My Life in France by Julia Child, Alex Prud'Homme Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of My Life in France
Book Review: "Save the Liver!"
Summary: 5 Stars
Before I read this book, I had a preconceived notion of Julia Child. She had taken on an almost cartoon-like character in my mind, due to a "Saturday Night Live" skit, and other various comedy acts. I had never watched one of her cooking shows, or had read one of her cookbooks. Yet I was also aware that most of my favorite chefs and cookbook authors mentioned her as a source of inspiration. I decided to put my prejudice aside and learn about this woman.
I loved reading "My Life In France". Julia turned out to be inspiring, warm, witty, and a new role model for me. She took up cooking in her mid to late 30's. Her first cookbook wasn't published until she was almost 50. She found her passion in life, and embraced it completely. One sentence in this book just jumped out at me, "Good results require that one take time and care." Julia seemed to live her life this way. I also loved the fact that she was a 6'2" American living in Paris, who physically couldn't blend in with the crowd. This didn't prevent her from following her dreams, or embracing life and new experiences. She faced obstacles head on, and didn't dwell on lifes disappointments. She seemed to take good care of her husband, family and friends. Those relationships came first, and the rest seemed to fall into place. What a lovely lady.
Book Review: Utterly Julia
Summary: 5 Stars
Absolutely heartfelt, charmingly candid memoir from the woman who practically single-handedly brought French cuisine to the American kitchen. It's how she became who she became, in her own words.
I read this concurrently with MFK Fisher's immortal The Gastronomical Me and Ian Kelly's biography Cooking for Kings: The Life of Antonin Careme. Fisher was a gastronome, an appreciator and a highly sensitive writer; Careme was a showman and an innovator with a gift for the spectacular. There is no one definition for a foodie... they're as different as human beings. In this exalted company, Julia more than stands her ground.
Speaking in her own clear words, Julia stands out as a sensible, fun-loving, seriously dedicated chef, student and teacher whose passion for her subject carries over to, and is an offshoot of, her love of life in general. It's virtually impossible to read this autobiography and be downhearted. Her joie de vivre, sense of adventure, experimentation, wonder and simple delight in discovery and sharing are contagious and much needed in a chilly world.
I recommend this warm and engaging autobiography not just for those who enjoy cooking, but for anyone who would like a torch along the path to finding their own joy in life. Unmissable and life-enhancing.
Book Review: Not quite what I expected
Summary: 3 Stars
Let me say that I have trouble giving mre than three stars to a book that has no real ending. This book started out as very interesting and then kind of trailed off into nothing for the last few chapters. I agree with the other reviewers who say that you can get a pretty good picture of post war Europe as seen through the eyes of an American woman who was not unintelligent. However I also agree with the reviews that say you will probably like Julia Child less after you read this book. She comes across as a somewhat bright person (but far from brilliant) who was probably suffering from a mild case of obsessive compulsive disorder. She focused on two things that were important to her; French cultural immersion and cooking. If those were your areas of interest you would have been able to carry on a nice conversation with her. If they weren't, you would have had nothing to say to each other. Her cooking comes across as mechanical and somewhat less inspired than some of her contemporaries that she talks about in the book. She portrays herself as more of an engineer than a chef.
One thing in the book that irked was the constant use of un-translated French. This seemed to be hit or miss. A comment made by someone that seemed important to the story would be translated for us, the next would not. One of the things about the book that was interesting and annoying at the same time was Julia's description of the McCarthy witch hunt in the 1950's and the impact it had on her husband's foreign Service career. This was something that was obviously of great personal concern to them at the time but I came away with a feeling of "I think she doth protest too much" especially about the issue of her husband's sexuality. This was a can of worms that she probably did not want to open in the reader's mind(s) and she made me wonder about the nature of their relationship. Her husband forfeited a great deal of money by his departure before retirement from the Foreign Service. This adds to the reader's perception that you might have been more interested in being a fly on the wall while some of these things were taking place than simply hearing Julia's version of events.
Book Review: Missing Julia
Summary: 5 Stars
I just finished this book, and I am unashamed to say I have shed tears for the loss of this great woman. I am discovering the art of cooking later in life, as Julia did, and she has helped give me the courage I am needing to change careers and attend culinary arts training this spring. What a marvelous book, I felt that I was there with her in her "la belle France" and wish that I could have had the opportunity to spend time in the kitchen with her. You will not be disappointed in this fantastic read. Book Review: Great Read
Summary: 5 Stars
This book was so enjoyable to read! I was fascinated by this look into post-war France, and into Julia's world there. It made me wish I would have know her and understand why it seems that everyone who knew her, loved her.
One thing I thought was fun was her encyclopedic recall of various meals they enjoyed, including the wine vintage.
You'll also love hearing how she came to write her first cookbook and become a host of her own show on PBS. For those of us who are over 40, it's also great to note that the most interesting parts of her life didn't even begin until then.