My Life in France
by Julia Child with Alex Prud'homme. Random House. Paperback edition 2009.
The Plot: Julia Child's memoir (with great nephew Alex Prud'homme) of how she became, well, Julia Child.
The Good: Having finished Julie & Julia, I had to pick this up to find out more about Julia Child.
Swoon.
OK, now with that over.
Child describes her life in France as a newlywed. Child and her husband, Paul (who met and wooed during World War II) travel to France for Paul's job shortly after their marriage. The Childs' married when Julia was in her mid 30s, Paul ten years older. Oh, to be in post-World War II France. Reading this is not just traveling through someone else's experiences; it is doing so to a time long past. Paris, sixty years ago. I adored all the details of living in France, traveling, and, of course, eating.
In France, Child falls in love first with French food and then with French cooking. Half of the book follows her as she discovers and builds this passion. The second half is about where she takes this -- plans to teach soon grow to writing a cookbook and then cooking on TV. As I mentioned in my review of Julie & Julia, I adore a book about someone who does this in their 30s and 40s and 50s.
Some of the interesting history in the book: Julia and Paul being liberal Democrats AND anti-communist AND anti-McCarthy. Current fiction set during this time period does not usually allow for or show this complexity.
The writing and process of creating Mastering The Art of French Cooking
is detailed, in all its complexity. And time! Years and years it took, to write the book, to not just translate French into English but also to take into account American measurements, food (the flour is different!), eating habits.
Child is fascinating, enthusiastic, funny, passionate. On eating: "Our goal was to eat well, but sensibly, as the French did. This meant eating a great variety of foods and avoiding snacks. But the best diet of was Paul's fully patented Belly Control System: "Just don't eat so damn much.""
Julia and Paul's love story is touching and beautiful. She matter of factly addresses how they could not have children, decided not to adopt, but instead to embrace fully the life they had and live it. And wow, did they! How can you not love a couple that sends the following Valentine's Day Card to all their family, friends, and work colleagues: "a self-timed Valentine photo in the bathtub, wearing nothing but artfully placed soap bubbles." At the time, she's in her 40s, he is in his 50s.
By the way? While I love this book and Julia Child, and it makes me hungry, and makes me want to travel to Paris (but traveling to Paris in the 40s/50s may be tough), I'm still not motivated to start cooking Julia Child's French recipes.
Finally, my list of favorite books is for favorite books read in a year regardless of publication date. So yep, this is added to that list.
© Elizabeth Burns of A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy
Julie and Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen
by Julie Powell. Little Brown, 2005. Paperback edition renamed Julie and Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously. Reviewed 2005 hardcover; personal copy.
The Plot: One of the first "book based on blog," this recounts Julie Powell's year long obsession with making every recipe in Julia Child's Mastering The Art of French Cooking, Volume One.
The Good: Believe it or not, I bought this back in 2005, when it first came out, but only got around to reading it now because of the movie version of the book, Julie & Julia. I cannot wait till that film is on DVD.
I really enjoyed Powell's memoir; what led her to start cooking Julia Child's book, and to blog about it. Thankfully, Powell never calls what she was going through as any type of "life crisis" (seriously, one of my pet peeves is the whole quarter life crisis etc.) What she is going through is something that is not so uncommon: feeling adrift in your own life. We live in such a driven culture, where the young achiever and go-getter is the one who is given prestige and honor, that we need reminders: not everyone knows what they want to be, and goes for it, at age 14. Or 18. Or 21. Or 25. Or, for that matter, at 35, 40, 45. Or, people may know what they want -- and life happens and they, wait for it, change their mind. But because, again, we're in a culture that demands you know, at every moment, your endgame, the idea that someone doesn't know is viewed as wrong. The idea that what one wants may change is viewed as negative. I still get odd looks because I changed careers, as if there is something wrong, with me, for changing my mind. And I'm sure, should I change careers again, I'd get the same looks. The only acceptable path, it seems, is the one where you know from age 14 what you want and go for it and anything else is less.
But it's not just twentysomething Powell that this is about -- it's not just Powell reinventing herself as a writer. It's also about Child, who reinvented herself as cook and writer in her 30s and 40s.
So here we have Julie Powell: in a dead end job that pays the bills, lacking anything to be really passionate about, and deciding to put that passion into a slightly odd cooking project. I love her honesty about this, about her searching. I love how in her own memoir, she isn't afraid to show her own flaws -- and despite this, no, because of it, she remains likable. But I have to make a disclosure: she likes Buffy! You know I'm going to love anyone who loves Buffy.
While there are things in the book about cooking, and the cooking project, this is so much more. Powell created a narrative around that project; those interested in the actual Julie/Julia cooking experiment can check out the Julie/Julia blog, which is still around. So, a handful of recipes are mentioned and described, but not each. and. every. one. Instead, it's her life, her friends, and what she learns along the way.
What's also interesting is the real person versus the imagined; Powell at times imagines a scenario from Child's life. At the end of the book, she finds out that Child knows about her project and is less than impressed. Ultimately, Powell realizes that the "book" Julia Child is who matters to Powell, not the person. But isn't that true of many of us, who think we "know" someone? Here among book bloggers, how many people think they know an author or blogger based on there words? But, really, don't. And does it really matter? I read Meg Cabot's blog (and love when she comments here or otherwise throws out a shout out to this blog), and am secretly convinced that if we met we'd be best buds and spend our time watching TV and movies and eating. But, really, I don't know her. Not really.
Finally, as a blogger, I love the blog stuff! The happiness over comments, the oddness of people you don't know knowing you, the realization that real people read your blog.
Powell's next book is out this December, and is called Cleaving: A Story of Marriage, Meat, and Obsession
. Do I care about butchery or butchering? Nope; but I love Powell's voice, so cannot wait for it to be published.
