April 12, 2008

My Life in France by Julia Child


I just finished reading My Life in France by Julia Child and Alex Prud'Homme. This book was in my recommendation section on Amazon so I picked it up from the library and didn't put it down until I finished it. It's beautiful. I remember watching Julia Child once or twice on TV but I'm too young to really remember her (though I remember how tall was and I've since always related to her!). Reading this book makes me feel like I know her and makes me sad she is gone! I'm going to have to order her cook books now too! I studied abroad in Paris one summer and reading her descriptions of La Belle France made me ache to go back. What a wonderful book... I feel like I should run off and make her bread now!

From the candid recounting of her adventures to the beautiful descriptions of the food, I enjoyed every bit of this book. One of the things that she said especially stands out to me. After describing a horrible kitchen disaster, she says that she didn't apologize to her company or berate herself. She says that cooks should never start in on self-deprecations but "must simply grit her teeth and bear it with a smile- and learn from her mistakes." (pg. 71). I'm going to take this to heart! After all, everyone has to learn sometime. And as think book points out, not even Julia Child was perfect- but she worked hard and never compromised. And that's what made her wonderful.

1 comment:

  1. I can't believe you just read this book! Someone gave it to me for my birthday. Can't wait to dig in.

    Rebecca
    http://www.ezrapoundcake.com

    ReplyDelete