In her own words, here is the captivating story of Julia Child’s years in France, where she fell in love with French food and found her “true calling.” From the moment the ship docked in Le Havre, en route to Paris, in the fall of 1948, Julia had an awakening that changed her life. Soon this tall, outspoken gal from Pasadena, California, who didn't speak a word of French and knew nothing about the country, was steeped in the language, chatting with purveyors in the local markets, and enrolled in the Cordon Bleu. This memoir is laced with wonderful stories about the French character, particularly in the world of food, and the way of life that Julia embraced so wholeheartedly. Here, she reveals the kind of spirit and determination, the sheer love of cooking, and the drive to share that with her fellow Americans that made her the extraordinary success she became.
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"A beautiful book, beautifully written. I never really knew too much about Julia Child other than watching Julie and Julia when it came out a couple of years ago. But I do know some about the French countryside so reading about her adventures along the Cote d'Azur and in Provence brought me back to my serious French study in high school and early at Vassar. I'm not too much of a cook or a foodie, but the emotion Julia puts into her descriptions of food and cooking allowed me to appreciate her time and effort into bringing French cooking to the US. I'd definitely recommend this book!" — Marissa (4 out of 5 stars)
"A beautiful book, beautifully written. I never really knew too much about Julia Child other than watching Julie and Julia when it came out a couple of years ago. But I do know some about the French countryside so reading about her adventures along the Cote d'Azur and in Provence brought me back to my serious French study in high school and early at Vassar. I'm not too much of a cook or a foodie, but the emotion Julia puts into her descriptions of food and cooking allowed me to appreciate her time and effort into bringing French cooking to the US. I'd definitely recommend this book!"
" For me,it was a difficult read. I love Julia Child, but the book didn't hold my attention. I forced myself to read as much as I did,just couldn't finish it. "
" After watching the movie Julie and Julia I was compelled to find out more about Julia Child to see who the woman was who helped shaped so much of cooking. This is a very heart warming read about her life while in the OSS and her life with her husband Paul Child. I look forward to reading her other books!! "
" As a foodie, I enjoyed reading her memories of her life in France. Made me want to pack my bags. Or just go into my kitchen and cook something. "
" I'm not a fan of autobiographies or biographies. I think everyone has a story to tell but most don't know how to tell it and make it very interesting. One of my main complaints about this book was the author throwing in different French phrases with no explanation of what they meant. Being someone with no knowledge of the French language it almost made me give up on the book a few times. With all that said I still love Julia Child. "
" This was due at the library before I finished it. It was interesting, but not exciting enough to keep me reading... I might pick it back up some day, but I kept falling asleep when I was reading it. "
" Enjoyable read. Witty tone throughout the book . Love the travel adventures she has with her beloved husband and friends. I am not a gourmet cook but I am now tempted to try one of her recipes! "
" Book was very slow for the first 2/3rds and mostly just made me hungry with long descriptions of what they ate or what she cooked. The last part of the book, however, was of much more interest to me and felt like it finally found a story arc with the publishing of her cookbooks and TV appearances. Book was slow but her life was fascinating. "
" Five-star rating because this book is exactly what I'd hoped for; Julia Child in her own voice. Charming, funny, intimate. "
" Wonderful! Julie had such an interesting life and yet she is not afraid to share some of the family heartache that she has had. Even if you have no interest in France or cooking just reading about her life is fascinating. I enjoyed this more than the movie Julie and Julia. "
" I like her, and I think her story is very interesting, but this book could have benefitted from some ruthless editing. It read too much like a diary and lacked focus. "
" part homage to France, part biography, and part story of how the Julia Child cook books were created. very interesting. "
" a delight for the senses. "
" Her passion for food, life and her husband came through with so much energy and joy. It was such fun. Felt like I learned a lot about post WWII as well and why I would never ever want to write a cook book! OMG... "
" Wonderful, the best of the Julia bios "
" A beautiful story about the blossoming of Julia and the support her husband always provided for her. It shows a different and real side of such a well know celebrity. An easy read, highly recommend it on a Sunday with a cup of coffee on the couch. "
" I started reading about food and cooking during college, thanks to the influence of a college girlfriend. I loved the Julia Child cooking shows. This book was a great read. "
" Was a little disappointed with this book. It was too much like just reading someone's journal. I did enjoy the cookbook development. "
" Wonderful memoir - inspires one not only to cook, but to visit France to learn how. "
" A well written biography, a little to much detail and dry at times. It will be enjoyed by readers who can really get into the whole epicurean theme. I recommend following up with Julie and Julia, a fun and easy read that is a unique tribute to Julia Child. "
" I wished I could eat all the delicious food Julia cooks throughout, nevertheless this book is a testament to Julia's healthy appetite for life. Loved it. "
" I was much more charmed by this book than I expected. I didn't know much about Julia Child going in, and thought I'd just give it a skim, but it's a great example of a life well and lovingly lived. "
" This was a fun book to read. "
" A lovely memoir from an enchanting woman! "
" Julia Child was one hell of lady. A fascinating read. Much needed for this wannabe cook and world traveler. Finished reading this in the office of a hotel gift shop during my first summer job. "
" i'm a total Julia Child nerd, so i absolutely LOVED this book. it tended to drag in places, but considering it was very similar to an autobiography, it was surprisingly interesting! Anyone who loves julia child will LOVE this "
" The story of Julia and Paul Child during their years in Paris, where Julia learned to cook. I absolutely LOVED this book! Highly recommended. "
" This was an easy read, and oh so charming. It was fun to read about how Julia spent her time getting trained in the art of French cuisine, and the lead up to her own cooking show. Higly recommended reading for a lazy Sunday afternoon. "
" It was ok, but not spectacular. "
" Fun read, especially for me since I live in the middle of the setting for this story. I see these buildings and restaurants and the history. By the way, the apartments still don't have heating or air conditioning in Paris. "
" I want to go to there. "
" As inspiring as it was completely charming. This book made me want to learn french and learn more about cooking. "
" I enjoyed finding out so much more of how Julia Child became the French Chef. "
" Wonderful for Francophiles like me! "
" Pure delight. With a butter lemon sauce. "
Alex Prud’homme is the author and coauthor of several books, including coauthor of Julia Child’s memoir, My Life in France, a New York Times bestseller. He is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in the New York Times, the New Yorker, and other publications.
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.
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