Deborah A. (metaphysicalmama) reviewed Julie and Julia : 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen on + 9 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 9
Having just finished reading "My Life in France" by Julia Child, this was a great follow-up. Julie Powell's humorous rendition of her attempt to cook all of JC's recipes in "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" had me howling. But it also cause me to reflect back on when I was 29 going on 30 (more years ago than I care to remember) and making the transition from a young woman just cruising along to one who wanted to make something more of her life. I would not hesitate to recommend this book. In fact, it has been my favorite book so far of my summer reading.
Melody N. (Snick) reviewed Julie and Julia : 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen on + 27 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 9
A fun book with some hilarious adventures (and misadventures) in food. Those with a sensitivity toward strong language beware! Julie has a mouth like a sailor just off a three-day binge.
Helpful Score: 7
My overwhelming feeling when reading this book was that I had no idea how gross French cooking was! I was treated to many laughable moments, a few deep thoughts and even moments of wanting to slap the main character. In the end I admired the quest that Julie took on and the meaning that she etched out of it. It definitely has the potential to inspire one to dream outside of the box.
R B. reviewed Julie and Julia : 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen on + 203 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 6
Really fun, quick read. I've heard lots of complaints that she didn't follow all the recipes exactly, yada, yada. Well, really the book isn't about the recipes, it's about this woman's search for a purpose in life and how she accidently found it through Julia Child.
Helpful Score: 5
I started reading this book expecting to like it. What's not to like about a tale of someone taking a year to cook every recipe in Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Volume 1? Unfortunately, Julie littered the book with nasty comments about how mean Republicans are while writing things like this from page 170(hardback edition):,"I had to go to the six Democrats in the office and tell them they might want to take a pass since there might be ceramic shards or antifreeze in it." The "it" being a dessert that she left to share in the staff kitchen of the government office where she worked. If the author would have stuck to food and cooking, it might have been an enjoyable book. As it was, it left a bad taste in my mouth. Maybe the author's bitterness is what Julia Child didn't like.