Committed: A Love Story

Elizabeth Gilbert

Jan 2010 · Sold by Penguin

About this ebook

The #1 New York Times bestselling follow-up to Eat Pray Love—an intimate and erudite celebration of love from the author of Big Magic and City of Girls. 

At the end of her bestselling memoir Eat, Pray, Love, Elizabeth Gilbert fell in love with Felipe, a Brazilian-born man of Australian citizenship who'd been living in Indonesia when they met. Resettling in America, the couple swore eternal fidelity to each other, but also swore to never, ever, under any circumstances get legally married. (Both were survivors of previous bad divorces. Enough said.) But providence intervened one day in the form of the United States government, which-after unexpectedly detaining Felipe at an American border crossing-gave the couple a choice: they could either get married, or Felipe would never be allowed to enter the country again. Having been effectively sentenced to wed, Gilbert tackled her fears of marriage by delving into this topic completely, trying with all her might to discover through historical research, interviews, and much personal reflection what this stubbornly enduring old institution actually is. Told with Gilbert's trademark wit, intelligence and compassion, Committed attempts to "turn on all the lights" when it comes to matrimony, frankly examining questions of compatibility, infatuation, fidelity, family tradition, social expectations, divorce risks and humbling responsibilities. Gilbert's memoir is ultimately a clear-eyed celebration of love with all the complexity and consequence that real love, in the real world, actually entails.

Ratings and reviews

Loved it. She has such a personal connection to the reader. It is like we are having coffee and she is telling me about her life. Never enjoyed nonfiction like this before. Great for single people as well. It really opened my eyes to my role in relationships. Also, great job on the shout out for gay marriage. I thank you as a gay, single, and (now) enlightened man.

:Lots of research into marriage was done by Gilbert who was in immigration limbo waiting for her fiance to get his US Visa. Her research gives one lots to think about--what marriage is and what it is not. Don't feel that you'll get the personal insight into Gilbert's life that you did in EAT, PRAY, SLEEP.

I enjoy Elizabeth's writing style and her ability to describe experiences as they are occurring with humor and insight. There were a few points in the book that seemed to ramble. But overall a good read with an interesting commentary on the institution of marriage.

About the author

Elizabeth Gilbert is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Big Magic, Eat Pray Love, and The Signature of All Things, as well as several other internationally bestselling books of fiction and nonfiction. She has been a finalist for the National Book Award, the National Book Critics Circle Award, and the PEN/Hemingway Award. Her latest novel, City of Girls, comes out in June, 2019.