Julie & Julia My Year of Cooking Dangerously

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Average customer rating 3.3 (3 comments)

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This is a bit of an odd book. Of course, the premise of a woman in NYC deciding to cook her way through a Julia Child cookbook is well known considering the movie it was made into. The odd thing is that this is a very engaging book which is a memoir by someone who doesn't come across as very likable. You would think the lack of likability would make the book a bit of a slog, but it is mostly quite enjoyable. What makes me sad, though, is that I don't get much of a sense that Julie enjoyed the food she made all that much. Perhaps she did, but the focus is more on her and the process and the food gets lost a bit. She does write well, with moments of terrific humor, which is what saves the book.

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I liked the concept, like Julia Childs but the movie ruined the book for me. I wish there was more detail about Julia, her life in France, her life before she was married, more character development. A good idea but no huge climaxes, very much predictable plot.

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Synopsis: Married and living in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, working as a secretary in an unnamed government agency after a series of dead end jobs, pushing thirty, and having learned that she may have fertility problems, Julie Powell is ready for a change. Inspired by her parents' copy of Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child (MtAoFC), Julie creates a blog and declares her challenge to the universe: "Government drone by day, renegade foodie by night. Too old for theater, too young for children, and too bitter for anything else, Julie Powell was looking for a challenge. And in the Julie/Julia Project she found it. Risking her marriage, her job, and her cats well-being, she has signed on for a deranged assignment. 365 days. 524 recipes. One girl and a cr@ppy outer borough kitchen. How far will it go, no one can say ...." Sure enough, the book takes us through the challenges and victories of that year. The culinary ones have an undercurrent of NYC scavenger hunt and discovery, like Julie's first experience with bone marrow: Bifteck Saute Bercy garnished with bone marrow of a cow. The personal challenges and the torments of her low rent apartment meld with the Julie/Julia Project making frozen pipes, water outages, blackouts, and the move to Long Island City, Queens part of a large, mildly hysterical adventure. Review: With all the advertisements for the movie coming out and the buzz about this book, you probably know about the Julie/Julia Project and have some impression of the book. Before I began reading, I wondered whether Julie Powell would pull it off. It sounded like a good idea, but would it end up slow or contrived? Annoying? I'm glad to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it. I wish I'd known more about Julia Child as I read the about the birth of the Julie/Julia Project. My vague recollections of Julia Child meant that this book shaped much of my image of Julia. But this is really isn't a bad thing. Julie's Julia is a funny, practical, generous and adventuresome muse. I've just unearthed and watched a video of the Omelette Show on The French Chef and will surely watch more Julia Child over time. Julie & Julia captures the flavor of New York so well. It's a light, enjoyable read full of good writing, interesting characters, and unusual dishes. I highly recommend it!