Une femme recommends…

I’ll confess, I picked up “My Life in France” after seeing the movie “Julie and Julia” but only recently delved into it.  I don’t have any of Julia Child’s cookbooks (yet) but remember being captivated by her PBS cooking show when I was young. She’d always impressed me as a woman with a great joie de vivresense of humor and amazing tenacity.  Reading her memoir, written with her grandnephew Alex Prud’Homme, this image of her is only reinforced.

Julia’s voice comes through on every page; one can almost hear her describing her first taste of sole meuniere, wildflowers in the French countryside, or the powerful mistral winds in Marseilles.  Her recounting of the painstaking experimentation with recipes (including reconciling the differences and/or availability of ingredients between France and the U.S.), editing and re-editing and desire to explain not only the “how” but the “why” of classic French dishes inspired me to order a copy of Mastering the Art of French Cooking, with hopes of improving my cooking skills as well as trying some of the recipes for our favorite French dishes.

One doesn’t have to be an expert or even aspiring cook to enjoy “My Life In France.”  If you enjoy travel, France, eating, or reading about people who have lived full and interesting lives, I think you will enjoy this book.
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15 Comments

  1. I really enjoyed reading it — as did my Gran, who’s nearly 97! It’s one of those books that feels like a long conversation with a dear friend.

  2. It’s on order at my library, so I’m speeding up the process. I’m tearing through “Into Thin Air” by Jon Krakauer right now.

    btw, congrats on the landscaping. Your house looks fab.

  3. I loved this book, too. I really felt inspired that Julia Child didn’t really find or follow her passion until past 50. I read The Julia/Julie Project, too, by Julie Powell, and let’s just say her character in the movie is much more likable than she is in her own book!

  4. Along with everything else you’ve mentioned, I really enjoyed the love affair she and her husband seemed to enjoy.

    I thought it provided a great view of a “modern” marriage where they both supported each other’s passions; it was refreshing to read (in a role-reversal way) how he actively helped build her career.

    For more dysfunction but a lot of moving/entertaining/intriguing bits, you should read MFK Fisher’s memoirs! If you haven’t already, anyway.

  5. Great recommendation. I had always meant to read this, but got it yesterday for my Kindle and read a good chunk last night after a heart-stoppingly horrid day at the office. Strangely (or maybe not), Julia Child makes me weep. I think that it is with admiration and perhaps some envy that she lived fully, found her place in the world, and that place was one that showed wonderful things to other people and gave them enjoyment. That is a high calling.

  6. It was a great read. I immediately went to the bookstore, after seeing Julie and Julia in the theaters, to pick up a copy of “My Life in France” and “Mastering the Art of French Cooking”. The bookstore was conveniently located next to the theater at The Grove.

  7. i learned to make bread with Julia’s book.from then i went on to the rest.
    my book is falling apart now, well use well enjoyed.

  8. As someone who loves books on living in France I’ll be buying this – thanks for the recommendation!!