Parental Warning: This entry contains confessions from my childhood. 
[Editorial Note: The statute of limitations on this topic have expired, no need to worry at this point.  It's in the past, no harm done.]

When I was young, my mom reviewed my library selections with a pretty sharp eye.  I vividly remember returning from a visit to the library with a worn copy of Amityville Horror in my stack, dying to read about the gore and mayhem I imagined existed inside.  When my mom spotted it, she turned me around and sent me straight back to the library to return it, unread.  "That book is too old for you," she said.  From there on out, when there was a book that I wanted to read that I knew would fall into this illicit category, I turned to my friend Amy.  From Amy, I received the books that were literary gold to a pre-teen and later a teenage girl - Are You There God? It's Me Margaret, Go Ask Alice, and Flowers in the Attic.  After all this time, I felt it was okay to out this secret even though it means that our mothers (also members in this book club) would hear my confession, just so that you'd know that Amy has the line on the books that we should all be reading.  Please join Amy and me in reading this month's selection Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert. Let's hope it's as good as her past recommendations.


Described as a beautifully written and heartfelt memoir, this book describes the author's journey as she leaves behind her marriage, home and career and sets forth to find what she truly wants from life.  She travels for a year to study three different aspects of her nature in three different cultures - Italy, India and Indonesia.

Strangers say:
"Liz Gilbert offers up her very own set of meditations for any woman who has ever questioned the purpose of her life or struggled with the realities of her own limitations and losses. Written in three parts, one for each of the countries she travels to, Gilbert blends humor, reflection and naked honesty about the questions and doubts that have plagued many of the women I know at various times in their lives. Should I have children? How do you love someone else without losing yourself? Why can't I slow down my mind enough to listen to my true inner voice? How does spirituality fit into my life? Where is my mentor? What is the single word that defines me? Do I want it to be a different word? The 36 stories housed in each section of the book take the reader on a tour of three of the world's intriguing destinations, while also guiding one through a journey of personal meditations on these questions. A perfect read for any woman who enjoys either of these types of travel."

- and -

"This book was absolutely wonderful. It was truly inspiring and made me want to get up and travel just like the author. It is a great read if you are trying to find some type of balance in your life."

To compliment the author's journey through Italy, we're pairing this book with Italian Prosecco.  It's light, sparkling and refreshing which is perfect for the season.  Plus, it's one of the traditional ingredients used to make a Bellini and that's just fancy.