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Dearie: The Remarkable Life of Julia Child Audiobook
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(3.01) - 1,965 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
It’s rare for someone to emerge in America who can change our attitudes, our beliefs, and our very culture. It’s even rarer when that someone is a middle-aged, six-foot three-inch woman whose first exposure to an unsuspecting public is cooking an omelet on a hot plate on a local TV station. And yet, that’s exactly what Julia Child did. The warble-voiced doyenne of television cookery became an iconic cult figure and joyous rule-breaker as she touched off the food revolution that has gripped America for more than fifty years. Now, in Bob Spitz’s definitive, wonderfully affectionate biography, the Julia we know and love comes vividly — and surprisingly — to life. In Dearie, Spitz employs the same skill he brought to his best-selling, critically acclaimed book The Beatles, providing a clear-eyed portrait of one of the most fascinating and influential Americans of our time — a woman known to all, yet known by only a few. At its heart, Dearie is a story about a woman’s search for her own unique expression. Julia Child was a directionless, gawky young woman who ran off halfway around the world to join a spy agency during World War II. She eventually settled in Paris, where she learned to cook and collaborated on the writing of what would become Mastering the Art of French Cooking, a book that changed the food culture of America. She was already fifty when The French Chef went on the air — at a time in our history when women weren’t making those leaps. Julia became the first educational TV star, virtually launching PBS as we know it today; her marriage to Paul Child formed a decades-long love story that was romantic, touching, and quite extraordinary. A fearless, ambitious, supremely confident woman, Julia took on all the pretensions that embellished tony French cuisine and fricasseed them to a fare-thee-well, paving the way for everything that has happened since in American cooking, from TV dinners and Big Macs to sea urchin foam and the Food Channel. Julia Child’s story, however, is more than the tale of a talented woman and her sumptuous craft. It is also a saga of America’s coming of age and growing sophistication, from the Depression Era to the turbulent sixties and the excesses of the eighties to the greening of the American kitchen. Julia had an effect on and was equally affected by the baby boom, the sexual revolution, and the start of the women’s liberation movement. On the centenary of her birth, Julia finally gets the biography she richly deserves. An in-depth, intimate narrative, full of fresh information and insights, Dearie is an entertaining, all-out adventure story of one of our most fascinating and beloved figures.
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"I really enjoyed this book. The book was very well-written and thought out, almost too thought out (that is why I couldn't give it 5 stars, it was really long and a few parts dragged on). I loved following Julia throughout her whole life. It was truly remarkable that she never really cooked and once she did decide too - it was not something that came easily, but as she practiced, practiced, and practiced until she had perfected the techniques. It was amazing how much she gave to her books and later to her TV shows - it was truly her passion and energized her through her entire life. I have always had a tremendous amount of respect for Julia Child and learning more about her life and how she changed food in America was very inspiring. I want to be a better chef!"
— Stephani (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“By far the most substantial new book on Child…A lively, affectionately detailed portrait.”
— Wall Street Journal -
“A rollicking biography that captures the vision, pluck, and contagious exuberance that were the essence of Julia Child.”
— People -
“A much-appreciated, well-timed gift to us all…Julia has never been more alive in the hearts and minds of those who grew up with her and ate and drank her dreams.”
— Huffington Post -
“Those with a hunger for all things Julia have a substantial new biography by Bob Spitz to sink their teeth into…Author and subject almost become one, as Spitz channels the spirit of Child in his own words.”
— Washington Post -
“An unabashed celebration of the mistress of haute cuisine.”
— San Francisco Chronicle -
“[Spitz] reveals how [Child] helped redefine domesticity in the media age, transforming the way we cook, eat, and think about food…The book makes a strong case for Child as a ‘cultural guerrilla’ on par with Andy Warhol, Bob Dylan, and Helen Gurley Brown.”
— Newsday -
“[An] enthusiastic, heroically researched biography…Spitz goes beyond mere history and provides a full, human portrait of Julia.”
— Economist -
“[A] mammoth, inspiring biography.”
— Washington Times -
“A comprehensive and compelling biography…that also functions effectively as a history of twentieth-century American culture on topics ranging from the evolution of the O.S.S. to the quirks of public television.”
— Christian Science Monitor -
“The most engaging celebrity biography we’ve read in years…Spitz manages to convey the vigor, curiosity, confidence, and booming voice of a truly remarkable woman as if she is sitting at the kitchen table with you…[He] is a fantastic writer.”
— L. A. Weekly -
“This…almost sinfully good read should definitely be put high up on the gift list for the food lover in your life. Julia would love you for this.”
— Toronto Sun -
“[Dearie] takes readers beyond the image of this tall, eccentric woman with a funny voice and establishes her as one of the most distinctive cultural individuals of the twentieth century.”
— Canadian Press -
“A detailed, nuanced biography of television’s beloved ‘French Chef.’”
