My Life in France in Around the World in 80 Books

Dec 27, 2014 Diane rated it it was amazing

Shelves: non-fiction, memoir-biography, empty-nests-bookclub, pop-sugar-challenge-2015

After watching the movie, Julie and Julia on a cold winter night a few months ago, I picked this book as my book club selection in 2015.
Julia is a newly married thirty something when her husband is assigned to a position in Paris, France. Julia's recollections of her first meal in France are so vivid you can see why she falls in love with French cuisine. What a ride! I thoroughly enjoyed hearing her stories; I felt I could hear her narrating the entire book. ...more

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Feb 22, 2010 Tanya rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010

I really liked the Julia for her genuineness. She's the kind of person that would not try to "one-up" you in any activity or story. For example, (p. 129) "I have never liked dogmatism. I was more inclined to tell my students what I don't know, or that there are so many other ways of doing things and admit that I am aware of only few of the possibilities. Ah me, there was still so much to learn, and cooking was only half of it."

Despite the intensity she had for each of her projects (cooking and t I really liked the Julia for her genuineness. She's the kind of person that would not try to "one-up" you in any activity or story. For example, (p. 129) "I have never liked dogmatism. I was more inclined to tell my students what I don't know, or that there are so many other ways of doing things and admit that I am aware of only few of the possibilities. Ah me, there was still so much to learn, and cooking was only half of it."

Despite the intensity she had for each of her projects (cooking and television show), she also had some wise advice about finding balance and resting when it was necessary to regain that balance. When her friend Simca was dealing with her high blood pressure, she cautioned her in a way that the advice would best be received, sharing a story about her brother-in-law, "Everything he does is at full speed, like a rocket taking off," I worte. He lived each moment "as if it were the sumpreme one, requiring every ounce of energy. You are the same. You have to let a few things...slip by you, rather than being pitched at the highest key....Force yourself to relax at times. It is not necessary to do everything as though your life and honour depended on it." (p 206) This is a philosophy I'd like to be able to share with some of my family members who strive for perfection and are stressed when not able to achieve it; and it reminds me of myself when I was younger and lacking in life experience. I know I still have those tendencies, but I recognize the need for balance and actively strive to embrace it.

Throughout the description of the writing of her first cookbook, I was extremely impressed by how scientifically she approached the process of learning to cook and testing recipes. It was always exciting to me to see how she so eagerly sought knowledge about the ingredients and the processes and was so precise to make her cookbook the best guide it could be. I see how this caused tension with her friend, Simca, but even with their differences, she was able to appreciate them and remain loyal until their friendship finally took different directions after two decades.

What I love best about Julia Child is her ability to make the best of a situation. Upon talking about her live WGBH cooking show, she commented, "One of the secrets, and pleasures, of cokking is to learn to correct something if it goes awry; and one of the lessons is to grin and bear it if it cannot be fixed." (p 242) She was so good at that, based on viewing her television cooking series and also reading this book. ...more

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Sep 26, 2009 Karen rated it really liked it

What a delightful book. Julia just seems like a wonderful person (with an equally wonderful husband. Keep food handy, this book will make you hungry. Julia seems like she could be a real friend.

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Jan 26, 2010 Kay Green rated it really liked it

What an enjoyable read! I loved her relationship with her husband, her ideas on friendship and hard work, and her disdain of Republicans who were obsessed with money and possessions! Bon apetit - read it with a good Pouille Fume. (And of course see Julie/Julia with Meryl Streep.

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Jan 07, 2011 Megan rated it it was amazing

If you liked "Julie & Julia," you'll LOVE this book! ...more

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Feb 11, 2012 Ginger rated it it was amazing

Shelves: memoir-biography, favorites, history, food, travel

Absolutely fantastic story of her life in France (makes me want to travel to France and eat!), but I could have done without a lot of the political stuff... seemed unnessesary and distracting to the topic.

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Jan 04, 2011 Julie rated it really liked it

Shelves: best-travel-reads

This was a lovely, delicious book. So wonderful to read about Julia's love of France, so similar to my own. I know I will read this one again :) ...more

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