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jowiththetbrshelves's review against another edition
informative
fast-paced
3.0
My first introduction to the life of Julia Child, I rather enjoyed and found it engrossing learning about the scientific rigor applied to her cooking. However, the latter quarter of the book takes an insane 180 into discussing Child’s homophobia—in great detail—yet explains it away rather bizarrely. The last chapters seem to be full of contradictions, as well, ultimately leaving a sour taste in the mouth.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia and Sexism
lindseyslittlelibrary's review against another edition
3.0
A joyful quick audiobook about an amazing woman.
mawalker1962's review against another edition
4.0
Delighteful book! I listened to audio book, and the reader did an excellent Julia imitation. Learned lots of new things about one of my favorite women.
krism's review against another edition
3.0
One of my favorite exhibits at the National Museum of American History in Washington DC is Julia Child's kitchen. Recently, I enjoyed a Julia Child special exhibit at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, MI. And, there's the Julie & Julia movie. It was time to read a biography on this fascinating woman. The book was fine but there are probably better ones out there. Anyway, it's time to buy a Julia Child cookbook and get cooking!
esjackson's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Homophobia
schnoebs13's review against another edition
4.0
4.25 ⭐️
This was such a fun and heart warming story. Being someone who was born shortly before her passing, I never got to experience this moment in American culture. Listening to this story and how impactful she was in trying to teach Americans to value a cooked meal as well as pushing more women to be chefs was exactly what I needed. It was definitely a surprise though to hear the chapter on her homophonic views and how they influenced her relationships with well known gay chefs in America. Being someone who loves a good book on food and the culture surrounding it, I highly suggest taking a listen (or read).
This was such a fun and heart warming story. Being someone who was born shortly before her passing, I never got to experience this moment in American culture. Listening to this story and how impactful she was in trying to teach Americans to value a cooked meal as well as pushing more women to be chefs was exactly what I needed. It was definitely a surprise though to hear the chapter on her homophonic views and how they influenced her relationships with well known gay chefs in America. Being someone who loves a good book on food and the culture surrounding it, I highly suggest taking a listen (or read).
salmonread's review against another edition
4.0
my only complaint about this book is that it is too slim ... but then again it's not meant to be the definitive biography. this is a well-rounded overview - the good, the bad, the ugly, and, most important, the complicated. child's somewhat contradictory opinions on ingredients, women, and her surprising (to me, at least) prejudices are explored with an attempt at genuine understanding.
judyward's review against another edition
3.0
This short (181) page biography of Julia Child tells her life story and unlocks her broad appeal to the American public. I always enjoyed watching The French Chef, I own Mastering the Art of French Cooking, although I confess that I have only tried a few recipes from the book (all huge successes), and I have visited Julia's kitchen which now resides at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. Julia's story is a fascinating one--beginning in California as a wealthy society party-girl, moving into the OSS during World War II, on to cooking school in Paris, writing her classic cookbook, and then entering into her career in public television in the U.S. The book also explores her uneasy relationship with her father and the richness of her marriage to her husband Paul.
manadabomb's review against another edition
3.0
This was a fairly short (5.7 hours) audiobook from the library. I had listened to a podcast on Julia from The History Chicks and was intrigued enough to dig around for more on her. I think everyone knows who she is, but there was more to her than her famous voice and TV series.
Ah, the lady loved food. And wine. How can you not love someone so enthusiastic about being happy?
“The only real stumbling block is fear of failure. In cooking you've got to have a what-the-hell attitude.”
― Julia Child
I don't know where this book lies in the best of the best, since it was the first one I picked up about her, but it was pretty good. We get to travel from being a young, privileged woman in Pasadena, to travel in the Foreign Services for the war, to meeting Paul Child and becoming a strong team of two. The relationship between her and Paul just makes you believe that good things can happen and that there are people out there without tremendous egos that want you to be happy.
I was a little (a lot) unhappy about Julia's prejudices against homosexuality, but I try to remember the era that she was raised in. It makes it worse that the book describes her dad's prejudices and how she abhorred them because she clearly though her views were fine. It took the AIDS epidemic and losing several dear friends to make her come around.
I don't think any of the Food Network "stars" have the power that Julia did. How the world created such an optimistic and enthusiastic person, I will never know.
Ah, the lady loved food. And wine. How can you not love someone so enthusiastic about being happy?
“The only real stumbling block is fear of failure. In cooking you've got to have a what-the-hell attitude.”
― Julia Child
I don't know where this book lies in the best of the best, since it was the first one I picked up about her, but it was pretty good. We get to travel from being a young, privileged woman in Pasadena, to travel in the Foreign Services for the war, to meeting Paul Child and becoming a strong team of two. The relationship between her and Paul just makes you believe that good things can happen and that there are people out there without tremendous egos that want you to be happy.
I was a little (a lot) unhappy about Julia's prejudices against homosexuality, but I try to remember the era that she was raised in. It makes it worse that the book describes her dad's prejudices and how she abhorred them because she clearly though her views were fine. It took the AIDS epidemic and losing several dear friends to make her come around.
I don't think any of the Food Network "stars" have the power that Julia did. How the world created such an optimistic and enthusiastic person, I will never know.
cinnachick's review against another edition
4.0
If you have a mild interest in Julia Child, you'll find this brief bio very interesting. I'd just finished reading a much, much longer and in-depth biography of her so the vast majority of what was in this book was also present in the previous book. However, there were a few short anecdotes that were new to me and these hidden gems were enough to keep me reading it. However, if I knew of someone who was mildly interested in her life and her career, I would suggest this book to be read. The true Julia-Nerd-Fan-Club members would be better suited with something more in-depth.