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jbabiarz's review
5.0
Julia Child has such a unique voice. I loved reading about France and cooking from her perspective.
hannahmartian's review
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
3.75
I didn’t know really anything about Julia Child before reading this, but a friend recommended it before I travelled to Paris the first time. It is a lovely read, very casual and familiar tone. It’s so FULL of descriptions of food that I can’t keep track of all the things she lists and have decided to try everything when I’m there. 80% of this book is truly about food and cooking, and while it isn’t redundant, too long, or too slow in pace, I do feel that it is somewhat repetitive in nature. It’s one description of delicious food after another—not necessarily bad, but not for everyone!
joygoesandreads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
5.0
This book truly feels like Julia Child is speaking through the pages directly to you as you are plummeting through 1950s France with her and Paul and Simca and the other host of characters intressantes in Julia Child’s life. If this book does not make you crave the warmth of a simple cassoulet or want to eat that excellent sole that Julia describes then you don’t have taste buds and maybe should consider medical help! Honestly one of the required reads for our generation and generations to come.
alicebme's review
4.0
A gem. A treasure trove of anecdotes made possible only by a family of letter writers who valued sucking the marrow out of life and recording every delicious moment in curling script. Beautiful book.
applegnreads's review
3.0
There are times when you don't quite like Julia Child when you're reading this book. However, I'd say it's nevertheless interesting to see how she came about and a bit about what her life was like.
brendalovesbooks's review
2.0
I kind of thought I would like this better. It's set in France and is about cooking; two things I love. I don't know if it's just that the audio version didn't draw me in, but I mostly was bored. It also seemed like there was just way too many lists of things she ate or that were on a menu or whatever, and I just didn't care about long lists like that.
book_concierge's review
4.0
Audiobook read by Flo Salent Greenberg
From the introduction: This is a book about some of the things I have loved most in life: my husband, Paul Child; la belle France; and the many pleasures of cooking and eating. It is also something new for me. Rather than a collection of recipes, I’ve put together a series of linked autobiographical stories, mostly focused on the years 1948 through 1954, when we lived in paris and Marseille, and also a few of our later adventures in Provence. Those early years in France were among the best of my life.
My reactions
What a delightful – and delicious – memoir. I really got a sense for the determination with which Julia mastered the art of French cooking, and for the enthusiasm with which she set out to impart that love of French cooking to the rest of the world. The vignettes are charming, touching, funny, exasperating, worrisome, tender, and full of the joy of life. I liked the snapshots that were included, but wish that more of them had actual captions.
Flo Salent Greenberg does a marvelous job voicing the audio version. But be careful. A friend presented this to me as a gift, and it was only after I opened it that I realized it was abridged. I was able to get a UNabridged version through my library, however. Of course the audio book cannot include the wonderful photos, either.
From the introduction: This is a book about some of the things I have loved most in life: my husband, Paul Child; la belle France; and the many pleasures of cooking and eating. It is also something new for me. Rather than a collection of recipes, I’ve put together a series of linked autobiographical stories, mostly focused on the years 1948 through 1954, when we lived in paris and Marseille, and also a few of our later adventures in Provence. Those early years in France were among the best of my life.
My reactions
What a delightful – and delicious – memoir. I really got a sense for the determination with which Julia mastered the art of French cooking, and for the enthusiasm with which she set out to impart that love of French cooking to the rest of the world. The vignettes are charming, touching, funny, exasperating, worrisome, tender, and full of the joy of life. I liked the snapshots that were included, but wish that more of them had actual captions.
Flo Salent Greenberg does a marvelous job voicing the audio version. But be careful. A friend presented this to me as a gift, and it was only after I opened it that I realized it was abridged. I was able to get a UNabridged version through my library, however. Of course the audio book cannot include the wonderful photos, either.