My Review -- Julie and Julia : 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen
I was book shopping in our local Borders and came across Julie and Julia : 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen by Julie Powell. When I picked up the book, I was not familiar with Julie Powell's story and about the premise for this book. I was intrigued by the title and started reading the dust jacket. This is an intriguing tale about Julie Powell's quest 'Mastering the Art of French Cooking' by Julia Child AND her quest to master the art of living. A must-read!
Contents at a Glance
- What is your favorite recipe from this list?
- Julie and Julia : 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen
- Mastering the Art of French Cooking -- French Onion Soup
What is your favorite recipe from this list?
'Mastering the Art of French Cooking' by Julia Child
Julie and Julia : 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen
by Julie Powell
Julie and Julia : 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen
Amazon Price: (as of 07/12/2009)
Publishers Weekly: Powell became an Internet celebrity with her 2004 blog chronicling her yearlong odyssey of cooking every recipe in Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking. A frustrated secretary in New York City, Powell embarked on "the Julie/Julia project" to find a sense of direction, and both the cooking and the writing quickly became all-consuming.
Some passages in the book are taken verbatim from the blog, but Powell expands on her experience and gives generous background about her personal life: her doting husband, wacky friends, evil co-workers. She also includes some comments from her "bleaders" (blog readers), who formed an enthusiastic support base. Powell never met Julia Child (who died last year), but the venerable chef's spirit is present throughout, and Powell imaginatively reconstructs episodes from Child's life in the 1940s. Her writing is feisty and unrestrained, especially as she details killing lobsters, tackling marrowbones and cooking late into the night.
Occasionally the diarist instinct overwhelms the generally tight structure and Powell goes on unrelated tangents, but her voice is endearing enough that readers will quickly forgive such lapses. Both home cooks and devotees of Bridget Jones-style dishing will be caught up in Powell's funny, sharp-tongued but generous writing.
Mastering the Art of French Cooking -- French Onion Soup
Now I think I'd start with this French recipe!
Can you not imagine Julia Child pronouncing this in French? Soupe à l'Oignon Gratinée!
Photo Credit: Timothy Gerdes.
Amazon Review of Julie and Julia
People love this book!
Julie & Julia is the story of Julie Powell's attempt to revitalize her marriage, restore her ambition, and save her soul by cooking all 524 recipes in Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Volume I, in a period of 365 days. The result is a masterful medley of Bridget Jones' Diary meets Like Water for Chocolate, mixed with a healthy dose of original wit, warmth, and inspiration that sets this memoir apart from most tales of personal redemption.
Your Turn! How would your rate Julie and Julia?
Write a review, add a comment, or debate someone who disagrees with you.
What did you think?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byLove it! Great read.
drifter0658 says:
This reminds me of the documentary of the Pilot who was going to build a plane at his home, and then fly it. That show was REAL reality tv. The guy took over a year and finally broke down and bought a kit. But, the storytelling was in his day to day trek towards his project's end. He hit some lowly bottoms along the way, and passed along some wonderful stories about his father who was a famous pilot.
Posted February 11, 2009
LaraineRose says:
I've always loved reading cook books. I used to watch Julia Child cooking on T.V. and really learned a lot from her.
Posted January 03, 2009
CherylK says:
Haven't read it, yet, but I am certain (via this excellent review) that I'd love the book.
Posted January 02, 2009
JaguarJulie says:
I love this story -- Julie Powell does not hold back in her story telling. It is a blend of angst and hilarity, making for a compelling read!
Posted January 02, 2009
Sorry, not my cup of tea.
Tipi says:
Cute, cute, cute! I love Julia and Julie has to be fantastic as well. Same goes for JaguarJulie! :)
Haven't read it!
Posted January 02, 2009
The start of the story -- Julie Powell and her blog
Julie / Julia Project
When we first meet Julie, she's a frustrated temp-to-perm secretary who slaves away at a thankless job, only to return to an equally demoralizing apartment in the outer boroughs of Manhattan each evening. At the urging of Eric, her devoted and slightly geeky husband, she decides to start a blog that will chronicle what she dubs the "Julie/Julia Project." What follows is a year of butter-drenched meals that will both necessitate the wearing of an unbearably uncomfortable girdle on the hottest night of the year, as well as the realization that life is what you make of it and joy is not as impossible a quest as it may seem, even when it's -10 degrees out and your pipes are frozen.
Rate Julie and Julia : 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen
If you dare ...
Mastering the Art of French Cooking -- Ham and Gruyere Crepes
I know I can make this French recipe!
