sequel. As much as I liked “Eat, Pray, Love,” I’m not at all sure I want to read a sequel. “EPL” was nicely contained, three adventures in three countries, with a happy ending: She finds the lover she needs to complete her. Fade to black, violins up, roll credits.
In today’s pop culture, every success seems to breed a sequel. We all know how well that works, as a rule, in the world of movies, and I’m hard pressed to come up with cases where it’s worked well in the book world. (Alexandra Ripley’s “Scarlett” anyone? Didn’t think so.) Series like “Lord of the Rings” and Harry Potter are different: They were never meant to be one-shots.
So what am I forgetting in terms of literary sequels that worked? Or didn’t, for that matter? And will you read what presumably will not be titled “Eat More, Pray Harder, Love Several More Guys?”
A P.S. on Gilbert, whom I do not mean to trash even though that was kind of snarky: She is coming to the Decatur Library on Oct. 4 to promote the new paperback edition of her first book, a collection of short stories titled “Pilgrims.” The New York Times Book review said of it: “The distinctive cant of Gilbert’s stories recalls the off-kilter worlds of T. Craghessan Boyle, and she embraces the bizarre and fabulous with similar enthusiasm.”
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By Rebecca
September 19, 2007 8:32 AM | Link to this
I thought Eat, Pray, Love was a fabulous book and I look forward to a sequel. You minimize what the book was about by joking that the second book will be about eating more, praying more, and loving more men; the book was about a journey of self-discovery. If you thought the end of the book was “finding the lover she needs to complete her” you got it all wrong! She didn’t need a man to complete her— that’s the whole point. Of course, you aren’t the audience for the book anyway— it was written for the many women who feel trapped in society’s expectations of us.
I’m sure any sequel will have her finding peace in other ways. I, like millions of others, will look forward to learning through her experiences since the end of the book. Was she able to keep the peace upon re-entering regular American society? If so, how?
By Jeff
September 19, 2007 8:37 AM | Link to this
Phil:
Would integrating a stand-alone book back into a series still count as a sequel or a continuation of the series?
If it counts as a sequel, I’ll read Dale Brown’s Strike Force and let you know. (It integrates what was the first book he ever wrote, but second that was published - Silver Tower - with his McLanahan series.)
One true sequel that I know of is The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks. It is a sequel to The Notebook, and picks up a few years after Notebook left off. It is the story of the marraige of one of Noah and Allie’s daughters. VERY moving, and it actually gave me an idea that I then sprang a version of on my parents for their 25th wedding anniversary a couple of years ago.
Another Sparks sequel is At First Sight, a continuation of the story from True Believer. As usual, you can’t go wrong with Sparks, be it a stand-alone or sequel. (Telling really anything about At First Sight would give away much of True Believer.)
Most of the other books that I have read are really either series or trilogies, so I’m not sure if I’ve ever encountered another “sequel” without it turning into a trilogy or series.
By Kate
September 19, 2007 9:03 AM | Link to this
Gilbert is likable; reading her book is like hanging out with a cool friend (one who you are secretly jealous of). It was a bit annoying though, that everything worked out so perfectly for Gilbert. Spiritual fulfillment and great sex?? Sounds fictional to me :)
The naval gazing of memoirs bores me. I’m OK for about 50 pages, then I’m meh about it. Like in John Grogan’s Marley and Me—it’s cuteclever for a while, but after a while you feel like your getting played.
I’ll have to think about literary sequels that worked. None pop to mind, but I’m sure a few exist!
By Jeff
September 19, 2007 9:07 AM | Link to this
Kate:
Now, now. Just because you haven’t found the right guy doesn’t mean you can never have both! :P
By Kate
September 19, 2007 9:18 AM | Link to this
Hope springs eternal, Jeff. If I encounter the Holy Grail of Relationships, I’ll be sure to write a book about it!!
By Phil Kloer
September 19, 2007 10:34 AM | Link to this
Maybe we need to steer the topic in a new direction: Do you resent Elizabeth Gilbert because she found spiritual fulfillment and great sex on the same trip, then wrote a best-seller and will be played by Julia Roberts?
By Jeff
September 19, 2007 10:42 AM | Link to this
Phil:
Maybe some women will (and/ or do). I doubt you will find many men that will (and/ or do).
Women typically think of THE one, in either area.
Men (and this guy in particular) try to enjoy things as they come. Therefore, for a guy, finding spiritual fulfillment and AMAZING sex on a trip is an almost-constant. (Well, depending on exactly where you go, why, and the state of your game on the trip anyway!)
Matter of fact, I’m going on a cruise in just under a month and look forward to experiencing both! (wait… does a honeymoon count in this topic???)
By Kate
September 19, 2007 3:35 PM | Link to this
Do you resent Elizabeth Gilbert because she found spiritual fulfillment and great sex on the same trip, then wrote a best-seller and will be played by Julia Roberts?
See, there ya go putting words in my mouth.
I resent Gilbert because she’s so freakin’ likable. And she probably has a great singing voice, perfect fashion sense, and is a gourmet chef (or, kill me some more, her lover is probably a gourmet chef).
By Phil Kloer
September 20, 2007 7:36 AM | Link to this
Yeah. And she can eat all the chocolate she wants and never gain weight, right Kate?
This is, of course, all in fun. Gilbert is a talented writer who has worked hard. I haven’t read her other books, but ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ was not casually thrown together in a couple of weeks. So credit where credit is due.
By Kate
September 20, 2007 8:45 AM | Link to this
Yeah. And she can eat all the chocolate she wants and never gain weight, right Kate?
Now you’re tawkin’! I knew you’d understand, Phil.
And, of course she’s talented! That’s why I secretly hope she trips up the stairs when going on stage. :)