Am I inspired to start French cooking? Are you crazy? It's like 80 degrees in the shade! My kitchen doesn't have air conditioning! Plus I'm trying to lose weight! I don't have the time, hello, I blog, don't make involved French recipes. But if you are so inspired, invite me over.
© Elizabeth Burns of A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy
Best Week Ever has some great ideas about children's films that need to get made. All starring Johnny Depp. Here's a sample:
THE RUNAWAY BUNNY. Johnny Depp will play the runaway bunny, Helena Bonham Carter will play the mother, an alcoholic rabbit-brothel-owner who refuses to let her child run away.
Two reactions: I am sobbing, quietly, at the fact that this is so far from the actual book and that it's highly unlikely that another, truer, film will be made. Who knows, maybe if there is enough "but it's not the book and the book would make a damn fine film" reaction, there may be hope. Personally, I think it would work better as a miniseries.
And, to be honest, if I was seeing this and it was not titled "The Dark Is Rising" -- if I knew nothing and was shown a trailer for "Fight For the Light" or "Seek the Signs" or some such nonsense -- I'd be thinking, hmm, that looks interesting.
What are your thoughts?
Walden Media has picked up the film option for I'd Tell You I'd Love You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You by Ally Carter.
Now, just because a company has an option doesn't mean that the film is being made. There are a bazillion books that have been optioned and nothing happens.
Here's what I was thinking. Walden Media is one of the few film production companies that I regularly see at ALA. When you're at the ALA Conference in DC (in between the YALSA events and dancing with Mitali) -- go by Walden Media and let them know how excited you are about them having Love You, Kill You. It can't hurt, right? And it would let them know that the target audience (OK, me!) is very interested in this book becoming a film.
Brick. DVD; from library.
The Plot: Brendan's ex-girlfriend, Emily, contacts him -- she needs his help. Brendan cannot say no . . . and finds himself unraveling a mystery that involves rich kids, drugs, a mysterious crime king pin, and a murder.
The Good: This is a modern high school setting -- but nothing is what it appears. Brendan is a loner; but there is more to his story and more to him. At first he seems to be a high school outsider, but as he calls in contacts, makes connections, and gets deeper and deeper into the world that Emily was part of, it becomes clear that there is more to Brendan than the boy who eats lunch by himself.
This is not a Blue Velvet film, where the innocent boy gets in over his head; Brendan is not naive; he is not innocent; he is well aware of the evils and complications of the world he is investigating. Just like Veronica Mars is smarter than me -- so is Brendan.
I had heard this described as a detective story set in high school, a film noir tale, and thought, huh, Veronica Mars. And yes, like Veronica, Brendan is smart, aware of his world, but unlike Veronica Mars, this isn't a "high school" story despite it's setting. Adults and class rooms barely make an appearance; the teens act with the freedom of adults; and talk in the lingo of 1940s films.
At first, I was thrown by the language and delivery; it's used as teen slang; but it placed the story on a more serious level. I took the characters more seriously. And viewed them as older.... I think it was a deliberate casting choice that the actors playing teens are all in their 20s, adding to the gravity of the story line. (Actually, and weirdly, the teens acting like adults and tough guy talk reminded me of Bugsy Malone. But seriously, Bugsy is a light hearted musical, and this is a hardboiled crime story.)
What else? Joseph Gordon-Levitt is one good looking guy. I knew him from his roles in 3rd Rock From The Sun and Ten Things I Hate About You. The boy has grown up quite nicely. He's one blockbuster away from being the next Orlando Bloom or Heath Ledger.
Finally ... this is the type of movie that demands you watch it again. And again. And again.
How long until the posts start about the poor kids who went to see Bridge To Terabithia expecting Narnia and getting Love Story?*
As someone who had to give the heads up to my sister (no, no, don't take Cheetah, please don't take her!), I know there are many well intentioned parents who are going to have one major WTF moment in the theatres this weekend. And have to deal with something they totally weren't prepared for. Which isn't fair to parent or child.
It's a shame -- everyone says its a great film, a wonderful adaptation, so what are the advertising people thinking?
Maybe I'm over reacting, or anticipating the worst, but I'm afraid of a backlash based on the movie not delivering what the trailer promises.
* OK, so that example of a death movie sucks. But I'm a bit tired so cannot think of the good "cried my eyes out" death movie to use here. Suggestions welcome, I'll edit the post and credit you.
Edited to add: 2nd Gen Librarian review. Very interesting, including audience reaction.
.jpg?picon=107)
.
I bought this after seeing the movie, too. My husband's reading it now, so I have to wait to get my paws on it.
I think the bathtub Valentine is my FAVORITE THING. I want to be that ... insouciant, when I am older. I want to embrace life that way. That's why I really love St. Julia.
I just saw the movie and LOVED the Julia sections, and was thinking I ought to check out this book. Thank you for sharing your review! It sounds delightful and I will certainly be looking for a copy.
As a side note: I was not as keen on the Julie portions of the movie. I didn't warm to the character, and those scenes just couldn't compete with the sparkle and energy of the Julia segments. Though now that I've also read your Julie & Julia book review (and, yes, discovered she is a Buffy fan!) I am wondering if I might like the "real" book Julie more than the movie-Julie. So thank you for that review too!
By the way? While I love this book and Julia Child, and it makes me hungry, and makes me want to travel to Paris (but traveling to Paris in the 40s/50s may be tough), I'm still not motivated to start cooking Julia Child's French recipes.
Me, either. Glad you liked it!
Hi there! I read and reviewed Julie and Julia as well.
I really enjoyed the book and the movie. I didn't think I would have it in me to cook through the cookbook but I was curious about their life in France.
And I love Meryl Streep, who can do no wrong in my eye.
Michelle (Red Headed Book Child)