Giveaway – Committed: A Love Story by Elizabeth Gilbert
February 1, 2011 
37 Comments
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.
Elizabeth Gilbert’s COMMITTED: A Love Story debuted at #1 on the New York Times hardcover bestseller list when it was published by Viking in January of 2010 and was also a USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times and Publishers Weekly bestseller. On February 1st, Penguin Books will release the book in paperback.
COMMITTED begins where Gilbert’s # 1 New York Times bestseller Eat, Pray, Love ended—just after she fell in love with Felipe, a Brazilian-born man of Australian citizenship who’d been living in Bali 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 skittish divorce survivors.) But providence intervened one day in the form of the U.S. 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, Elizabeth and Felipe spent the next ten months wandering haphazardly across Asia, traveling with limited resources and waiting for word from their immigration lawyer as their case languished in bureaucratic uncertainty. Gilbert used this time to ponder the subject of romantic commitment, interviewing everyone from housewives in Vietnam and Thailand to family members and friends, and looking closely at how the institution of marriage has evolved to reflect our social needs and how it is so often intertwined with religion, politics, class, and money.
COMMITTED tells the story of one woman’s efforts to make peace with marriage before she enters its estate once more. Told with Gilbert’s trademark wit, intelligence, and compassion, it frankly discusses issues of compatibility, infatuation, fidelity, tradition, economic realities, divorce risks, and social expectations. Myths are debunked; fears are unthreaded; historical perspective is found; and romantic fantasies are ultimately exchanged for vital emotional compromises. In the end, Gilbert’s book is a clear-eyed celebration of the complexity and consequence that real love, in the real world, actually entails.
About the Author
ELIZABETH GILBERT is an award-winning writer of both fiction and non-fiction. Her short story collection Pilgrims was a finalist for the PEN/Hemingway award, and her novel Stern Men was a New York Times notable book. Her 2002 book The Last American Man was a finalist for both the National Book Award and the National Book Critic’s Circle Award. Since its initial publication in January 2006, her #1 New York Times bestselling memoir Eat, Pray, Love has sold over 8 million copies and been published in forty languages. A film adaptation of the book came out this past August from Columbia Pictures with an all star cast: Julia Roberts as Gilbert, Javier Bardem as Felipe, James Franco as David, Billy Crudup as her ex-husband and Richard Jenkins as Richard from Texas. In 2008, Time magazine named Gilbert one of the one hundred most influential people in the world.
Elizabeth Gilbert will be touring to:
Portsmouth, NH * Raleigh * Asheville * Pawley’s Island, SC * Minneapolis * Milwaukee * Wichita Kansas City * Tulsa * Bergen, NJ
Purchase Links: Amazon || Book Depository
***GIVEAWAY***
Thanks to Penguin I have a copy of Committed: A Love Story by Elizabeth Gilbert to giveaway. To enter simply leave a comment on this post.
Because the prize is being shipped directly from the publisher the giveaway is open to US and Canada only. Giveaway is open until Feb. 11, winner announced soon after. Good luck!
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This looks like a really great book! Thanks to you and penquin for hosting this giveaway! Thanks again
I can’t wait to read it.
I just watched the movie version of Eat, Pray, Love this past weekend. I read the book a few years ago. I’d love to read Committed. I think Gilbert has a wonderful writing voice.
jenma76 at hotmail dot com
Thanks for the giveaway. Please count me in.
forwhlz at gmail dot com
I would love to read it, it sounds really good.
Hi FV! I’m not entering the contest, but wanted to stop by and let you know that I gave you an award today that gets you into Gini Koch’s contest! Check out my blog post for more information: http://fadeintofantasy.blogspot.com/2011/02/woot-check-out-award-i-got-today.html
Cant wait to read it
vidishamun at gmail dot com
I think this book sounds awesome!
jennifer.kalman at gmail dot com
I’ve never read the first book, but I watched the movie and loved it. I hope they make a movie out of this one as well– with the same actors!
sounds like an awesome read! Thanks for the chance to enter to win this book
Thanks for the giveaway. Please enter me in contest. Sounds like a really good book.
Pick Me! Pick Me! *jumps*
Thank you!
This sounds very interesting – OK, it’s on my TBR list!
I’ve read Eat, Pray, Love, and absolutely loved it! I can’t wait to read Commited.
I read the first book and really liked it. Would definitely love to read this one. Thanks for the giveaway, please count me in!
chibipooh(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks for the giveaway!
count me in for this giveaway. thanks
I recently watched Eat, Pray Love, so now I’m ready to read this.
I had a terrible first marriage but my second marriage is very good. I would love to compare experiences and thoughts by reading ‘Committed”.
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
This book looks great, thanks for the chance to win it
I would love to read the continuation of Eat, Pray, Love!.
seknobloch(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks for the chance to win.
Thanks for the giveaway and thanks for the chance to win
I have Eat Pray Love on my Kindle as a TBR soon! Thanks for this amazing giveaway! Sounds like a fun book.
Thanks for the giveaway! I would love to read this book
“Eat, Pray, Love” was a gem of a book. I especially loved the part when Liz has a private moment under the Indian sky, on the roof of the Ashram – where she turns her heart inside out, so that she can let go of her past and move into her future. That depth of thought, such anchoring spirituality is what I crave for. I love Elizabeth Gilbert’s work, and her video on TED inspired me greatly to write, myself. And I cannot wait to check out “Committed”.
My email is: enamoredsoul(at)gmail(dot)com
Thank you for posting such a lovely giveaway!
i loved her other books!
I would love to read this sequel
rhondastruthers atyahoo.ca
Looks like a good book.
I would love to read this book.
What a fantastic sounding book! Thanks for the chance
jason(at)allworldautomotive(dot)com
Count me in!
looks like a good book