All the Way to the River
Have any of you picked up Elizabeth Gilbert's new book All the Way to the River? I just completely binged it. I was especially interested in this one because it's about her relationship with her deceased partner Rayya Elias, addiction and grief. It turned out to be so much more than I expected and it tore right through me. I loved Eat Pray Love, but there was always something about it that unsettled me in the same way Miranda July's recent novel All Fours did. I was like Yes, I totally get this, me too... but no, something else is going on here. All the Way to the River fills in those blanks for me.
I don't want to spoil it, but I think its fair to say that the book addresses addiction in its many forms. The parts about drugs and alcohol were relatable because of the family I come from, but it was her exploration of sex and love addiction that hit hardest for me. Currently, I'm coming down from a four year long flirtation with an unattainable woman and the dopamine withdrawal is real (so embarrassing, but true). Looking back, I can see the thread of love addiction and its destructive cycles throughout many of my relationships. This book was transformative for me and in my opinion, best book she's ever written.
I'd love to hear what others thought.