— Chicago Tribune -
“A biography perfectly suited to its subject—as lively, fascinating, and singular as Julia Child herself.”
— Daniel Okrent, author of Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition
Awards
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A New York Times bestseller
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A USA Today bestseller
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One of the 2012 Kirkus Reviews’ Best Books: Biographies
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Winner of an AudioFile Earphones Award
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A 2012 Time Magazine Best Book for Nonfiction
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A 2012 NPR Best Book for Nonfiction
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A 2012 Washington Post Notable Book for Nonfiction
Dearie Listener Reviews
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" Actually shed a tear in the last chapter. Very detailed and well researched account of Julia Child's life. "
— Veronica, 2/8/2014 -
" It's Julia, what's not to love? I listened to the audiobook version and absolutely loved it. So much had already been covered but this book opened up new, other sides of Julia, her life and her culinary influences. Worth the read. "
— Jan, 2/8/2014 -
" I loved every minute of this book. It was a little long but that is not the author's fault. After all, Julia did have a very long life. "
— Kathleen, 2/4/2014 -
" What an amazingly thorough look at Julia Child's life! This book seems to paint a very honest version of Julia Child based on accounts from family, close friends, and fellow chefs; also delving into her influence on cooking in the United States and her work to continue the education of others in the field of the culinary arts--what a remarkable life, indeed! Spitz's book was fantastic in its' ability to not only paint a picture of Julia Child, but also make you feel like she was someone you knew too! "
— Amanda, 2/2/2014 -
" Great biography of an American icon. I enjoyed listening to this book on Audible. The reader put so much life into this story that I felt compelled to find spaces and times to listen when I didn't really have the time. "
— Janice, 1/29/2014 -
" My husband gave me this book, since he knows I love cooking & JC. Her story is an inspiring one without question; however, I question the author's objectivity. At times, Spitz seems to almost have a crush on his subject matter. "
— Kelly, 1/24/2014 -
" I loved this book...I really enjoyed Julia Child. I thought it was a well-written biography w/lots of details. "
— Marianne, 1/23/2014 -
" One of my favorite subjects and I just could not get into it. So dry... there are so many good books out there on Julia Child, many by herself, that are so much better. "
— Virginia, 1/13/2014 -
" I have read other books about Julia but this was the best one. She is a fascinating woman and did indeed have a remarkable life. "
— Betty, 1/4/2014 -
" Loved it! What a life! "
— Patty, 11/30/2013 -
" Could be a bit dry at times but a great story about her life and passion for cooking. "
— Nisha, 11/19/2013 -
" An amazing story about an amazing woman. Bon appetit! "
— Tari, 11/15/2013 -
" What a wonderful book and one worthy of such a remarkable woman! I didn't want the book to end! "
— Kira, 11/3/2013 -
" Lots to digest...not just about Julia's life, but also lots about history and her family. I enjoyed parts of the book but did feel like there were lots of unnecessary details included. "
— Liz, 10/30/2013 -
" This is a long, long, longgggg book but I LOVED every page! Fantastic detail and a true gem if Julia Child interests you. Highly recommend! "
— Christine, 10/16/2013 -
" So wonderfully written, it speaks well of Julia's spirit, struggles and hilarious personality. "
— Angela, 9/6/2013 -
" Absolutely loved it. Now collecting ALL hrt cookbooks. "
— Cheryl, 7/3/2013 -
" didn't like it, too bogged down in US history that while interesting did little to inform me about the woman herself. "
— Michelle, 4/7/2013 -
" Excellent!!! Excellent book!! Mr. Spitz writing is just wonderful. I never would have imagined that her life was so rich, and complex. I absolutely loved this book. "
— Iluvbooks, 3/31/2013 -
" She really was a remarkable woman with a very interesting life. "
— Margaret, 2/5/2013 -
" What a woman! I cannot express how I enjoyed this biography of this giant on a personality. Like his subject, the book is gigantic, over 500 pages, but I enjoyed every word. "
— Bill, 1/27/2013 -
" What a character Julia Child was! "
— Shelby, 9/18/2012
About Bob Spitz
Bob Spitz is the award-winning author of the New York Times bestseller, The Beatles, as well as numerous other nonfiction books and a screenplay. His success in biography was preceded by a talent management career boasting clients such as Bruce Springsteen and Elton John. His articles appear regularly in major magazines and newspapers.
About Kimberly Farr
Kimberly Farr is an actress and winner of numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards for narration. She has appeared on Broadway and at the New York Shakespeare Festival, the Roundabout Theatre, Playwright’s Horizons, and the American Place. She created the role of “Eve” in Arthur Miller’s first and only musical, Up from Paradise, which was directed by the author. She appeared with Vanessa Redgrave in the Broadway production of The Lady from the Sea and has acted in regional theaters across the country, including a performance in the original production of The 1940’s Radio Hour at Washington, DC’s Arena Stage.