Can you not imagine Julia Child pronouncing this in French? Crêpes au jambon et gruyère!
Photo Credit: guessica.
Julie and Julia -- one woman's attempt to change her life!
Inspired and encouraging, Julie and Julia is a unique opportunity to join one woman's attempt to change her life, and have a laugh, or ten, along the way. --Gisele Toueg
Vote for your favorite Julie and Julia
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Julie and Julia : 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen by Julie Powell
With the humor of Bridget Jones and the vitality o more...6 points
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Julie and Julia by Julie Powell
Julie Powell is 30 years old, living in a tiny apa more...4 points
The buzz about Julie and Julia
- Watch TV spot for Julie and Julia
- Story traces the project of ?julie and julia: 365 days 524 recipes in 1 tiny apartment kitchen. ?Classic Mastering the Art of French Cooking ?the Julia Child's book which wrote in 1961 is followed by julia powell who wants to get big ...
- Sweeps4Bloggers: Giveaway - Julie & Julia by Julie Powell - 5 ...
- Giveaway - Julie & Julia by Julie Powell - 5 Winners - Ends 7/20/09 · Julie and Julia. My Year of Cooking Dangerously. by Julie Powell. Julie & Julia, the bestselling memoir that's "irresistible....A kind of Bridget Jones meets The ...
- She Is Too Fond Of Books … » Blog Archive » Winners of *Julie and ...
- Here are the five winners of Julie Powell's Julie and Julia: The Year of Cooking Dangerously, along with their answers to my question ?which cookbook or cooking magazine do you refer to again and again??: ...
- Author of “Julie & Julia” Receives Honorary Le Cordon Bleu Diploma
- Julie Powell, author of Julie & Julia, recently received an honorary Le Cordon Bleu diploma from President of Le Cordon International, Mr. André Cointreau, on July 1, 2009 at the Comédie-Française in Paris. Initially a blog, the book follows ... Now here is a dramedy that promises some light and serious moments. Headed by renowned actress Meryl? Rajskub Joins 'Julie and Julia'. Mary Lynn Rajskub is set to work with Amy Adams and Meryl Streep in ?Julie and Julia,? present? ...
Julie Powell Blog created lots of buzz for this book
don't miss it!
Powell is a natural when it comes to connecting with her readers, which is probably why her blog generated so much buzz, both from readers and media alike. And while her self-deprecating sense of humor can sometimes dissolve into whininess, she never really loses her edge, or her sense of purpose. Even on day 365, she's working her way through Mayonnaise Collee and ending the evening "back exactly where we started--just Eric and me, three cats and Buffy...sitting on a couch in the outer boroughs, eating, with Julia chortling alongside us...."
- What Could Happen? A Blog of Julie Powell, Writer Extraordinaire
About Julie: From dead-end secretarial job to a 110-pound dog and a job writing in my pajamas... this is the story of Julie.
Julie & Julia is an upcoming film based on Julie Powell's memoir Julie and Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen. It is written and directed by Nora Ephron and stars Amy Adams, Meryl Streep and Stanley Tucci. It is currently in post-production and is slated to be released on August 7, 2009.
(Julie and Julia -- the Movie! is August 7, 2009)
A bit more about Julie and Julia -- the Movie
Julie & Julia is an upcoming comedy-drama film, written and directed by Nora Ephron, depicting events in the life of famed chef Julia Child.
Ephron's screenplay is adapted from two books: My Life in France, Child's autobiography, written with Alex Prud'homme, and a memoir by Julie Powell. In August 2002, Powell started documenting online her daily experiences cooking each of the 524 recipes in Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking, and she later began reworking that blog, The Julie/Julia Project,The Julie/Julia Project into a book, Julie & Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen (Little, Brown, 2005). The paperback was retitled Julie & Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously (Back Bay Books, 2006). Both books adapted by Ephron were written and published in the same time frame of 2004-06.
Ephron began filming Julie & Julia in March 2008. In the first major motion picture based on a blog, Meryl Streep portrays Julia Child, and Amy Adams appears as Julie Powell. The film is scheduled for August 7, 2009 release.
Some cool links to more about Julie and Julia
- The Julie / Julia Project -- first post
- Julie Powell writes in her blog on Sunday, August 25, 2002 -- the start of this project!
- Julie / Julia Project Blog
- A sad day when Julia Child passed away August 12, 2004.
- What Could Happen?
- Julie Powell's current blog -- yeah! I am happy that she is still finding time to blog!
