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mzgeee53's review against another edition
5.0
Bob Spitz could write about the history of burlap and make it interesting. His work on the Beatles is ravishing. This book about Julia Child is endearing. Spitz writes with the enthusiasm Julia ate sole muneiere with. He clearly loves his subject and is an amazing scholar. With a bibliography 70 pages long, I can't help but be impressed.
toesinthesand's review against another edition
5.0
Remarkable woman. I did not want to put this book down, it's a little slow in the beginning with the back story of her family but it picks up quickly. She is truly fascinating. Wish she was still around now that I like to cook.
glitterbomb47's review against another edition
4.0
Very readable. My primary complaint is Spitz is prone to melodrama. Here's a paraphrase of one annoying bit...After lunch Julia raced across Paris to get to her afternoon class, which lasted till "nearly evening." Later he mentions there were 10 hours of class per week. Wow. Two whole hours a day. He does that sort of thing a lot in the first half of the book. Trying to make it seem as if Julia were crazy busy learning to cook, when you can tell pretty clearly she was bored and had no demands on her time - no kids, no job, and a maid!
Nonetheless, Julia Child is a fascinating person. Despite the hefty size of this tome, I breezed through it relatively quickly (it took me a month because my library only allows 7-day loans on ebooks, so I had to get back on the end of the list after my first checkout expired!). I also broke down and ordered both volumes of Mastering the Art of French Cooking, which I've been wanting for a couple of years. So I think Spitz should totally get a kickback from Child's heirs. Haha
Nonetheless, Julia Child is a fascinating person. Despite the hefty size of this tome, I breezed through it relatively quickly (it took me a month because my library only allows 7-day loans on ebooks, so I had to get back on the end of the list after my first checkout expired!). I also broke down and ordered both volumes of Mastering the Art of French Cooking, which I've been wanting for a couple of years. So I think Spitz should totally get a kickback from Child's heirs. Haha
mandyherbet's review against another edition
3.0
This is a tome of a book and it really is very thorough. I found the first half a bit of a slog, since I kept waiting for her life as 'Julia Child' to really start (my own fault there really) and there were bits that I skimmed, but overall, it's a fascinating insight into the life and mind of the legend. She really was an amazing person and her relationship with her husband is inspiring in so many ways. The perfect partnership, despite it not being love at first sight!
I'm glad I read it but it's not something I'll reread necessarily!
I'm glad I read it but it's not something I'll reread necessarily!
princesszinza's review against another edition
4.0
I remember growing up how much my mother disliked Julia Child. I think it's because she disliked cooking so much. I can relate to hating to cook but not disliking Julia Child. I always thought she was fascinating, so unlike most television personalities. I never could figure out where her strange accent came from - she was raised in Pasadena!
This book proves me right. Julia was one of a kind. A woman who achieved fame late in life, she always lived the way she wanted. I find her admirable in so many ways.
This book proves me right. Julia was one of a kind. A woman who achieved fame late in life, she always lived the way she wanted. I find her admirable in so many ways.
blueskygreentreesyellowsun's review against another edition
5.0
The last 150 pages or so became a little repetitive: Julia was called up to do a tv series or special, then churned out a cookbook of recipes used on said series or special, then did a national book tour to shill said cookbook, and my! wouldn't that be exhausting for someone half her age. What kept it interesting in that home stretch was her personal life, especially how she handled growing older and her beloved Paul's declining health.
Overall, a fantastic book.
Overall, a fantastic book.
teriboop's review against another edition
5.0
Dearie: The Remarkable Life of Julia Child by Bob Spitz has to be one of the best biographies I have read. Spitz paints such a vivid portrait of Julia Child that emphasizes her fun, vivacious and precocious nature. Child was a determined woman who was at times extremely detail oriented and at times devilish, even into her 90s. She lived life for her friends, family and herself, on her terms. Julia lived life to its fullest until the day she died and even in death, she left the world on her terms. As much as this book is about Julia and her forage into and reign over the culinary world, it is about truly living in the moment and making the most of every day.
murph_the_serf's review against another edition
5.0
While the book gets a touch TOO into detail at time, this exhaustive work is well worth the time it takes to explore. I could do without the history of Pasadena, California or some of the previous generations of the McWilliams clan but the sheer amount of detail really gives you a connection to Julia.
Spitz clearly did his homework and spoke to everyone who had an even passing history with Julia. Instead of infodumping it all though, he weaves a great narrative that flows remarkably well. More or less linear, it does jump around a bit as theme and tone dictate the order of events told more than time.
By book's end I felt such a close connection to Julia that when she passed I was legitimately tearing up. I of course knew she had passed away before the book's publication and the way it is written leaves you with little surprise when it does and yet, actually seeing the words really just sucker punched me and it landed that after all of the years I'd spent with Julia Child (in her life and all her intimate moments), she was gone and the book was over. It is the best kind of sad to be.
Spitz clearly did his homework and spoke to everyone who had an even passing history with Julia. Instead of infodumping it all though, he weaves a great narrative that flows remarkably well. More or less linear, it does jump around a bit as theme and tone dictate the order of events told more than time.
By book's end I felt such a close connection to Julia that when she passed I was legitimately tearing up. I of course knew she had passed away before the book's publication and the way it is written leaves you with little surprise when it does and yet, actually seeing the words really just sucker punched me and it landed that after all of the years I'd spent with Julia Child (in her life and all her intimate moments), she was gone and the book was over. It is the best kind of sad to be.
wynter's review against another edition
5.0
Before Julia the state of American cuisine was deplorable, to say the least: mayo-slathered spam, tuna casserole with potato chips, mushy vegetables out of the can, instant mashed potatoes with an array of artificial flavourings... Yum (not). It seemed the market got carried away with convenience and futuristic know-how that leaned on synthetics a little too much. A meal was reduced to just an inconvenient pause for a re-fuel.
It took Julia one meal of sole meunière in France to launch her destiny at 36 and change American perspective on enjoying food.
However, no matter how lustrous and distinguished her culinary career turned out to be, it is Julia's gusto for life that really drew me to her. I found myself relating to the woman on so many occasions as she sought to find herself in Ceylon or Kunming, and everywhere in between. Even as she finally found her calling in cooking and teaching culinary techniques, she never stopped aspiring to new adventures. Age is just a number, and this message couldn't come at a better time for myself, looking forward to meeting a new decade of my own life.
A very comprehensive biography that leaves very few questions unanswered. I am yet to read [b:My Life in France|5084|My Life in France|Julia Child|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1395564378s/5084.jpg|1602216], but I am convinced that Bob Spitz did great justice to this loud, adventurous, generous, and talented woman.
It took Julia one meal of sole meunière in France to launch her destiny at 36 and change American perspective on enjoying food.
However, no matter how lustrous and distinguished her culinary career turned out to be, it is Julia's gusto for life that really drew me to her. I found myself relating to the woman on so many occasions as she sought to find herself in Ceylon or Kunming, and everywhere in between. Even as she finally found her calling in cooking and teaching culinary techniques, she never stopped aspiring to new adventures. Age is just a number, and this message couldn't come at a better time for myself, looking forward to meeting a new decade of my own life.
A very comprehensive biography that leaves very few questions unanswered. I am yet to read [b:My Life in France|5084|My Life in France|Julia Child|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1395564378s/5084.jpg|1602216], but I am convinced that Bob Spitz did great justice to this loud, adventurous, generous, and talented woman.