By all accounts, Elizabeth Gilbert was living a successful life. A 30-something writer, she had a good career, a husband, even a country home. Yet she was not happy.

Sobbing uncontrollably on her bathroom floor in the middle of the night, she realized that she did not want to be married anymore, and she did not want to have a baby, as her husband did.

She prayed to God for guidance and heard a voice say to her, “Go back to bed, Liz.” Thus began her conversation with God and so begins her memoir, “Eat, Pray, Love,” about a year of her life spent on a journey of discovery in Italy, India and Indonesia.

The divorce from her husband was very difficult. She believed that with no children involved, it would be a fairly simple process; split everything 50/50. Instead, the divorce was nasty and dragged on, leaving Liz drained and an emotional wreck.

Along came David. Liz fell in love with David during the days of her divorce, not the best time to begin a relationship. After a passionate start, David began to back away. This withdrawal caused Liz to become needier, leading David to withdraw further. It was a vicious cycle.

After this disastrous period of her life, Liz decided to learn Italian. And since she was learning Italian, why not visit Italy? Also at this time, she met an Indian Guru and learned to meditate. Liz added India to her list of places that she wished to visit.

During this time, she made a trip to Indonesia, where she met a medicine man named Ketut. She told Ketut that she wished “to live in this world and enjoy its delights, but also devote herself to God.” Ketut told her that to find that balance, she must look at the world through her heart, not her head.

Then he invited her to come back and stay with him when she was able to spend more time. He would teach her everything he knew and in exchange, Liz would teach him English. She added Indonesia to her travel schedule.

In Italy, she found an apartment in Rome. Unfortunately, loneliness and depression followed Liz to Italy. She tried antidepressants, but didn't want to take them. Instead, she began journaling, asking God for help in her journals.

Liz knew she needed to make friends, and she found two handsome Italian twins, Giovanni and Dario, who agreed to teach her Italian if she would teach them English. She also met Sophie, a Swedish woman from her language class, and Luca Spaghetti (his real name), an Italian tax accountant, became her best friend.

Now that she had friends, Liz felt better. They went to soccer games and ate at restaurants. Liz traveled throughout Italy, enjoying eating her way across the country. Her visit to Italy taught her that she was a worthy person and that the pursuit of pleasure can be good for a person.

Next, it was on to India, and Liz began her pursuit of devotion. She stayed at an Ashram, learning yoga to find God through meditation. This turned out to be much more difficult than she believed it would be.

Liz met interesting people at the Ashram, one of them being Richard from Texas. Richard was a straight shooter, an older man who wasn't afraid to confront Liz on her issues; this was why Liz enjoyed his company. Richard encouraged Liz to work on her spiritual issues. He saw that she was having difficulty with her meditation, and he prodded her to continue working. He promised that in the end, it would all be worth it.

Richard tells Liz that she must come to terms with her ex-husband if she hopes to move on in her spiritual growth. She asks God to help her understand forgiveness and surrender, and after a night of meditation, she forgives her ex-husband and herself. It is a revelation for her.

The last stop is Indonesia, where Liz visits with Ketut, the medicine man she met on a previous trip. Here she hopes to learn how to balance the earthly with the spiritual.

Liz meets a woman healer named Wayan, who has a teenage daughter, Tutti. Tutti is an intelligent young girl. Liz and Wayan became good friends, and Liz wanted to help Wayan buy some land and build a house so that she and Tutti would have a permanent home and so Tutti could attend school.

Liz organizes a campaign, e-mailing her friends back in the United States, asking them to donate money to help Wayan buy a home.

Liz's family and friends come through, and enough money is raised.

Life in Indonesia is different, though. The process to buy land is difficult, and for a time, Liz believes that perhaps she has been had and that Wayan has no intention of using the money to buy land. The process is a humbling experience for Liz.

The beauty of Bali encourages Liz to find love in her life. She ends up with two suitors, an older, wealthy gentlemen and a young, handsome native man.

After her year of traveling, Liz finally finds balance in her life. Her relationship with God is stronger; she is happy both spiritually and emotionally. “Eat, Pray, Love” is an interesting journey to follow. Gilbert's writing is clear and introspective.

It will encourage readers to think about their own journey through life and perhaps give them hope that no matter how bad life may seem, working on yourself is a worthwhile endeavor. I give “Eat, Pray, Love” four stars.

Auburn native Diane La Rue's lifelong goal is to read a book a week. If you have suggestions, e-mail her

at laruediane2000@yahoo.com