Drop me a line if you are feeling particularly chatty today!
I love to hear from my readers ...
I love this line from the book, If there are two kinds of friends in the world, those who inspire in you all that is great and good and those who'd prefer to get right down on their haunches and help out with the mud pies, Gwen definitely falls into the latter category. I call her the devil on my shoulder.
drifter0658 wrote...
Wow...masterfully done. I am going to take a peek at her blog. The French Onion Soup looks divine.
My 'friend' motto: A good friend will bail you out, your best friend will be in the cell next to you saying,"That was a blast! Let's do it again!."
Posted February 11, 2009
LaraineRose wrote...
My hubby loves french pastries. I started there and now I actually can put on quite a nice meal for company. It really is an art and I recommend getting a good cookbook. I have a couple of Julia Child's cookbooks. A really fine lens, Julie. (As usual!) 5*s from me.
Posted January 03, 2009
2 great lenses -- Julie and Julia -- the Movie AND Julie Powell -- the Author
These are definite must sees!
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Julie and Julia -- The Movie
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Julie Powell is my inspiration. She is like the rest of us ladies, facing challenges every day and writing about them. Julie Powell started with a blog in 2002 called the Julie / Julia Project. She had an idea about 'Mastering the Art of French Cooki...
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Julie Powell
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Julie Powell is surely one interesting lady that you get to know quite well through her writing. Her compelling style cuts to the chase and gets to the heart of the matter in such a way that one wonders, 'why didn't I say that?' Reading her blogs and...
More about the renowned Julia Child
Undeniably Julia -- the one and only -- bigger than life!
Julia Child (born Julia Carolyn McWilliams August 15, 1912 - August 13, 2004) was an American cook, author, and television personality, who introduced French cuisine and cooking techniques to the American mainstream, through her many cookbooks and television programs. Her most famous works are the 1961 cookbook Mastering the Art of French Cooking and, showcasing her sui generis television persona, the series The French Chef, which premiered in 1963. --Read the rest of the Wikipedia article.
A bit of info about Mastering the Art of French Cooking
Mastering the Art of French Cooking is a two-volume French cookbook written by the American Julia Child and the Frenchwomen Simone Beck and Louisette Bertholle for the American market and published by Knopf in 1961 (Volume 1) and 1970 (Volume 2).
The book was the result of a collaboration among the three authors (as well as illustrator Sidonie Coryn and Child's husband Paul) and the impetus for Child's long and successful career as one of the pioneering television chefs. Originally published in 1961 after some early difficulties (which are recounted in great detail in Julia Child's memoirs My Life in France as well as Child's introduction to the 2003 edition), Mastering volume 1 (ISBN 0-375-41340-5) was a broad survey of French flavors and techniques, and grew out of the work the three women had done for their Paris cooking school, "L'Ecole des trois gourmandes" (whose logo Child wore as a badge throughout the production of her first TV series, The French Chef); volume 2 (ISBN 0-394-40152-2), released in 1970, expanded on certain topics of interest that had not been covered as completely as the three had planned to in the first volume (particularly baking and charcuterie).
Taken together, the two volumes are considered one of the most influential works in American cookbook history, and Child in particular has long been accorded near-universal respect in the cooking world, in part due to these books' influence.
Mastering the Art of French Cooking Vol. I
by: Julia Child, Louisette Bertholle, Simone Beck
Mastering The Art of French Cooking, Volume One (1) (Fortieth - 40th - Anniversary Edition) (Vol 1)
Amazon Price: $25.48 (as of 07/12/2009)
Entertainment Week: "Has it really been 40 years since Julia Child rescued Americans from dreary casseroles? This reissue, clad in a handsome red jacket, is what a cookbook should be: packed with sumptuous recipes, detailed instructions, and precise line drawings. Some of the instructions look daunting, but as Child herself says in the introduction, 'If you can read, you can cook.'"
Ode to Julia Child
Photo Credit: Rakka.
More Julia Child books you'll surely love
Mastering the Art of French Cooking Vol. 2 (Paperback)
Amazon Price: $21.45 (as of 07/12/2009)
Julia Child - The French Chef
Amazon Price: $34.99 (as of 07/12/2009)
The French Chef With Julia Child 2
Amazon Price: $34.99 (as of 07/12/2009)
Julia & Jacques Cooking At Home
Amazon Price: $35.99 (as of 07/12/2009)
My Life in France
Amazon Price: $10.20 (as of 07/12/2009)
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