Eat (pizza), Pray (you’ll lose weight), Love (your muffin) and Buy New Jeans

I pulled out my copy of Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert because, as you’ve seen, my class has been reading works by travel writers. Although Gilbert is not a travel writer per se, her book is one of self-discovery, and she comes to many realizations about herself through the travel and culture she experiences in Italy, India, and Indonesia. I read a passage out loud today in class as a means of writing inspiration (though how successful I was is left to be seen). Ironically, the movie was on my television, and I watched a bit of it earlier. Having already seen the film when it was released in the theatre and having read the book a while back, I wondered if one of the scenes with Julia Roberts was recited verbatim from the book. It was not. Gilbert describes this particular scene in the book, but it does not happen in a pizza parlor during a conversation with her friend, Sofi (Tuva Novotny), in Napoli, as is depicted in the film. However, while I usually choose book over film (in most instances), I have to say, (and maybe it’s because it’s Julia Roberts), that I love this scene in the movie. It makes me laugh. And I’m sorry to say, it’s so darn true.
Have you ever been able to relate to a scene so well that you wonder why you couldn’t have written it yourself? You’ve said the same things time and time again.
So here’s the bottom line: I’m sick of thinking about my “muffin” and my inability to work 30 minutes of exercise into my daily routine.
I agree with Julia; it’s much easier to eat some pizza and call it a day.
Here’s the scene…
4 Comments
Cheryl Klein
It’s funny, I can think of a million lines or complete novels or movies I wish I’d written, but very few scenes. I guess I don’t think in scenes, which probably says something not-so-great about my relationship to plot.
Steph's Scribe/Stephanie Verni
Cheryl,
I think it’s interesting how different writers work…I tend to think in scenes and how I will piece them together. Maybe it all goes back to the scriptwriting course I took at Georgetown University many moons ago…
Laura
I always tell myself that I’ve had it with all this weight obsession….but then, the next day, I will jump back on another diet. I wish I never knew what a calorie was!
Steph's Scribe/Stephanie Verni
@Laura…
I hear ya, sister. Every word…